Institute of Quarrying - West of England Branch

	Technical & Event Summaries 2010 May: The Mining Waste Directive Apr: Education, Training and Competence - IQ Vision of the Future Mar: Rock & Soil Slope Stabilisation Feb: Biodegradable Oils Jan: Annual General Meeting 2009 Dec: Member's Paper Evening Oct: Explosives Record Keeping Sept: Water Framework Directive Apr: Foam Dust Suppression Technology Jan: Annual General Meeting 2008 Nov: HSE Hot Topics presentation Sept: Mining limestone in Spain Apr: Quarry Restoration Mar: Calculating a carbon footprint for your operations Feb: Mine stabilisation at Coombe Down, Bath Jan: Annual General Meeting 2007 Nov: Uses of Recycled Materials Oct: Blasting Technology Sept: Field Trip Mar: Alternatives to Blasting Feb: European Standards for Asphalt Jan: Annual General Meeting 2006 Dec: Members Paper Evening Nov: Corporate Manslaughter Paper Sept: WBV (Whole Body Vibration) May: Worker Attitudes, Personality and Risk Propensity Apr: Confined Space Rescue in Quarries Mar: Asset Management in the Quarrying Industry 2005 Dec: Members Paper Evening Nov: The Aggregate Levy Oct: Tarmac’s Journey to Zero Tolerance on Health and Safety Sept: Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations May: Golf Day Apr: Further Education in the Quarrying Industry Mar: Energy Efficiency Measures Feb: Future for Recovered Fuel Oil (RFO) Jan: Annual General Meeting 2004 Dec: Members Paper Evening Nov: Water Act 2003 & Catchment Abstraction Mgmt Strategy (CAMS) Oct: Falconry Sep: A Safety Evening with the HSE Jun: Field Visit - Kempsford Quarry May: Marketing Sustainablility Apr: Explosive Regulations Mar: CDM regulations Feb: Working Time Directive Jan: AGM 2003 Dec: Members' Paper Evening Nov: Competition Act Oct: Aggregates Levy Funding for Wild Spaces Sep: Energy Conservation in Quarries May: The WRAP Aggregates Programme Apr: Hot Topics from the HSE Mar: New European Specifications for Aggregates Feb: Archaeology at Bestwell Quarry Jan: Safety for Life Seminar

10^th November - Competition Act - Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Over thirty members and guests gathered at Tracy Park, Wick for their third technical evening this Autumn. The paper was presented by James Aitken and Nicholas French of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Complying with the UK competition regime".

The speakers outlined current and proposed legislation, the key changes introduced by the Enterprise Act and the main issues regarding a cartel offence.

They pointed out that building materials companies have been the subject of increasing competition law scrutiny throughout Europe and gave several notable examples.

The speakers provided a very useful list of 'Dos and Don'ts' in dealing with competitors to ensure compliance with the law. They described the lengths the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) goes to obtain information. In one investigation the SFO had seized over 18,000 e-mails looking for evidence! They may also use covert surveillance and scrutinise social contacts.

The meeting concluded with a lively question and answer session covering predatory pricing, joint ventures and on-line bidding.