S.I. No. 283/2025 - Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025

1. In this Schedule “excavation, tip or lagoon” includes, where appropriate, a proposed excavation, tip or lagoon.

Site survey

2. An accurate plan on a scale not less detailed than 1:2,500 showing —

(a) the boundaries of the quarry upon which the excavation, tip or lagoon is or is to be situated,

(b) the site of the excavation, tip or lagoon,

(c) any contiguous land or structure that might be affected by the excavation, tip or lagoon,

(d) buried quarry workings, known cave systems, active or former land-slips, springs, artesian wells, watercourses, mine workings (whether in use or not) and other natural or man-made features, including tunnel pipes or culverts that may —

(i) affect the safety of the excavation, tip or lagoon, or

(ii) be relevant for the purpose of determining whether quarrying operations can be carried out safely.

This plan shall be contoured, orientated and correlated to the Ordnance Datum Survey National Grid at a vertical interval not greater than 5 metres and marked with squares corresponding to the 100 metre squares shown on Ordnance Survey sheets on the scale of 1:2,500.

Site investigation

3. A record of all relevant site investigation information including surveys, tests, boreholes and groundwater measurements made for the purpose of the geotechnical assessment together with the results of any testing including the strength of materials within and beneath the tip or within the excavated slope. The record shall include any known historical information relevant to the site investigation.

Cross-sections based on site investigation

4. Sufficient accurate cross-sections on a scale not less detailed than 1:1,250 of the site of the excavation, tip or lagoon showing the existing ground surface and all relevant superficial materials and bedrock underlying the site and —

(a) any variation in the thickness, level or character of the superficial deposits and bedrock materials based on the site investigation, and

(b) the position of any surface, whether natural or man-made, that may affect the safety of the excavation, tip or lagoon.

Plans based on site investigation

5. Plans showing the position of all boreholes, wells and trial pits used in the site investigation and the location and levels of all materials and surfaces that may affect the safety of the excavation, tip or lagoon.

Assumptions made before analysis

6. A record of any assumptions relevant to the assessment of ground conditions relating to the safety of the excavation, tip or lagoon made by the geotechnical specialist, including a record of any relevant information that was not available when undertaking the assessment.

Findings of analysis

7. A record of the calculations carried out in order to determine the safety of the excavation, tip or lagoon, including any variables or parameters used in those calculations and the reasons for using them and the findings of those calculations expressed as the factor of safety or the probability of failure or other recognised basis of assessing stability.

Design coming out of analysis

8. An accurate plan on a scale not less detailed than 1:2,500 recording —

(a) in relation to an excavation, the design of the excavation, including the height or proposed height of the slope, the position and width of any benches and representative contours of the excavation at vertical intervals of not more than 5 metres, and

(b) in relation to a tip or lagoon, the design of the tip or lagoon, including the area of land covered or to be covered, the gradients of that land, the designed contours at vertical intervals of not more than 2 metres, the side slopes and boundaries of the tip or lagoon and the designed position and nature of construction of any wall or other structure retaining or confining the tip, or lagoon.

Requirements during and after quarrying operations

9. A report of the nature and extent of inspection, supervision and safety measures necessary to ensure the safety of the excavation, tip or lagoon and a specification of necessary engineering works and safety measures and specifying a record of the action to be taken regarding defects.

GIVEN under my hand,

11 September 2025

ALAN DILLON,

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

1 OJ No. L 404, 31.12.1992, p.10

1 OJ No. L 404, 31.12.1992, p.10

10. The operator shall establish a management structure and shall appoint —

(a) (i) a person who is competent to perform the functions of a quarry manager under these Regulations to be the quarry manager, or

(ii) himself or herself to be the quarry manager, where he or she is an individual who is competent to perform the functions of a quarry manager under these Regulations,

(b) a person or persons who is or are competent to perform the functions of the quarry manager under these Regulations to be the temporary quarry manager or temporary quarry managers, as the case may be, in the absence of the quarry manager,

(c) persons referred to in Regulation 45, and

(d) an adequate number of competent persons to perform the functions referred to in Regulation 9(3).

(2) The operator shall ensure that the management structure is regularly reviewed and shall where necessary, particularly if the quarry undergoes significant changes (including natural changes), extensions or conversions, revise the management structure.

(3) The operator shall ensure that each person who is part of the management structure at the quarry is provided with the part or parts of the safety statement that describes the person’s authority and function.

General duties of quarry manager

11. The quarry manager (or temporary quarry manager, as the case may be) appointed under Regulation 10 shall —

(a) manage the operation of the quarry at all times when persons are working in the quarry,

(b) other than where the quarry manager is the operator, advise the operator as to the compliance with the requirements of the relevant statutory provisions,

(c) exercise a general supervision of the compliance with those requirements and the promotion of the safe conduct of work generally, and

(d) be available at all times during quarrying operations.

Safety statement

12. (1) In preparing or causing to be prepared a safety statement under section 20 of the Act of 2005, or in reviewing or amending the safety statement under that section, the operator shall include the —

(a) management structure and appointments referred to in Regulation 10 setting out the duties and responsibilities of each person in the management structure,

(b) instructions and operating procedures required under Regulation 15(a) relating to the safety and health of persons at work at the quarry in both normal and critical situations there,

(c) arrangements for the review of the safety statement under section 20 of the Act of 2005,

(d) system of permits to work, if required under Regulation 16,

(e) inspection, maintenance and testing schemes prepared under Regulation 20,

(f) vehicles and traffic rules prepared under Regulation 24,

(g) instructions concerning the use of emergency equipment prepared under Regulation 30(c),

(h) precautions taken to protect against, detect and combat the outbreak and spread of fire required under Regulation 32,

(i) arrangements made and the equipment and measures necessary to prevent explosions required under Regulation 32,

(j) shotfiring rules prepared under Regulation 47,

(k) operating procedures for excavations, tips and lagoons required under Regulation 55,

(l) conclusions of any appraisal, site investigation or geotechnical assessment of an excavation, tip or lagoon undertaken under Regulations 56 or 57, and

(m) arrangements for health surveillance required under Regulation 62.

(2) In addition to the matters referred to in paragraph (1), the safety statement shall, where appropriate, also include

(a) a plan detailing the equipment and measures required to protect persons at work at the quarry from the risk of explosion or fire in accordance with Regulations 32 and 33,

(b) where toxic gases are or may be present in the atmosphere at the quarry in such concentration that the atmosphere may be harmful to the health of persons at work, a plan detailing the protective equipment and measures required to protect persons at work at the quarry from the harmful atmosphere in accordance with Regulation 33, and

(c) a diagram of the quarry indicating those areas to which these Regulations do not apply under Regulation 3(2).

(3) The operator shall ensure that —

(a) all measures that are required to be taken under the safety statement are taken,

(b) any plans included in the safety statement are followed, and

(c) each person in the management structure referred to in Regulation 10 shall perform the duties assigned to him or her in the safety statement so as to protect the safety, health and welfare of persons at work at the quarry.

Co-ordinated measures

13. (1) The operator, or the common operator, as the case may be, shall co-ordinate the implementation of all measures relating to the safety, health and welfare of persons at work at the quarry.

(2) Every employer of persons at work at a quarry and every person at work at a quarry shall co-operate with the operator, or the common operator, as the case may be, to the extent necessary to enable that operator to comply with the relevant statutory provisions.

Safety induction, competence and skills certification

14. The operator shall ensure that no person shall undertake any quarrying operations unless that person —

(a) has received appropriate site-specific safety induction instruction,

(b) is either competent to do that work, or does it under the instruction and supervision of some other person who is competent to give instruction in, and supervision of, that work for the purpose of training that person, and

(c) has been issued with, and is in possession of, a current registration card or can show evidence of successful completion of training in respect of the Quarries Skills Certification Scheme if engaged in any of the tasks specified in Schedule 1.

Instructions, rules and operating procedures

15. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) written instructions specifying rules to be observed and operating procedures are in place at the quarry with a view to securing the safety and health of persons at work and the safe use of work equipment,

(b) copies of all instructions, rules and operating procedures that are required to be made under these Regulations are kept at the quarry and given to any person at work at the quarry to whom they apply, and

(c) all reasonable measures are taken in order that each person at work at the quarry understands the instructions, rules and operating procedures made under these Regulations relating to the quarry that apply to that person.

Permits to work

16. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) where necessary, based on an assessment of the risks, a system of permits to work is in place for the carrying out of —

(i) hazardous activities, and

(ii) activities that, when carried out in conjunction with other activities, may cause serious risks to the safety, health and welfare of persons at work,

and

(b) a permit to work is issued by a competent person before the particular activities referred to in paragraph (a) commence, that specifies the conditions to be fulfilled and protective measures to be taken before, during and after the carrying out of the activities.

Duties of persons at work at a quarry

17. Every person at work to which these Regulations apply shall —

(a) comply with all applicable instructions and rules and operating procedures prepared in accordance with these Regulations, and

(b) show his or her registration card or evidence of successful completion of the Quarries Skills Certification Scheme referred to in Schedule 1, when requested to do so by an inspector of the Authority, the person’s employer, the operator, or if applicable, the common operator.

Consultation

18. In complying with the requirements of section 26 of the Act of 2005, the operator, or operators as the case may be, and every employer at a quarry shall also consult at the quarry with their safety representatives and employees, as the case may be, in relation to the requirements of these Regulations, taking account of the need, whenever necessary, for co-operation and co-ordination among —

(a) the operator or operators, as the case may be, and employers,

(b) employees and other persons at work, and

(c) the safety representatives,

in order to promote and develop measures for protecting the safety, health and welfare of persons at work at the quarry and to monitor the effectiveness of such measures.

Record keeping

19. (1) The operator shall ensure that —

(a) every report, notification or other record required to be prepared under a provision of these Regulations is kept in an appropriate form at the quarry or other suitable place, and

(b) a copy of the written statement of duties of all persons appointed at the quarry under a provision of these Regulations is kept at the quarry or other suitable place for at least one year from the date of termination of the person’s employment.

(2) Where, under these Regulations, a document referred to in paragraph (1)(a) is required to be prepared, it is sufficient compliance with the requirement if the operator and, where appropriate, other person concerned —

(a) make and maintain the record, report or other document by electronic means, and

(b) duly authenticate that record, report or other document as soon as is practicable afterwards.

(3) The operator shall ensure that when quarrying operations have permanently ceased at the quarry the report, notification, or other record referred to in paragraph (1), are kept for a period of 6 years, unless otherwise required by these Regulations in relation to a particular class of record —

(a) at the registered office of the operator where the operator is a company (formed and registered under the

Companies Act 2014

or an existing company within the meaning of that Act), or at its business or principal place of business where the operator is another body corporate or unincorporated body, or

(b) at his or her place of business where the operator is an individual or (if there is no such address) the address at which the operator ordinarily resides.

(4) Any person having custody of records required under section 64 of the Act of 2005 or these Regulations shall —

(a) ensure that the records are open to inspection by an inspector, and

(b) forthwith send to an inspector such extracts from, or copies of, the records as the inspector may from time to time require in accordance with section 64 of the Act of 2005.

PART 3

GENERAL SAFETY PROVISIONS

Inspection, maintenance and testing schemes

20. (1) The operator, for the purposes of securing, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of persons at work in the quarry, shall ensure that —

(a) suitable schemes are prepared and kept up to date for the systematic inspection, maintenance and, where appropriate, testing of —

(i) all parts of the quarry,

(ii) all buildings (whether temporary or permanent) at the quarry, and

(iii) any plant and work equipment at the quarry,

(b) suitable records are made of inspections, maintenance and tests carried out under subparagraph (a) and that each such record lists any significant defects and the steps taken, or to be taken by a specified time, to remedy them and is —

(i) signed by the person making it, and

(ii) countersigned by an appropriate person in the management structure under Regulation 10, and

(c) a sufficient number of competent persons are appointed to undertake the activities referred to in subparagraphs (a) and (b).

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the schemes referred to in that paragraph shall specify that on every working day —

(a) the faces above every workstation at the quarry and every road used by persons at work at the quarry for the purpose of their work or of getting to or from their place of work are inspected for loose ground or loose rocks,

(b) faces, sides and any overburdens of the quarry that may cause danger at any place (including any road) are inspected,

(c) all external parts of all machinery and all appliances forming part of the equipment of the quarry are inspected, and

(d) where conditions are observed, during an inspection under subparagraph (a), that constitute a significant hazard, or a potential significant hazard at an excavation, tip or lagoon, the requirements of Regulation 56 are complied with.

(3) The operator shall ensure that appropriate remedial measures are taken following an inspection under this Regulation.

(4) The operator shall ensure that a record of each inspection carried out under paragraph (2), and, where necessary, the appropriate remedial measures taken under paragraph (3), is made.

Safety equipment

21. The operator shall ensure that adequate safety equipment is maintained, ready for use and in good working order at all times and such maintenance is undertaken with due regard to ongoing activities.

Benches and haul roads

22. The operator shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that —

(a) benches and haul roads are designed, constructed and maintained so as to allow vehicles and plant to be used and moved upon them safely, and

(b) where there is a risk of vehicles or plant accidentally leaving any bench or haul road, adequate precautions are taken by the installation of barriers or other appropriate means to control such risks.

Safeguarding edges of excavations and lagoons

23. The operator shall ensure that at the quarry —

(a) the overburden at or near the top of a face or a side of the quarry is cleared back to a sufficient distance and depth so as not to endanger any persons at work,

(b) material is not placed or stacked near or adjacent to the edge of any excavation or lagoon, where it is likely to endanger persons at work, and

(c) no load, vehicle, plant or equipment is placed or moved near or adjacent to the edge of any excavation or lagoon where it is likely to cause a collapse of the side of the excavation or lagoon and thereby endanger any persons at work, and

(d) where necessary appropriate barriers are provided near or adjacent to the edge of any excavation or lagoon.

Vehicle and traffic rules

24. (1) The operator shall ensure, in so far as is reasonably practicable, that suitable vehicle and traffic rules are prepared and, where necessary, reviewed and updated for the purpose of preventing the risks to persons arising from the use of vehicles at the quarry, including where machines or vehicles enter or leave the quarry.

(2) The operator shall ensure that transport vehicles, earth-moving machinery, materials-handling machinery and locomotives used at the quarry, including those operated by another employer at the quarry, are —

(a) of good design and construction taking into account as far as possible ergonomic principles,

(b) maintained in good working order,

(c) properly used,

(d) not operated otherwise than by —

(i) a competent person who has attained the age of 18 years, or

(ii) a person aged 16 or 17 years under the supervision of a competent person for the purpose of his or her training, and

(e) provided, in the case of the earth-moving machinery and materials-handling machinery specified in Schedule 3, with appropriate auxiliary devices that improve with visual aids the all-round visibility of the driver.

Danger areas

25. (1) The operator shall ensure that —

(a) danger areas are clearly marked,

(b) equipment or barriers are installed at any danger area to restrict inadvertent entry to that area by persons at work who are not authorised to enter, and

(c) where a person at work is authorised to enter a danger area, appropriate measures are taken to protect his or her safety, health and welfare.

(2) In this Regulation, “danger area” means an area of the quarry at which there is a significant risk to the safety, health or welfare of persons working in that area, due to the nature of the work being carried out in that area (including a risk of a person falling a distance likely to cause personal injury) or for any other reason.

Traffic routes

26. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) traffic routes, including stairs, fixed ladders, loading bays and ramps, are designed, located, laid out and made negotiable to ensure easy, safe and appropriate access in such a way as not to endanger persons working in the vicinity of these traffic routes,

(b) routes used for pedestrian or goods traffic, or both, including those used for loading and unloading, are dimensioned in accordance with the number of potential users and the type of activity concerned,

(c) if means of transport are used on traffic routes, sufficient safety clearance or adequate protective devices are provided for other quarry users, and routes are clearly marked, regularly checked and properly maintained,

(d) sufficient clearance is allowed between vehicle traffic routes and doors, gates, passages for pedestrians, corridors and staircases, and

(e) traffic routes are clearly identified for the protection of persons at work.

Outdoor workstations

27. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) outdoor workstations, traffic routes and other areas or installations that are occupied or used by persons at work in the course of their activities are organised in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate safely, and

(b) when persons at work are deployed at outdoor workstations, such workstations are arranged so that the persons at work, as far as possible —

(i) are protected against inclement weather conditions,

(ii) are not exposed to harmful noise levels or to harmful external influences such as gases, vapours or dust, and

(iii) are prevented from slipping or falling.

Protection from falling objects and provision of safety helmets

28. (1) The operator shall ensure that —

(a) adequate measures are taken to prevent persons at work from being struck by any falling object,

(b) where feasible, persons are protected by collective methods against falling objects, and

(c) materials, equipment and other articles are laid out or stacked in such a way as to prevent their collapsing or overturning.

(2) The operator shall ensure, unless there is no foreseeable risk of injury to a person’s head, that every person at work at the quarry is provided with —

(a) a suitable safety helmet, or

(b) other appropriate head protection,

that complies with the requirements under Regulation 62 of the General Application Regulations.

(3) The operator shall ensure that each safety helmet or other head protection provided for use at the quarry is marked so that it may be identified by the person to whom it has been issued.

(4) A person shall not, at a quarry, throw, drop or allow to be shot or ejected downwards any material or object, including waste material, from a height where it is liable to cause injury.

(5) A person who moves materials or objects, including waste materials, from a height at a quarry where they are liable to cause injury shall lower them in such a manner so as to avoid injury to persons.

Prevention of drowning

29. (1) The operator shall ensure that secure fencing or suitable barriers are provided near an edge of the land, structure or platform, as appropriate, to prevent such a fall where there is a risk of such fall from —

(a) an edge of land adjacent to water,

(b) a structure adjacent to or above water, or

(c) a floating platform.

(2) To the extent necessary for the access of persons or movement of materials, paragraph (1) shall not apply if appropriate precautions are taken, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure the safety and health of persons at the place of work.

(3) Without prejudice to paragraph (1), where, in or adjacent to the quarry, there is water into which a person in the course of his or her work is liable to fall with risk of drowning, the operator shall ensure that —

(a) suitable rescue equipment is provided, properly maintained and ready for use,

(b) arrangements are made for the prompt rescue of any such person who is in danger of drowning, and

(c) personal flotation devices conforming to European Norm (EN) or, where appropriate, an equivalent standard, are provided which are worn at all times by persons while exposed to that risk at the quarry.

(4) The operator shall ensure that personal flotation devices provided under paragraph (3) are —

(a) properly maintained,

(b) checked before each use,

(c) inspected in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and

(d) subjected to a thorough examination by a competent person every 12 months.

(5) On the day of an inspection or examination under paragraph (4), the person who carries out the inspection or examination, as the case may be, shall —

(a) make a report of the results in the Form AFQ3 specified in Schedule 2,

(b) sign and date the report, and

(c) give a copy of the report to the operator.

Escape and rescue facilities

30. Without prejudice to section 11 of the Act of 2005, the operator shall ensure that —

(a) adequate means of escape and rescue are provided and maintained, so as to enable persons to leave the quarry promptly and safely in the event of danger,

(b) adequate means of communication and warning are provided to enable assistance, escape and rescue operations to be initiated as soon as is reasonably practicable,

(c) instructions concerning the use of emergency equipment and the action to be taken in the event of an emergency at or near the quarry are prepared,

(d) persons at work at the quarry are trained in the appropriate action to be taken in the event of an emergency,

(e) rescue equipment is provided, maintained in good working condition and kept ready for use at readily accessible, appropriately sited and clearly sign-posted places,

(f) emergency routes and exits remain clear and lead by the most direct means to the open air, a safe area or a safe assembly or evacuation point,

(g) the number, distribution and dimensions of the emergency routes and exits are appropriate to the use, equipment and dimensions of the quarry and the maximum number of persons that may be present,

(h) emergency doors open outwards and are not so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency,

(i) emergency routes and exits, and the traffic routes and doors giving access to such routes and exits, are free from obstruction so that they can be used at any time without hindrance,

(j) emergency routes and exits requiring illumination are provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity, and

(k) specific emergency routes and exits are indicated by signs in accordance with the General Application Regulations applying to safety and health signs at work.

Safety drills

31. The operator shall ensure that safety drills are held at the quarry at regular intervals for persons at work there for the purposes of —

(a) training the persons who work at the quarry in the appropriate actions to be taken in an emergency, including, where appropriate, the correct use, handling and operation of emergency equipment, and

(b) training and assessing the skills of such persons to whom specific duties involving the use, handling and operation of such equipment have been assigned in the event of an emergency.

Fire and explosion hazards

32. (1) This Regulation applies without prejudice to section 11 of the Act of 2005 and the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 (No. 30 of 1981 and No. 15 of 2003).

(2) The operator shall ensure that —

(a) no person at work at the quarry uses a naked flame or carries out any work that could give rise to a risk of an unintended fire or explosion, unless sufficient measures to prevent such a fire or explosion are taken, and

(b) no person smokes or carries a lighted pipe, cigar or cigarette in any part of the quarry where there is a risk of fire or explosion.

(3) The operator, depending on the features of the quarry, the dimensions and use of rooms, the on-site equipment, the physical and chemical properties of the substances present and the maximum potential number of persons present at work, shall provide or cause to be provided at the quarry an adequate number of —

(a) appropriate fire-fighting devices, and

(b) where required, fire detectors and alarm systems.

(4) The operator shall ensure that —

(a) fire-fighting devices, fire detectors and alarm systems are regularly checked and properly maintained,

(b) appropriate tests and fire drills take place at regular intervals,

(c) non-automatic fire-fighting equipment is easily accessible, easy to use and, where necessary, protected from potential damage, and

(d) fire-fighting equipment is indicated by signs in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions applying to safety and health signs at work.

Explosive or harmful atmospheres

33. (1) Where there is a potential for harmful or explosive atmospheres to be present at the quarry, the operator shall ensure that —

(a) adequate steps are taken in order to determine whether potentially harmful or explosive substances are present in the atmosphere and, where such substances are present, the concentration of such substances in the atmosphere is measured,

(b) automatic devices are provided that are designed to —

(i) monitor continuously the concentration of explosive or flammable gases in the atmosphere,

(ii) trigger an alarm if such concentration reaches a dangerous level, and

(iii) cut off power to any plant that, because of the concentration of such gases in the atmosphere, gives rise to a risk to the safety and health of any person,

(c) where devices are provided in accordance with subparagraph (b)(i), a competent person shall record the levels of concentration of such gases in the atmosphere at such intervals as the competent person considers to be necessary or as are specified in the safety statement,

(d) at any place in the quarry where there is a risk of the occurrence or accumulation of an explosive atmosphere, all necessary measures are taken in order —

(i) to prevent such occurrence and accumulation, or

(ii) where this is not practicable, to prevent the ignition of such an atmosphere, and

(e) at any place in the quarry where there is a risk of the occurrence or accumulation of a substance harmful to health in the atmosphere, appropriate measures are taken in order to —

(i) prevent such occurrence and accumulation or,

(ii) where prevention under clause (i) is not practicable, extract or disperse that harmful substance in such a way that persons are not placed at risk.

(2) When persons at work are present in a particular place in the quarry where they are exposed to a substance in the atmosphere that is, or may be, harmful to health, the operator shall ensure that —

(a) appropriate and sufficient breathing and resuscitation equipment is —

(i) available,

(ii) suitably stored, and

(iii) maintained,

(b) a sufficient number of persons trained in the use of equipment referred to at subparagraph (a) are present, and

(c) where harmful substances accumulate or may accumulate in the atmosphere, appropriate measures are taken to ensure —

(i) their suppression at source,

(ii) their extraction at source,

(iii) their removal, or

(iv) the dilution of accumulations of such substances, in such a way that persons are not at risk.

Lighting

34. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) the quarry is provided throughout with lighting capable of supplying illumination sufficient to ensure the safety and health of persons at the place of work,

(b) workstations provided, as far as possible —

(i) receive sufficient natural light, and

(ii) having regard to the climatic conditions, are equipped with artificial lighting adequate for the protection of the safety and health of persons at work,

(c) lighting installations in rooms containing workstations and in passage-ways are placed in such a way that the type of lighting provided does not present a risk of accident to persons at work, and

(d) every part of the quarry in which a person is likely to be exposed to risks in the event of the failure of artificial lighting is provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity or, where that is not possible, persons at work in that place are provided with an appropriate personal lamp.

Prevention of unauthorised entry

35. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) quarry boundaries are signposted and laid out so as to be clearly visible and identifiable,

(b) safe means of access and egress at the quarry are —

(i) provided and maintained, and

(ii) where appropriate, indicated,

(c) adequate precautions are taken to protect persons present at, or in the vicinity of, the quarry from risks that may arise from quarrying operations, and

(d) adequate precautions are taken to prevent unauthorised entry to the quarry including, where appropriate, the provision of barriers.

PART 4

SAFETY PROVISIONS FOR ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES AND INSTALLATIONS

Meaning of “place of work” (Part 4)

36. In this Part, “place of work” means premises at the quarry —

(a) housing workstations, and

(b) to which persons at work have access for the purpose of the immediate and ancillary activities and installations of the quarry, including accommodation, rest and sanitary facilities.

Stability and solidity

37. The operator shall ensure that a place of work, whether temporary or permanent, is provided which has a structure and solidity appropriate to its use, and which —

(a) has been designed and constructed, and

(b) is operated, supervised and maintained,

so as to withstand the environmental forces anticipated and to be safe and without risk to health.

Floors, walls and ceilings of rooms

38. (1) The operator shall, in respect of a place of work, ensure that —

(a) floors are provided that —

(i) have no dangerous bumps, holes or slopes, and

(ii) are fixed, stable and not slippery,

(b) workstations are adequately insulated, having regard to the type of work activity involved and the physical activity of the persons at work, and

(c) surfaces of floors, walls and ceilings are such that they can be cleaned, and are cleaned, and where appropriate, refurbished to an appropriate standard of hygiene.

(2) The operator shall ensure that transparent or translucent walls, and, in particular, glass partitions, in a place of work or in the vicinity of outdoor workstations and traffic routes, are —

(a) clearly indicated, and

(b) made of safety material, or are shielded from such places or routes,

in order to prevent persons from coming into contact with such walls or partitions, or being injured in the event of such walls or partitions shattering.

Room dimensions, air space in rooms and freedom of movement at workstations

39. The operator shall, in respect of a place of work, ensure that —

(a) rooms have sufficient surface area, height and air space to allow persons at work to perform their work without risk to their safety, health or welfare, and

(b) the dimensions of unoccupied space at the workstation allow persons at work sufficient freedom of movement and enable them to perform their work safely.

Windows and skylights

40. The operator shall, in respect of a place of work, ensure that —

(a) windows and skylights —

(i) are designed so that they can be adjusted or secured in a safe manner, and

(ii) are not positioned so as to constitute a hazard to persons at work when open,

(b) windows and skylights can be cleaned without risk, and

(c) access to roofs made of fragile material shall not be permitted unless equipment is provided to ensure that work can be carried out in a safe manner.

Doors and gates

41. The operator shall, in respect of a place of work, ensure that —

(a) the position, number and dimensions of doors and gates, and the materials used in their construction, are determined by the nature and use of the rooms or areas concerned,

(b) transparent doors are appropriately marked at a conspicuous level,

(c) swing doors and gates are transparent or have see-through panels,

(d) transparent or translucent surfaces in doors and gates that are not made of safety material and in respect of which there is a danger that persons at work may be injured in the event of a door or gate shattering, are protected against breakage,

(e) sliding doors are fitted with a safety device to prevent them from being derailed or falling over,

(f) doors and gates opening upwards are fitted with a mechanism to secure them against falling back,

(g) doors forming part of escape routes are —

(i) appropriately marked,

(ii) possible to open from the inside at any time without special assistance, and

(iii) possible to open when the place of work is occupied,

(h) doors for pedestrians are provided in the immediate vicinity of any gates intended essentially for vehicle traffic, unless it is safe for pedestrians to pass through and such doors are clearly marked and left permanently unobstructed,

(i) mechanical doors and gates are provided that —

(i) function in such a way that there is no risk of accident to persons at work,

(ii) are fitted with easily identifiable and accessible emergency shutdown devices, and

(iii) unless they open automatically in the event of a power failure, can also be opened manually,

and

(j) where chains or similar devices are used to prevent access to any place, signs are provided that are clearly visible and appropriately identify the chains or similar devices and indicate any prohibition or warning relating to the prevention of access.

Ventilation

42. The operator shall, in respect of a place of work, ensure that —

(a) steps are taken to ensure that there is sufficient fresh air in enclosed rooms, having regard to the working methods used and the physical demands placed on the persons at work,

(b) where a forced ventilation system is used, it is maintained in good working order,

(c) any breakdown in a forced ventilation system is indicated by a control system, where this is necessary for the health of persons at work,

(d) where air-conditioning or mechanical ventilation installations are used, they operate in such a way that persons at work are not exposed to draughts that cause discomfort or ill health, and

(e) any deposit or dirt likely to create danger to the health of persons at work by entering into the atmosphere is removed without delay.

Temperature in rooms

43. The operator shall, in respect of a place of work, ensure that —

(a) during working hours, the temperature in rooms containing workstations is suitable for the persons at work, having regard to the working methods being used and the physical demands placed on them,

(b) the temperature in rest areas, rooms for duty staff, sanitary facilities, canteens and first aid rooms is appropriate to the particular purpose of such areas, and

(c) in relation to windows, skylights and glass partitions, excessive effects of sunlight are avoided, having regard to the nature of the work and the characteristics of the place of work.

PART 5

EXPLOSIVES

Application of Part 5

44. This Part shall apply to the storage, transport, preparation for use, use and disposal of explosives at a quarry.

Appointment of explosives supervisors, shotfirers, drillers and storekeepers

45. (1) The operator —

(a) shall appoint one or more than one competent person as explosives supervisor at the quarry and obtain confirmation of acceptance of such appointment in writing,

(b) shall ensure that, at any given time, where more than one competent person is appointed as explosives supervisor, there is only one person acting as the explosives supervisor at the quarry,

(c) shall appoint one or more than one competent person as shotfirer and may appoint one or more than one competent person as trainee shotfirer at the quarry,

(d) shall appoint, where necessary, one or more than one competent person as storekeeper to ensure the safe storage of explosives at the quarry,

(e) shall appoint a competent person to carry out drilling of shotholes, and

(f) shall ensure that a record of the appointment at the quarry of a competent person under subparagraphs (a), (c), (d) or (e) respectively is kept at the quarry or some other suitable place for the period of his or her appointment and for 6 years following the termination of his or her appointment.

(2) Nothing in these Regulations shall prevent a person appointed as quarry manager under Regulation 10 from being appointed as explosives supervisor or shotfirer, or both, under this Regulation, provided that he or she is competent to discharge those functions.

Storage, transport, use and disposal of explosives and ANBI

46. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) so far as is reasonably practicable, all explosives and ANBI are stored, transported, used and disposed of safely and securely,

(b) operations involving the on-site mixing, storage, transport, use or disposal of explosives and ANBI are carried out by or under the close personal supervision of the explosives supervisor appointed under Regulation 45(1)(a),

(c) such facilities and equipment as are necessary to enable shotfiring operations to be carried out safely are provided,

(d) any vehicle that is provided for use in relation to shotfiring operations is safe for use and so marked during such use as to be readily identifiable from a distance,

(e) detonators are stored and transported in separate containers from other explosives and ANBI, and

(f) explosives and ANBI are kept at all times in a locked explosives store or under the close personal supervision of the explosives supervisor appointed under Regulation 45(1)(a).

Shotfiring rules

47. (1) In respect of a quarry where explosives are in use, the operator shall ensure that rules (in this Regulation referred to as the “shotfiring rules”) are prepared and available at the commencement of quarrying operations.

(2) The shotfiring rules shall provide for the following

(a) procedures for all shotfiring operations;

(b) the appointment of drillers, explosives supervisors, shotfirers, trainee shotfirers and storekeepers;

(c) the authorisation of other persons who will be involved with the on-site mixing, storage, transport, use or disposal of explosives and ANBI;

(d) procedures for dealing with and recording of misfires;

(e) procedures for the disposal of surplus explosives, ANBI, detonators, accessories and packaging.

Blast specification

48. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) an adequate written blast specification is prepared by the explosives supervisor —

(i) that includes the identification of the danger zone for each shotfiring operation at the quarry, based on an assessment of the risks, and

(ii) so that where shotfiring operations identified by the explosives supervisor as being necessary occur, persons will not, in so far as is reasonably practicable, be placed at undue risk,

(b) a copy of any relevant information contained in the blast specification referred to in paragraph (a) is given to any person upon whom it imposes duties, and

(c) the blast specification is adhered to with regard to the azimuth, inclination, depth, and spacing of any shotholes drilled.

Shotfiring operations

49. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) in so far as is reasonably practicable, each shotfiring operation is carried out safely and in accordance with the shotfiring rules and blast specification,

(b) all shotfiring operations are carried out under the close personal supervision of the shotfirer,

(c) a trainee shotfirer at the quarry does not fire shots, except when —

(i) he or she is under the close personal supervision of a shotfirer, or

(ii) the operator is satisfied that he or she —

(I) has completed a suitable period of training,

(II) has appropriate practical experience, and

(III) is competent, and

(d) records are kept of all shotfiring operations carried out at the quarry.

Duties of explosives supervisor and shotfirer

50. (1) The explosives supervisor at the quarry shall —

(a) advise the operator as to the observance of the provisions of these Regulations in relation to the on-site mixing, storage, transport, use and disposal of explosives and ANBI at the quarry,

(b) organise and supervise all work involving the on-site mixing, storage, transport, use and disposal of explosives and ANBI at the quarry,

(c) based on an assessment of the risks, prepare in writing a blast specification for each shotfiring operation which, so far as is reasonably practicable, shall ensure that, when shotfiring occurs, it will not give rise to danger,

(d) ensure that, prior to shotfiring operations being carried out, he or she is familiar with the area that may be affected by the shotfiring operations, inspects the face to be blasted and is satisfied that the blast specification is adequate,

(e) ensure that no person carries out any work in relation to explosives unless they are trained, adequately supervised and instructed to do so, and

(f) ensure that all equipment to be used in shotfiring operations is suitable, safe and adequately maintained.

(2) The explosives supervisor and the shotfirer at a quarry shall carry out any shotfiring operations in accordance with the shotfiring rules and blast specification.

(3) Before a shot is fired, a shotfirer shall —

(a) ensure that any variations to the blast specification have been brought to the attention of and agreed with the explosives supervisor,

(b) ensure that no person is within, or may enter within, the danger zone specified in the blast specification when the shot is being fired,

(c) check the shotfiring system or circuit to ensure that it has been connected correctly,

(d) where electrical detonators are used, ensure that they have been correctly connected to the shotfiring system or circuit and that the shotfiring system or circuit is tested with an instrument suitable for the purpose,

(e) where appropriate, ensure that the electrical integrity of the shotfiring system or circuit is such as to make a misfire unlikely, and

(f) ensure that a warning signal is given and that the shot is fired from a safe place.

(4) After a shot is fired, a shotfirer shall —

(a) ensure that no person enters within the danger zone specified in the blast specification until the all-clear signal is given,

(b) inspect the blast site to check the result of the blast, the condition of the face and whether any misfire has occurred,

(c) report immediately any hazardous conditions or misfires to the operator and the explosives supervisor, and

(d) ensure that normal working is resumed only when he or she is satisfied that it is safe to do so.

Misfires

51. In the event of a misfire, the operator, in consultation with the quarry manager (where that quarry manager is not the same person as the operator) shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that —

(a) no person, other than himself or herself, the explosives supervisor, the shotfirer, any trainee shotfirer or any other person authorised by him or her, enters the danger area until a period of 5 minutes has elapsed since the misfire and any shotfiring apparatus has been disconnected from the shot,

(b) appropriate steps are taken to determine the cause of the misfire and to deal with it, and

(c) a suitable record is kept of the misfire and any action taken.

Records of Explosives and ANBI

52. (1) The operator shall ensure that procedures are in place for the recording of and accounting for —

(a) all explosives used or disposed of at the quarry in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (System for the Identification and Traceability of Explosives for Civil Uses) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 133 of 2009), and

(b) all ANBI used or disposed of at the quarry.

(2) The operator shall comply with Regulation 19 and any requirements of An Garda Síochána regarding the procedures referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) The operator shall ensure that when requested by a Government inspector or a member of An Garda Síochána the records referred to in paragraph (1) are made available.

(4) In this Regulation, “Government inspector” means a person appointed under

section 53

of the

Act of 1875

as a Government inspector.

Prohibited activities

53. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) only the following persons shall handle explosives, ANBI or detonators at a quarry

(i) a person engaged in the transport of explosives, ANBI or detonators to or from a quarry;

(ii) an explosives supervisor;

(iii) a shotfirer or trainee shotfirer;

(iv) a storekeeper;

(v) any other person authorised by the operator to do so,

(b) persons are prevented from bringing any substance or article (other than explosives) likely to cause an unintended explosion or fire within 100 metres of any explosives or take any naked flame within 100 metres of any explosives at a quarry,

(c) persons are prevented from forcibly removing any detonator lead or other system for initiating shots from a shothole at a quarry after the shothole has been charged and primed,

(d) a shot at a quarry is only fired where there is sufficient visibility for the work preparatory to shotfiring, the shotfiring operation and any site inspection after the shot is fired, to be carried out safely,

(e) a shothole in which a shot has previously been fired is not charged or fired unless the person charging or firing the shothole is dealing with a misfire under Regulation 51,

(f) a shot at a quarry is only fired —

(i) by an explosives supervisor, shotfirer or trainee shotfirer, or

(ii) by means of a suitable exploder that is kept at a secure place at the quarry, or by other suitable means provided by the operator, and

(g) procedures are in place to prevent a person, other than an explosives supervisor, a shotfirer or trainee shotfirer, from disposing of surplus explosives, ANBI, detonators, accessories or packaging remaining following shotfiring operations.

PART 6

SAFETY OF EXCAVATIONS (INCLUDING QUARRY FACES), TIPS AND LAGOONS

General duty to ensure safety of excavations, tips and lagoons

54. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) excavations (including quarry faces), tips and lagoons are designed, operated and maintained, and

(b) tips and lagoons are constructed,

so that, so far as is reasonably practicable, instability or movement which is likely to give rise to a risk to the safety, health and welfare of any person is avoided.

Operating procedures for excavations, tips and lagoons

55. The operator shall ensure that operating procedures are in place for the safe operation of excavations, tips and lagoons and such procedures shall specify —

(a) the manner in which such operation is to be carried out,

(b) the nature and extent of supervision of such operation, and

(c) the protective measures to be taken during such operation to ensure the safety, health and welfare of any person and the safety and stability of the excavation, tip or lagoon.

Appraisal and site investigation of excavations, tips and lagoons

56. (1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the operator shall ensure that, before quarrying operations commence or re-commence in a particular area in the quarry, an appraisal of all proposed and existing excavations, tips, and lagoons in that particular area is undertaken by a competent person in order to determine whether any such excavation, tip or lagoon represents a significant hazard, or a potential significant hazard.

(2) Where the face height of an excavation in a particular area of the quarry planned to be worked exceeds 20 metres, the operator shall ensure that, before quarrying operations commence or re-commence in that particular area, a geotechnical assessment is carried out in accordance with Regulation 57.

(3) Where an appraisal by a competent person under paragraph (1) identifies a significant hazard that cannot be rectified immediately in a safe manner, the operator shall ensure that the provisions of subparagraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph (5) are complied with.

(4) Where an appraisal by a competent person under paragraph (1) identifies a potential significant hazard that cannot be rectified immediately in a safe manner, the operator shall ensure that —

(a) the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (5) are complied with, and

(b) a geotechnical specialist carries out a site investigation to determine whether a geotechnical assessment under Regulation 57 is required.

(5) Where the conclusion reached by the geotechnical specialist, following a site investigation made under paragraph (4), is that the excavation, tip or lagoon represents a significant hazard, the operator shall ensure that —

(a) appropriate protective measures are taken, including informing all persons affected by it,

(b) only work that can be carried out safely is undertaken at the excavation, tip or lagoon, and

(c) a geotechnical assessment is carried out in accordance with Regulation 57.

(6) The operator shall ensure that —

(a) any significant findings, and

(b) any conclusions reached and the reasons for those conclusions,

that are made under an appraisal or a site investigation under this Regulation are recorded by the competent person or the geotechnical specialist, as the case may be and acted upon as necessary.

Geotechnical assessments

57. (1) In this Regulation, a “geotechnical assessment” means an assessment carried out by a geotechnical specialist identifying and assessing all factors liable to affect the stability and safety of a proposed or existing excavation, tip or lagoon and shall include —

(a) preparation, by or under the supervision of the geotechnical specialist of any of the documents and particulars specified in Schedule 4 or, as appropriate, consideration by the geotechnical specialist of those documents and particulars,

(b) the conclusions of the geotechnical specialist as to —

(i) the safety and stability of the existing or proposed excavation, tip or lagoon being assessed, including his or her conclusions as to whether the excavation, tip or lagoon represents a significant hazard by way of instability or movement,

(ii) whether any remedial works are required in relation to the excavation, tip or lagoon being assessed and the date by which such works should be completed,

(iii) the date by which the next geotechnical assessment should take place, and

(iv) where appropriate, any required changes to the operating procedures in respect of the excavation, tip or lagoon.

(2) The operator shall ensure that —

(a) any significant findings made during a geotechnical assessment required under this Regulation, in particular any conclusions under paragraph (1)(b), and the reasons for those conclusions, are recorded by the geotechnical specialist carrying out the assessment,

(b) the geotechnical specialist signs and dates any record under subparagraph (a) and records his or her professional qualifications thereon,

(c) any available information that may be relevant for the purposes of a geotechnical assessment is made available to the geotechnical specialist undertaking that assessment,

(d) sufficient records of the nature, quantity and location of all substances accumulated or deposited at an excavation, tip or lagoon are kept to enable an accurate assessment of the stability of that excavation, tip or lagoon to be made,

(e) any remedial works identified during the geotechnical assessment in accordance with paragraph (1)(b)(ii) are completed by the date specified in the assessment or before quarrying operations are commenced or recommenced,

(f) where the conclusion reached by a geotechnical specialist in accordance with paragraph (1)(b) is that there is no significant hazard, the frequency with which an appraisal under Regulation 56 is to be carried out in the future in order to ensure the continued safety and stability of the excavation, tip or lagoon is specified by the geotechnical specialist and recorded and acted upon as necessary, and

(g) copies of all geotechnical assessments are kept at the quarry for inspection and are retained by the operator for at least 6 years from the date they were made.

PART 7

GENERAL HEALTH HAZARDS

Health hazards

58. (1) The operator shall ensure that, where persons are liable to be exposed to any chemical, physical or biological hazard to such an extent as is liable to be dangerous to health, appropriate preventive measures are taken at the quarry against that exposure.

(2) The preventive measures referred to in paragraph (1) shall include —

(a) wherever possible, the replacement of a hazardous substance by a harmless or less hazardous substance,

(b) technical measures applied to the plant, machinery, equipment or process, or

(c) where it is not possible to comply with subparagraph (a) or (b), other effective measures, including the use of personal protective equipment and protective clothing.

Atmospheric influences

59. The operator shall ensure that persons working outdoors at the quarry are protected against atmospheric conditions that could affect their safety and health.

Disposal of waste

60. The operator shall ensure that waste from the quarry is not destroyed or otherwise disposed of in a manner liable to be injurious to the safety and health of persons.

Stationary internal combustion engines and exhaust gases

61. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) stationary internal combustion engines are not used at the quarry in any enclosed or confined place, unless specific provision is made for conducting the exhaust gases from the engine into the open air, or

(b) any enclosed or confined place referred to in paragraph (a) is adequately ventilated so as to prevent danger to health from exhaust gases referred to in that paragraph.

Health surveillance

62. An employer at a quarry who makes health surveillance available to his or her employees in accordance with section 22 of the Act of 2005 shall ensure that such health surveillance is made available before those employees are assigned to duties related to a particular work activity at the quarry.

PART 8

WELFARE

Shelters and accommodation for clothing and taking meals

63. (1) The operator shall ensure that the following are provided at or in the immediate vicinity of the quarry for the use of persons at work and conveniently accessible to them

(a) adequate and suitable enclosed accommodation for taking shelter during interruptions of work owing to bad weather and for depositing clothing not worn during working hours, which contains, where practicable, adequate and suitable means of enabling such persons to warm themselves and to dry wet clothing;

(b) adequate and suitable enclosed accommodation for the deposit of protective clothing used for work and kept, when not in use, at or in the immediate vicinity of the quarry with adequate facilities for drying such clothing if it becomes wet;

(c) adequate and suitable accommodation for the taking of meals affording protection from the weather, which includes sufficient tables with impermeable surfaces and seats with backs;

(d) facilities for boiling water and, where there are more than 5 persons at work at a quarry and heated food is not otherwise available at the quarry, adequate facilities for heating food;

(e) an adequate supply of potable drinking water at one or more than one convenient place.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), in determining whether accommodation is conveniently accessible, account shall be taken of any transport provided for the persons at work.

(3) In determining whether accommodation provided under paragraph (1)(c) is adequate, account shall be taken of the number of persons who are likely to use such accommodation at any one time.

(4) All accommodation provided by the operator in accordance with this Regulation shall —

(a) be properly ventilated, adequately lighted, kept in a clean, hygienic and orderly condition, and

(b) not be used for the deposit or storage of materials or plant, other than as may be required for the purposes of the accommodation.

Changing rooms and lockers

64. (1) An operator shall ensure —

(a) where persons at work are required to wear special work clothes and where, for reasons of health or propriety, they cannot be expected to change in another area, that appropriate changing rooms are provided which are —

(i) easily accessible,

(ii) of sufficient capacity, and

(iii) provided with seating,

(b) that separate changing rooms are provided for men and women, or procedures are in place to ensure separate use of changing rooms by men and women, and

(c) in changing rooms, that adequate facilities for drying wet or damp work clothes are provided.

(2) Where work clothes are likely to be contaminated by dangerous substances, atmospheric conditions or the conditions of the place of work, the operator shall provide, or cause to be provided, facilities in changing rooms to enable the work clothes to be kept in a place separate from personal clothing and effects.

(3) Where changing rooms are not required under paragraph (1), the operator shall provide or cause every person at work to be provided with a place to store his or her own clothes and personal effects.

Washing facilities

65. (1) The operator shall ensure that adequate and suitable facilities for washing are provided appropriate to the numbers of persons at work and the duration and nature of the work at the quarry, including —

(a) troughs or washbasins which have a smooth impervious internal surface,

(b) means of cleaning and drying, being either soap and towels or other means, as the case may require, and

(c) a sufficient supply of hot and cold or warm running water.

(2) The operator shall ensure that —

(a) washing facilities are provided that are adequately lighted, properly ventilated and kept in a clean and orderly condition, and conveniently accessible from the accommodation for taking meals,

(b) separate washbasins are provided for men and women, or procedures are in place to ensure separate use of washing facilities by men and women,

(c) suitable showers in sufficient numbers are provided for persons at work, if required by the nature of the work or for health reasons,

(d) separate shower rooms are provided for men and women, or procedures are in place to ensure separate use of shower rooms by men and women,

(e) shower rooms provided are sufficiently large to permit each person to wash without hindrance in conditions of an appropriate standard of hygiene and such showers are equipped with hot and cold or warm running water, and

(f) where the rooms containing showers or washbasins are separate from changing rooms, there is easy access between the two.

Sanitary conveniences

66. An employer shall provide (including maintaining and keeping in a clean state) —

(a) adequate and suitable sanitary and washing facilities for the use of employees,

(b) an adequate number of lavatories and washbasins, with hot and cold running water in the vicinity of workstations, rest rooms, changing rooms and rooms housing showers, and

(c) separate use of lavatories or washbasins for men and women, when so required for reasons of propriety.

Safe access to places where facilities are provided

67. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) safe means of access and egress are provided and maintained to and from every place at which any facilities provided under this Part are situated, and

(b) every place referred to in paragraph (a) is made and kept safe for persons using such facilities.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers

68. The operator shall provide that pregnant, postnatal and breastfeeding employees are able to lie down to rest in appropriate conditions.

Persons with disabilities

69. The operator shall, where necessary, ensure that a quarry is organised to take account of persons at work with disabilities, in particular having regard to doors, passageways, staircases, showers, washbasins, lavatories and workstations used or occupied directly by persons with disabilities.

Rest rooms

70. The operator shall ensure that —

(a) where necessary, having regard to the number of persons at work who may require to rest and the type of activity carried out, one or more than one rest room is provided, of sufficient dimensions and equipped with an adequate number of tables and with seats with backs, and

(b) where a rest room is not provided and working hours are regularly and frequently interrupted, one or more than one other room is provided in which persons at work can stay during such interruptions, where this is required for their safety or health.

SCHEDULE 1

Regulations 2(3), 14(c) and 17(b)

QUARRIES SKILLS CERTIFICATION SCHEME

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of

16

th September,

2025.

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

CONTENTS

PART 1

Preliminary and General