The Pattern of Occupational Accidents, Injuries, Accident Causal Factors and Intervention in Nigerian Factories

Understanding the status quo of occupational incidents in Nigeria in relation to accident rates, fatality rates, accident causal factors and intervention is vital in developing effective strategies for improving the problematic state of occupational health and safety (OHS) in Nigeria. As such, this study explores the pattern of reported accidents, injuries, near misses, accident causal factors and intervention in Nigeria. It reviews and discusses accidents reported to the custodian of OHS in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity Inspectorate Division (FMLPID) over an 11-year period (2002-2012). Analysis of the data collected was also conducted, the findings from which prompted interviews of 10 staff out of 48 staff employed by FMLPID. Over the 11 year period, this study found that of the reported accidents: 80% occurred at night; manufacturers of rubber products accounted for the highest number of injuries at 53.8% and 63% for death; the total case fatality rate was 49.5, hence a significant increase in case fatality rate compared with the last study in 2001 by Ezenwa. Fire resulted in 53% of the deaths, while management factors accounted for 91.3% of the remote or contributory accident causal factors in which 90% were due to lack of training. Also, with a notable reduction in accident reporting in Nigeria and the FMLPID reportedly failing to penalise offenders as specified by the OHS legislation as established in this study, an overhaul of the operations of the FMLPID is therefore recommended. This is in addition with development and adoption of free mobile accident reporting system for victims. Keywords: Accidents, accident causal factors, fatality, injuries, intervention and Nigeria.