Compliance with Innovative Safety Measures in the Nigerian Sawmilling Industry: A Case Study of Kwara State

The sawmilling industry in Nigeria faces significant occupational health and safety challenges due to outdated technology, inadequate safety practices, and poor working conditions. This study evaluates compliance with innovative safety measures in the Nigerian sawmilling industry, specifically focusing on the use of safety equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The study was conducted in Kwara State, Nigeria, using a two-stage sampling technique to select 125 sawmill workers, with 121 valid responses collected. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Likert-type scale analysis, and multinomial logistic regression to identify determinants of safety compliance. The findings revealed that while basic safety equipment such as first aid kits and silencers are generally available, their usage is inconsistent, with notable underutilization of critical PPE like industrial helmets and safety glasses. The multinomial logistic regression revealed that experience, income, awareness of laws was positively significant with compliance to use of safety equipment at p < 0.05. The study highlights a gap between awareness and the use of safety equipment, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, including training programs, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and the adoption of modern safety technologies. These findings underscore the necessity of improving safety compliance in the sawmilling industry to enhance worker safety and reduce occupational hazards. Therefore, the study recommends sawmill authority(s) should oversee and do proper implementation as regards the use of safety equipment and provide further innovative strategies as a measure to curb environmental disturbances and reduce health hazards among the sawmillers.