Occupational Health Hazards among Petrol Station Workers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

When a consumer comes to the gas station to buy fuel, the attendants are their initial point of contact. Petrol station employees deal with a variety of risks and health issues on the job. This study was carried out to ascertain the health risks, occupational safety practices, and health issues among gas station workers in Ibadan, Oyo State. Africa.
 This intervention study was conducted with all willing attendants that operate at Ibadan's filling stations. A semi-structured interviewer-administered English-language questionnaire was used to gather data. STATA 12.1 software was used for data analysis after structured interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to gather data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis. A 5% threshold for significance was used.
 The study involved 620 respondents in total for both genders, the mean age of the responders was 29.4 ± 4.6 years. The inhalation of petrol fumes, customer confrontation, and noise exposure were among the hazards that were reported. Dust-related chronic cough; heat stress that frequently leads to heat exhaustion and heat stroke; hearing loss; hypertension from excessive equipment noise; back and general body ache from bending over repeatedly at work; robbery; fire; harsh weather; and exhaust fume incidence. Health problems reported included headache, blurry vision, vomiting, drowsiness, vertigo, heartburn, slurred speech, weakness, staggering, facial flushing, itching, loss of consciousness, heart failure, convulsion, irritability, memory loss, nausea, tremor, involuntary eye movement, cough, muscle spasms, hallucination, altered vision, insomnia, poor appetite and stomach upset factor associated with health problem. The results, which have a p-value of 0.29, demonstrate that there is no meaningful correlation between occupational safety practices and health issues. Occupation-related health hazards, work environment, and health problems are significantly correlated, with p-values of less than 0.01. Additionally, there is no significant correlation (p-value of 0.12), between understanding of safety procedures and health issues.
 In conclusion, the study found that attendants at fiilling stations were subjected to a variety of risks and health issues. Poor hand washing techniques, first aid box availability, PPE awareness and use, and medical assessment procedures were all present. The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association and other relevant parties should endeavor to guarantee that filling station owners assume accountability for the well-being and security of their employees.