QNJAC’s Geotechnical Working Group

First published in the September 2024 issue of Quarry Management

Advising on health and safety and more sustainable extraction

Continuing a series of articles on the essential health and safety guidance its team of volunteers is committed to delivering, QNJAC (Quarries National Joint Advisory Committee) Geotechnical Group chair Rob Palmer and recently joined member Philippa O’Leary talk about how the group is supporting the industry right now, and the direction it is taking to attract fresh talent for the future.

Rob Palmer is head of technical services for Tarmac (a CRH company) and leads a UK-based team of industry geologists, geotechnical specialists and land surveyors. A chartered geologist with experience in exploration, quarry design, and operational management, he has been involved with QNJAC for eight years and is the chair of the QNJAC Geotechnical subcommittee.

Philippa O’Leary, senior operations and development geologist for Cemex, has a degree in Geology from the University of Birmingham and a foundation degree in Mineral Extractive Technology from the University of Derby. Prior to joining Geological Services, she worked as assistant quarry manager at Cemex’s Halkyn Quarry.

Through subcommittees and working groups QNJAC collectively represents employers, employees, the Government regulator (Health and Safety Executive – HSE), professional membership bodies, trade unions, trade associations, and industry training and educational organizations. The project-focused groups review regulations, innovations, accident and incident reports, best practice and new technologies, and use the information to produce updated guidance to support industry operators in understanding the regulations that relate to them. This can be accessed through qnjac.co.uk

Guidance experts

‘Supporting QNJAC enables me to make a meaningful contribution to our wider industry,’ explained Rob Palmer. ‘Our group works to benefit both operator health and safety and the sustainable extraction of UK mineral resources by developing guidance and providing CPD talks to promote competence and professionalism in an industry I am proud to be part of.

‘With over 30 members, the potential of our Geotechnical Group and reach of our guidance has increased. Although comprised largely of geotechnical specialists, our membership does reflect the tripartite nature of QNJAC, offering representation from industry, trade bodies, and regulators. Our team has vast collective experience from founding members, including chartered engineer and geologist John Lewis, and more recent co-chair Steve Matthews, associate engineering geologist at AtkinsRéalis. Steve currently heads our dedicated task and finish group activity to review and update previous guidance, a project supported at present by Philippa.’

There are seven QNJAC working groups: Geotechnical, Contractors, Leadership & Workforce Engagement, Communications, Health & Wellbeing, Mobile Plant, and Drilling & Blasting, with each priding itself on the passionate approach taken to helping people working in the quarrying and extractive industries to consistently stay safe.

Making a difference

Mr Palmer went on to explain that since COVID-19, members of the group have undertaken a significant number of talks and engagements via Institute of Quarrying technical evenings and CPD events. The recent focus has been on promoting the guidance available, how to access it, and, in particular, publicising access to the geotechnical self-audit tool that has been successfully developed by the group.

‘Recent group highlights for me include the face-to-face geotechnical discussion forum we held for the first time last year,’ continued Mr Palmer. ‘Targeted at geotechnical specialists to address some key industry themes around competence and reporting standards, this was a great event, made possible through close collaboration between members of our team led by Tom Clifford, and in collaboration with the Extractive Industry Geology (EIG) Conference.

‘Our next face-to-face meeting will be an opportunity to celebrate this work and focus on the priorities ahead, made possible because of excellent teamwork and a relentless drive to address the real challenges facing our industry today. These platforms are creating ideal opportunities for new members, including Philippa, to start working with those who have been engaged with the group and its ideals for many years,’ explained Mr Palmer.

Philippa O’Leary said: ‘When I first joined the group in 2023, listening and learning were my key priorities. I immediately felt that it was a good place to ask questions to those with extensive industry experience on subjects such as the wording of the law and guidance development. I soon became involved with the guidance review project alongside Steve Matthews and am now part of the team that’s reviewing guidance planned to be released at the EIG Conference this month (September) at the University of Hull, with its overall theme of supporting geoscientists in meeting society’s needs through the transition to Net Zero.’

A path for the future

‘My activity with the group has also presented me with another avenue to connect with peers in the industry,’ continued Ms O’Leary. ‘The people I’ve met through QNJAC have fast become mentors, enabling me to build more connections. They’ve also supported me and my application to chartership with invaluable advice.

‘Their direction and interconnectedness have helped me further develop my view of working environments. I’ve also been at the table with people who have a vast range of industry experience and have learned how they started out professionally and built their roles. With several members of the group still within the early stages of their careers, I’ve had opportunities to connect with peers, including Emma Lindsay from Tarmac. Emma and I related over the lack of young voices in the industry and so together hosted the recent Early Careers Geoscience Group (ECGG) event. This was a huge success, highlighting perfectly the importance of QNJAC in providing a space for people to make progressive connections within an environment that’s not directly associated with the company they work for.

‘It’s concepts such as the ECGG that will help shape and direct the industry’s talent and knowledge for an evolving future, where expertise and passion will be essential to driving change and making our industry more sustainable. QNJAC is playing its role in making that possible and I’m excited to be involved.’

To find out more or to join a subcommittee, visit: www.QNJAC.co.uk; or connect via the LinkedIn or WhatsApp groups:

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