Country context-based opportunities for improving health and safety

Using Nigeria as a case study, this study examines the Social, Political, Economic, Cultural and Religious (SPECR) contexts of developing countries towards unearthing and discussing the opportunities for improving Health and Safety (H&S). Previous research demonstrates the imperativeness of understanding the SPECR contexts of developing countries and the implications of practices, policies and laws that are not underpinned or based on a good understanding of the contexts. However, this has received little attention and the contexts-based opportunities for improving H&S remain unexamined. Through a critical review of literature, it was found that the contexts-based opportunities for improving H&S centre around social media platforms, unexplored potentials and undeveloped fields, the quest of Nigerians to embrace change, religion which teaches morals, community leadership where the leaders are able to command respect, the collectivist cultural dimension which emphasises affection, kinship and power relationship. While issues such as the sensitive nature of religion pose challenges, the study highlights SPECR characteristics, such as the collectivist cultural dimension, that policymakers and contractors should consider in developing policies and strategies towards improving H&S. Nevertheless, as the study is a theoretical piece of work, further empirical evidence on the subject is recommended.