Abstract Despite the inherently high-risk nature of cement manufacturing, the performance of Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) remains suboptimal, particularly in developing countries. This study investigated the key determinants influencing safety management in two Ugandan cement production facilities using a quantitative research design. Perception-based survey data were collected from 223 participants in Plant A and 186 participants in Plants B and analyzed at univariate, bivariate, and multivariable levels using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 2020). The results revealed that in Plant A, the presence of a dedicated OSHE budget significantly influenced safety performance ( p < 0.005), while in Plant B, the existence of a formal safety policy and specialized worker training were critical determinants ( p < 0.05). Across both plants, active worker participation in OSHE programs and heightened hazard awareness consistently emerged as pivotal factors shaping the current state of safety management in the cement industry. These findings highlight the importance of targeted investment in reward systems, recognition mechanisms, continuous education, training, and accountability frameworks to enhance safety outcomes. The study recommends that stakeholders in Sub-Saharan Africa’s cement industry adopt proactive and performance-driven OSHE strategies. These should include embedding OSHE metrics into labor contracts and appraisal systems to improve compliance, accountability, and overall industrial competitiveness. The findings contribute directly to the advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 8, and 9, supporting health and well-being, decent work, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable industrial innovation.
Ssemuddu et al. (2025) studied this question.