A Critical Evaluation of South Sudan’s Policy Framework for Health and Safety Management in the Oil and Gas Industry in Paloich- Melut County: A Case Study of Dar Petroleum Operating Company
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t2026Abstract
The paper conducted a critical evaluation of South Sudan’s policy framework for health and safety management in the oil and gas industry in Paloich- Melut County with interests in Dar Petroleum Operating Company. Specifically, the study assessed the effect of government policy, the organizational practices that affects the health and safety management of community and to explore the challenges affecting the implementation of policy frameworks for health and safety management practices by Dar Petroleum Operating Company. Descriptive survey research design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data thus following mixed method approach. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires while Qualitative data was obtained from in-depth interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The results revealed that government policy and organizational practices are positively and significantly related to health and safety management practices among oil exploration companies. However, organizational challenges and health and safety management practices among oil exploration companies is negatively and significantly related. The main challenges were lack of resources, poor leadership and corruption. The study concluded that an increase in adoption of Government Policy and organizational practices led to a significant increase on safety management practices among oil exploration companies. The study recommended that the oil and gas exploring companies strengthen the capacities of all concerned to achieve the sound management intellectual capital, exploration and production waste minimization, sound management of oil fields and hazardous wastes at all levels.
Keywords: Health and Safety Management Practices, Government Policy, Company Policy, Organizational Practices & South Sudan
References
African Development Bank [AfDB]. (2016). African Economic Outlook 2016 - Sustainable Cities and Structural Transformation. African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Chol, J. D. (2017). The Reality of Petroleum Resource Curse in South Sudan: Can this be avoided? The African Review, 43(2), 18-50.
CIA (US Central Intelligence Agency) (2017). The World Fact book: Crude Oil - Provide Reserves. Washington DC: CIA.
Cooper, D.R., & Schindler, P.S. (2003). Business Research Methods. 8th Edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin, Boston.
EIA (US Energy Information Administration) (2018). Crude oil production US Department of Energy. Washington, DC.
Kponee, K.Z., Chiger, A., Kakulu, I.I., Vorhees, D., and Heiger-Bernays, W. (2015). Petroleum contaminated water and health symptoms: a cross-sectional pilot study in a rural Nigerian community. Environ Health, 6(14); 86. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-015-0073-0
Ministry of Environment (2016). The National Environment Protection and Sustainable Development Policy, 2014-2024Por. Juba: Ministry of Environment (MOE), Republic of South Sudan.
Mugenda, O. M. & Mugenda, A. G. (2012). Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Nairobi: Acts Press.
Mutebi, S. (2020). Exploration history and recent discovery of Eastern Africa to date (Conference paper). St Augustine International University, Uganda
Nabende, J. (2019). Management of inter-ethnic conflicts: a case of Nabbongo Sub-County, Bulambuli District (MA Thesis). Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations: Nairobi.
Nanok, J.K. and Onyango, C.O. (2017). A socioeconomic and environmental analysis of the effects of oil exploration on the local community in Lokichar, Turkana County, Kenya. International Journal of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (IJMESS), 6 (3), 144-156
Nassiuma, D. K. (2000). Survey sampling: Theory and methods. Egerton University Press.
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2014). Assessment of Health Status and the Environment in Oil Producing Areas. Juba: Ministry of Petroleum, Mining and Industry and National Bureau of Standards (NBS) South Sudan.
Nenadic, V. and Koehlere, M. (2015). Security Field Assessment Report (Mala and Lole - Unity State). UNDSS/UN Security South Sudan.
Ngor, A. (2020). Ruweng State communities under threat from oil spillage. Retrieved from https://oglinks.news/national-oil-cos/news/ruweng-state-communities-under-threat-from-oil-spill
O’Callaghan-Gordo, C., Orta-Martínez, M., and Kogevinas, M. (2016). Health effects of non-occupational exposure to oil extraction. Environmental Health, 15:56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-016-0140-1
Ogbija, T., Atubi, A., Ojeh, V. (2015). Effects of environmental degradation on human health in selected oil communities in delta state. Journal of Environment and Earth Science 5:72–88.
PAX. (2014). Scrutiny of South Sudan’s Oil Industry: Community Relations, Labour Practices and Impact on Land Use Patterns. Retrieved from: https://www.paxforpeace.nl/publications/all-publications/scrutiny-of-south-sudans-oil-industry
Paz-y-Miño, C., López-Cortés, A., Arévalo, M., and Sánchez, M.E. (2008). Monitoring of DNA damage in individuals exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons in Ecuador. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1140: 121-8. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1454.013
Polit, D.F. and Beck, C.T. (2004). Nursing Research Principles and Methods. 7th Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.
Sako, E. B. (2017). Public health implications of oil pollution in Koluama, Nigeria. Retrieved 19 March 2021, from https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4362&context=dissertations
Shamoo, A.E., and Resnik, B.R. (2003). Responsible Conduct of Research. Oxford University Press.
Strehlenert, H., Hansson, J., Nyström, M.E. and Hasson, H. (2019). Implementation of a national policy for improving health and social care: a comparative case study using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. BMC Health Serv Res 19, 730.
Tadeo, M. (2017). Api: Oil and natural gas drilling sees 62 percent increase over 2016 levels. Energy API.
Takpiny, B. (2019). S. Sudan: Infant deformities due to oil pollution. Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/s-sudan-infant-deformities-due-to-oil-pollution/1565764
Thomson, K., Hillier-Brown, F., Todd, A. et al. (2018). The effects of public health policies on health inequalities in high-income countries: an umbrella review. BMC Public Health 18, 869. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5677-1
Vogt, W. P. (2007). Quantitative research methods for professional. Boston: Pearson Education Inc.
Webb, J., Coomes, O.T., Ross, N., and Mergler, D. (2016). Mercury concentrations in urine of amerindian populations near oil fields in the peruvian and ecuadorian amazon. Environ Res. 151: 344-350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.040
World Energy Council (WEC) (2013). World Energy Resources 2013 Survey. London: World Energy Council (WEC).
World Health Organization [WHO] (2006). The role of government in health development. Retrieved 19 March 2021, from https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/EM_RC53_Tech.Disc.1_en.pdf
Yermukhanova, L., Zhexenova, A., Izimbergenova, G., Turebaev, M., Bekbauova, A., Zumabekov, E. (2017). Immunodeficiency states in persons residing in the oil-producing regions of Kazakhstan. Research Journal of Medical Sciences 11:16–18.
