Contribution of Human Resources Managers on Health and Wellbeing of Workers in Industrial Sectors in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State

Abstract

The health and wellbeing of industrial workers is a significant public health concern that is shaped by workplace safety management. In Nigeria's non-oil industrial sector, encompassing food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wire and cable, and general manufacturing, the contribution of Human Resources (HR) managers to occupational health through enforcement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use and consistent health risk assessment remains inadequately documented, particularly within Ilorin Metropolis. This study examined, as perceived by workers, whether (i) enforcement of PPE use and (ii) consistent health risk assessment by HR managers contribute to the health and wellbeing of workers in industrial establishments in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State. A descriptive survey design was adopted. Using the Taro Yamane formula with a finite population of 2,820 workers in eight industrial establishments (margin of error 0.05), a sample of 350 workers was selected by stratified, purposive, proportionate and simple random sampling. A researcher-structured four-point Likert questionnaire (SA = 4, A = 3, D = 2, SD = 1), validated by three experts and with a split-half (Spearman-Brown) reliability coefficient of r = 0.82, was used. Responses were summarised as percentages of positive (SA + A) and negative (D + SD) responses, and each of the two null hypotheses was tested with item-level chi-square goodness-of-fit tests (df = 1; expected 50:50; α = 0.05).

Findings revealed that:

(i) positive responses on enforcement of PPE use ranged from 83.7% to 87.1% across items and exceeded negative responses significantly (χ²(1) = 159.13 to 193.14, all p < .001); and

(ii)  positive responses on consistent health risk assessment ranged from 81.4% to 84.0% and exceeded negative responses significantly (χ²(1) = 138.29 to 161.84, all p < .001).

It was concluded that workers perceive both PPE enforcement and consistent health risk assessment by HR managers as contributing to their health and wellbeing; the findings reflect perceptions and do not establish causation. It was recommended that industrial establishments institutionalise enforcement of PPE compliance and regularly conduct systematic health risk assessments as core HR responsibilities.