Medicina Ocupacional y Asuntos de Salud

Abstracto

Risk Assessment: Re-appraisals for Potential Hazards in the Operational Environment and Facilities of Petroleum Refining and Distribution Industry in Nigeria - Research and Review

Tobias I Ndubuisi Ezejiofor

Background: The burden of workplace hazards remains a major concern to all. Viewed from all occupational health indices, including human sufferings and related economic costs, the magnitudes of global impact of occupational accidents, diseases, and industrial disasters are alarming, and therefore deserve serious attention.

Objective: To appraise operational environments and facilities of petroleum refining and distribution industry in Nigeria with a view to establishing the potential hazards/health risks.

Design: A qualitative study involving participatory approach and structured interviews. For purposes of this study, Departments of the studied establishments were split into many smaller units to capture specific hazards of facilities and activities. Setting: The Operational sites (including facilities and activities) of PHRC and PPMC, Eleme near Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Method: Using a standard checklist, the study involves a personal walk-through and participation in the activities of the various units, as well as structured interviews of staff concerning the health hazards/risks of their workplace.

Result: The specific hazards of the work areas, units, facilities and activities of the industries were captured. A cursory look of the establishments revealed that, while some facilities have themselves become obsolete, defective and hazardous, they have also turned into outlets for various other hazards. Physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial and ergonomic hazards were among the major occupational hazard categories so revealed. It is being suspected that the various job exposures to these workplace hazards are responsible for the accidents, injuries, morbidities and mortalities observed in this industry.

Conclusion: Presently, facilities and activities in the operational units of the petroleum refining and distribution industry in Nigeria are laden with several hazards that can be grouped into the five main hazard categories. The sundry health risks to which staff are disposed by this situation and their overall health implications are roundly discussed, and also call for immediate need for facility upgrade and industrial health Services updates, to ensure hazards abatement and mitigation of associated health risks, as well as securing safer facilities and healthier work environment.