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.