Assessment of Workplace First Aid Preparedness in Selected Industries in Plateau State

Workplace first aid preparedness is a critical but frequently neglected occupational health and safety requirement in Nigerian industries, with direct implications for injury outcomes and worker mortality. This study assessed first aid preparedness in selected industries in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. An evaluative cross-sectional design was used, and 45 safety and health officers from 15 mining, manufacturing, and construction firms in Jos and Barkin Ladi were assessed. A workplace first aid preparedness index was developed and applied, covering trained personnel ratio, equipment availability, first aid station functionality, and incident response documentation. Results showed that only 26.7 percent of sampled industries achieved a satisfactory preparedness rating. Certified first aiders represented fewer than 2 percent of the total workforce in 73.3 percent of companies. First aid kits were present but inadequately stocked in 68.9 percent of companies, and dedicated first aid rooms were available in only 31.1 percent. Emergency response plans were documented in 44.4 percent of companies but tested in fewer than 15 percent. The study found that larger companies and those with multinational affiliations had significantly higher preparedness scores. Recommendations include mandatory first aid training quotas proportional to workforce size, standardized first aid kit contents aligned with Nigeria's industrial hazard profile, and integration of first aid preparedness audits into state factory inspectorate processes in Plateau State. Keywords: first aid preparedness, workplace safety, industrial health, emergency response, Plateau State.