Abstract

*Titus Onyi, Abdulkadir Isa Itopa, Rebecca Titus

ABSTRACT

Background: Occupational Health and Safety, OHS, prevent work-related accidents, injuries and deaths especially at the timber markets and saw mills with enormous amount of job hazards. Past studies on OHS in the wood processing industries in Nigeria focused on the South-Western part of Nigeria. The study therefore assessed OHS in Bauchi timber marker/saw mill, which is a major small industry that provides vital economic activities in Bauchi, North–East Nigeria. Objectives: The study assessed: the utilisation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); the workplace safety training and the workplace safety rules and policy at the study site. Method: Selfdesigned questionnaires (structured and open-ended) were filled following face -to -face interviews with 121(N=500) consented respondents. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23 and Microsoft Excel 2013.Results: Most(52.1%) of the respondents did not use any Personal Protective Equipment,PPE.Only 2.5% utilised all the PPE for full personal protection. Most(95.9%) of the respondents had no previous training on workplace safety.Only 0.8 % of the respondents had work place training through workshops organised at the market/saw mill.There were no clear operational work place rules/safety at the study site with majority(67.8%) of the respondents having no knowledge of safety rules/policies at the timber market/saw mill.Conclusion:The study found that there was poor awareness and utilisation OHS at the Bauchi timber market/saw mill.This underscores the need for Nigeria government and other relevant bodies to address the OHS at the study site. This will optimize the health of the traders and workers and increase the productivity from the timber market/saw mill.