GREAT BRITAIN Safer Workplace Abroad Makes Quarries and Mines Safer

New Team Formed to Make for Safer Quarries, Mines

It seems no matter what part of the world we are in, workplace safety is a very high priority – in fields not necessarily well known to us in the United States. In Great Britain a new team of specialist inspectors is working to crackdown on death, injury and ill health in quarries and open cast mines across the country.

Quarries and open cast mines one of the most dangerous industries in Great Britain. Since 2000, 21 workers have died and more than 2,700 workers suffered a reportable injury

The team of Health and Safety Executive inspectors, initially five-strong, has decades of knowledge and expertise in the sector. The inspectors will operate nationwide, dedicating their time solely to advising, inspecting and carrying out any necessary enforcement action in quarries and open cast mines. This new approach marks a departure for the inspectors who previously worked across a range of industries, including manufacturing and agriculture. (workersxzcompxzkit)

Significant improvements in safety are being made. The industry exceeded its target to reduce reportable incidents by 50% in the five years to 2005 and is now looking forward to achieving zero reportable incidents in a drive called Target Zero.

Colin Mew, principal inspector of the new Quarries National Inspection Team, noted, “The industry is making encouraging progress in reducing death and injury, but much remains to be done. Falls from height and accidents involving vehicles are still some of the main causes of injury – many serious or fatal. Occupational ill health, as a result of exposure to respirable silica or high levels of noise, can also affect quarry workers. Our new team will be dedicated to helping improve all aspects of health and safety by working with the quarrying and open cast coal industry and those employed in it.”

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: [email protected] or 860-553-6604.

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