16 May 2006

New quarrying health & safety resource could save lives

A dynamic new package of resources is set to revolutionise the way the quarrying industry shares health and safety knowledge.

The Quarry Products Association has led the major £224,000 project, with the support of its members and a range of other partners including the British Aggregates Association. It has been part-funded from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund via the Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology programme. Having succeeded in cutting accidents by half over five years, QPA members are committed to achieving a further 50 per cent reduction by 2009 – and are confident that these three new campaign tools will help them: a guide, DVD and website.

The first two elements have now been delivered. Demand for the substantial, user-friendly printed guide, based on the ideas and innovations from the annual QPA Health & Safety Best Practice Awards, has exceeded the initial 3,000 print-run. It is accompanied by a DVD that includes 64 video clips showing how some of these innovative solutions have been applied in plants and quarries throughout the UK. Martin Isles, director of health & safety for the QPA says: “This guide is for everyone – not just management. It contains a fund of ideas which are often very simple and can be applied to a range of common problems. Taking the time to thumb through a copy could spark an idea that improves efficiency and prevents a serious incident. Saving lives and achieving the target of zero incidents is, after all, the ultimate aim of this project.”

A website incorporating these best practice ideas plus toolbox talks and, of particular importance, an incident alert reporting system is soon to be launched at www.safequarry.com. Hanson’s national health & safety manager, Colin Nottage, says: “The system will send an automatic e-mail to registered users when a new alert has been submitted, guiding them towards the website for further information. It will make a significant difference to the way that we communicate across the industry – and allow us to each learn from the experiences of others.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. For more information, please contact Rachel Hedges or Andrew Tapscott on 0845 644 3845 or email rachel.hedges@daybreakcomm.co.uk
2. Under the control of Martin Isles, QPA’s Director of Health & Safety, email isles@qpa.org, this project has been developed by the Quarry Products Association, with the support of its members, British Aggregates Association, Health & Safety Executive, University of Leeds, and national training body EPIC. It has been substantially supported by the Mineral Industry Research Organisation, which distributes funds from a government tax on aggregates through its Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology Programme, aiming to raise public awareness of the contribution the industry makes to society and its commitment to high standards of environmental performance.
3. The QPA is the trade association for companies involved in supplying stone from land, marine and recycled sources. Its members are also involved in the production of asphalt and ready-mixed concrete.

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