HSE chair hears from industry leaders at Cliffe Hill

Judith Hackitt visits Leicestershire quarry to examine risk-management approach to quarrying

HSE chair Judith Hackitt (pictured) 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 (MQP), the event set out some of the safety and health challenges in quarrying and examined the modern-day risk-management approach in quarrying.

Speaking at the event, Judith Hackitt 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 (QNJAC) goal of another 15% reduction by 2015 will require even more hard work, determination and the development of new approaches.’

She added: ‘This event has shown how companies and organizations 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 of Midland Quarry Products Ltd, said: ‘I am very proud that it is now eight years since MQP had an employee lost-time injury and I’m determined to continue improving our business to move us towards Zero Harm. The visit gave us a fantastic opportunity to get feedback on our strategy from the health and safety regulator and industry leaders.’

QNJAC’s initiative began in 2000 with the aim of halving the number of reportable accidents in the industry by 2005, and a further 50% reduction by 2010, which was achieved ahead of schedule. In 2010 the industry pledged to reduce injuries by a further 15% year-on-year to 2015, compared with a 2010 baseline.