DETERMINANTS OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AMONG ROAD CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN RIVERS EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT

Abstract

This study investigated the determinants of occupational injuries among road construction workers in Rivers East Senatorial District. This was a descriptive survey design. The study was done among construction workers that are primarily engaged in the construction of roads, bridges, culverts and drainages. The sample size of 500 was selected using the multistage sampling procedure. A self-structured test instrument was used for data collection titled ‘‘Questionnaire on determinants of occupational injuries among road construction workers (QDOIRCW)’’. All analysis was done with the aid of Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS V-27). Each completed test instrument was assigned with a unique code. Data were analyzed descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages (%), mean, standard deviation for demographic data and for research questions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Inferential statistics of Point biserial correlation were used to test the null hypotheses at .05 alpha level. The results showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between years of work experience and occupational injuries as p<0.05, between safety training and occupational injuries as p<0.05, between use of PPE and occupational injuries as p<0.05, between risk perception and occupational injuries as p<0.05, between work condition and occupational injuries as p<0.05.Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that years of work experience, safety training, use of PPE, risk perception and work condition are significant determinants of occupational injuries among road construction workers. It was recommended that the government, through the ministry of labour and productivity, should enforce the bare minimum conditions every construction workplace should have to reduce the occurrence of occupational injuries.