Purpose of study: The purpose of this study was to explore the injury on duty prevention
and management strategies that are currently used in different higher education settings.
The study intended to shed light on specific areas of policy and practice discrepancies
related to the disjuncture between employee interactions, regulated directives and
organizational goals. Aims and objectives: One of the aims was to determine the types of
work-related injuries that occur in HEI’s by verifying the injuries reported on Employers
Reports of an Accident. A second aim was to examine strategies that have been put in place
to prevent injuries in the workplace by reviewing policies and procedures related to injury
prevention. The final aim was to examine systems in-place to manage occupational injuries
by looking at staff health or employee wellness service flow charts or models used at the
HEIs. Population and sample: Permanently employed personnel at two HEI’s in the
Western Cape were participants in a multiple case study. The sample units consisted of
health and safety representatives, human resources, maintenance personnel, estates and
custodial, traffic services and departmental managers. Methodology: This study applied a
mixed-method using a multiple case study design as an approach to the enquiry. Methods
of data collection: Documents, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews were be
used to obtain data to answer the research questions. Process of analysis: Qualitative and
quantitative themes will be analysed in a matrix. The three data sources were triangulated to
validate the findings. Benefits of the study: Injury prevention benefits the employer and
employee in many ways, including increased employee performance leading to increased
productivity as well as cost savings. Main findings: Injuries that were reported are mostly
musculoskeletal injuries; however other types of injuries may not be reported due to under
reporting of injuries being common in this setting. Health and safety training and knowledge
sharing was not well supported and injury prevention strategies were not optimized. The
application of health and safety policies and procedures were not adequately communicated,
enforced or monitored. Staff health and employee wellness strategies operate independently
and do not facilitate a coordinated response to manage occupational injuries in this setting.
Lack of monitoring, organizational support, training and knowledge sharing and
communication were the four main challenges to injury prevention management systems.
Conclusions: The implementation of an effective injury prevention and management
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programme could benefit the organization and translate into increased operational value
(organizational quality).