Perception of Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Among Small-Scale Factory Owners in Ogun State

The attitudes and perceptions of small factory owners toward occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations significantly shape the protection or exposure of workers in Nigeria's informal industrial sector. This study assessed the perception and compliance behavior of small-scale factory owners toward OHS regulations in Sagamu and Ijebu Ode industrial zones, Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 90 factory owners using a semi-structured questionnaire. Key domains explored included awareness of OHS legislation, perception of regulatory relevance, compliance motivations, and barriers. Results showed that 64.4 percent of factory owners had low awareness of specific OHS regulatory requirements under Nigeria's Factories Act and related legislation. Among aware respondents, 53.7 percent perceived existing regulations as either irrelevant to their business scale or excessive in their requirements. Compliance was primarily reactive, triggered by government inspection visits reported by only 31.1 percent of owners. Cost of compliance, regulatory complexity, and perceived low enforcement frequency were the dominant barriers. Positive perceptions of OHS were significantly associated with higher educational attainment and membership in industry associations. This study recommends simplified, tiered OHS compliance guidelines for small enterprises, advisory workshops by state labor inspectorates, and incentive-based compliance recognition programs to improve occupational health standards in Ogun State's informal manufacturing sector. Keywords: OHS regulations, factory owners, compliance perception, small-scale industry, Ogun State.