The Quarries Regulations 1999

Control of harmful and explosive atmospheres

21.—(1) It shall be the duty of the operator to ensure that—

(a) steps are taken in order to determine whether potentially explosive substances are present in the atmosphere and, where such substances are present, to measure the concentration of such substances in the atmosphere;

(b) automatic devices 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 which, because of the concentration of such gases in the atmosphere, gives rise to a risk to the health and safety of any person,

are provided;

(c) where devices are provided in accordance with paragraph (b)(i), a record of the levels of concentration of such gases in the atmosphere shall be made at such intervals as are specified in the health and safety document;

(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 with a view to—

(i) preventing such occurrence and accumulation, or, where this is not practicable,

(ii) preventing 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, where this is not practicable,

(ii) extract or disperse that harmful substance,

in such a way that persons are not placed at risk.

(2) Without prejudice to the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992(1), the operator shall ensure that whenever persons at work are present at any place in the quarry where they may be exposed to a substance harmful to health in the atmosphere—

(a) appropriate and sufficient breathing and resuscitation equipment is available; and

(b) a sufficient number of persons trained in the use of such equipment is present.

(3) The operator shall ensure that the equipment referred to at paragraph (2)(a) is suitably stored and maintained.

(1)

S.I. 1992/3139; amended by S.I. 1993/3074, 1994/2326, 1996/3039.