OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE AMONG EMPLOYEES IN FOUR TABLE WATER MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN OBIO/ AKPOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

The aim of this study was to investigate the occupational safety knowledge and practices of employees in four table water manufacturing companies in Obio/Akor LGA of Rivers State.  Eight research questions and six hypotheses were formulated to achieve the aim of the study.  The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a population which consisted of all the 1001 employees.  A proportionate random sampling technique was sued to select a sample size of 517.  The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire with a reliability index of 0.74. Data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) verson 20.  Statistical tools such as frequency count, percentage, means, Pearson Correlation and ANOVA were used to analyze the data generated.  The findings of the study showed that, about three quarter (74.5%) of the respondents had a good knowledge of occupational safety.  Overall, about half 229 (50.25) of the respondents practice occupational safety always, 107 (23.5%) practiced occasionally, 63(13.8%) hardly while 57(12.5) never practiced occupational safety.  The result further showed that the major occupational safety practice of the respondents was adherence to company’s safety rules and regulations (80.7%), followed by report of workplace hazards and faulty equipment (77.2%), use of clothing like coverall or work uniform at work (76.8%), use of foot protection like  safety shoes (75.0%), use of fall arrestors when working at height (71.3%), taking part in safety training (71.1%), use of respiratory protection like nose mask (69.5%), use of hand protectors like glove (68.0%) and eye protector like goggle (52.0%).  The findings of this study showed a high relationship between knowledge and other variables such as education (r=0.80), age (-0.81) and years of working experience (r=-0.75).  The result of the tested hypotheses on this revealed that factors such as education (p<0.05), age  (P<0.05) and years of work experience (P <0.05) had a significant relationship with knowledge of occupational safety.  Also, there was a statistically significant difference in occupational safety practice with respect to education (p<0.00), age (p<0.05) and years of work experience.  It was concluded that, employees working in manufacturing companies have good knowledge and good practice of occupational safety.  Therefore, management and safety specialists in manufacturing companies should continue comply with safety instructions and procedures given by their organizations Professional safety organizations and trade unions should  organize periodic workshops and training programs on safety to sustain the awareness of occupational safety  relevant government departments and enforcement agencies should continue to sustain the regular monitoring and inspection of workplaces to ensure operations meet required  safety standards and prescribed legal requirements