Safety Group to re-convene

The QPANI / Roads Service Safety Group has been asked to meet to discuss  and agree updating of the Responsibility Protocol  for work near underground services. A meeting will also be convened of the working group that was developing guidance on work near overhead cables. This document does not have industry support at present and it is hoped that agreement will be reached in developing it so that full industry, utility and public sector support can be achieved. In a related meeting with QPANI, NIE gave details of utility damage caused over the past three years. The tables below illustrate the unacceptable number of incidents. This is causing everyone additional cost as well as putting employees lives at risk. QPANI has proposed to NIRAUC, Roads Service, Northern Ireland Roads and Utilities Council that we need to get more specific information on service damage so that we can target and prioritise the main risk areas.

Hot off the Press Health & Safety Guidance for Drivers

Recent uploads to the QPA's public web site include the following:

• Daywork & hand lay of asphalt: Safe procedures for customers/contractors
• Daywork & hand lay of asphalt: Safe procedures for hauliers
• Recommended PPE for drivers
• Company drugs & alcohol policies for drivers
• Prevention of falls from vehicles
• European Driver Training Directive
• Vehicle specifications/standards
• Training requirements for drivers - background to the EPIC Drivers Skills Card
• EPIC Drivers Skills Card - Poster

All are accessible via the 'Transport Zone': www.qpa.org/iss_transport01.htm

These titles have also been uploaded onto www.Safequarry.com - click on 'Hot Topics', type "transport" into keyword search.

Round of Applause for NEPSI reporting

On 25 April 2006, the Employer and Employee representatives of 14 industry sectors signed a European Multi-Sectoral Social Dialogue Agreement entitled "Workers' Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products Containing It" and formed NEPSI, the "European Network on Silica" to follow-up the application of the Agreement and to deal with interpretation issues. The Agreement entered into effect on 25 October 2006, after having been translated into 20 official EU languages. It remains open for signature at any time by other industry sectors.

An fundamental part of the Agreement is biennial quantitative reporting. As QPA members will know, a great deal of effort was put into the gathering and analysis of data. NEPSI has now published its Executive Summary which appears on www.nepsi.eu.

The total number of sites for which complete data was provided was 4,707. The total number of Employees reported was 428,698, of which 16,262 were voluntarily reported as EU/Non-EU entities. The Summary charts the data in a digestible manner and states, inter alia, that "…. there can be no doubt that the Agreement has promoted - and continues to promote - significant progress towards meeting the aims of the Agreement."

At its meeting on 17 June 2008, the NEPSI Council expressed its satisfaction as to the evident success of this first quantitative report, completed in a tight timeframe of only 20 months. In recognition of the considerable efforts entailed, special appreciation was recorded for the industries and companies involved. QPA would like to take this opportunity to thank all Members for their co-operation and diligence in this regard.

The six-page NEPSI Executive Summary is online at: http://www.nepsi.eu/media/376/nepsi%202008%20executive%20summary%20-%20final.pdf

European Good Practice Awards

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is inviting nominations for the ninth European Good Practice Awards in occupational health and safety. For 2008/09, the award scheme will recognise companies (or organisations) that have made outstanding and innovative contributions to promote an integrated management approach to risk assessment.

Applicants should provide clear evidence of what was done in practice to achieve effective, pragmatic risk management. Entrants should be able to demonstrate:-

• improved working conditions in general
• effectiveness in promoting health, safety and efficiency
• focus on eliminating or preventing risks at source
• achievement of identifiable and permanent benefit
• compliance with the legislative requirements of the relevant EU Member State, preferably with evidence of exceeding those minimum standards
• a participatory approach between employers and workers
• full support of senior management
• clearly identifiable as the action that caused the reduction in risk

Those selected will be recognised for their role in improving working conditions in Europe. In addition:

• a representative of the selected enterprises/organisations will be invited to the European Awards Ceremony in spring 2009, and
• the examples will be presented in an Agency booklet to be widely distributed across Europe and on the EU-OSHA web site.

For companies wishing to enter, full details appear on the HSE's web site at: www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/euroweek/resources.htm

QPANI/ HSENI annual joint Quarry Conference and Awards

The annual Health & Safety Conference hosted jointly with the HSENI will be taking place on Wednesday the 15th October at the Glenavon Hotel in Cookstown. A varied and relevant programme has been developed to include items such as Health & Safety Management, Geo-technical issues and Explosives Supervisor training and a Silica update- to name but a few. In an updated format the Health & Safety Awards will be presented at the start of the Conference.

A QPANI direct will be issued in the near future with the full details.... look out for the Registration form!

QPANI Enviromental Conference and Awards, Wednesday 1st October, Glenavon Hotel

Environmental performance and working within legal requirements is now a top priority for the Quarry Products Industry. This is illustrated by the time and investment that many companies make in ensuring that they meet, and in many cases go further, than what is a legal requirement.

Where once the industry was viewed as a threat to the environment many stakeholders now view us as partners in delivering key objectives within the NI Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Strategies. The partnerships that have been formed, the positive initiatives that have been delivered mean that the industry is respected and acknowledged as a responsible one. 

This year’s conference will again cover the many different areas that the industry face challenges in. From Mineral Waste Directive, Water Management, Better Regulations, Archaeology, Biodiversity to Recycling the presentations will offer guidance not only to our member companies but also to the many stakeholders who work with the industry on a regular basis. 

QPANI are delighted to welcome and thank the conference partners and sponsors, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), and their Acting Chief Executive Roy Ramsay to our Conference. QPANI Environmental Awards will be presented by sponsoring companies Marenco, Carbon Trust, Titan and Firmus Energy

Click here to find out more and register

QPANI and Planning Service agree Future Collaboration

The Association met recently with new Planning Service CEO, Cynthia Smith, to discuss industry concerns covering a number of issues and also agree areas of future partnership work. Areas discussed included

• PPS 19 mineral protection areas
• Progress and joint communication on ROMPS
• Education and Industry Awareness for Planning Service Officials
• Industry awareness of Pre Application Discussions
• Transposition of the Mineral Waste Directive into Northern Ireland
• Permitted Development
• Our Nature with Aggregates Strategy
• Impact of the Review of Public Administration on Mineral Waste Applications.

Billy McCabe of Planning Service will be making a presentation on Planning for Aggregates at our Regional meeting in Omagh on September 18th. Also Planning Service will be giving an update on the introduction of ROMPS at our Environment Conference on October 1st.

QPANI in discussions on Mineral Waste Directive

The Association are currently in discussions with Planning Service on the transposition of the Mineral Waste Directive into Northern Ireland. It has been our view that responsibility for the Directive should lie with Planning Service as many of the Directives requirement are either part of or can be added to existing Planning conditions. I am delighted to say that PEPD have confirmed that transposition of the Directive will lie with Planning Service. A meeting had been arranged with Planning officials for September 16th. We obviously have an advantage in that our colleagues in Scotland have just completed their consultation process so we can take on board what they have done. The subject will be covered at our Environment Conference on October 1st in Cookstown.

Sustainability/ Carbon Footprint

The joint (QPA, RBA & HA) Sustainability research project being carried out by TRL is now underway. The principal objective is to develop a model for calculating CO2 footprint values in the asphalt sector (target 12 months), with additional sustainability indicators and measures also to be included (by the end of the 3-year project). QPA is actively encouraging on-going communication with Client Sector and other QPA product group activities (e.g. responsible sourcing schemes) to ensure that a consistent and consolidated approach is adopted from the start. In addition to the HA liaison on this project, QPA has brought CSS on board as a consultee.

QPA is also liaising with the Carbon Trust on an 'Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator' project for the sector, which is scheduled to commence in the 4th Quarter of the year.

QPANI and NIEA to launch Guidance Document

The Association and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency will launch a guidance document entitled “ Wise Use of Water” at the forthcoming Environmental Conference. The guidance document is a summary of the huge amount of information already available on water management and pollution prevention. The document illustrates simple but effective practices that can be incorporated into your day to day processes to reduce the risks of problems occurring. The misuse of water not only causes harm to the environment, but can equally impact the professional image of a business, and can lead to lengthy and expensive clean up operations and potential litigation.

The document will offer advice and show good practice that will help you maintain a sustainable source of clean water, produce a product to the highest specification and return water with minimum harm to the natural environment.

Valuation of Quarries: The disregarding of Environmental Plant and Machinery in the Assessment of Quarries for Rating

The scheme for the valuation of quarries has not been published as it is currently undergoing revision following consultations with the quarry industry. This note has been added to publicise some legislative changes contained in The Rating of Quarries (Plant and Machinery) Order (NI) 2007 that have been introduced to the valuation of Plant & Machinery used for specific purposes.

Quarries (Plant & Machinery)

The issue of exemption for the environmental works in quarries was considered, as part of the review of rating policy.

Legislation has been modified from April 2007 to grant rate exemptions (by way of exclusion from the valuation process) for specified items of plant and machinery to promote environmental good practice and align with Northern Ireland policy on aggregates levy.

Legislation now provides for the following to be excluded in valuations for rating purposes;

• recycling equipment fitted to any plant and machinery used in quarries where that recycling equipment is used or intended to be used for environmental works
• bunds which prevent environmental pollution and the ingress of water
• covers for oil and chemical storage facilities which prevent environmental pollution and the ingress of water
• covers for screen houses, covers and bays which prevent the spread of dust
• pits which are used for the settlement of suspended solids in water discharges to protect surrounding water courses; and
• bays used in connection with construction and demolition waste materials.

For more information please contact:-
Land and Property Services
Londonderry House
21-27 Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 4JB

Land and Property Services web site

GSNI’s Tellus Project drives NI prospecting in 2008

It is now a year since the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) officially launched the results of the countrywide Tellus Project, at an international conference in Belfast. The take-up of data has been heavy, particularly by mining companies, and 71% of Northern Ireland is now under licence for mineral (metal) or hydrocarbon prospecting. New prospecting licences will bring in private-sector investment of more than £16 million over the next two years, three times the cost of the Tellus surveys. Demand for the data has been driven by the newly-revealed geochemical anomalies in gold and platinum group elements but there are also many areas of enhanced base metal enrichment to be investigated.

Under the Tellus programme, GSNI mapped Northern Ireland in detail with a range of ground geochemical and airborne geophysical survey methods. Soil and stream geochemistry provide a new and consistent baseline standard for some 60 elements and compounds across rural Northern Ireland and in the main metropolitan centres. The geophysical results provide new insights into Northern Ireland’s geology, particularly where bedrock is obscured by glacial cover and peat.

For the quarry industry, interest mostly lies in the geophysical results, particularly when used in conjunction with GSNI’s existing detailed geological maps. Magnetic data provide outstanding and detailed maps of the tracks of hard basaltic dykes, which are exploited for road-stone. The results of the electromagnetic conductivity survey may show where the overburden thins and thickens and help to characterise the underlying bedrock.

The data, used with complementary geologic, topographic and land-use data, support environmental management through improved characterisation of the surface and subsurface. GSNI has released data to 20 environmental projects in UK and overseas institutions, for research on topics such as carbon storage in soils, contaminant mapping, radon risk mapping and statistical correlation of disease and geochemistry. Other environmental applications include the detailed mapping of natural and man-made gamma-radiation, characterisation of peat and mapping of agricultural trace elements and compounds.

Our demand for material goods and for an improved standard of living continues to grow but we can minimise the environmental and economic costs of importing goods by optimising the use of our own resources. In Northern Ireland, GSNI is proactively driving the assessment of mineral and energy resources by applying these innovative methods of exploration.

Mike Young

Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Colby House, Stranmillis, Belfast BT9 5BF. mike.young@detini.gov.uk

Asphalt

QPANI to present Industry standards to Procurement Practitioners Group

The QPANI Asphalt Technical Committee will be making a presentation to the Government Procurement Practitioners Group on September 17th covering Sector Schemes and new European products standards. We are also making plans to contact construction procurement specialists in the local Councils following our presentation to the Local Councils Technical Advisory Group. The Committee are now well on the way to achieving one of their key objectives to have commonality of  procurement specifications across the public sector.

Association given update on Strategic Road Programme

At the recent QPANI / Roads liaison meeting the Association was given an update on the Strategic Roads Programme work. The road network is

vital to the economy and the well being of citizens. It carries 98% of freight and 87% of inter-urban public transport journeys (through Ulsterbus services). The value of this asset on Roads Service’s balance sheet is £34 billion. The total investment in the region’s strategic road network between 2008/09 and 2017/18 is envisaged as £2.5 billion, including a proposed £400m contribution to the cost of the A5 and A8 dualling projects from the Irish Government. The following dual carriageway improvements are planned for the Key Transport Corridors; the full Western Corridor (A5); the A6 Derry – Dungiven and Castledawson - Randalstown; and the full Eastern Seaboard Corridor (A8/M2/M1/A1) between Larne and the border. Further dual carriageway projects will be undertaken on the Northern Corridor, Link corridors and trunk roads.

Currently schemes within the construction programme total an investment of £450 million and those in the preparation pool are

A6 Dualling – M22 to Castledawson

A2 Broadbridge Dualling, Derry

A26/M2 Ballee Road East, Ballymena

A32 Cherrymount Link, Enniskillen

A55 Knock Road, Belfast

A3 Armagh North and West Link

A2 Widening at Greenisland

A6 Derry to Dungiven Dual Carriageway

A5 Derry to Aughnacloy Dual Carriageway

A8 Belfast to Larne Dual Carriageway

A31 Magherafelt Bypass

Association to meet First Minister and Deputy First Minister

QPANI as part of a Construction Industry Group delegation will be meeting First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness on September 9th in Stormont Castle to discuss the current operating environment that the wider Construction Industry faces. CIG have prepared a briefing paper for both Ministers outlining the view of what needs to be done to alleviate the challenges facing the industry. These include

• Bringing forward a number of the major infrastructure projects within the Northern Ireland Investment Strategy.

• Banks and building societies to put more liquidity into the mortgage market.

• Banks to continue to support house builders through this difficult period.

• Government to buy up stocks of new unsold houses for social housing.

• Streamlined planning procedures to bring forward new housing schemes quickly.

• A Stamp Duty holiday and an increase in the threshold to assist first time buyers.

• A commitment from Government that no further regulatory burden will be placed on the house building sector until the market has recovered. 

New Environment Minster meets Association Representatives

QPANI met with the new Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson, on September 3rd to raise concerns that the industry have and also to brief him on the improvements being made as a result of the significant resources the industry now invest in environmental good practice. Issues discussed included

1. The introduction of an aggregates mapping programme and protection of aggregate resources.
2. Date for introduction of a Northern Ireland Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.
3. Criteria and mechanism for land designations
4. Industry / Environment Agency partnership on implementing Better Regulation.

Advocate General recommends that BAA aggregates levy case is sent back to the European Court of the First Instance (CFI) for re-examination

The latest development in the BAA case is that the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has found in favour of a number of issues raised in the BAA appeal to the ECJ against the CFI dismissal of the BAA case in 2006. The BAA case is that the European Commission should not have given State Aid approval for the levy, and should not have rejected the BAA's earlier complaint. The BAA appealed to the CFI about the rejection of the BAA complaint to the Commission, and after the CFI dismissed the BAA appeal, the BAA appealed to the ECJ. The ECJ process has two stages. First the Advocate General gives an opinion on a case, and second the ECJ can either accept the Advocate General's Opinion in the ECJ judgement (this is usual), or come to a different conclusion. In this case the Advocate General has recommended that the CFI decision be set aside, and the BAA appeal be sent back to the CFI for re-examination.

The implications of the Advocate General's Opinion for the UK aggregates levy remains unclear because it is likely the legal process has some way to go. We must await the judgement of the ECJ, the outcome of any potential re-examination by the CFI, and any further consideration of the consequences for UK law before there is clarity. The Advocate General agreed with the BAA appeal that there were a number of errors in law in the CFI decision, and was particularly concerned that the CFI had not carried out a full review of the Commission's State Aid decision. At this stage it is difficult to judge how meaningful the Advocate General's decision is. If, as seems most likely, the ECJ sends the case back to the CFI, it is anyone's guess, for example, if a fuller review of the original Commission State Aid decision would lead to a different CFI decision. For more details of the case and the Advocate General's decision, see the following QPA briefing here.

Engineering Education Scheme 2008-09

Each year since 1993 about eighty bright sixth form science or technology students from twenty Northern Ireland schools have tackled industrial problems as part of The Engineering Education Scheme.  Their solutions have led to benefit of thousands of pounds to companies involved.

The Scheme provides opportunities for companies to get to know potential recruits over an extended period of time.  Valuable management experience is gained by companies enabling young staff to coordinate projects.

Student teams work with companies on research, management, marketing and design over a period of six months.  As well as developing knowledge, understanding and capability in science and technology, students can meet many objectives in all six key skill areas.  Projects involve developing communication skills both on paper and in public presentations, making decisions and solving problems, working with others in a team, improving their learning and thinking skills, using information and communications technology effectively, and developing numeracy.  

Each participating school selects a team of four students who have an interest in engineering.  This group is allocated a coordinating engineer by the school’s partner company.  Students, coordinating teacher and engineer meet at a company induction session arranged between the school and company.  Students and their teacher attend a Launch Day early in October and, by the end of the month, together they have defined a problem in the company’s operation that appears capable of solution by the team over a period of six months, and whose solution would be of potential benefit to the company.  During the development period, students visit the company’s site and the engineer visits the school as necessary. Students and coordinator also work together at the engineering laboratories of Queen’s University or the University of Ulster at Jordanstown during a three day workshop in December.  The solution to the problem is reported on paper in March and to a Celebration Day of assessment and presentation in April.

Project example:

In 2007-08 Northstone (NI) Ltd supported Coleraine High School, their project dealt with 'The effect of fuel conditioners on fuel economy in quarry machinery'

This project was a statistical analysis.  The team was asked to decide whether the fuel additives PD3 and PD5 increase the efficiency of the fuel sufficiently to make it cost effective for Northstone to add fuel conditioner regularly.Results showed that adding PD5 made little difference to the fuel efficiency of a Terex 3345 Dump truck or a diesel fuelled Peugeot 307 car.  Emission tests on the car showed that carbon emissions were reduced, so the fuel additive is of benefit to the environment.  A relatively new Cat 966H loading shovel showed an improvement in fuel efficiency of about 10%.  Adding PD3 to the Mixing Plant also showed a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency.  As the plant uses a significant amount of fuel, PD3 may provide substantial savings to Northstone, though it is not financially effective to add PD5 to the other machines tested.

Want to get your company involved? 

For more information about the Engineering Education Scheme and how your company could participate speak to Martin Brown (Project Manager) at 028 9262 7755 or by email at martin.brown@sentinus.co.uk.

“Big Brother” Security Firm teams up with the Quarry Products Association NI

Netwatch Ltd, a company, who has for over 5 years been providing a big brother approach to site security, has recently joined the Quarry Products Association NI.

Netwatch uses state-of-the-art communication technologies to provide remote visual monitoring of member’s property, their critical infrastructure, as well as on-site personnel.  Upon criminal activity taking place, the team at Netwatch view it live and make the all important intervention. 

“Prevention is key to the Netwatch system” said Oliver McVeigh, Regional Sales Manager for Northern Ireland. McVeigh continued “The difference between standard CCTV and the Netwatch system is in Intruder Detection.  Our system detects unwarranted activity on site with Intervention Specialists at the Command Centre monitoring the situation live night or day.  If you’ve ever been broken into you’ll know that standard CCTV is only useful for viewing the event after damage or theft has occurred.  Netwatch Intervention Specialists challenge intruders with a highly personalised audio warning making the intruder think twice before continuing.  Further action is taken if the intruder persists, but in 95% of cases it is enough to move them on.  We are proud to say that the Netwatch system has preventing nearly 9,000 attempted break-ins over the past five years.”

Netwatch can also provide solutions to track high value items such as Vehicles, Shovels and Lorries.

A free survey, and special pricing for QPANI members, is available by calling Netwatch on 0845 602 9107, or admin@netwatchsystem.com

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