Occupational Health and Safety Requirements in Oil Facilities: A Field Study of the Zawiya Oil Depot Affiliated with Brega Petroleum Marketing Company

Abstract

This study aims to examine the extent of compliance with occupational health and safety requirements in oil facilities through a field investigation conducted at the Zawiya Oil Depot, operated by the Brega Petroleum Marketing Company. A specially designed questionnaire was employed for this purpose, comprising sixty-nine items distributed across three main dimensions that addressed various aspects of occupational health and safety. The questionnaire was administered to a random sample of twenty-five employees, including administrators, engineers, and technicians, in order to collect the necessary data for testing the study’s hypotheses and assessing workers’ awareness and adherence to safety standards. For data analysis, both descriptive and analytical methods were applied using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Cronbach’s Alpha was utilized to measure validity and reliability, alongside additional statistical tests to verify normal distribution and the significance of differences between variables. The analysis revealed that participants’ views were generally consistent regarding the level of implementation of occupational health and safety requirements. Moreover, no statistically significant differences were observed among managers, supervisors, engineers, and technicians in terms of compliance with workplace safety procedures. Overall, the findings indicate a general weakness in safety culture and a lack of awareness of its importance, coupled with evident challenges in communication and coordination across administrative levels. In addition, deficiencies were noted in the implementation of training and awareness programs. These results underscore the urgent need to develop effective mechanisms for reporting and analyzing risks and incidents, thereby contributing to the promotion of a safe and sustainable working environment within oil facilities.