Quarry blast sends rocks flying over public road
An explosives specialist has been fined after a quarry blast sent rocks of up to 15 kilos flying outside a danger zone toward employees and across a public road.
Falling rocks narrowly avoided hitting workers as they landed well outside the designated blast zone at Moons Hill Quarry near Shepton Mallet on 7 February 2012.
Bristol Crown Court heard that workers acting as sentries outside the danger area were aware of rocks flying above their heads and landing all around them immediately after the blast.
Rocks also landed in the processing plant area of the quarry, which is on the other side of a public road.
HSE inspectors discovered that the blast had not been properly planned.
Too much explosive was used in an area where the ground was already broken and measures put in place to reduce risks were inadequate.
WCD Sleeman and Sons Ltd, of Frome, was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 in costs after pleading guilty to safety breaches.
The court was told the firm was prosecuted by HSE after investigating a similar offence in Devon when they were fined £20,000 with £17,000 costs in July 2013 at Barnstaple Magistrates’ Court.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Catherine Pickett said: “This was a very serious incident, which put both members of the public and employees at serious risk of being hit by rocks and could easily have led to death or serious injury.
“Blasting operations at quarries are potentially very dangerous. The risks must be rigorously controlled by good explosives engineering practice and in accordance with legal requirements.
“Quarrying remains one of the most dangerous industries to work in with 3,250 injuries, including 27 fatalities, reported to HSE since 2000.
“This is not the first time WCD Sleeman and Sons have been prosecuted for similar offences that have put people at considerable risk and I hope they take more heed of the lessons to be learned.
“Proper planning and control is required at all times in the quarrying industry. The option of stopping and reevaluating the blasting operation for safety is always available to shotfirers, and in this case would have avoided danger.”
Continue ReadingNevill Long donation proves a recipe for success
Specialist distributors Nevill Long have donated ceiling tiles to a training centre café. Posted via Industry Today. Are you into it? Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Continue ReadingHigh-rise plan for London Tube station
Development Securities and Transport for London has formed a joint venture to create a mixed-use scheme at Southwark Underground station.
The one-acre site above and around the London Underground station on Blackfriars Road has potential for a 225,00 sq ft landmark scheme, led with 300 flats.
The development site combines three sites: a vacant office building, Algarve House; adjacent land owned by TfL including the air space above Southwark Underground station; and further land around the station owned by the London Borough of Southwark
Located between the Elephant and Castle regeneration area and the South Bank, the high rise project including developing air-rights would deliver over 300 flats as well as shops and restaurants.
Development Securities and TfL have signed up architect AHMM to develop a masterplan ahead of submitting a planning application later this year.
Julian Barwick, Director, Development Securities said: “Our site is located within an exciting area of Southwark with huge potential to deliver a development that creates new employment and housing opportunities as well as considerable new public realm and leisure opportunities.
“Following our success at 10 and 12 Hammersmith Grove, we are delighted to have joined forces again with TfL to create a partnership that has the expertise and ability to deliver a significant regeneration development for the local area.”
Graeme Craig, Director of Commercial Development, TfL said: “The development above and around Southwark Underground station will see the creation of homes, jobs and new community facilities on a site that has been left undeveloped for far too long.”
Continue Reading