OPTIMIZATION OF SAFETY PROCESSES IN A MINING ENVIRONMENT (CASE STUDY OF OBAJANA CEMENT COMPANY PLC)

Abstract

Cement is one of the most widely used building materials on earth. The manufacturing of cement is an energy and resource intensive process with a combination of local and global environmental health and safety impacts. The most important raw materials (limestone, gypsum and other earthen substances) are obtained through surface mining which is also energy and resource intensive with similar, most times greater environmental impacts. A study of safety and occupational hazards of Obajana Cement Company Plc was undertaken by general and continuous assessment of safety practices and the compliance of the Company with standard safety rules. The result showed that for the three years covered by this research work, there were 32 number accidents, 9 numbers part of the body affected with no fatality.The Company had a minimum rating of 50% and maximum rating of 100% in 2 out of the 8 safety programme element used for assessment with an overall rating of 70% compliance in safety practices. Some of the major causes of the shortfall that resulted in the gap are lack of regular inspection of dangerous spots, few numbers of safety officers and supervisors, inadequate training and seminars on safety matters, non-compliance with usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and poor welfare package for workers. These gaps can however be bridge for optimum safety practice by regular checks on dangerous spots, employment of adequate numbers of safety officers, regular inspection of the usage of PPE, giving motivational welfare package to workers and proper monitoring of operations.