OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS AND SAFETY PRACTICES AMONGST WORKERS OF SEVEN-UP BOTTLING COMPANY, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Introduction: Occupational hazards remain a major public health concern, particularly in manufacturing industries where workers are exposed to physical, chemical, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks. Despite existing global and national regulations aimed at ensuring workplace safety, such as those guiding occupational health practices, these hazards persist, especially in developing countries due to poor compliance and underreporting, thus this study assessed occupational health hazards and safety practices among workers of Seven-Up Bottling Company, Benin City, Edo State. Objective: This study was conducted to assess occupational hazards and safety practices among workers in Seven-Up Bottling Company, Benin City, identify the common occupational health hazards present and factors predisposing workers to these hazards, with the goal of guiding targeted prevention and occupational health promotion to reduce workplace risks. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 105 workers selected using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interviewer- administered questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to summarize data, while Chi- square test and binary logistic regression were used to determine associations and predictors at a 5% level of significance. Results: The mean age of respondents was 32.7 ± 8.1 years. Most respondents were males, 71 (67.6%), and were between 20–29 years, 45 (42.9%). Common occupational hazards identified included psychological stress, awkward posture, repetitive movements, noise exposure, slippery floors, moving machinery without adequate guards, and glass bottle explosions. More than half of the respondents, 58 (55.2%), demonstrated poor safety practices, while 47 (44.8%) had good safety practices. Department/unit was significantly associated with the level of safety practice (p < 0.001). Additionally, 42 (40.0%) of respondents sustained work-related injuries in the last 12 months. Among those injured, cuts and lacerations from broken glass or metal were the most common