Employee Involvement in Workplace Safety and Health-Seeking Behaviour among Workers in Oil and Gas Dispensing Outfits in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria
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Abstract
Employee involvement in safety matters has increasingly been recognized as a critical component of organizational safety culture, with potential implications for workers’ health behaviours. This study examined the extent of employee involvement in safety matters and its relationship with health-seeking behaviour among workers in oil and gas dispensing outfits in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria. A cross-sectional mixed-method survey design was adopted, and data were collected from a sample of 212 respondents and 12 key informants using structured questionnaires and key informant interview guide. Frequencies and percentages, Pearson’s Correlation, and linear regression) were respectively used to assess the level of employee involvement in safety matters, relationships, and predictive effects. Findings revealed a high level of employee involvement in safety activities, a moderately positive relationship between employee involvement in safety matters and health-seeking behaviour (r = 0.498, p < 0.05), and a significant predictive effect of employee involvement on health-seeking behaviour (β = 0.498, R² = 0.248, p < 0.05). These results underscore the importance of participatory safety practices in shaping not only workplace safety outcomes but also individual health-related behaviours. The study concludes that fostering active employee participation in safety management can enhance workers’ responsiveness to health needs and promote proactive health-seeking behaviour. It is recommended that organizations strengthen inclusive safety policies, enhance training programs, and create supportive environments that encourage safety compliance and positive health behaviours. The study contributes to the growing body of literature linking safety culture with broader health outcomes, particularly in high-risk occupational settings within developing contexts.
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