Exploring Occupational Hazard Control Needs Among Roadside Welders In Rivers East Senatorial District
Chinedu Emmanuel Okoro
Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to assess the hazard control needs assessment of roadside Welders in Rivers East Senatorial District, Rivers State. The population of the study comprises all Road Side Welders in the LGAs in Rivers East Senatorial District. To achieve this purpose descriptive survey design was employed and self-structured validated questionnaire was used to collect data from 912 Roadside welders from Rivers East Senatorial District, Rivers State. The instrument for data collection was tagged Hazard Control Needs Assessment of Roadside Welders Questionnaire (HCNARWQ) with a reliability index of 0.76. This was modified to suit the study. The data collected were analyzed using Simple percentages and frequency tables for the research questions, while Chisquare (2), and was used to test the hypotheses at 0.5 alpha level of significance. The findings of the study showed that Roadside welders in Rivers East Senatorial District, Rivers State have equipment, knowledge and hazard control practice needs. More so, demographic variables such as age, educational status, training and location of workshop had influence on hazard control measures used by roadside welders. Finally, it was concluded that knowledge on hazard of Roadside welders has influenced on hazard control equipment and practices. It was recommended that periodic inspection of the roadside welder’s workplace by the Ministry of Labour and productivity through its agencies will build consciousness on the welders, reduce the impact of hazards, enhance performance, prevent accident and injury hence maintain longevity of life while at workplace