Empirical Investigation of Environmental Management Practices and Worker Health Outcomes in Nigerian Textile Factories

This study empirically investigates the relationship between environmental management practices and occupational health outcomes in textile manufacturing facilities in Kano and Kaduna States, North West Nigeria. Textile production exposes workers to cotton dust, synthetic fibre particles, chemical dyes, and noise from weaving and finishing machinery, creating occupational environmental health risks that are determined partly by the quality of workplace environmental management. A cross-sectional epidemiological study design was employed, covering eight textile facilities of varying size and management quality. Workplace environmental conditions including dust concentrations, noise levels, and chemical exposure were measured at each facility using occupational hygiene methods. Workers' spirometric lung function, audiometric hearing thresholds, and skin condition were assessed by a research physician. Environmental management quality at each facility was scored using a structured audit protocol covering dust control systems, hearing protection provisions, chemical handling procedures, ventilation adequacy, and worker health monitoring programmes. Regression analysis tested the association between facility environmental management quality scores and worker health outcomes. Results show a significant positive relationship between environmental management quality scores and worker spirometric function and a significant negative relationship between environmental management scores and prevalence of audiometric threshold shift. Facilities with ISO 45001 occupational health management system certification show the best combined environmental management and worker health profiles. The relationship is strongest for dust-related health outcomes. The study concludes that environmental management investment has quantifiable worker health benefits in the textile sector. Recommendations include mandatory dust control audits for all Nigerian textile facilities. Keywords: occupational environmental health, textile industry, Kano, Kaduna, environmental management.