Quarries among country’s riskiest workplaces

PEOPLE working in quarries are involved in one of the most dangerous occupations in Ireland, a major industrial conference heard yesterday.

Delegates at the fourth annual National Quarry Safety Conference in Athlone, Co Westmeath were told too many quarry owners were also dependent on good fortune rather than proper safety practices to minimise the number of work-related accidents.

This year is set to be one of the worst on record for such accidents. Five people have died due to accidents at quarries so far in 2005; last year no such fatalities were recorded.