The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has formed a national quarry inspection team to help reduce accidents at quarries across the UK and Scotland.

The HSE said its five-strong team of inspectors had ‘decades’ of experience in the quarry industry and would operate nationwide solely advising, inspecting and carrying out any necessary enforcement action in quarries and open cast mines.

Inspectors normally operate across a range of sectors and the quarry initiative is an innovation the HSE hopes will help reduce accidents and improve safety.

The quarry industry is one of the most dangerous in the UK – since 2001, a total of 2,700 workers have been reported injured and 21 have died. However, between 2000 and 2005, the industry actually exceeded its safety improvement targets by 50 per cent and is now hoping that Target Zero will be achieved.

Speaking at the launch on Thursday, 29 October, Principal Inspector of the new Quarries National Inspection Team, Colin Mew, said:

‘We all know the quarrying industry – we are experts in the safe use of explosives and in other safety critical areas such as tip and slope stability, so it makes sense to concentrate that expertise and resource.

‘It will also help protect and preserve the specialist skill set of our inspectors for the benefit of industry and the safety of its workers well into the future,’ added Mr Mew.

‘The industry is making encouraging progress in reducing death and injury, but much remains to be done. Falls from height and accidents involving vehicles are still some of the main causes of injury − many serious or fatal,’ he warned.

Mr Mew said that occupational ill-health, as a result of exposure to respirable silica or high levels of noise, could also affect quarry workers.

‘Our new team will be dedicated to helping improve all aspects of health and safety by working with the quarrying and open cast coal industry and those employed in it.’

HSE director for Scotland, Dr Paul Stollard, said the establishment of the team was ‘good news’ for quarry and open cast mine workers in Scotland.

‘This is an important industry for Scotland, but there remain a number of hazards which all too often can lead to illness, injury and even death. This new team’s main aim will be to work with the industry to help make it safer for those working on site, to bring about a long term reduction in the number of accidents.’

Richard Bird of the British Aggregates Association told delegates at the launch meeting:

‘We welcome the positive moves by HSE to ensure that quarry operations are managed properly in the area of health and safety. Not only will this ensure that the workforce and members of the public are protected, but it will assist in guiding quarry operators through the increasing maze of health and safety legislation.’

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