Assessment of Chemical Safety Management in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facilities in Lagos State, South West Nigeria

Pharmaceutical manufacturing involves the use of a diverse array of chemical substances, including solvents, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and cleaning agents, whose safe management is critical to protecting workers and the environment. This study assessed chemical safety management practices in ten pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in the Lagos industrial corridor, South West Nigeria. Document reviews of chemical inventories, safety data sheets availability, chemical storage conditions, and emergency response plans were conducted. Structured questionnaires were administered to 240 production and quality assurance workers, and physical inspections of chemical storage and handling areas were undertaken. Findings showed that safety data sheets were available and current for ninety-one percent of chemicals in international affiliate plants, compared to sixty-three percent in indigenous pharmaceutical companies. Chemical storage facilities met segregation, labeling, and ventilation standards in seventy percent of assessed sites. Worker training on chemical safety was conducted annually in sixty-eight percent of facilities but was rated inadequate in depth by workers in forty-four percent of surveyed companies. Chemical spill emergency response drills had been conducted in only fifty-three percent of facilities in the previous twelve months. Health exposure monitoring for workers handling volatile solvents was systematic in only six of the ten assessed facilities. The study recommends adoption of a chemical management system based on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification, mandatory health surveillance for chemical handlers, and regular third-party audits. Keywords: chemical safety, pharmaceutical manufacturing, Lagos, safety data sheets, occupational health.