An ssessment of job hazard analysis and safety performance in indigenous oil servicing companies in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The operational activity of the oil and gas industry exposes workers to a wide range of occupational hazards emanating from human error. How to identify a model that would accurately detect, prevent and minimize top events and accompanying consequences as well as building the required skills needed to model attitude of the workforce towards efficient hazard management and improved safety performance was a major concern.  The study examined the association among three models of job hazard analysis (JHA) Swiss cheese, Bow-tie and Risk Assessment Matrix) compared with the Human-Factor (H-Factor) modelon some selected organizational safety performance variables in some selected indigenous oil and gas servicing companies in Rivers State, (Nigeria (Airyolk Nigeria Limited, West Energy Limited and Wire Technologies). The socio- technical system theory was the explanatory framework for the study. A pre and post-test design was adopted in each company. A total of 209 staff were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. The data collected were analyses with the dependent T-test statistical method. The result revealed a significant difference between the mean staff-reported safety performance indicators for all three models and the H-Factor model which implied that the workers consider the H-Factor to be more comprehensive in terms of improving organizational safety performance when compared to the others.  The study recommends that indigenous oil and gas firms should consider models that focus on mitigating top events by embedding socio-human factors and safety parameters (organizational shared values, personnel competence matrix, leadership commitment to safety and employee engagement strategies) that would minimize costs to the workers and the organization.