SAFETY PRACTICES AMONG QUARRY WORKERS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN EBONYI STATE Prince C. I. Umoke

SAFETY PRACTICES AMONG QUARRY WORKERS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN EBONYI STATE

 

Prince C. I. Umoke (MPH, Ph.D)

Department of Human Kinetics  and Health Education

University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

 

Maryjoy Umoke (M.Ed, MPH, Ph.D) & Patrick O. Njoku

Department of School Health Services

Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, Abakaliki,

 

O.S. Agbaje (Ph.D), Fedinand Agu, Cosmas Uchenna Ugwu (Ph.D)

Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education

University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

 

Abstract

This study on promoting safety practices among quarry workers for sustainable development in Ebonyi state was conducted at Umooghara Quarry site in Ezza North LGA, Ebonyi State. Two specific objectives with corresponding research questions and two hypotheses guided this study. The population of the study consisted of quarry workers numbering ten thousand, eight hundred out of which five hundred and twenty respondents were selected for the study through a systematic random sampling technique which applied the Taro Yamane formula in drawing the sample size. Descriptive survey design was employed for the study. The instrument for data collection was a researcher designed questionnaire which has a-5 point response scale. Face validity was deployed for the study with internal consistency of the instrument determined using Spearman Rank order correlation coefficient. Mean score, standard deviation and linear regression statistics were used for data analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Results obtained indicate low usage of safety practice (PPE) among quarry workers in Umuoghara Quarry site. Also, quarry workers that has been in the business for up to 5 and 7 years had mean scores of 3.4 and 3.0 respectively, while those with a year of working experience had a mean score of 2.5, indicating willingness to accept use of PPE as the years of experience working increases. The study revealed a significance relationship between the use of safety practice (PPE) and length of service. Further analysis of the data obtained also showed a significance relationship between the use of safety practice and level of education among quarry workers in the study area. Based on the findings it was recommended that Health education should be intensified targeted at quarry workers on the need to use PPE to ensure optimal health that will guarantee sustainable development.

 

Key words: Safety Practice, Health, Hazards, Quarry, Occupational, Workers, Sustainable and Development.