Occupational Health and Safety Knowledge, Practices, and Determinants among Paint Factory Workers in Umuahia South, L. G. A. Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Despite advancements in industrial safety practices globally, evidence suggests that the burden of occupational hazards remains disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) remains a fundamental pillar of public health, particularly within industrial environments where workers are routinely exposed to hazardous conditions. Aim: This study assessed the knowledge, practices, and determinants of OHS measures among workers in selected paint factories in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, combining a structured questionnaire administered to 384 workers with a quantitative observational checklist assessing the factory environment. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests (Chi-square) at a 5% significance level. Results: The findings revealed a significant disconnect between awareness and action. While most workers demonstrated adequate knowledge of hazards (95.1%) and perceived high personal risk (56.8%), an overwhelming majority (79.7%) engaged in poor safety practices, with critically low usage of personal protective equipment. Statistical analysis found no significant relationship between workers' knowledge levels, their health beliefs (perceived risk, severity, or PPE effectiveness), and their safety practices. Instead, the primary determinant of safe practice was the provision of PPE by the employer (p < 0.001). Observational data confirmed systemic failures, highlighting inadequate engineering controls, poorly maintained safety facilities, and the unavailability of PPE at work points. Conclusion: The study concludes that the OHS crisis in this sector is not due to a lack of worker awareness but is fundamentally a result of systemic and environmental failures. Interventions focused solely on training are insufficient. Recommendations are therefore made for a paradigm shift towards employer-enabled safety, prioritizing mandatory investment in functional engineering controls, reliable provision of PPE, and the development of a participatory safety culture to bridge the dangerous knowledge–practice gap.