Safe Quarry - Health and Safety Authority

PART 2 SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT
and operating procedures, and
(b) show his or her registration card when requested
by the person’s employer, the operator, or if
applicable, the common operator.
This should be read in conjunction with Sections
13 and 14 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work
Act 2005.
Safety and health at work can only be achieved if
everyone understands that their safety and the lives
of others are in their hands. All those working at the
quarry have a part to play, and are required to carry
out their duties with reasonable care and comply
with all relevant rules and regulations.
Anyone who identifies a significant risk,for example,
because procedures or rules are not followed or
where safeguards are missing or inadequate, must
take appropriate action, normally by reporting it to
a supervisor. Any reports of such defects and
remedial actions taken should be recorded on the
daily inspection sheet.
14. CONSULTATION
(Regulation 17)
17. Every operator and employer at a quarry shall
consult at the quarry with their safety representatives
and employees, as the case may be, in relation to the
requirements of these Regulations and section 26 of
the Act, taking account of the need, whenever necessary,
for co-operation and co-ordination among -
(a) operators and employers,
(b) employees and other persons at work, and
(c) the safety representatives,
in order to promote and develop measures for
protecting the safety, health and welfare of persons
at work at the quarry and to monitor the effectiveness
of such measures.
This should be read in conjunction with Sections
25 and 26 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work
Act 2005.
The involvement of the entire workforce in identifying
and controlling risks is crucial to the reduction
of the high accident/incident rate associated with
quarrying.The establishment of active safety representation
and/or a safety committee is a highly
effective way of encouraging the co-operation and
participation of the whole workforce in the safe
management of the quarry and to improve
standards of safety and health.To be successful, the
safety representative and/or the committee must be
seen by all parties as being effective.
Safety representatives and/or committee members
should have suitable practical experience of quarry
work, and may represent any section, or in the case
of a committee, a representative cross section of the
workforce at the quarry. Whilst a safety representative
may be adequate for some locations others may
require a committee covering the whole quarry or a
small group of quarries to be successful. In a small
quarry the committee may involve every member
of the workforce.
Site inspections
Site inspections provide a way in which the workforce
can be actively involved in practical site safety.Their
detailed knowledge of the site and working practices
can lead to significant improvements in safety and
health. Site inspections may involve independent
inspections by management and/or safety representatives.
Inspections are best carried out jointly by a
team representing the management and those
working in the quarry including their elected safety
representatives. Findings should be discussed and
minuted at safety committee meetings.
Encouraging active participation
The team approach to safety and health can also be
fostered by actively involving people in managing
the hazards associated with their work.For example,
it is best to include those affected when developing
new systems; their involvement in equipment trials
helps identify the best solution.
Discharging functions as a safety representative
Safety representatives selected and appointed in
accordance with Section 25 of the Safety,Health and
Welfare at Work Act 2005 must be allowed reasonable
time off from their duties to acquire the knowledge
necessary and/or discharge their functions as a
safety representative without loss of remuneration.
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SAFE QUARRY GUIDELINES TO THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (QUARRIES) REGULATIONS 2008