The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has released a set of new resources to tackle risks on sites where pedestrians and vehicles interact.
‘Workplace Transport and Pedestrian Interface’ has been identified by the MPA’s Health & Safety Committee as one of ‘The Fatal 6’ high consequence hazards that have been the main cause of fatalities and serious injuries and incidents on quarry sites over the last decade.
Developed by members of the MPA’s Vehicles and Pedestrians Health and Safety Working Group the resources are intended to act as a tool for sites to help them understand and control the typical risks that they manage where vehicles and pedestrians interact. They build on the Clear, Simple, Smart resources on Isolation, Covid-19 and Mental Health and Wellbeing that have already been launched by MPA this year.
Using ‘guiding principles’, cartoons, consistent messaging, posters and – with support from the MPQC (Mineral Products Qualifications Council) – training tools, managers can deploy the resources to help improve on site behaviours and safety practices as part of MPA’s mission to eliminate ‘The Fatal 6′ incidents from operations.
There are four sets of resources. Firstly the Workplace Transport & Pedestrian Interface Handbook: A 147 page, A5 handbook, designed to assist supervisors and managers on site and support other industry technical guidance. Follows the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle. The narrative and practical examples have been taken from materials that were received from MPA members, both large and small, after a request to share best practice on this subject.
Secondly the Employees Best Practice Vehicle and Pedestrian Segregation Pocketbook: A 23 page, A6 pocketbook, designed for operatives and site personnel, this document describes the variety of traffic, vehicle and pedestrian management plans which when followed appropriately ensure that sites can work safely. It has been prepared to raise awareness of the subject and to help guide the industry towards a safer working environment.
There are also four separate posters designed for use on site notice boards and in canteens and rest areas.
Finally there are stickers for use in relevant areas around sites, including in cabs of vehicles.
The resources are all available at www.safequarry.com/Fatal-6/Fatal-6-Step-2.aspx
The MPQC has produced the ‘Workplace Transport and Pedestrian Interface’ e-learning course (sponsored by the Institute of Quarrying) to remind managers and employees, of their responsibilities and duties, and to ensure that operations proceed with safe people, safe plant, and a safe work environment. The e-learning will focus on key subjects of the guidance and embed learning through interaction and knowledge checks. At the end of the modules, there will be an assessment of understanding and a certificate will be issued by MPQC, upon successful completion. Register, adding your National Insurance Number at www.mpconnect.co.uk
Chris Leese, MPA health & safety special advisor, said: “Even those companies who may think that they already have this issue covered might want to consider re-auditing or repeating the campaign focus.
“Our collective experience shows that either people begin to forget the seriousness of the types of incidents that can occur or that changes are not fully embedded; and there are always some new things we can all learn and implement in our workplaces.”
