Strengthening Occupational Safety through Personal Protective Equipment Availability, Accessibility, and Utilization among Waste Collectors in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria
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Abstract
This study examined occupational safety through the availability, accessibility, and utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) among waste collectors in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods research design was adopted. The study population comprised 357 waste collectors employed by the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA), from which a sample of 189 respondents was selected using Yamane's formula and stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, observational checklists, and key informant interviews, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that physical injuries were the most common occupational hazard, accounting for 37.0 percent in Ikot Ekpo. In comparison, 44.9 percent of respondents in Marian Market reported daily exposure to occupational hazards. Gloves were the most commonly provided PPE (42.9 percent), whereas 32.3 percent indicated that access to PPE was very difficult. Discomfort (36.5 percent) and inadequate PPE supply (28.0 percent) were the leading reasons for non-utilization of PPE. The regression analysis showed that PPE availability, accessibility, and utilization had a significant positive influence on occupational safety (R = .781, R² = .610, F = 96.528, p < 0.05). The study recommends improved PPE provision, enhanced accessibility, regular occupational safety training, and stricter enforcement of workplace safety regulations to protect waste collectors.
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