TITLE:
Effects of Cleaning Chemicals on Cleaners in Oil and Gas Companies in Rivers State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Elizabeth Efa, Ify L. Nwaogazie
KEYWORDS:
Health Effects, Toxic Chemicals, Exposure Assessment, Respiratory Diseases
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology,
Vol.13 No.4,
November
8,
2023
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of cleaning chemicals on
the health of cleaners in selected gas companies in the Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria.
This is a cross-sectional research study. A well-structured questionnaire was
used to collect data from 240 randomly selected cleaners across six purposively
selected oil and gas companies in Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria. The
questionnaire contained open and closed ended questions which measured five
variables including socio-demographic variables, exposure of cleaners to
training on occupational health safety and hazards, level of knowledge of
cleaners on occupational health safety and hazards, level of compliance with
occupational health safety and hazards, and the health history of the cleaners.
The results of the study showed that the cleaners have a mean value and
standard deviation which is taken as a moderate level of exposure to
occupational health safety and hazards training (2.23 ± 0.88),
moderate level of knowledge (2.27 ± 0.81),
as well as a moderate level of compliance with occupational health safety and
hazards guidelines (2.00 ± 0.77). The respiratory diseases mean value of 55% and
allergic reactions 55% are the most frequent health effects reported among the
cleaners. Other effects such as skin diseases (36.67%), chemical burns (32.92%)
and poisoning (5.42%) were also reported among the cleaners. The study concluded
that cleaners in oil and gas companies get exposed to various health hazards
due to prolonged exposure to certain chemicals which they work with. Their
exposure to these health hazards is aggravated by their low level of knowledge
and compliance with occupational health safety and hazards.