Research Article

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

Imran Matazu HUSSAINI1*, Usman MOHAMMED, Mamuda IBRAHIM, Ahmad Sani GETSO1, Seun Nurudeen AKOREDE1
1 Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
* Corresponding author: hussainimran4535@gmail.com
Published: Jun, 2026
Pages: 160-169
Views: 16
Downloads: 19

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.

Keywords

Occupational Safety PPE Workplace Hazards Cement Factory Safety Practices

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How to Cite

HUSSAINI, I. M., MOHAMMED, U., IBRAHIM, M., GETSO, A. S., & AKOREDE, S. N. (2026). AN ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY PRACTICES AMONG STAFF OF BUA CEMENT FACTORY IN OBU-OKPELLA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA. Journal of Educational Research and Development, 21(2), 160-169.

I. M. HUSSAINI, U. MOHAMMED, M. IBRAHIM, A. S. GETSO, and S. N. AKOREDE, "AN ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY PRACTICES AMONG STAFF OF BUA CEMENT FACTORY IN OBU-OKPELLA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA," Journal of Educational Research and Development, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 160-169, June 2026.

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