Physical, Chemical and Biological Factors as Occupational Health and Safety Hazards Among Workers in Cement Industries in the South-South Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Hazard in the workplace can cause illness or injury to the mental, physical and social wellbeing and thereby cause loss of production or working time. Workers in cement factories may not be fully aware of the factors responsible for health and safety hazards in their workplace, hence this study in order to find out if physical, chemical and biological factors are responsible for occupational health and safety hazards among workers in cement industries in the South-South region of Nigeria. Consequently, the population for the study consisted of site workers in two cement industries in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The population consists of more Male workers which represent 70% of the total population and few female workers which represent 30% of the total population for the study. A total of 403 questionnaires were distributed with 391 returned giving a return rate of 97.02%. The returned questionnaires were examined and 6 were rejected because they were incomplete or responses were unclear, while 12 were not retrieved. The final 385 questionnaires (98.5%) of the returned questionnaires are considered to be representative of the sample and were used for analysis. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure and Taro Yamane formula to draw the samples. The study revealed that physical, chemical and biological factors were responsible for health and safety hazards among workers. Recommendations were thereby made which are personal protective equipment against physical, chemical and biological hazards should be provided and the use enforced at all times while periodic medical examination policy should be adopted by management to help reduce cases of health problems.