ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS IN SELECTED OIL AND GAS DEPOTS IN THE NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

 Assessment of occupational hazards in oil and gas depots in the Niger Delta was studied. Tank farms and oil depots store large volume of flammable petroleum products, which are hazardous to the workers and pose environmental threat due to poor facility maintenance. The study adopted a cross-sectional design where data were collected from 182 tank/depot workers purposively using questionnaire. A total of 200 copies of a closed ended questionnaire were administered to all cadres of staff which comprised of senior staff, middle and junior staff. Data were coded and analysed at 95% confidence level. Respondents acknowledged that tank farms are plagued with all types of occupational, asset and the environment grand weighted mean of 3.67.  The results showed that there is a significant relationship between, hazard exposure and safety behaviour of workers in the tank farms and depots.  The study recommends frequent inspection of machines; turn around maintenance of facilities and promotion of healthy work environment within the tank farms and depots.