Occupational Health and Safety Regulation in Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector: Compliance Assessment for Onshore Operations in Ondo State

This study assesses occupational health and safety (OHS) regulatory compliance among petroleum operators conducting onshore exploration and production activities in Ondo State, South West Nigeria, focusing on bitumen and crude oil operations. OHS regulation in Nigeria's petroleum sector is governed by EGASPIN, the Factories Act, and sector-specific NUPRC guidelines, but enforcement varies significantly by operation type and location. Using a professional survey methodology, the research administers a structured OHS audit questionnaire to safety officers at twelve petroleum operation sites in Irele and Odigbo LGAs. Incident reporting records, safety management system documentation, and regulatory inspection logs from 2021 to 2024 are analysed as secondary data. Findings indicate that less than 40 percent of surveyed sites maintain fully documented OHS management systems, and reportable incident rates are believed to be significantly understated due to inadequate near-miss reporting culture. The study recommends mandatory OHS management system certification for all onshore petroleum operators and the integration of OHS performance metrics into NUPRC licensing renewal assessments. Keywords: occupational health and safety, petroleum sector, Ondo State, onshore operations, regulatory compliance.