Safe Quarry - Health and Safety Authority

PART 3
GENERAL SAFETY PROVISIONS
Traffic routes must be organised and suitably
marked,for example by placing clear directional and
control signs as required.Routes, including one-way
systems, which minimise reversing, are preferred.
Drivers who are not familiar with the quarry/site,
need to be given instructions on any restrictions
and given clear directions to their destination.
Public Safety
Where vehicles on site cross a footpath or turn onto
a public highway, particular consideration must be
given to safeguarding the public. This may involve
discussions with the planning and roads authorities
and the Garda Siochana.
Visitors to the quarry, such as customers with their
own vehicles, members of the public, occasional
sub-contractors,An Garda Siochana,delivery drivers,
or anyone who has reason to visit the quarry who is
driving a vehicle, should be clearly directed to a
public parking area and a procedure should be put
in place to ensure that there is no (or minimal) interaction
with quarry traffic. This can be achieved in a
number of different ways which could include:
Customer collection areas where the
customer’s vehicle is loaded;
Discourage any non-quarry vehicles entering
into the quarry traffic routes;
All visitors directed to where they are to
travel within the a quarry;
Visitors should be encouraged to stay in their
vehicles at all times; and
Where it is necessary for visitors to get out of
their vehicles, they must wear the necessary PPE.
Figure 31: Customer collection area
23. OUTDOOR WORKSTATIONS
(Regulation 26)
26. The operator shall ensure that -
(a) workstations, traffic routes and other areas or
installations outdoors that are occupied or used
by persons at work in the course of their activities
are organised in such a way that pedestrians and
vehicles can circulate safely, and
(b) when persons at work are deployed at outdoor
workstations, such workstations are arranged so
that they, as far as possible -
(i) are protected against inclement weather
conditions,
(ii) are not exposed to harmful noise levels or to
harmful external influences such as gases,
vapours or dust, and
(iii) cannot slip or fall.
This should be considered in addition to what is set
out above in relation to traffic routes, section 22.
When necessary, barriers should be placed outside
doorways from buildings giving access to roadways
used by vehicles but care must be taken that their
positioning does not create a trap point. Suitable
pedestrian routes and crossing points should be
indicated and marked out.
Pedestrians need to be kept away from vehicles,
particularly where vehicles need to turn or reverse.
They should use separate traffic routes wherever
possible, for example, pedestrian-only areas and
safe, designated pedestrian routes.Where this is not
possible, measures such as high-visibility clothing
and good lighting may be relied on to reduce the
risks, along with requirements relating to speed,
reversing and visibility.
Where a doorway used by powered vehicles is fitted
with a door or curtains, that doorway should not be
used by both vehicles and pedestrians unless a clear
view is afforded on both sides. Vehicles should be
provided with flashing lights, reversing alarms, etc.
as an effective means of warning pedestrians of
their approach where the driver’s view is restricted.
All passageways should be adequately lit,particularly
a) near buildings
44
SAFE QUARRY GUIDELINES TO THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (QUARRIES) REGULATIONS 2008