The UK Institute of Quarrying will maintain its emphasis on health and safety issues in 2021, according to president Martin Riley.
In a column on the IQ’s website Riley stated that the cross-industry Strategic Forum for Health and Safety in the Mineral Products Sector will be focusing this year on vehicle and pedestrian segregation. He added that this follows on from the successful campaign on eliminating entrapment that saw the development and co-ordinated distribution of resources from the Mineral Products Association (MPA) and the Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC), alongside guidance from the Quarries National Joint Advisory Committee (QNJAC).
As with other years, for many of us the return to work will be the time to review our approaches to health and safety. Taking stock at the beginning of the year allows us to make sure that we are operating in an efficient, safe, and sustainable way.
Setting out the IQ’s continuing focus on health and safety, Riley stated: “Whilst we produce support to focus on new hazardous areas, it is critical for us not to become complacent in thinking the job has been done in other areas. As professionals we need to challenge ourselves to ensure that we continue to keep focused on all aspects of health and safety and avoid dropping back on the ground we have made.”
Riley added that the IQ’s network of branches will continue to provide an place for members to learn and share their experiences.
IQ events on industry practices and thinking have been held virtually during the pandemic, but he said it was hoped they will return to face to face later in the year.
“We know 2020 was an exceptional year and 2021 still holds many uncertainties, but with the real prospect that by the end of the year we will see a return to something like normality,” Riley stated.
“Looking forward we can see the importance our sector will play in driving the economic recovery and the potential demand to bring new talent into the sector. Ensuring we have a consistent approach to supporting the training and development of competence in key areas such as health and safety will be vital to establishing a sustainable approach for the future.”
