8279318 The respiratory protection programs in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry: insights, challenges, and pathways to improvement

<h3>Objectives</h3> Nigeria’s oil and gas industry comprises over 100 operational companies, including multinational corporations, indigenous firms, and service providers across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. Workers employed in this sector may face significant respiratory hazards, necessitating robust Respiratory Protection Programs (RPPs) to safeguard their health and safety. This study aims to evaluate RPPs in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, identifying existing gaps, barriers, and facilitators to behavioural change, with the goal of providing evidence-based recommendations for improvement. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> Using the COM-B model as a theoretical foundation, the research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews with Industrial Hygienists alongside quantitative surveys targeting Industrial Hygienists, Health and Safety Officers, as well as workers potentially exposed to airborne hazards to evaluate RPP implementation within the framework of the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US OSHA) respiratory protection standard. <h3>Results</h3> Preliminary findings from the qualitative study highlight differences in RPP implementation, training programmes, quality of fit-testing, RPE access, and compliance monitoring. Results suggest that the quality of the RPP may be low in some of the companies. These findings align with existing literature emphasizing weak regulatory enforcement and resource constraints. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Addressing these challenges is critical to improving RPP effectiveness. Future work includes completing qualitative and quantitative analyses to develop actionable recommendations for enhancing respiratory protection as well as worker health and safety in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.