ANALYSIS OF ACCIDENTS IN SOME SELECTED QUARRIES IN CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

To achieve the aim of this research, data related to accidents and incidents were collected from the three quarries. The operations of three mining quarries in central Nigeria were assessed and raw data generated was sorted out after identifying the root causes of accidents associated with their operations. The relevant data collected were subjected to statistical analysis. Analysis of raw data for the three different quarries identified at least one casual factor as unsafe act of operation: 95% for Hong Yun Quarry (HYQ), 93.5% for Beautiful Rocks Quarry (BRQ) and 91.48% for Stone Hill Quarry (SHQ). A perceptual error identified in Stone Hill Quarry is 8%, Beautiful Rock Quarry 10.0% and Hong Yun Quarry, 13.4%. Skill-based errors had 63.5% for HYQ, BRQ 50.14% and 40.3% SHQ. Decision errors is 45% in HYQ, 30% BRQ and 25% SHQ. Violations also take 28% in HYQ, 13% in BRQ and 8.5% in SHQ. It was observed that majority of the incidents and accidents in all the quarries investigated were caused by human factors i.e. errors. Applying the Human Factor Analysis and Classification System–Quarry Industry (HFACS-Q1) organogram, the studies showed that human factors (errors) are the main cause of incidents and accidents based on the outcome of the analysis. Management influence is also linked with fatal accidents. The results suggest that fatal accidents are as a result of higher level system deficiencies whereas non-fatal accident results from lower level operator error. When fatal and non-fatal accidents were compared using data got from the three quarry industries, violations were found to be associated with more fatal accidents than non-fatal accidents. Skill based errors were associated with the highest percentage of cases for both fatal and non-fatal accidents