An Analysis of Engineering Safety Practices and Occupational Hazards in Local Blacksmith Forging Workshops: A Cross-Sectional Study of Damaturu Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

The informal metallurgical sector, particularly local blacksmithing, is central to the grassroots economy in Northern Nigeria. But the change from manual to mechanised forging has brought with it serious occupational dangers without comparable safety improvements. The study assessed engineering controls, compliance to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety procedures in blacksmithing workshops in Damaturu city, Yobe State. A cross-sectional study was performed in 60 workshops selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected by researcher observation checklists and structured interviews and analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and multiple linear regression. The results indicate major deficiencies in engineering controls, with only 18% of motorised workshops having machine guarding and an average electrical safety score of 3.2 out of 10. The PPE compliance was critically low (mean 24%) and no workshop had a standard fire extinguisher In a two-year period, the average accident rate was 2.8 injuries per workshop. Multiple regression study shows significant negative predictors of accident history in terms of machine guarding (β=-0.45, p<.01) and electrical safety score (β=-0.38, p<.05). The study revealed that the high rate of occupational injuries in the blacksmithing industry of Damaturu is directly linked to the absence of basic engineering controls. It is recommended that the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) and local technical institutes initiate urgent, context-specific interventions.