SAFETY AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS AMONG WORKS AND SERVICE STAFF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study evaluated safety awareness and preparedness among Works and Service staff at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, addressing gaps in occupational health and safety (OHS) within higher education institutions. Grounded in theoretical frameworks such as the Health Belief Model and Reason’s Swiss Cheese Model, the research examines how awareness of hazards influences emergency response capabilities, while identifying institutional factors like training and supervision that shape safety behaviours. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to 148 staff members from diverse roles, including electricians, plumbers, and supervisors. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression via SPSS. Key findings reveal a high safety awareness index (mean =4.39, SD=0.45), with strong knowledge of hazards and policies, particularly among highly educated and experienced staff. Preparedness scored even higher (mean =4.45, SD=0.50), driven by proficiency in fire extinguisher use and emergency protocols. Significant relationships were found between awareness and preparedness (r=0.712, p<0.001), rejecting null hypotheses on these links, though demographics like gender showed no effect. The study highlights that systematic training and resource provision can foster resilience in resource-constrained environments, aligning with SDGs 3 and 8. It recommends institutionalizing annual drills, role-specific modules, and safety committees to sustain gains.
Downloads
References
Adebiyi, K. A., Ajayeoba, A. O., & Aluko, O. O. (2019). Occupational health and safety practices in Nigerian public universities: Challenges and solutions. Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health, 8(3), 45–56.
Adeola, O., & Awosusi, A. (2023). Enhancing response accuracy in workplace safety studies: The role of self-administered questionnaires. African Journal of Occupational Safety, 12(2), 89–102.
Agu, A. C. (2021). Effective data collection strategies in occupational health research: Lessons from Nigerian institutions. Journal of Workplace Safety, 10(4), 67–78.
Ajala, O. A., & Adebayo, T. S. (2021). Safety awareness and preparedness: A complementary approach to occupational safety in Nigerian workplaces. African Journal of Occupational Health, 9(2), 12–20.
Akinwale, O. E., & Olusanya, O. A. (2021). Impact of safety training on emergency preparedness among technical staff in Nigerian polytechnics. Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 29(4), 112–125.
Aluko, O. O., & Amadi, C. P. (2022). Adapting occupational health and safety instruments for Nigerian universities: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Public Health and Safety, 11(3), 78–90.
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman.
Burke, M. J., Sarpy, S. A., Smith-Crowe, K., Chan-Serafin, S., Salvador, R. O., & Islam, G. (2006). Relative effectiveness of worker safety and health training methods. American Journal of Public Health, 96(2), 315–324. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2004.059840
Choudhry, R. M., Fang, D., & Mohamed, S. (2017). The nature of safety culture: A review of theory and research. Safety Science, 93, 45–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2016.11.024
Christian, M. S., Bradley, J. C., Wallace, J. C., & Burke, M. J. (2009). Workplace safety: A meta-analysis of the roles of person and situation factors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(5), 1103–1127. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016172
Chukwu, J. O., & Ede, A. N. (2020). Occupational safety in Nigerian universities: Challenges and prospects. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety, 7(2), 34–46.
Clarke, S. (2006). The relationship between safety climate and safety performance: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 11(4), 315–327. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.11.4.315
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2014). Internet, phone, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: The tailored design method (4th ed.). Wiley.
Etikan, I., & Bala, K. (2017). Sampling and sampling methods. Biometrics & Biostatistics International Journal, 5(6), 215–217.
Eze, C. O., & Chukwuma, I. (2022). Occupational safety and health management in Nigerian higher education institutions: A review. Journal of Safety and Environmental Management, 11(1), 22–33.
Hollnagel, E. (2014). Safety-I and Safety-II: The past and future of safety management. Ashgate Publishing.
Hollnagel, E. (2017). Safety-II in practice: Developing the resilience potentials. Routledge.
Idoro, G. I. (2019). Occupational health and safety compliance in Nigerian public institutions. Journal of Construction Management, 14(2), 67–78.
Idubor, I., & Oisamoje, M. (2013). An evaluation of occupational safety and health in Nigerian universities. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 7(5), 234–245. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2013.1459
International Labour Organization. (2021). World statistic: The enormous burden of poor working conditions. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/safety-and-health-at-work/lang--en/index.htm
International Labour Organization. (2022). Promoting safety and health in a green economy. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/safety-and-health-at-work/resourceslibrary/publications/WCMS_843614/lang--en/index.htm
ISO. (2018). ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems: Requirements with guidance for use. International Organization for Standardization. https://www.iso.org/standard/63787.html
Michie, S., van Stralen, M. M., & West, R. (2011). The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implementation Science, 6, Article 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-6-42
National Fire Protection Association. (2021). NFPA 70E: Standard for electrical safety in the workplace. https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codesand-standards/detail?code=70E
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2019). Hierarchy of controls. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/default.html
Neal, A., & Griffin, M. (2006). Safety compliance and safety participation: Two different safety behaviours. Safety Science, 44(8), 751–760.
Neal, A., & Griffin, M. A. (2002). Safety climate and safety behaviour. Australian Journal of Management, 27(Special Issue), 67–76. https://doi.org/10.1177/031289620202701S08
Okolie, K. C., & Okolie, U. C. (2021). Safety training gaps in Nigerian university maintenance departments. Journal of Occupational Safety, 8(2), 45–57.
Reason, J. (2000). Human error: Models and management. BMJ, 320(7237), 768–770. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7237.768
This is the correct full reference for the “Swiss Cheese Model” citation.
Rogers, R. W. (1983). Cognitive and physiological processes in fear appeals and attitude change: A revised theory of protection motivation. In J. T. Cacioppo & R. E. Petty (Eds.), Social psychophysiology: A sourcebook (pp. 153–176). Guilford Press.
Rosenstock, I. M., Strecher, V. J., & Becker, M. H. (1988). Social learning theory and the Health Belief Model. Health Education Quarterly, 15(2), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019818801500203
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson Education.
Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2020). Research methods for business: A skill-building approach. Wiley.
Umeokafor, N. (2018). An appraisal of occupational safety and health management in Nigerian public institutions. Safety Science, 109, 67–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2018.05.012
Umeokafor, N., & Umeokafor, K. (2022). Occupational health and safety in the context of rapid urbanization: A case study of Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Urban Health, 99(2), 234–245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-022-00615-9
United Nations. (2020). The Sustainable Development Goals report 2020. United Nations.
United Nations. (2021). The Sustainable Development Goals report 2021. United Nations.
Weick, K. E., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2015). Managing the unexpected: Sustained performance in a complex world (3rd ed.). Wiley.
World Bank. (2021). Gender and the trades: Labour market segmentation and its implications. World Bank.
World Medical Association. (2022). Ethical guidelines for research involving human participants: WMA Declaration of Helsinki.
Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory analysis (2nd ed.). Harper & Row.
Zikmund, W., Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2021). Business research methods. Cengage Learning.
Zohar, D. (2000). A group-level model of safety climate: Testing the effect of group climate on microaccidents in manufacturing jobs. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85(4), 587–596.
Zohar, D., & Luria, G. (2005). A multilevel model of safety climate: Cross-level relationships between organization and group-level climates. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(4), 616–628. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.616
Author(s) and co-author(s) jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere. Author(s) agree to the terms that the GPH Journal will have the full right to remove the published article on any misconduct found in the published article.
