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NSC Home Page > EUAS Contents > Areas for special careAreas for special care
LOGISTICS
Health and Safety
Areas for special care - particular hazards
HSE guidelines suggest that these include places where people can fall more than 2m or where falling a lesser distance may be particularly dangerous - the latter would include water, machinery areas, but in the case of children, any height of more than 1m could potentially be dangerous.
Quarry faces - lose material falling from quarry faces or machinery
Sudden collapse onto people/under people
People falling over edge of facesTips of material - sudden collapse; excavation of loose material, followed by collapse and burial
Silt, slurry lagoons, ponds/flooded areas - drowning in water; drowning in quicksand (surfaces often appear solid - even supporting vegetation or small animals)
Vehicles - moving and reversing vehicles - they are often large - most are now fitted with audible and visual warning and have TV cameras to enable driver to see behind.
Generally pedestrians and vehicles (light /heavy) should each be segregated. Poor weather conditions, steep gradients. Special care required in reversing and tipping loads. Edges (quarry faces, lagoons, etc) should be protected.
Explosives - These are subject to very precise regulations covering transport, storage, mixing and use. Signs and audible warnings indicate when blasting is to take place; special procedures are carried out to ensure areas affected are clear of people and equipment. The use of normal mobile phones and CB radios used to be banned in quarries to avoid interference with radio communications in quarries and detonation signals but is now usually permitted (check first before switching on).
Fixed Plant - access ways platforms, ladders steps and barriers in fixed plant areas (e.g. where crushing, screening, storage, process control, asphalt coating, concrete making, vehicle loading takes place) in almost always designed for use by average height adults. It may not necessarily give adequate protection for children. Companies will need to assess what measures are appropriate e.g. improved protection, rerouting visitors, adequate supervision (there may also be special issues which need to be addressed if children would otherwise require physical assistant by adults to gain access to particular parts - see Child Protection Section).
Clothing - Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) - which items are required for visit? Are there sufficient for those visiting? Most critical do they give adequate protection for children (as most such equipment is designed for use by adults - small sizes may have to be specially purchased).
Barriers around sites - fences must be provided where trespass is likely and may need to be particularly sophisticated in areas around schools, leisure facilities, significant number of homes, shops, etc.
Even given close supervision by quarry and visiting leaders which will minimise or eliminate most conventional quarry risks) the distractions produced during such a visit (the sheer size of plant or the quarry itself) and even possibly the wearing of cumbersome safety clothing, is likely to result in the main hazard being due to
a) tripping over uneven surfaces
b) not adequately hearing instructions (especially where ear protection is worn)
c) not seeing hazards beforehand (especially goggles and large brimmed helmets are worn)Particular attention should be paid to these aspects.
It is important for quarry personnel to appreciate that visitors are coming to what is for them a completely alien environment (just as bewildering as say an oil refinery or the engine room of a ship might be to most people).
While fully recognising the hazards presented by quarrying, the HSE does not wish to see precluded, well-supervised school, college, individuals (e.g. researchers), or interest group visits by prior arrangement with the quarry operator. The need for informed supervision by both the instructor visiting and the company hosting the visit is stressed. Visits are seen as a means of informing the local community (including schools) about:
a) potential risks
b) the importance of the industry as a provider of vital materials
c) the industry as a potential career choiceThe HSE is especially concerned about the serious reduction in specially trained people entering the industry and also the falling numbers of training places available in their field in British Universities.