News - latest content added to Safequarry

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) – Action Required to meet 31^st December 2025 Deadline

You can find more information by visiting the Guidance published by the Environment Agency and last updated in December 2022 – PCBs registration, disposal, labelling

The pdf, which can be downloaded by clicking on the title at the start of this Hot Topic, is an example of one company's briefing on its approach to the review and disposal of equipment containing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs).

It provides background information on PCBs, identifies the type of electrical equipment where they are likely to be present and outlines an action plan and internal process to meet the deadline of 31st December 2025 for their disposal.

'Safe Stop'

Six separate ‘runaway incidents’ in 2024 highlight the importance of drivers ensuring that they follow “Safe Stop” procedures to prevent fatalities, serious injury and damage to property.

Tragically, one of these incidents did result in a fatality, any of the other incidents had the potential to have a similar outcome.

MPA urges members to ensure 'Safe Stop' procedures are in place for all employee and contract drivers, appropriate checks and training is in place.  See pdf for more information

The Sleep Charity is focusing on workplace sleep with its #SleepforSafety campaign and relaunch of its Sleep Charter.

A report highlights following key statistics;  

• 9 in 10 cite that they currently have problems sleeping

• Sleep deprivation costs the economy £40bn a year and over 200,000 working days lost

• Almost 60% have experienced their attention span being negatively affected by a bad night’s sleep more than once

• One in six crashes resulting in death and injury on motorways and A roads are fatigue related

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that fatigue contributes to around 20% of accidents in the workplace

The charity has produced a resource pack for organisations wishing to raise awareness of the importance of sleep, this includes a range of free resources and outlines initiatives that can be taken by organisations to promote good sleep. DOWNLOAD SUPPORT PACK

The charities vision to raise the profile of sleep as a major factor for health and wellbeing and to ensure that sleep becomes a key issue on the Public Health Agenda. If you’re a business or organisation please consider pledging your support to the Charter for Sleep Equality

Please support World Drowning Prevention Day by sharing some life saving water safety messages with colleagues, friends and family. It is important that everyone understands what to do if they see someone in trouble in water or if you find yourself in trouble.

More accidental drownings occur at inland waters such as canals, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other water filled voids like disused quarries than at the coast. Often people who drown never intended to be in the water but have fallen in whilst engaged in activities close to the waters edge.

Key drowning statistics across the UK and communities:

• Males continue to over represent, with 83% of accidental fatalities.
• Everyday activities, such as walking and running, accounted for 48% of accidental fatalities.
• 63% of accidental fatalities happened at inland waters.
• Recreational activities accounted for 44% of accidental fatalities.

If you see someone in trouble in water 'Call, Tell, Throw'

• The water is a lovely place to spend time, but we all need to know how to stay safe. Know what to do in an emergency - #CallTellThrow https://respectthewater.com/

If you are in trouble in water ' Float to Live'

• #FLOATTOLIVE: Research by @RNLI highlighted that 36% of people did not know what to do if they were in trouble in water. Please help raise awareness of this life saving technique 'Float to Live' by sharing it with others. Visit https://rnli.org/safety/float Video: @RNLI

Based upon feedback shared by several MPA members, including information about a very serious accident overseas which sadly resulted in a fatality, MPA would like to draw to the attention of members to a potential issue with elevated walkways and platforms. (See more details in Safequarry Incident Alert)

Anecdotally, MPA has been informed of other similar incidents that have had serious potential and have resulted in relatively minor injuries, but could easily have resulted in a serious injury or death. (Corrosion can also affect structural integrity and corrosion can be hidden by spillage, for example).

As a matter of urgency, MPA members are advised to routinely inspect and report on the condition of elevated walkways and platforms to ensure that these potentially unsafe conditions do not exist within their own operations. MPA members are also encouraged to notify MPA of any adverse findings that may help others and keep this as a live issue and prevent further incidents.

We are grateful to members who have drawn these issues to our attention in the spirit of Safer By Sharing. Incident alerts and High Potential Incidents can be notified to MPA

By E mail to;

• Colin.mew@mineralproducts.org
• Chris.leese@mineralproducts.org 
• David.yelland@mineralproducts.org

Or directly via Safequarry https://www.safequarry.com/home/incident-alerts.aspx

We are all Safer By Sharing