Assessing the Level of Awareness of Health Hazards Associated with Operations of Medium-Scale DPK Vendors Using Motorized Pumps with ASTs in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

Introduction: The continuous trend in the increase of diseases and death associated mostly with hazards from the use and transportation of kerosene; coupled with tens of millions of Nigerians depending on it - as a substitute for stoves, cooking and an erratic electric power supply for lamp illumination, this could be as a result of low awareness of these risks amongst kerosene suppliers and retailers. Kerosene being a highly inflammable substance is a major factor in various fire burn injuries, child poisoning incidences reported across the country. Thus, numerous studies have been conducted on petrol stations and refineries; with little focusing on kerosene vendors and the operations of these vendors.

Objectives: This study assessed the level of awareness of health hazards associated with operations of medium-scale DPK vendors using motorized pumps with Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria.

Methodology: The study adopted a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire (to elicit the information on the operation of DPK vendors, health hazards and safety measure with their operations), observational checklist and Handheld Germin (GPSmap® 78) GPS.

Results: There was over 2000% increase in the establishment of DPK vendors within Ilorin metropolis from two in 2007 to seventy-six in 2017 with highest (48) found in Ilorin West LGA. A higher percentage of the DPK vendors (77.6%) lack the awareness on the health hazards associated with their operations; with a large proportion of the DPK vendors not engaging in basic safety practices. Few (7.9%) have fire extinguishers and majority (88.5%) of the DPK vendors not using the personal protective equipment (PPEs). The geospatial assessment of the DPK vendors also revealed that only two fire stations are found within Ilorin metropolis with 71% of the DPK vendors lacking the knowledge of their locations and all were ignorant of the fire station emergency numbers in case of fire mishaps. There is significant association between basic safety precaution practices and awareness on health and environmental hazards among DPK vendors.

Conclusion: The study revealed there is an uncontrolled proliferation of DPK vendors, low awareness level on the health hazards associated with their operations, lack of compliance to basic safety practices and high level of non-compliance to the use of PPEs. There is need for massive awareness campaign on the various health hazards associated with DPK vendors operations, basic precaution practices, the use of safety wears, fire stations emergency numbers and the precautions to avoid fire outbreaks and other disasters associated with their trade is sacrosanct.