Abstract:
This study was conducted to observe the risk imposed on the health, safety and environment (HSE) culture in the exploration in stone industry highlighting production of marble which is currently emerging as largest industry in world. Focusing on HSE issues to reduce risks to workers, management and the environment, are important in this industry. The main objective of this study was to gain more knowledge about factors that affect the HSE in the stone industry and to discuss how these factors might be part of the concept HSE culture. The objective of this study was the identification of HSE issues, hazards identification, hazards evaluation to find out whether the requirements of environmental mangement system and ocuupational safety and health administartion standard was fullfilled. However quantitative and qualitative aspects were thoroughly studied focusing on the management and labors. During this study various environmental and safety issues including poor housekeeping, noise, dust pollution, land degradation, lack of use of personal protective equipments (PPEs) and poor utilization of resources was observed. Human health was also at stake due to high mechanical and physical activities carried out in the vicinity of marble or stone industry. Similarly risk was high for physical hazards which were faced by workers having high probability of accidents and falls. Conclusions were drawn to give control hazards and minimize their effects on environment. Overall the situation of health safety and environment was not satisfactory so there is room for improvement in stone industry particularly marble industry.
