News - latest content added to Safequarry

A newly updated version of the comprehensive Drivers Handbook is now available, bringing together good practice guidance in one place as part of MPA’s commitment to Vision Zero.

Driving and operating HGVs remains one of the most hazardous work activities undertaken across the industry. Road Traffic Accidents are one of the ‘Fatal 6’, with around a quarter of all lost-time incidents reported to MPA involving drivers — tragically including a number of fatalities.

Developed by the MPA Transport Committee, the Handbook has been designed as a practical reference tool to help drivers better understand, manage and reduce the risks associated with driving and operating vehicles for work.

Containing more than 150 pages of practical guidance, the Handbook supports safer decision-making and promotes positive driving behaviours. It outlines what is expected of drivers in relation to vehicle safety, journey planning and driving standards, while also providing guidance on emergency situations and practical steps to help prevent avoidable harm.

Public Safety at Active, Non-Active and Disused Quarry Sites

As part of its on-going Stay Safe Campaign, MPA works with other organisations to share key water safety messages to help raise public awareness of the potential hazards that can be associated with water-based activities at some inland water sites.

Tragically, there have been 3 accidental drownings at inland water sites in April. A teenage boy drowned in a Tarn in the Lake District and a 34-year-old mother and her seven-year-old son in the River Brent next to Elthorne Park in Hanwell.

Over half of all accidental drownings in the UK occur in inland waters such as rivers, lakes, canals and man-made bodies of water such as reservoirs and quarry lakes.

This week, the @National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is warning about the risk of accidental drowning as part of its annual #BeWaterAware campaign, as more people spend time outdoors in the coming weeks.

The Be Water Aware campaign highlights simple steps people can take to reduce risk, including avoiding distractions such as mobile phones or headphones near water, staying back from the edge where possible, and calling for help rather than entering the water if someone is in difficulty.

MPA will be sharing some of the resources produced for this year’s Be Water Aware campaign, please help to spread these key safety messages over the coming weeks, particularly in periods of unusually warm weather.

Tuesday 7th July 2026, 10am – 4.30pm
30 Euston Square, London, NW1 2FB

Registration for the MPA Health & Safety Awards, the industry’s most anticipated event celebrating excellence and innovation in health and safety, is now open.

With the overall theme of 'Sharing Behavioural Safety' the day will be hosted by BBC presenter Mike Bushell and consist of presentations by cutting edge speakers together with panel discussions, all within the context of the steps which the industry is taking to move closer to the achievement of Vision Zero. This will be followed by the afternoon’s celebration and recognition of the winning entries in the Health & Safety Awards 2026.

The cost per delegate is £180 + VAT. To register follow this link to complete the booking form for both individual delegates and group company bookings.

MPA HEALTH & SAFETY AWARDS 2026 – Enter Now – Deadline Friday 17 October

With just over a week to the deadline for entry, a reminder that the MPA Health and Safety Awards have been tailor made to enable companies of all sizes to share innovations in technology, processes and leadership that are helping us to transform our industry.

The closing date for this year’s entries to the MPA Health and Safety Awards is Friday 17th October 2025, apart from entries for the John Crabbe Trophy and Sir Frank Davies Award, which is 31st January 2026.

Please ensure that your company participates, whether through a single or multiple entries. Apart from facilitating the effective sharing of your innovations and good practices, so that all may benefit, it is also a wonderful opportunity to recognise the efforts of your employees, gain recognition from your peers, customers, and other key stakeholders.

All the information needed to make an entry can be found on Safequarry.com, where your colleagues will be able to download briefing notes and simple, easy to complete entry forms. This includes details of who is eligible to submit entries.

In addition to the traditional awards, the 7 core topics, ‘The Fatal 6’ Award, Eurobitume Award, John Crabbe Trophy, and Sir Frank Davies Awards, we have introduced a new Outstanding Contractor Award this year.

The Outstanding Contractor award has been added in response to requests from the MPA H&S Committee. It will help to recognise the increasingly important role that contractors play across our business.

The outstanding achievements that individuals have made to your organisation in improving health and safety, can be recognised either via the Young Leader or the Individual Recognition Awards. These awards are not only highly motivating for the individual but also reinforce to all employees the crucial role that we all have in helping to make our workplaces safer.

Watch this short video about why the Health and Safety Awards are so important and take a look at the Best Practice compendium of last year’s winners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8mG2wscMxo.

#MPAHSAwards #SaferbySharing #VisionZero #HealthandSafety #MineralProducts