Implementation of Occupational Health Management Systems in Medium-Scale Industries in Lagos State: Challenges and Prospects

Occupational health management systems (OHMS) provide a structured framework for identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace health risks, yet their adoption in Nigerian medium-scale industries remains fragmented and inconsistent. This study investigated the implementation challenges and prospects of OHMS in medium-scale manufacturing industries in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive survey and qualitative method were combined, with 45 occupational health officers and factory managers from 45 industries participating. A structured questionnaire assessed OHMS implementation status, barrier identification, and organizational readiness, while focus group discussions explored lived implementation experiences. Results revealed that only 28.9 percent of sampled industries had a documented OHMS aligned with ISO 45001 or equivalent standards. Key implementation challenges included inadequate occupational health personnel, poor top management commitment, limited financial resources, and weak enforcement by regulatory agencies. Industries with active trade union representation demonstrated significantly higher OHMS coverage (p less than 0.05). Prospects for improvement were identified in the growing influence of international supply chain requirements and increasing insurance industry demands for workplace health documentation. The study recommends sector-specific OHMS implementation guidelines by the Federal Ministry of Labour, subsidized capacity-building programs for occupational health officers, and incentive structures that reward OHMS adoption in Nigerian medium-scale enterprises. Keywords: occupational health management systems, ISO 45001, medium industries, workplace safety, Lagos State.