First SHE awards

IAN Southgate, quarry manager at Hanson Aggregates’ Drybrook Quarry, and Andy Aplin, quarry supervisor at Bardon Aggregates’ Cribarth Quarry, are the first two candidates to achieve NVQs in Health, Safety and Environmental Management.

The NVQ covers tasks such as improving the health and safety of employees, reducing the impact of quarrying on the environment, conducting risk assessments and eliminating hazards.

The introduction of the qualification is part of the drive by the industry to meet the HSE’s ‘Hard Target’ initiative to reduce accidents by 50% by 2005.

Quarry managers and supervisors are seen to have a vital role in helping to change the safety culture of the industry.