Assessment of Compliance with Industrial Safety Policies and Practices in Metal Workshops of Technical Colleges in Kebbi State, Nigeria

This study assessed the level of compliance with industrial safety policies and practices in metal workshops of Technical Colleges in Kebbi State, Nigeria. Industrial safety in educational workshops is critical to protecting students and staff from occupational hazards, especially in hands-on disciplines like metalwork technology. The study was guided by two objectives and two research questions. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design to collect and analyze data on safety practices, awareness levels, and adherence to institutional and national safety regulations. The population comprised 120 metalwork students from all four Technical Colleges in Kebbi State. Given the manageable size, the entire population was studied without sampling. A structured questionnaire was developed and validated to gather data on key safety dimensions, including personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, emergency preparedness, machine safety compliance, and student orientation on safety protocols. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that while students demonstrated moderate awareness of safety procedures, there were gaps in consistent compliance, particularly in areas of PPE use, signage availability, and emergency response training. Additionally, infrastructure limitations and weak enforcement mechanisms were identified as key constraints to effective policy implementation. The study concludes that although industrial safety policies exist, their practical enforcement within metal workshops remains suboptimal. It recommends regular safety audits, enforcement of workshop rules, capacity building for instructors, and improved funding for safety equipment and infrastructure to ensure a safer learning environment. These measures are essential for aligning technical training in Kebbi State with global occupational safety standards.