Hazards and Risks Control Measures among Petrol Filling Stations in Obio/Akpor, Rivers State

Abstract

This research was aimed to identify the hazards and risks control measures among petrol filling stations. It identified the hazards and risks; employees that participated in identifying hazards and controls measures with management commitment towards safety. This study adopted a descriptive research method and a closed ended questionnaire was used via purposeful sampling methods and analyzed with Microsoft Excel as a statistical tool. A total of 116 questionnaires were distributed to respondents from 35 filling stations within Obio/ Akpor local government area in Rivers State in 2022.Result showed 11% of the population strongly agreed to identify hazards in the petrol stations, 50% agreed, 32% disagreed while 14% strongly disagreed.  This resulted from spill of petrol products, use of mobile phone at dispensing pumps, poor housekeeping and ruptured hose and nozzles.  Thirty two percent (32%) of the respondents strongly agreed to employee’s participation in hazard identification, 42% agreed, 21% disagreed while 12% strongly disagreed.  This indicated little participation of employees in hazard identification based on the absence of safety training in most petrol stations. Thirty three percent (33%) strongly agreed to hazards and risks control measures in place, 21% agreed, 40% disagreed while 13% strongly disagreed.  This showed that hazards and risks control measures were not effective to prevent accident. Twenty four percent (24%) strongly agreed to management commitment to safety, 29% agreed, 42% disagreed while 12% strongly disagreed. This indicated that management did not consider safety as important as productivity. These findings showed lack of safety consciousness in petrol stations and the absence of Health, Safety and Environmental Officers. Therefore, there is need for improvement by management and hence, the effectiveness of hazards and risks control measures to ensure the elimination of hazards/risks within the petrol filling stations.