BAA Annual Conference 2019
Summary of the British Aggregates Association’s 2019 annual conference seminar proceedings
THIS year’s British Aggregates Association Conference proved to be yet another success with some 100 delegates attending the annual meeting, which was held at the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel and Country Club, in Birmingham, on Monday 17 June.
The event focused on a number of key themes/issues of particular interest and concern to BAA members and associates, including: health and safety best practice; developments in education and training; and current environmental and planning matters.
The small exhibition associated with the BAA 2019 annual meeting saw stands from Calor, Command Alkon, DXB Motors, DUO, DustScanAQ, Herbst Software, GWP Consultants, HSE, Influential Management, John White, Longfloor, Mitsubishi Electric, MPQC, QNJAC and Quarry Design.
The morning programme kicked off with six 15-minute cameo presentations on recent industry developments, including: an update on Stage V emissions and reducing fuel costs by Simon Ruffles of DXB Pump & Power; an overview of biodiversity net gain in the aggregates sector by Nick White of Natural England; and an insight into the production of ‘carbon-negative’ aggregates by Dr Peter Gunning and David Olley of Carbon8 Aggregates.
CCP Wardlow Quarry, in Staffordshire, was awarded the BAA Quarry of the Year accolade at this year’s meeting. Steve Cole, chair of BAA AOS (Awards Operating Standards), presented the Quarry of the Year shield to Charles Trigg, technical director of CCP’s parent group SigmaRoc.
The BAA also presented AOS certificates to CCP (Aberdo Quarry, Flintshire), Hugh King/Tillicoultry Group (Hullerhill Sand Quarry, North Ayrshire) and Summerleaze (Bray and Denham Quarries, Berkshire).
After lunch, the afternoon seminar session commenced with a special presentation to BAA founder member and executive director Roger Cullimore for his long and committed service to BAA operators and the wider UK quarry industry.
Under the heading ‘Collaboration is the Secret to Achieve Zero Harm’, James Thorne, chief executive officer of IQ, Colin Mew, Principal Inspector of Quarries at the HSE, and John Wilkinson, MPQC chief executive officer, took part in a Q&A panel discussion chaired by Viv Russell, chair of QNJAC (Quarries Joint National Advisory Committee).
This was followed by keynote speaker and former England rugby international, Rory Underwood MBE, who gave a lively speech and demonstration to delegates about how strong awareness, teamwork and focus can lead to improved business performance.
