AN ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY PRACTICES AMONGSTAFF OF BUA CEMENT FACTORY IN OBU-OKPELLA, EDO STATE,NIGERIA

Abstract

Occupational safety remains a critical aspect of industrial environments, particularly in high-risk sectors such as
cement production. This study assessed occupational safety practices and the use of personal protective equipment
(PPE) among staff of BUA Cement Factory, Obu-Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design
was adopted, and 382 consenting respondents (254 operational staff and 128 administrative staff) were selected
using multi-stage sampling techniques of stratified, purposive, proportionate, and systematic sampling techniques.
Data were collected with a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using
descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests at a 5% level of significance. The socio-demographic analysis revealed
a mean age of 30.25 ± 1.652 years, with the majority of respondents aged 25–34 years (38.0%). Most were male
(72.3%) and operational staff (66.5%). In terms of education, 29.1% held a Bachelor’s degree/HND, while 31.2%
had less than 5 years of work experience. Results showed high compliance with occupational safety practices
(68.1%), particularly in PPE use (81.2%) and safety training participation (72.8%), though gaps remained in safety
drills (64.1%) and enforcement of rules (68.1%). Findings on PPE use indicated that 71.7% affirmed its role in
accident prevention, although 25.1% had experienced work-related accidents in the past year. Chi-Square analyses
revealed significant differences in safety practices between operational and administrative staff (χ² = 6.42, p =
0.011), a strong relationship between PPE use and accident reduction (χ² = 12.38, p < 0.001), and a significant
association between years of work experience and adherence to safety practices (χ² = 9.74, p = 0.021). These
results highlight the influence of exposure to risks, consistent PPE use, and accumulated experience in shaping
safety compliance. The study recommends continuous orientation for new staff, stricter enforcement of PPE
policies, and targeted safety campaigns for administrative staff to strengthen the overall safety culture within the
factory.