The effect of accessibility of safety information of risk management practices on operational safety of dangerous goods workers at Dar Es Salaam Port

The study aimed to analyze the effect of safety information accessibility on risk management practices and its impact on the operational safety of workers handling dangerous goods at the Dar Es Salaam Port. A sample of 88 respondents was selected using a simple random sampling technique to ensure equal representation of workers handling hazardous materials. A cross-sectional research design was employed to analyze data from the population at a single point in time. Data were collected through questionnaires, a cost-effective method for obtaining standardized information and facilitating comparison of responses. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel(ME) , with SPSS facilitating advanced statistical analyses and ME enabling data entry, cleaning, visualization, and basic computations. The findings indicate that practical training and the visibility of safety signs and emergency procedures are the most influential factors enhancing workers’ confidence in following protocols and their perception of comprehensive safety measures. The provision of updates showed a marginal effect on workers’ confidence in using safety information, whereas mere accessibility of information and regular guideline reviews did not significantly predict safety outcomes. These results highlight that active engagement through hands-on training and clearly communicated, visible safety practices is more effective than passive information provision in promoting operational safety. The study recommends that port management prioritize continuous, practical training programs and maintain clearly visible and accessible safety instructions throughout areas handling hazardous goods to improve worker confidence and overall operational safety.