Occupational and Health Safety Measures among Workers in Palm Oil Mills at Omoba, Isiala-ngwa South L.G.A., Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a significant concern in agro-processing industries in developing countries, as poor safety practices are prevalent in these industries. The health and safety of palm oil mill workers are threatened by unsafe machines and poor safety practices. Aim: This study was conducted to assess the OHS practices and implementation among palm oil mill workers in Omoba, Abia State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted, and data were collected from 247 workers in 49 palm oil mills using structured questionnaires and checklists. The total population sampling method was used, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test at p < 0.05. Results: The majority of the workers were males (73.3%), and the level of awareness regarding occupational hazards was moderate (69.2%). However, the consistent use of PPE was found to be very low (39.7%) due to discomfort and lack of availability. The level of OHS was found to be very poor or fair, with 45.3% of the workers having experienced work-related injuries such as cuts and burns. From the observations made, the safety infrastructure was found to be very poor, with major gaps such as the absence of guards on the machines and a lack of emergency stop mechanisms. No significant relationship was found between the demographic variables and the level of awareness and practice regarding OHS (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The high injury rate can be attributed to the lack of safety infrastructure, the lack of safety enforcement, and the lack of safety training. Therefore, the way forward is to improve the safety infrastructure by investing in safety measures, such as the provision of PPE and improving the safety training of the workers.