ASSESSMENT OF RISK EXPOSURE IN OIL AND GAS DEPOTS OF NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The assessments of risks exposures of workers in oil and gas depots in Niger Delta were studied.

Tank farms and oil depots store large volume of flammable

petroleum products, which are

hazardous to the workers and pose environmental threat due

to poor facility maintenance. It

was on this premise that this research examined health risk

exposure associated with these

hazards. The study adopted 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 analysed at 95% confidence level. Respondents

acknowledged that tank farms are plagued with all types of occupational and health hazards that

are of great risks to workers, asset and the environment grand weighted mean of 3.67. The

results showed that there is a significant relationship between hazards and health risk exposure

vary among workers in different tank farms and depots. The study recommends frequent

inspection of machines; turn around maintenance

of facilities and promotion of healthy work

environment within the tank farms and depots.