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 April 2006 - Confined Space Rescue in Quarries

On the 10th April 2006 the Branch held it's third technical evening of the 2006 programme at the Compass Inn, Tormarton. The speakers were Jeremy Hann of Gasex Ltd and Brian Robinson, a Breathing Apparatus and Rescue Consultant who gave a presentation entitled "Confined Space Rescue in Quarries".

An introduction covered both HSE hard target initiatives and referred to Regulation 15 of the Quarries regulation 1999, Escape and Rescue facilities at the Quarry.

Various actual incidents which resulted in fatalities or major injuries due to confined space working were shown including some BBC video news footage. From these it was evident that in a lot of cases the multiple injuries and fatalities are due to untrained rescue attempts by workmates who attempt a rescue and get into difficulties.

The Main Hazards surrounding confined spaces were summarised as

The "Confined Space Regs 1997" are expected to be updated later this year but four areas of the regulations were explained

It is therefore evident then that having the correct equipment on site and also trained personnel to use it is the fundamental requirement of the Regulations.

The training provided covers Safe systems of work and Risk assessment, Hazard awareness, Use of rescue equipment, Use of emergency BA, Gas detection and emergency actions.

The course offered currently covers both theoretical classroom based learning as well as practical training on use of the equipment.

The presentation provoked many questions from the floor which were duly answered.

To conclude the evening a vote of thanks was given by Eric Darlow and our appreciation was given in the normal way.