Stay Safe at Active, Non-Active and Disused Quarry Sites

As we approach the hottest weeks of the year, the Mineral Products Association (MPA) are raising awareness of hazards and risks associated with uninvitingly venturing into active, non-active and disused quarry sites.

Many fatalities in quarries are water related and predominantly involve males in the 12-32 age range. Quarry lakes are known to have very deep and cold water that can suddenly change in depth. Unstable sides can make it difficult for the public to exit out of the water. As a result, these sites are not suitable for swimming especially by those who are unaware of the potential hazards.

The MPA are encouraging managers responsible for both active and disused quarries to review their public safety risk assessments and check that their mitigation measures such as fencing and warning signs are in place.

In addition to safety measures, it’s important to raise awareness of what the public should do if a water-based emergency arises.

The ‘Respect The Water’ campaign involves multiple organisations, including RNLI, RLSS, Fire and Rescue Service, MPA and many more. Focusing mainly on inland areas such as canals, rivers, reservoirs and quarry lakes, the campaign shares key messages such as ‘Call, Tell, Throw’ and ‘Float to Live’. These messages equip people with the knowledge of what to do if yourself, or someone else gets into difficulty whilst in the water.

Head to the MPA website to download many helpful resources to keep people safe around inland water.