Incident highlights need for head protection

The prosecution of a quarry products company has highlighted the need for people working in the trade to wear head protection, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Wildmoor Quarry Products was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,520 by the HSE after a lump of sandstone fell from a power-operated machine and hit a worker who was not wearing a hard hat.

Discussing the incident after the case, HSE inspector Ian Williamson said it was a 'fundamental expectation' that employees should be able to work in safety.

He explained: 'A quarry is one of the most dangerous environments and working there calls for vigilance by employers and workers alike.

'It also obvious that workers should wear suitable head protection in an environment where there are large, heavy, materials swiftly moving along at high level.'

News on the case has come after US company Gateway Safety recently released a new range of ventilated safety helmets, which are designed to keep those working in hot conditions cool.

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