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How safe are quarries?

Safety is extremely important in quarries.

Quarrying companies and governments go to great lengths to make sure that quarries are as safe as possible. There are very important laws in place requiring people to minimise the risks (or dangers) associated with quarrying. These laws don’t just apply to the quarry company, but to anyone that visits a quarry. You must NEVER go into a quarry unless you have the permission of the quarry manager and are accompanied by a quarry representative.

Quarry site with warning sign
There are obvious but also hidden dangers for anyone unfamiliar or uninvited who goes into a quarry. Quarrying involves the removal of earth and the creation of large holes in the ground. Sometimes these are very deep with steep ‘cliffs’. The rock can be very loose. Hard rock quarrying involves the blasting of rock. Large and heavy earthmoving equipment like excavators, dump trucks and front end loaders operate in the quarry. And there can be lots of trucks.

In Australia, over the past 10 years several young people have tragically been killed by accident when they went into quarries without permission. In some cases they were killed by collapsing stockpiles and in other cases they fell over the edge of benches. Several young men have been killed whilst riding motorbikes in quarries.

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER A QUARRY UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PERMISSION OF THE QUARRY MANAGER AND YOU ARE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE QUARRY.

IF YOU ENTER A QUARRY ILLEGALLY YOU ARE PUTTING YOURSELF AT GREAT RISK. YOU ARE ALSO BREAKING THE LAW AND COULD BE PROSECUTED.

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