Health and safety chair hears from industry leaders at Leicestershire quarry

Date:

14 November 2011

Release No:

EM/267/11

HSE Chair Judith Hackitt joined key industrialists and regulators involved in the quarrying industry at an event at Cliffe Hill Quarry in Ellistown, Leicestershire earlier this month

Hosted by Midland Quarry Products Ltd, the event set out some of the safety and health challenges in quarrying and examined a modern day risk management approach in traditional quarrying - an industry which is showing significant signs of improvement in performance from a historically poor safety record.

The industry employs around 20,000 direct staff, 20,000 contractors and 20,000 lorry drivers daily. Between 2000 and 2010 more than 3,000 workers suffered an injury reportable to HSE, 24 of those fatal.

Following the formal part of the event, Judith Hackitt was given a tour of the quarry and was invited to 'press the button' to fire a face blast.

Judith Hackitt, HSE Chair, said:

"The very nature of Quarrying activity makes it one of the most hazardous industries to work in and the industry must be congratulated for reducing injuries by more than three quarters in the past decade. However, reaching the Quarries National Joint Advisory Committee goal of another 15 per cent reduction by 2015 will require even more hard work, determination and the development of new approaches.

"This event has shown how companies and organisations across the sector can work successfully together to share innovative approaches and lessons learned, because this is an industry where constant vigilance and continuous improvement is essential."

Simon Willis, Managing Director, Midland Quarry Products Ltd, said:

"MQP was honoured to host the visit of Judith Hackitt to Cliffe Hill Quarry. I am very proud that it is now eight years since MQP had an employee lost time injury and am determined to continue improving our business to move us towards Zero Harm.

"The visit gave us the fantastic opportunity to get feedback on our strategy from the Health and Safety regulator and Industry leaders."

The Quarries National Joint Advisory Committee's initiative began in 2000 with the aim of halving the number of reportable accidents in the industry by 2005, and a further 50 per cent reduction by 2010, which it achieved ahead of schedule. In 2010 the industry pledged to reduce injuries by a further 15 per cent year-on-year to 2015 compared to a 2010 baseline.

For more information about quarrying, safety advice and the Target Zero initiative, visit www.hse.gov.uk/quarries.

Notes to editors

1. Senior representatives from the following organisations attended the event on Tuesday 1 November along with workforce representatives from the host company:
   • Midland Quarry Products Ltd (MPQ)
   • Tarmac Limited
   • Hanson Aggregates
   • British Aggregates Association (BAA)
   • Institute of Quarrying (IoQ)
   • Mineral Products Association (MPA)
   • Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC)
2. Photos of Judith Hackitt at the event are available on request, please visit the website below.
3. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
4. Further information on workplace statistics can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics

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