Safe Quarry - Health and Safety Authority

PART 3
GENERAL SAFETY PROVISIONS
(c) Tyre Changing or repair
There are a number of hazards associated with tyre
changing and repair and these should all be
addressed prior to any work being carried out:
(i) If a vehicle is to be raised to remove the wheel
then the vehicle must be adequately
supported to prevent any danger of collapse
and the operation must be carried out on solid
ground that will not fail resulting in collapse;
(ii) Adequate lifting equipment and restraining
equipment must be available to remove the
wheel to be changed or removed and the
wheel must never be left free standing where
there is a danger of it falling and causing injury;
(ii) Inflation of tyres should be carried out from a
position of safety and where necessary a
suitable tyre cage is required and the sidewall
of the tyre should be inspected prior to
inflation to ensure it is not defective;
(iii) After changing or refitting of a wheel the wheel
nuts or clamping devices must be correctly
installed and tensioned;
(iv)Tyres and wheels which are to be taken off site
for repair or disposal must be stored so that
they will not endanger persons as a result of
collapse; and
(v) Good standards of housekeeping should be
maintained.
Figure 24: Wheel handling equipment
Dumper Wheelchanging
• Modified forks - ideal kit
• Forklift, or better still, a telehandler, is an invaluable
addition to any quarry
(d) Controlling Exposure of Drivers to Dust
at Quarries
Vehicles travelling around quarries will create,or cause,
dust to be raised. This dust can be reduced at source
by, for example, the use of water suppression at
conveying and processing points. It can also be
reduced by watering of haul roads using a vehicle with
a bowser or similar equipment that will dampen the
dust and prevent it becoming airborne. Drivers can
reduce their exposure to airborne dust by ensuring
that the windows of their vehicles remain closed whilst
at the quarry and thereby prevent the access of the
dust into the cab. Similarly, doors of vehicles should
only be open for the minimum time required.
Most modern quarry specific vehicles have air conditioning
systems which filter out any respirable dust
before it enters the cab and they ensure a controllable
climate so that windows do not need to be
opened to reduce the temperature.Air conditioning
systems must be maintained and the filters must be
cleaned or changed at periods stated by the supplier.
To prevent re-circulation of dust within the cab of the
vehicle it is important to keep the cab free from dust
by good housekeeping and, where necessary, by
vacuuming of the cab to remove the dust.
Safe Practices
(a) Drivers of Quarry Vehicles
Drivers should be competent to operate quarry
vehicles and drivers need to be authorised, in
writing by the appropriate manager.Training should
be given by an accredited person as established
under Schedule 1 of the Regulations. The need for
refresher training should be considered.
The training required is not limited to the operation
of the vehicle; it also needs to cover the hazards
related to its use in the workplace and how these
are controlled, for example, by the vehicle operating
procedures. The driver should not be exposed to
excessive noise, dust, or vibration.The driver should
know who to contact and/or what action to take if
he or she has any difficulties with the vehicle they
are operating.
(b) Speed of Vehicles
The speed of vehicles should be appropriate for the
conditions at the quarry site. Different speed limits
SAFE QUARRY GUIDELINES TO THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (QUARRIES) REGULATIONS 2008 39