Occupational Health and Safety Management in Selected Stone Quarries in Akamkpa,Cross River State...

This research aims to study the management and execution, in selected quars in Akamkpa, Cross River State of Nigeria, of occupation health and safety issues associated with the quarry of stone. The objectives of research include the identification of types of quarrying operations performed; the assessment of occupational health and safety risks associated with quarry work; the evaluation of carriage workers' knowledge of possible health and safety hazards associated with their work; the assessment and verification of the extent of compliance by workers with personal protective equipment. A sample of two hundred and five (205) respondents was drawn from the target population using a simple random sampling method, with a target population of four hundred and thirty-five (435) employees from twelve (12) quarries. Questionnaires were the primary data collection tool, and they were configured in a 4-point updated Likert scale based on the study's objectives and checked to be in compliance with the ISO 45001:2018 checklist. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to analyse the data (SPSS). According to the findings, 61.7 percent of respondents are conscious that quarry work is extremely dangerous, but 84.6 percent do not use PPE. At work, 93.5 percent inhale particulate matter, 60 percent have respiratory problems, 63 percent have back and waist pain, 67.2 percent have catarrh, and 66.7 percent have cough. 91.5 percent of staff said there were no emergency provisions on site, and 96.5 percent said they didn't have health insurance, so a substantial number (85.1%) self-medicates. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that stone-quarry employees are particularly exposed to health and safety risks, and that they lack PPE and medical treatment. It is suggested that the federal and state governments establish legislation and a regulatory agency to oversee, administer, and track health and safety enforcement in quarries.

Please see the link :- https://www.journalcjast.com/index.php/CJAST/article/view/31041