Quarry inspections to be carried out over next two weeks

Health and Safety Authority inspectors will be conducting surprise quarry safety inspections over the next two weeks.

Inspectors will also check that safe work practices and proactive measures are in place to reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury.

Assistant Chief Executive Mark Cullen says it can be dangerous working in a quarry.

"There are lots of activities going on in a quarry," added Mr Cullen.

"Some of them have the equivalent of a manufacturing area so there is lots of vehicle movement; there is lots of planting equipment in operation.

"Planting equipment requires maintenance.

"There is a risk employees will have accidents if they don't follow safe operating procedures."