WorkSafe Warns – Keep Kids off Quarry Sites These Holidays

Quarry operators need to be mindful of public safety at their site, especially during the holiday season. WorkSafe provides some guidance on this issue.

WORKSAFE Victoria reminds quarry managers and workers to keep children away from quarry plants during the school holidays.

“With the holidays now upon us, I remind quarry workers who have school children not to take them to work,” WorkSafe’s Construction and Utilities Program Director, Chris Webb said.

“Managers should enforce a strict no-kids-on-site policy. Those who negligently expose children to risk on or around quarries and processing plant are breaking the law.”

Each year parents face the pressure of juggling the care of young children during school holidays and maintaining work commitments. Obviously young children require constant supervision and therefore parents consider taking them along to their workplace.

However unless the children are placed into specific workplace school holiday programs they are then potentially exposed to very serious risks from machinery, falls, chemical exposure and other workplace risks.

“WorkSafe’s construction program is currently promoting a ‘back to basics’ approach to workplace safety. A fundamental part of this approach is to ensure all employees receive basic OHS induction training and supervision. In the hazardous environment of a quarry there is simply no place for children”.

Mr Webb said that if the industry recognises the risks for untrained workers, it should be obvious to the entire community that quarry workplaces and children are a potentially lethal mix.

“Managers and supervisors should also ensure their sites are secure when they are unattended.A quarry might be a great place to play, but there is a critical risk of serious injury or death.With everyone’s cooperation, we can get through the school holidays without our children being endangered.”

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