Safe Quarry - Health and Safety Authority

PART 3
GENERAL SAFETY PROVISIONS
19. SAFEGUARDING EDGES OF EXCAVATIONS
AND LAGOONS (Regulation 22)
22. The operator -
(a) shall ensure that material is not placed or stacked
at the quarry near the edge of any excavation or
lagoon, where it is likely to endanger persons at
work,
(b) shall not at the quarry -
(i) place or move, or
(ii) allow to be placed or moved,
any load, vehicle, plant or equipment near the
edge of any excavation or lagoon where it is likely
to cause a collapse of the side of the excavation
or lagoon and thereby endanger any person at
work, and
(c) where necessary, shall ensure that appropriate
barriers are provided.
Adequate edge protection must be provided where
there is a drop, the potential for edge failure, a
lagoon or other hazard which would put the driver,
or others, at significant risk if the vehicle left the
bench or roadway.The aim of the edge protection is
to stop the largest, fully loaded vehicle crossing it
when travelling at the maximum foreseeable speed
and it should be constructed with this in mind.
Edge protection may consist of purpose-made crash
barriers or suitable bunds made from quarried
material, for example oversize rock and scalpings.
Materials placed or stacked at the edge of excavations
or lagoons should not endanger the safety of
persons at work.
On benches or roads used by heavy vehicles the
minimum acceptable height of the edge protection
Figure 12: Vehicle over running an edge
is 1.5 metres or the radius of the largest wheel/tyre
– whichever is the greater. Additional protection is
needed in high-risk areas, such as sharp bends or
steep haul roads, where sand traps or other means
should also be considered.
Bunds can deteriorate due to weathering and so
must be properly inspected in accordance with
section 16 of this guidance. Where necessary to
ensure the drainage of surface water, gaps may be
left in the bunds, or other drainage systems
provided. Any gaps must not be wide enough to
allow a vehicle to pass through.
Edge protection less than either 1.5 metres or the
radius of the vehicle wheel or with sloping sides,
makes an ideal ramp for a vehicle to run over and is
totally ineffective. Blocks of stone or oversize rocks
placed on their own along the edge of a bench,
ramp or roadway,which may be easily pushed out of
the way by a vehicle at speed, are not suitable for
edge protection.
A bank of unconsolidated material like scalpings is
suitable if it is big enough to allow the vehicles
momentum to be absorbed.The impact face needs
to be as vertical as possible and at least 1.5 metres
or the radius of the largest wheel/tyre.
Rocks can be used if they can safely absorb the
impact,for example,by heaping materials like scalpings
between and behind the rocks to provide an
adequate barrier. A violent stop due to impact
would, of course, increase the risk to the driver, and
of damage to the vehicle and so should be avoided.
Figures 13,14,15,16: Edge protection for vehicles at
quarries
Figure 13:
Edge protection less than 1.5 metres or the radius of
the largest vehicle
X
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SAFE QUARRY GUIDELINES TO THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (QUARRIES) REGULATIONS 2008