Introduction
Quarry is a place that provides rocks, dimension stones, riprap, aggregates, gravel, sand, and other minerals and raw materials are excavated. Quarrying is included in the mining industry and is helpful to extract minerals and elements essential for civil engineering works and buildings. The output from quarrying is sold to different end users that carryout the marketing and promotions for the products. In Nigeria, Akamkpa Quarry is a source of stones and various forms of granite that are used for constructions and building works. The Quarry receives millions of dollars in international investment and contractors and international business rely on the extraction to carry out their businesses. The paper highlights and discusses the presence of issues, lacking individuals, inefficiencies, and problems with the business model of the mining industry in Nigeria. Due to the inefficiencies, there are series of questions regarding the functionality, under capacity, weak and disorganized orientation, waste, supply chain issues, and costs for Akamkpa Quarry. The major issue raised by the researcher is the lack of centralized sourcing system that is caused by the inefficiency and lack of knowledge of managers working in the Quarry.
Theory of Sustainability in Mining Industry
The theory of corporate sustainability in mining industry focuses on four core tenets including corporate social responsibility, development, stakeholder theory, and transparency and accountability. The corporate social responsibility includes a framework to operate ethically and to contribute to different economic developmental plans. Quarrying companies must follow the best practices to improve the working conditions and to safeguard the health and safety of their employees or workers and also must ensure that they contribute to economic development. Business must incorporate the social and environmental concerns in the firm plans.
The other core responsibility of companies is to ensure that sustainable development is carried out without compromising the needs of future generations. The stakeholder theory specifies the fundamental and essential rights for the property. The theory explains that investors, suppliers, employees, workers, community, customers, and all other parties who have an interest in the business must be provided with care. Businesses must not ignore any stakeholder interest or also must not focus on the onus of any stakeholder. It is essential that all the stakeholders must be provided with something to cherish. Finally, the concept of transparency and accountability is also a major part that specifies the efficient use of resources and also to hold some organization or authority to check the operations of the businesses to improve working conditions.
Environmental, Economic, and Social issues in Mining/Quarrying Industry
The mining industry faces many matters relating to environmental, social, and economic factors and must specify and set standards to avoid the problems in the long run. Theories provide that biodiversity and stewardship of land, climate changes and management of water are the core environmental factors that have an impact on quarrying. On the other hand, the safety of workers and communities, engagement of stakeholders, HIV/AID's reduction, human rights and mine life cycle policies, are the main social factors. Supply chain management, accountability and transparency, external performance indicators, and global initiatives are to be set as the economic factors for quarrying. Previous literature also focuses on establishing risk policies and also to cater the environmental impacts of mining and quarrying activities.
Adiea, Otun & Okuofu (2012) highlight noise pollution. The researcher noticed the noise pollution in Gunduwawa Quarry, Nigeria. The findings provide that there is a significant impact of noise on the environment of the region. People living in 600meter distance can have an adverse impact on their health conditions, and therefore, it is essential to evaluate and reconsider the policies relating to risk management
A study by Ahmed explains the socio-economic impact of mining on the health conditions of workers in mines. The results of the survey revealed that employee are not inspected, and almost half of the workers were not fit to work in the mines. It highlights the importance of socio-economic factors and explains that social and economic factors must be considered crucial for the mining industry to avoid casualties and abnormal working conditions .
The role of occupational safety studied by Ersoy (2013) also reveals the importance of safety to reduce accidents in marble quarries. It also highlights other risks related to the topic and explains the possible solutions to the issues. The results and outcomes of the study show that the increase in safety procedures and other security measures put a negative impact on accidents that occur in the marble quarries. It means that security standards and policies are essential to reduce the risk of accidents in overall mining and quarrying activities/industry.
Ewenighia, Dimkpab, Onyeanusi, Babtundec, Onohd, & Onohe (2016) discuss the impact of pollutants on the health conditions of young adults working in Southeastern Nigeria. The researchers state that there is a risk of casualty and other diseases to people working in mines due to exposure to pollutants. Only precautionary measures are the accurate and most efficient mean to avoid such incidents. The researcher finds out that exposure to pollutants has a direct impact on Srostate Specific Antigen PSA, and therefore, it is advised to limit the duration and dosage of exposure in future .
Kharytonov & Benselhoub (2014) highlight the impact of quarrying on the soil pollution in Ukraine. The researchers state that the conditions have reached to the alarming and threatening situation, and it is expected that the conditions can have a negative impact on individuals and other living creatures. The researchers explain that the issue must be resolved to safeguard humans and other animals, and therefore, policy changes are required. The researcher also suggests that quarry dust must be introduced into the soil to reduce the impact of pollution . The debates on the environmental impact of quarrying are noticed in the previous studies.
A study by Kossoffa, Hudson-Edwards, Howard, & Knight explain the relationship between ecological and cultural factors relating to the mining industry. The researchers suggest that a holistic approach must be adopted to overcome the management issues. The research paper highlights the impact of mining on climate change, and the results show that contamination of water can cause an adverse impact on climate conditions. The researchers suggest oxidataion and other steps to improve the livelihoods and safety of workers. A study by McAllister, Walton, G., Coggan, & Wetherelt study the conditions of Penelee Quarry a large Quarry located in West Cornwall. The paper highlights and signifies the importance of maintenance and preparatory issues relating to quarries. The researchers use a 90meter high slope of the quarry and expect the lack of support would cause instability in the 90meter high slope. The researchers raise the point that authorities must ensure that the weakness must be overcome to avoid human and technical casualties and other issues in future. Other studies by Silva & Jacinto, Ukpong , and Vintróa, Sanmiquelb, & Freijo also highlight the impact of mining and quarrying on the environment. Vintróa, Sanmiquelb, & Freijo explain the occupational accident patterns in Portuguese. The conclusions of the research emphasize the importance of risk assessments in improving the working conditions.
Ukpong highlights the issues of noise, air, and atmospheric impact of mining on the region. The results show that mining has a significant impact on increasing noise, air, and air pollution and the issues must be resolved to safeguard the workers and other people from hazardous conditions in future. Finally, Silva & Jacinto signify the importance of environmental sustainability of mining industry. The researchers state that companies do not follow health and environment safety procedures, and there is no proper check and balance on such enterprises. The increase in noncompliance of the rules and regulations, results in more pollution and hazardous conditions for life in the region.
Conclusion
The analysis of previous research papers explains the need of proper infrastructure and rules and regulations relating to mining activities. The research papers also highlight the importance of operation of regulatory authorities in maintaining the working conditions and also explain that regulatory bodies must ensure that proper compliance is undertaken by all the companies operating in the quarry or mining industry. The analysis also reveals that the theory of sustainability must be enforced, and all the companies must comply with the rules and regulations set by the authorities. Any ignorance or non-compliance must result in law suits and other steps against the companies.
References
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