Reported Occupational Health Hazards and Perceived Health Effects Among Oil and Gas Workers in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Oil and gas operations expose workers to chemical, physical, mechanical and psychosocial hazards, but facility-level evidence on how workers’ reported hazards relate to their perceived health effects in Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, is limited. This study assessed reported occupational health hazards and perceived health effects among oil and gas workers and tested the relationship between them. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Awoba and Cawthorne Channel flow stations. Of 250 questionnaires administered, 239 were retrieved fully completed (response rate 95.6%) and analysed. Data were collected with the Occupational Health Hazards Questionnaire, scored on a four-point Likert scale with a criterion mean of 2.50 (test–retest reliability r = 0.82). Data were analysed with SPSS version 25 using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and Pearson product–moment correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. Results: Most respondents were male (87.9%). Workers agreed with all six hazard statements (grand mean = 2.94, SD = 0.75), with radiation exposure (M = 3.49) and physical injuries (M = 3.19) rated highest. They also agreed with all seven perceived health-effect statements (grand mean = 2.86, SD = 0.87), with fatigue and reduced concentration from long working hours (M = 3.24) and effects of job demands on mood and emotional well-being (M = 3.14) rated highest. Reported hazards were weakly but significantly correlated with perceived health effects (r = .167, p = .010). Conclusion: Oil and gas workers in Degema reported a wide range of occupational hazards and associated health effects, and higher hazard reports were associated with higher perceived health effects. Task-specific hazard assessment, objective exposure monitoring, review of working hours and occupational health surveillance with referral are recommended.