Safe Quarry - Health and Safety Authority

PART 3
GENERAL SAFETY PROVISIONS
(ii) extract or disperse that harmful substance in
such a way that persons are not placed at risk.
(2) When persons at work are present in a particular
place in the quarry where they are exposed to a
substance in the atmosphere that is, or may be,
harmful to health, the operator shall ensure that -
(a) appropriate and sufficient breathing and
resuscitation equipment is -
(i) available,
(ii) suitably stored, and
(iii) maintained,
(b) a sufficient number of persons trained in the
use of such equipment are present, and
(c) where harmful substances accumulate or
may accumulate in the atmosphere,
appropriate measures are taken to ensure -
(i) their suppression at source,
(ii) their extraction at source,
(iii) their removal, or
(iv) the dilution of accumulations of such
substances, in such a way that persons
are not at risk.
Work in most quarries is not likely to create a significant
risk of an accumulation of explosive or
flammable gases. If the risk is negligible then no
action needs to be taken. There are circumstances,
however, in which such a risk could arise, for
example, as a result of landfill gases from a neighbouring
waste disposal site or in a confined space.
Any possibility of significant concentrations of
flammable gases at a quarry needs to be carefully
assessed and measurements taken to determine
typical concentrations.The action required to comply
needs to be recorded in the safety statement.
Where flammable gases are likely to be found at
above 25% of their lower explosive limit precautions
need to be specified in the safety statement.
Alarms, where fitted, should be triggered as soon as
the concentration of flammable gas exceeds 25% of
its lower explosive limit, i.e. 1.25 % CH4 (Methane) by
volume. Electrical and any other equipment, which is
liable to be exposed to flammable vapours, must be
suitable for use in such conditions.The Safety, Health
and Welfare at Work (General Applications)
Regulations 2007 and the EU Commission guidance
on the ATEX Directive may provide useful information
in this area but do not specifically apply to quarrying.
They would be applicable to factory situations at the
quarry which are outside of the area covered by the
Quarries Regulations but within the quarry boundary.
Power cut-off devices are not an alternative to using
equipment designed for use in a flammable atmosphere.
They are only appropriate where the risk of
exposure to flammable vapours is low and the act
of cutting-off the power would not in itself create a
risk of ignition, for example, from an electrical spark.
30. LIGHTING
(Regulation 33)
33. The operator shall ensure that -
(a) the quarry is provided throughout with lighting
capable of supplying illumination sufficient to
ensure the health and safety of persons therein,
(b) workstations, as far as possible -
(i) receive sufficient natural light, and
(ii) bearing in mind the climatic conditions, are
equipped with artificial lighting adequate
for the protection of the safety and health of
persons at work,
(c) lighting installations in rooms containing workstations
and in passageways are placed in such a
way that the type of lighting provided does not
present a risk of accident to persons at work, and
(d) every part of the quarry in which a person is likely
to be exposed to risks in the event of the failure of
artificial lighting is provided with emergency
lighting of adequate intensity and, where that is
not possible, persons at work in that place are
provided with an appropriate personal lamp.
Lighting a quarry is much more difficult than lighting
a flat area because of the many uneven surfaces and
the consequential deceptive effects of shadows even
in and around the processing areas. Emergency
lighting is required where work continues after dark
and safe evacuation is not possible without artificial
lighting. Where lighting is provided by independently
powered lighting towers,and failure of any one
tower would still leave enough light to enable
people to leave the area safely,no further emergency
lighting needs to be provided.
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SAFE QUARRY GUIDELINES TO THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AT WORK (QUARRIES) REGULATIONS 2008