Quarry industry just short of self-imposed health and safety targets

The quarry industry is just eight short of its self-imposed target to reduce the number of health and safety incidents by half, according to new figures.

Findings from the Quarry Products Association (QPA) showed a drop of 136 since 2004 in annual workplace injuries.

Members of the QPA are hoping to reduce RIDDOR reportable incidents a year to 144 by 2009.

QPA director of safety and health Martin Isles warned of not being complacent in light of these new figures which showed that the body was well on target.

Speaking to Minerals, Quarrying and Recycling, he said: "The progress is good as we thought we were stalling but we must keep our foot on the accelerator now we have the figures."

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) chief inspector of quarries, Phil Smith, called the figures "commendable", but said that HSE data come from all sites under quarry regulations and not just QPA members.

Meanwhile, the HSE and Health and Safety Commission announced they were to merge earlier in the week.

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