The Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that
they should carry out the correct workplace risk
assessments end ensure that not only is personal
protective equipment supplied, but must also ensure
the correct equipment is worn.
These warnings follow the workplace accident at Wildmoor Quarry Products Sandy Lane Quarry in
Bromsgrove, when on the 21st March 2007 an employee
was operating machinery when a 30kg sandstone rock
fell approximately 6 metres striking him on the
head. The employee was not wearing a protective
helmet at the time and received serious head
injuries in the accident. Safety measures on the
machine which could have prevented the rock entering
the machine and striking the employee had poorly
maintained screens.
On 23rd April 2008 for a breach of Section 2(1) of
the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Wildmoor
Quarry Products Ltd pleaded guilty and was fined
£5,000 and ordered to pay £3,520 in costs.
Since 2000 there have been over 2,700 reportable
injuries to the HSE in quarrying
accidents at work,
sadly 21 of those has been fatal. Further health and
safety information about quarrying can be found at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/quarries/index.htm.
