Occupational Health And Safety In Polymer Manufacturing: A Conceptual Exploration Of Mitigation Strategies For Sustainable Development

Polymer manufacturing is vital to Nigeria's industrial development, but it exposes workers and nearby communities to significant occupational health and safety (OHS) risks if not well managed. These hazards include chemical exposures, fires and explosions, ergonomic strain, and environmental degradation. Addressing such risks within the framework of sustainable development is critical to ensuring long-term industrial resilience. This conceptual study identifies and classifies five key hazard categories—chemical, fire/explosion, mechanical/ergonomic, thermal/noise, and environmental. Each is mapped to corresponding mitigation layers under the Hierarchy of Controls and OSHA's 14-element Process Safety Management (PSM) model. Comparative analysis integrates Nigerian OHS regulations (Factories Act, NESREA, SON, DPR) with global frameworks such as ISO 45001 and ILO conventions. The conceptual mapping reveals that risk elimination and engineering controls provide the strongest preventive impact, while administrative measures and personal protective equipment serve as residual layers. Historical case studies—Piper Alpha (1988), Phillips Pasadena (1989), and BP Texas City (2005)—illustrate how inadequate hazard control and weak safety culture can trigger catastrophic failures. Embedding proactive OHS frameworks into polymer production aligns directly with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 8, 9, and 12). The model proposed offers policymakers, academia, and industry stakeholders a theoretical pathway to integrate safety with sustainability and enhance Nigeria's competitiveness in global polymer manufacturing.