The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has commenced a two-week quarry safety inspection campaign across Ireland focusing on safe machinery guarding and maintenance activities.

The campaign that began on 18 September, follows an inspection campaign in May which identified safety areas of concern. Those included inadequate machine guarding, lack of risk assessments for planned and unplanned maintenance, and lack of training in Permit to Work and Lock Out Tag Out systems.

Over the course of the May campaign, 25 Improvement Notices and 23 Prohibition Notices were issued, with the majority relating to guarding issues.

Between 2013 and 2022, Quarrying, Mining and the associated manufacturing activities in the industry accounted for eight work-related fatalities in Ireland. As a large number of serious incidents occur during maintenance operations.

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HSA inspectors will be looking for evidence of routine inspections and risk assessments. They will also be ensuring that the equipment and machinery being used is suitable and employees have received relevant safety training.

Hilary Byrne, Senior Inspector at the HSA, stated: "Quarries are potentially hazardous workplaces especially due to the large and powerful machinery used on a regular basis. Employers need to actively carry out risk assessments and put in place appropriate control measures including safe ways of working. This is to ensure the safety of employees, contractors, and any visitors to these quarries."

Gerry Farrell, Chief Executive at the Irish Concrete Federation said: "The high level of incidents that occur as the direct result of unsafe machinery operation and inadequate guarding or no guarding of hazardous moving machine parts is alarming. We urge employers and duty holders to prioritise carrying out risk assessments. It is critical that our members remain focused on the fundamental safety risks associated with quarrying throughout the year."