A new team of specialist inspectors has been assembled to crackdown on death, injury and ill-health in quarries and open cast mines across Great Britain.

The team of Health and Safety Executive inspectors, initially five-strong, has decades of knowledge and expertise in the sector.

The inspectors will operate nationwide, dedicating their time solely to advising, inspecting and carrying out any necessary enforcement action in quarries and open cast mines.

This new approach marks a departure for the inspectors who previously worked across a range of industries, including manufacturing and agriculture.

The industry has been one of the most dangerous in Britain. Since 2000, 21 workers have died and more than 2700 workers have suffered a reportable injury (see notes to editors).

However, significant improvements in safety are being made. The industry exceeded its target to reduce reportable incidents by 50 per cent in the five years to 2005 and is now looking forward to Target Zero, a drive to achieve zero reportable incidents.

Speaking at today's launch (30 October) Colin Mew, Principal Inspector of the new Quarries National Inspection Team said:

"We all know the quarrying industry. We are experts in the safe use of explosives and in other safety critical areas such as tip and slope stability, so it makes sense to concentrate that expertise and resource.

"It will also help protect and preserve the specialist skill set of our inspectors for the benefit of industry and the safety of its workers well into the future.

"The industry is making encouraging progress in reducing death and injury, but much remains to be done. Falls from height and accidents involving vehicles are still some of the main causes of injury − many serious or fatal. Occupational ill-health, as a result of exposure to respirable silica or high levels of noise, can also affect quarry workers .

"Our new team will be dedicated to helping improve all aspects of health and safety by working with the quarrying and open cast coal industry and those employed in it."

Added Martin Isles, Director of Health and Safety at the Mineral Products Association: "We strongly support this latest HSE move to ensure consistency across Great Britian. The employers and trade unions accept that Target Zero will benefit from this important national initiative. We therefore welcome the formation of the Quarries National Inspection Team and trust that the pooled expertise will quickly become recognised as a valuable focus for development of this concept in the future."

Said Richard Bird of the British Aggregates Association: We welcome the positive moves by HSE to ensure that quarry operations are managed properly in the area of health and safety. Not only will this ensure that the workforce and members of the public are protected, but it will assist in guiding quarry operators through the increasing maze of health and safety legislation.