Evaluation of the Use of Social Media for the Dissemination of Safety Information in the Oil and Gas Industry in Port Harcourt

Osajele; Samson Onyekachukwu; G. O. Avwiri Akuro; Big-Alabo

doi:10.56201/ijemt.vol.12.no7.2026.pg116.126

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Evaluation of the Use of Social Media for the Dissemination of Safety Information in the Oil and Gas Industry in Port Harcourt

Osajele, Samson Onyekachukwu,, G. O. Avwiri Akuro, Big-Alabo

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of social media platforms, specifically WhatsApp and Telegram, in disseminating safety information among oil and gas workers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected from 300 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to examine relationships between platform usage and safety compliance. The findings revealed that WhatsApp is the most widely used platform, with 75% of respondents relying on it for daily safety updates, compared to 25% who use Telegram. Respondents reported higher levels of trust and engagement with WhatsApp safety messages, and its use was significantly associated with improved compliance with safety guidelines (p < 0.05). A strong majority (82.0%) reported that safety instructions received on WhatsApp have influenced their compliance with safety practices, such as PPE use or hazard reporting. The mean score of 3.95 (on a 5-point scale) further confirms a positive perceived impact on safety performance. The paired-samples t-test revealed a significant mean difference in perceived effectiveness between WhatsApp and Telegram (t = 15.42, df = 299, p < .001). This indicates that respondents consistently view WhatsApp as a superior platform for safety communication. Challenges such as misinformation and message overload were also identified. The study concludes that WhatsApp is an effective tool for enhancing safety communication in the oil and gas sector and recommends that organizations formally integrate social media into their safety communication strategies, provide training on its use, and establish policies to ensure the accuracy and relevance of shared information.

Keywords

Oil and GasSafety practicesCommunicationPort HarcourtSocial media platformsWhatsApp and Telegram

References

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Evaluation of the Use of Social Media for the Dissemination of Safety Information in the Oil and Gas Industry in Port Harcourt

Abstract

Keywords

References

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