Influence of Educational Attainment and Alcohol use on Occupational Safety among Commercial Vehicle Drivers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

The study investigated the role of educational attainment and alcohol use as factors that determine occupational safety among commercial vehicle drivers in Uyo, Two hundred and fifty two (252) male commercial vehicle drivers were purposively selected. Respondents’ ages ranged from 22 to 60 years. A descriptive survey design and 2-way Analysis of variances with unequal Sample size is employed for data analysis. Three hypotheses were tested at p-0.05 level of Significance. Results show that there was significant main influence of educational attainment on occupational safety [F (1, 230) = 14.408, p <.001] as well as significant main effect of alcohol use on occupational safety [F (3, 230) = 23.474, p<.001]. Also, the result shows that there was significant interaction influence of education and alcohol use in occupational safety [F (3, 230) =8.193, p <.001]. Further analysis shows that participants with low risk alcohol use reported the lowest means score on occupational risk (M = 22.16, n = 116, SD = 5.20) while those in addiction level of alcohol use reported the highest occupational risk (M = 29.54, n = 33, SD 7.09). The result further reveals that there was significant mean difference between low and medium risks (LSD = 4.6688, p < .05), low and high risk (LSD = 5.6338, p < .05) and low and addiction (LSD = 7.4657, p <.05). Significant mean difference was also reported between medium risk and addiction (LSD = 2.7969, p < .05). Furthermore, the result shows that there was a significant mean difference between drivers with FSLC and SSCE (LSD = 3,21675, p< .05) on occupational safety. Also, there was a significant difference between drivers with SSCE and those with SSCE and above (LSD = 2.67522, p< .05) on occupational safety. Given the relatively high prevalence of hazardous drinking among commercial drivers, implementing pre-employment screening could effectively convey the message that alcohol-related policies are strictly enforced by
the employer. The practical implications and findings of the results were thoroughly examined, leading to effective recommendations.