Sep 7 2007
Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), Sir Bill Callaghan today congratulated the quarry industry on its continuing drive to improve its health and safety performance.
On a visit to CEMEX sand and gravel quarry at Bramshill near Eversley Hampshire, Sir Bill said:
"My first official visit as HSC Chair back in 1999 was to a quarry. At that time the industry had a poor safety record - its fatality rate averaged three times that of construction. Tough action was needed and, I'm glad to say, taken - two years ago the industry reported that between 2000 and 2005 it had succeeded in more than halving the number of reportable injuries each year.
"However recent figures (05/06) have shown a 4.4 per cent rise in the number of reportable injuries. This rise is a reminder that the industry needs to maintain the momentum that has been achieved since 1999, and ensure that everyone plays their part. So I am encouraged that it is now working towards 'Target Zero' - no reportable injuries by 2015 - a commitment which shows quarrying's ambition to be a world-class performer in health and safety. Involving workers in safety issues and ensuring training and competency will be pivotal in meeting this goal.
"As I prepare to leave HSC I am pleased to return to a quarry and mark the strong and productive relationship between the regulator and this industry."
Mike Ogden, Vice President of CEMEX said,
"We are delighted to welcome Sir Bill Callaghan and his colleagues from the Health and Safety Executive. Health and safety is firmly at the top of our agenda and we are confident that through ongoing training and worker involvement initiatives we can achieve the industry's 'Target Zero' goal".
Commenting on the ongoing commitment of the quarry industry to further improve its safety record, Lynda Thompson, Chairman of Quarry Products Association said:
"The quarrying industry does not work in isolation. The important link with others contributes enormously to our improvement in performance, be they local residents, MPs or our regulators and advisors. Our commitment to improve our health and safety performance is well known, particularly through the work on the Target Zero initiatives. To achieve the very evident reductions in accidents and to sustain best practice on health and safety throughout the industry, we have relied on the support and guidance of organisations such as the Health and Safety Commission under the stewardship of Sir Bill Callaghan to keep us moving towards a completely safe working environment".