Safe Quarry - Health and Safety Authority

PART 3
GENERAL SAFETY PROVISIONS
may be needed in different parts of the quarry.These
limits should be indicated by the use of suitable signs.
If speed limits are being contravened consideration
should be given to physical means of reducing the
speed of vehicles by the use of speed ramps,sleeping
policemen, artificial chicanes or other means.
(c) Reversing
Reversing is recognised as a significant driving
hazard, particularly in confined areas. The risk
involved can be reduced by:
(i) minimising the need for reversing by the use of
one-way systems and adequate turning areas;
(ii) ensuring adequate visibility for the driver;
(iii) providing safe systems of work;
(iv) providing adequate supervision and training.
In areas where reversing is unavoidable there must
be effective arrangements to ensure that it is safe to
reverse.To reverse safely, the driver needs to be able
to see the danger area at the rear of the vehicle, or
receive automatic warnings of any obstruction.The
area must be clear of any pedestrians and other
vehicles when reversing takes place. Where safe
reversing relies on reversing aids, for example,
closed-circuit television or radar, the vehicle should
not be used if the devices are defective. When it is
dark, the site lighting and vehicle lights should
provide sufficient illumination for the driver to see
clearly when reversing.
No single safeguard is likely to be sufficient on its own
during reversing.All the relevant precautions need to
be considered together as outlined in figure 25.
(d) Overhead Power Lines
Overhead power lines at a quarry are likely to pose
a significant risk, unless vehicles are prevented from
approaching them. Vehicles do not need to strike
the overhead lines for injury to occur; electricity can
arc through a surprising distance depending on the
voltage and weather/atmospheric conditions.
Precautions such as those illustrated in figure 26 are
required if it is possible for a vehicle to reach the
danger zone around the cables. Assessment of the
risk must take account of the possibility of tipper
trucks travelling when tipped.
Figure 25: Control measures for reversing operations
ELIMINATE THE NEED TO REVERSE
REDUCE REVERSING OPERATIONS
ENSURE VISIBILITY IS ADEQUATE
FOR DRIVERS
ENSURE SAFE SYSTEMS OF
WORK ARE FOLLOWED
IMPLEMENT ONE-WAY SYSTEMS AROUND SITE AND IN LOADING AND
UNLOADING AREAS.
PROVIDE DESIGNATED TURNING AREAS
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLE MOVEMENTS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
INSTRUCT DRIVERS NOT TO REVERSE, UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
FIT CCTV, RADAR, CONVEX MIRRORS ETC TO OVERCOME RESTRICTIONS TO
VISIBILITY FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT, PARTICULARLY AT THE SIDES AND REAR
OF VEHICLES
DESIGN VEHICLE REVERSING AREAS WHICH:
ALLOW ADEQUATE SPACE FOR VEHICLES TO MANOEUVRE SAFELY;
EXCLUDE PEDESTRIANS
ARE CLEARLY SIGNED; AND
HAVE SUITABLE PHYSICAL STOPS, EG BUNDS OF MATERIAL OR BUFFERS,
TO WARN DRIVERS THAT THEY HAVE REACHED THE LIMIT OF THEIR
SAFE REVERSING AREA
ENSURE EVERYONE ON SITE UNDERSTANDS THE VEHICLE RULES
INSTRUCTIONS AND SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURES
ENSURE ALL VEHICLES ON SITE ARE FITTED WITH APPROPRIATE
WARNING DEVICES
CHECK THAT THE PROCEDURES WORK IN PRACTICE AND ARE
ACTUALLY BEING FOLLOWED.
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SAFE QUARRY GUIDELINES TO THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (QUARRIES) REGULATIONS 2008