Occupational Health and Safety Management and Worker Wellbeing in Oil and Gas Firms in Delta State

This research examines the relationship between occupational health and safety (OHS) management practices and worker wellbeing in oil and gas firms operating in Delta State, Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone. The oil and gas industry presents some of the highest occupational risk environments globally, and effective OHS management is both a legal obligation and a moral imperative for firms operating in this sector. This study employs a survey research design with data collected from 130 oil field workers, safety officers, and operations supervisors. Structured questionnaires and observational checklists were used, with data analysed through descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The study evaluates OHS dimensions including hazard identification systems, personal protective equipment provision, safety training frequency, incident reporting culture, and management safety commitment. Results indicate that management safety commitment and safety training frequency are the strongest predictors of overall worker wellbeing scores, encompassing physical safety, mental health, and job satisfaction dimensions. Incident reporting culture was found to be significantly underdeveloped in smaller contracting firms, creating information gaps that impede proactive risk management. The paper recommends that oil and gas firms in Delta State strengthen safety management systems through international certification frameworks, invest in regular safety drills, and foster open incident reporting cultures. Keywords: occupational health and safety, worker wellbeing, oil and gas, Delta State, safety management.