Health Risks Prevalent among Workers in Tank Farms in Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluated the health risks prevalent among workers in selected tank farms in Niger Delta, Nigeria by adopting 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 analyzed at 95% confidence level. Most respondents agreed that workers sometimes inhale, and ingest hazardous chemicals, which spill-over their skin. This was further supported by the weighted mean result which criterion mean and grand mean scores is over 3.00 and 4.26 respectively for each company. Workers are exposed to diverse OHS risks at work, the most prevalent of which is inhalation of fumes from petroleum products during loading. Workers are also at risk of tripping and falling while climbing tanks on daily-basis to load and haul petroleum products; they may inhale or ingest hazardous chemicals that spill onto their skin; they face psychosocial hazards such as hypertension, boredom, anxiety; they are also exposed to flammable, noxious, and corrosive gases that are harmful to their health. The study recommends frequent inspection of machines; turn around maintenance of facilities and promotion of healthy work environment within the tank farms.