| Title | Short Description | Source | Date |
| Ministers Guidance to Mineral Products Sector – Continuing to Operate During Covid | Please find attached a letter from the Minister effectively confirming our sectors continuing essential role, and consequent guidance in terms of continued operations during the current heightened ‘lockdown’.
Of particular note are the following highlights:
- “firms and tradespeople in the construction sector and its supply chain, including merchants, suppliers and product manufacturers, should continue to operate during this national lockdown”
- “Whether delivering on large or small construction sites, and in peoples' homes across the country, in builders' merchants, designing and project managing schemes or producing construction and mineral products, you are making a major contribution to the economic recovery following Covid-19.”
This guidance is no doubt issued on the assumption that as an industry we continue to operate in a Covid secure way. It remains of vital importance therefore that operators who are continuing to work, ensure that robust steps have been taken to protect their workforce and to continually check that high standards are being maintained.
Once again we would draw attention to the MPA’s Covid guidance and resources which can be used to assist in the ongoing development and implementation of your own Covid security measures.
| MPA | 13/01/2021 |
| COVID-19 - Coronavirus testing for hauliers before leaving the UK for France | The Government has issued advice re testing for hauliers before leaving the UK and facilitites available to support this. Please review and discuss with any haulage companies you work with the plans that they have in place to ensure their hauliers have tested negative, conducted within 72 hours prior to travel, before travelling to the border. | MPA | 11/01/2021 |
| Fatal 6 - Vehicle Compliance Checks - Highways England | Please see attached a summary report from Highways England on a recent vehicle inspection exercise run by Warwickshire Police, covering 173 vehicles.
The report highlights that 35% of the vehicles checked were defective in some way. This included a variety of issues that drivers should have picked up as part of their normal pre-use checks.
The report reinforces the importance of regular and thorough pre-use checks. More information on vehicle checks can be found in the MPA Drivers Handbook which can be downloaded from Safequarry.
| Highways England | 07/01/2021 |
| Wales Drowning Prevention Strategy | MPA Wales supports the Wales' Drowning Prevention Strategy That was launched on Monday. | MPA | 21/12/2020 |
| Vision Zero Employee Guide | MPA has launched a digital guide that provides an overview of Vision Zero for employees and contractors. It includes information on the 6 H&S Values, 'The Fatal 6' and the 6 strategies MPA is using to support its members. The Guide can be downloaded from the Safequarry website.
| MPA | 09/12/2020 |