MPA launches annual Stay Safe campaign

The UK 2897 Mineral Products Association (MPA) has launched its annual Stay Safe campaign to raise public awareness about the dangers of entering quarries and other mineral products sites uninvited today.

The campaign draws on the results of the MPA’s recently completed survey of site managers which highlighted that 58% of the respondents had experienced trespass in the last twelve months. Of those reporting trespass, two-thirds reported theft as being one of the main motivations.

The campaign, in addition to the core safety messages, will highlight industry concerns about the irresponsible actions of adults engaged in theft and other activities such as the so-called urban explorers, which put children and other young people at risk when they break down fencing to gain access.

The core of the campaign reinforces the activities already being undertaken by operators through activities such as school visits and quarry open days.

In north-west England, MPA is working with United Utilities and the emergency services in a combined media campaign following the recent drowning of teenage boy in a County Lancashire (north-west England) reservoir.

To support quarry operators and others involved with community engagement a new video has been launched, and this includes the comments of the friends and families of teenage boys who have been killed in tragic accidents when entering quarries uninvited.

The short video also highlights the risks people expose themselves to when trespassing in quarries and other industry sites. As the video highlights, all too often the fatalities have occurred when young people were engaged in what they perceived as harmless fun.

In addition to the video which is viewable on YouTube ( External000oLinkExternalhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkRzpvPVddsyoutubefalsehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkRzpvPVddsfalsefalse%>).

The Facebook page Stay Safe Stay Out of Quarries that supports the campaign has been relaunched.

MPA hopes that operators will encourage their staff to view this and share it with their contacts.

Sadly, the recent hot weather has already resulted in a number of water related fatalities which have been well reported in the media, this includes a death in Scotland and Northern Ireland in disused quarries.

The MPA is urging all operators to re-double their efforts to check their signs, fencing and other security measures prior to the extended bank holiday weekend and the school holidays.

More information about the Stay Safe campaign and the resources to support quarry and other site managers can be found on the MPA website External000oLinkExternalwww.mineralproducts.orgmineral productsfalsehttp://www.mineralproducts.org/falsefalse%>.