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.