ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS, WORKPLACE PRACTICES, AND SAFETY BEHAVIOURS AMONG ROADSIDE AUTOMOBILE MECHANICS IN OGBOMOSO, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed occupational health hazards, workplace practices, and safety behaviours among roadside automobile mechanics in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised all roadside automobile mechanics in Ogbomoso and its environs. The sample size was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula, and a total of 180 respondents were selected using a multistage sampling technique involving stratified, cluster, proportionate, and convenience sampling methods. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire validated by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach’s alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.73. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (percentage and mean), while hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that body pains (M = 1.86) were the most commonly reported occupational health hazards. Working without personal protective equipment (M = 3.38) was identified as the most prevalent unsafe workplace practice, while daily disposal of waste (M = 3.20) was the most commonly adopted safety behaviour. The results further showed that workplace practices had a significant relationship with occupational health hazards (r = .75, p < .05), whereas safety behaviours had no significant relationship with occupational health hazards (r = .13, p > .05). The study concluded that unsafe workplace practices significantly contribute to occupational health hazards among roadside automobile mechanics. It was recommended that health educators should conduct awareness campaigns and training programmes to promote safe workplace practices and the consistent use of personal protective equipment.