Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth

Olatubi Matthew Idowu; Olatubi Victoria Iyabo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13

| Peer-Reviewed

Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth

Olatubi Matthew Idowu, Olatubi Victoria Iyabo

Published in American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics (Volume 2, Issue 3)

Received: 29 November 2016 Accepted: 29 March 2017 Published: 5 May 2017

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

The importance work to man and man to work cannot be overemphasized. Because of this essentiality of work, workers spend most of their time in the work environment. The safety of work environment is therefore essential and important. The paper assessed issues related to ensuring safety in the work environment, taking into cognizance the important roles of the government (regulatory bodies), employer and employee, vis-a-vis policy formulations, policy enforcement and compliance and assess how Nigeria as a nation has performed to draw a conclusion whether the nation is on the part to securing her work environment or otherwise. While they are some occupational health and safety policies/laws in Nigeria, majority of those laws are obsolete and poorly enforced. Safety guideline compliance is very poor among both the employers and employee. If this trend is not corrected ensuring a safe working environment in Nigeria is largely a myth than been a reality.

Published in	American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13
Page(s)	107-115
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Safety, Compliance, Regulatory, Working Environment

References

[1]	Achumba, I. C., Ighomereho, O. S., Akpor-Robaro, M. O. M. (2013). Security Challenges in Nigeria and the Implications for Business Activities and Sustainable Development. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 4(2):79-99.
[2]	Adenuga, O. A., Soyingbe, A. A., and Ajayi, M. A. (2007). A study on selected safety measures on construction Companies in Lagos, Nigeria. RICS (Cobra).
[3]	Adeogun, B. K., & Okafor, C. C., (2013). Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Trend in Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Science, Management and Engineering Research.2 (1): 24-29.
[4]	Anderson, J. (2007). Health and Safety- matching legislation and enforcement. Proceedings of the institute of Civil Engineers Management, Procurement and Law, 2007. Pp. 11-15. Cambrdige Dictionaries Online. Cambridge University Press. Source:http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/enforce?q=Enforcement. 2013.
[5]	Aswathappa, K., (2004). Human resource and personnel management: Text and cases. (3rd ed.). New Delhi: Tata McGraw–Hill Publishing Company Limited, (Chapter 20).
[6]	Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., (2007). The job demands-resources model: State of the art. Journal of managerial psychology. 22(3): 309-328.
[7]	Bureau of Labour Statistics United State Department of Labour (2014). American Time Use Survey. EconomicNews release. Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm.
[8]	Chandrasekar, k., (2011). Workplace environment and its impact on organisational performance in public sector organisations. International Journal of Enterprise Computing and Business Systems. From http://www.ijecbs.com.
[9]	Comaru, F., & Edmundo, W. (2013). The Health of Workers in Selected Sectors of the Urban Economy: Challenges and Prospects’. Working Paper No. 288; Sectoral Activities Department; ILO, Geneva.
[10]	Diugwu, I. A., Baba, D. L., & Egila, A. E., (2012). Effective Regulation and Level of Awareness: An Expose of the Nigeria’s Construction Industry. Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology. Vol. 2, pp 140-146.
[11]	Dodo, M., (2014). The Application of Health and Safety Plan in Nigerian Construction Firms. Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering. Volume 8, No. 1.
[12]	Dodo, M., Buhari, M. M., & Andrew, M. S., (2011). "Perception of Builders’ Documents as Contract Documents and the Imperatives for Their Use". Journal of Environmental Studies. 3 (1&2), 89-103.
[13]	Faremi, F. A., Ogunfowokan, A. A., Mbada, C., Olatubi, M. I., Ogungbemi A.V., (2015). Occupational Hazard Awareness and Safety Practices among Nigerian Sawmill Workers. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 3 (Online First). DOI: 10.5455/ijmsph.2014.260620142.
[14]	Federal Republic of Nigeria: Labour, Safety Health and welfare Bill of 2012.
[15]	Griffith & Howarth. (2004). "Construction Health and Safety Management". London: Imperial College.
[16]	Hagberg, M., Tornqvist, E. W., Toomingas, A, (2002). Self-Reported Reduced Productivity Due to Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Associations with Workplace and Individual Factors Among White-Collar Computer Users. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 12(3): 151-162.
[17]	Hall, D., & Goodale, J. (1986). Human resources management: strategy, design and implementation. Illinois: Forman and Company, (chapter 23).
[18]	Hughes, P., and Ferrett, E., (2005). Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction. Elsevier Butterworth, Heinemann Paris.
[19]	Idoro, G. I. (2011). Comparing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management efforts and Performance of Nigerian Construction Contractors. Journal for Construction in Developing Countries. 2011. Vol. 16 (2), pp 151–173.
[20]	Idoro, G. I., (2008).Health and Safety Management Efforts as Correlates of Performance in the Nigerian Construction Industry’. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management. Vol. 14 (4), pp 277-285.
[21]	Idubor, E. E., & Oisamoje, M. D. (2013). An Exploration of Health and Safety Management Issues in Nigeria’s Efforts to industrialize. European Scientific Journal. Vol. 9, (12), pp 154-169.
[22]	ILO, (2006). Occupational safety and health: synergies between security and productivity. Accessed from http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb295/pdf/esp-3.pdf.
[23]	Kalejaiye, P. O. (2013). Occupational Health and Safety: Issues, Challenges and Compensation in Nigeria. Peak Journal of Public health and Management. Vol. 1 (2), pp 16-23.
[24]	Koehn, E. E., Datta, N. K., (2003). Quality, Environmental, and Health and Safety Management Systems for Construction Engineering. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. 129(5): 562–569.
[25]	Kreitner, R.., (2007). Management. (10th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin company, (chapter 23).
[26]	Leblebici, D., (2012). Impact of Workplace Quality on Employee's Productivity: Case Study Of A Bank In Turkey. Journal of Business Economics. 1(1):38-49.
[27]	Lucas, O., (2001). Health and safety policies. London: McGraw – Hill Inc, (chapter 21).
[28]	MacLeod, D., Clarke, N., (2011). Engaging for success: enhancing performance through employee engagement, a report to Government. From http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/1810/1/file52215.pdf.
[29]	Makhonge, P. W. (2005). Challenges in Development of Labour Inspection System. African Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety. Vol. 15 (2), pp 32-33.
[30]	Makin, A. M., (2009). Applying the “safe place, safe person, safe systems” framework to improve OHS management: a new integrated approach. From unsworks.unsw.edu.au. http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:5001/source02.
[31]	Nnedinma, U., Boniface, U., Keith, J., & Nano, M. (2014). Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Regulations: A Review of Nigeria’s Construction Industry. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Infrastructure Development in Africa – Abeokuta, Nigeria, 17th-19th March, 2014.
[32]	Nnedinma, U., David. I., Keith Jones, & Boniface, U., (2014). Enforcement of Occupational Safety andHealth Regulations in Nigeria: An Exploration. European Scientific Journal. SPECIAL edition vol.3 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431.
[33]	Nzuve, S. N. M., and Lawrence, B. A. (2012). The extent of compliance withoccupational safety and health regulations at registered workplaces in Nairobi.International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology. Vol. 2 (2) 115-120.
[34]	Okojie, O. (2010). System for Reporting Occupational Diseases in Nigeria. African Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety. Vol. 20 (3), pp 51-53.
[35]	Okolie, K. C., & Okoye, P. U., (2012). Assessment of National Cultural Dimensions and Construction Health and safety climate in Nigeria. Science Journal of Environmental Engineering Research. Vol. 2012, 6 pgs.
[36]	Olurinola, I. O., Fadayomi, T., Amoo, E. O., & Ola-David, O., (2014). Occupational Health and Safety among Street Traders in Nigeria. International Journal of Economics and Finance. Vol. 6, No. 4. doi:10.5539/ijef.v6n4p59URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v6n4p59
[37]	Omokhodion, F., (2009). Occupational Health in Nigeria. Occupational Medicine.59(3):201.
[38]	Onyeozili, E. C., (2005). Obstacles to effective policing in Nigeria. African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies. Vol 1 NO (1), 32- 54.
[39]	Rafei, U. M. (2004). Strengthening the foundations of health in South-East Asia. Selected Speeches by Dr. Uton Muchtar Rafei, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region, Volume III, 2001–2004. New Delhi: WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.
[40]	Smallwood, J. J. (2002). The Influence of health and safety (H&S) culture on H&S Performance. In: Greenwood, D (Ed), 18th annual ARCOM conference, 2-4 September 2002, University of Northumbria. Association of Research inConstruction Management, Vol.1, 217-226.
[41]	WHO-ILO. (2000). Occupational health for workers in the informal sector. Report of a meeting of WHO-ILO on Occupational Health for Workers in the Informal Sector. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/en/oehafropretoria.pdf?ua=1.
[42]	Windapo, A. (2013). Relationship between degree of risk, cost and level of compliance to occupational health and safety regulations in construction. Australasian Journalof Construction Economics and Building. Vol 13(2), 67- 82.
[43]	Windapo, A., and Oladapo, A. (2012). Determinants of construction firms’ compliance with health and safety regulations in South Africa. In Smith, D. D (Ed) Procs 28^th Annual ARCOM conference, 3-5 September 2012, Edinburgh, UK. Association of Research in Construction Management, 433-444.
[44]	UNICEF (2013).Country programme document 2014-2017. The draft country programme document for Nigeria (E/ICEF/2013/P/L.7).

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Olatubi Matthew Idowu, Olatubi Victoria Iyabo. (2017). Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth. American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics, 2(3), 107-115. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Olatubi Matthew Idowu; Olatubi Victoria Iyabo. Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth. Am. J. Environ. Resour. Econ. 2017, 2(3), 107-115. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Olatubi Matthew Idowu, Olatubi Victoria Iyabo. Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth. Am J Environ Resour Econ. 2017;2(3):107-115. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13,
  author = {Olatubi Matthew Idowu and Olatubi Victoria Iyabo},
  title = {Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics},
  volume = {2},
  number = {3},
  pages = {107-115},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajere.20170203.13},
  abstract = {The importance work to man and man to work cannot be overemphasized. Because of this essentiality of work, workers spend most of their time in the work environment. The safety of work environment is therefore essential and important. The paper assessed issues related to ensuring safety in the work environment, taking into cognizance the important roles of the government (regulatory bodies), employer and employee, vis-a-vis policy formulations, policy enforcement and compliance and assess how Nigeria as a nation has performed to draw a conclusion whether the nation is on the part to securing her work environment or otherwise. While they are some occupational health and safety policies/laws in Nigeria, majority of those laws are obsolete and poorly enforced. Safety guideline compliance is very poor among both the employers and employee. If this trend is not corrected ensuring a safe working environment in Nigeria is largely a myth than been a reality.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth
AU  - Olatubi Matthew Idowu
AU  - Olatubi Victoria Iyabo
Y1  - 2017/05/05
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13
T2  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
JF  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
JO  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
SP  - 107
EP  - 115
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-787X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13
AB  - The importance work to man and man to work cannot be overemphasized. Because of this essentiality of work, workers spend most of their time in the work environment. The safety of work environment is therefore essential and important. The paper assessed issues related to ensuring safety in the work environment, taking into cognizance the important roles of the government (regulatory bodies), employer and employee, vis-a-vis policy formulations, policy enforcement and compliance and assess how Nigeria as a nation has performed to draw a conclusion whether the nation is on the part to securing her work environment or otherwise. While they are some occupational health and safety policies/laws in Nigeria, majority of those laws are obsolete and poorly enforced. Safety guideline compliance is very poor among both the employers and employee. If this trend is not corrected ensuring a safe working environment in Nigeria is largely a myth than been a reality.
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Olatubi Matthew Idowu

Department of Nursing, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria
Olatubi Victoria Iyabo

Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Olatubi Matthew Idowu, Olatubi Victoria Iyabo. (2017). Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth. American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics, 2(3), 107-115. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Olatubi Matthew Idowu; Olatubi Victoria Iyabo. Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth. Am. J. Environ. Resour. Econ. 2017, 2(3), 107-115. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Olatubi Matthew Idowu, Olatubi Victoria Iyabo. Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth. Am J Environ Resour Econ. 2017;2(3):107-115. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13,
  author = {Olatubi Matthew Idowu and Olatubi Victoria Iyabo},
  title = {Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics},
  volume = {2},
  number = {3},
  pages = {107-115},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajere.20170203.13},
  abstract = {The importance work to man and man to work cannot be overemphasized. Because of this essentiality of work, workers spend most of their time in the work environment. The safety of work environment is therefore essential and important. The paper assessed issues related to ensuring safety in the work environment, taking into cognizance the important roles of the government (regulatory bodies), employer and employee, vis-a-vis policy formulations, policy enforcement and compliance and assess how Nigeria as a nation has performed to draw a conclusion whether the nation is on the part to securing her work environment or otherwise. While they are some occupational health and safety policies/laws in Nigeria, majority of those laws are obsolete and poorly enforced. Safety guideline compliance is very poor among both the employers and employee. If this trend is not corrected ensuring a safe working environment in Nigeria is largely a myth than been a reality.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Ensuring a Safe Working Environment in Nigeria: Reality or Myth
AU  - Olatubi Matthew Idowu
AU  - Olatubi Victoria Iyabo
Y1  - 2017/05/05
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13
T2  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
JF  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
JO  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
SP  - 107
EP  - 115
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-787X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170203.13
AB  - The importance work to man and man to work cannot be overemphasized. Because of this essentiality of work, workers spend most of their time in the work environment. The safety of work environment is therefore essential and important. The paper assessed issues related to ensuring safety in the work environment, taking into cognizance the important roles of the government (regulatory bodies), employer and employee, vis-a-vis policy formulations, policy enforcement and compliance and assess how Nigeria as a nation has performed to draw a conclusion whether the nation is on the part to securing her work environment or otherwise. While they are some occupational health and safety policies/laws in Nigeria, majority of those laws are obsolete and poorly enforced. Safety guideline compliance is very poor among both the employers and employee. If this trend is not corrected ensuring a safe working environment in Nigeria is largely a myth than been a reality.
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download