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WHS Management for Quarry Operations

Manage silica dust, crusher safety, blast management, and bench stability across quarry extraction and processing operations.

Quarry operations combine surface extraction hazards with processing plant risks, creating a dual hazard profile that spans drilling and blasting, mobile plant operation, crushing, screening, and product loading. Silica dust is the dominant occupational health hazard because quarries typically extract granite, sandstone, basalt, and other quartz-bearing rock types that generate respirable crystalline silica at every stage from drilling through to product dispatch. The WEL for silica is reducing from 0.05 to 0.025 mg/m3 in December 2026, requiring quarry operators to significantly upgrade dust suppression, ventilation, and RPE programs. A dedicated WHS management plan ensures your quarry addresses extraction, processing, and dispatch hazards in an integrated framework.

Key Hazards

Silica dust from drilling, blasting, crushing, and screening (WEL reducing 50%)Crusher entrapment and blockage clearing in confined processing areasBlast flyrock, blast fume, and premature detonationBench and face collapse from weathering, water ingress, and geological structureMobile plant interaction with light vehicles and pedestrians on haul roadsNoise exposure exceeding 85 dB(A) from crushers, screens, and drill rigs

Regulatory Requirements

HRCW Categories

Surface mining, blasting, hazardous chemical exposure, work near powered mobile plant

Section 26A Codes (binding 1 July 2026)
Managing Respirable Crystalline SilicaManaging Risks of Plant in the WorkplaceManaging Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss

SWMS Required

Related Sectors

Need Help with Quarry WHS?

We help quarry operators develop compliant WHS management systems covering silica dust controls, crusher safety, and blast management programs.

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