Quarry Open Day

Quarry open days are an excellent way to engage with your local community and help alleviate fears some may have about the activities being conducted at your quarry. It also helps to establish your business as part of the community and will enhance your social licence to operate.

It is an opportunity to educate the public in quarrying and the contribution that your operation makes to the local community.

The following are things to consider when planning an Open Day:

Planning:

1. Plan to hold the open day at a time of the year where bad weather is less likely to impact on the event. You will probably need to cancel in the event of heavy rain. Avoid school holidays, long weekends etc. or other times when there are competing events.

2. In order to attract visitors, it is preferable to offer food and refreshments, whether that be free, or user pays. A community group such as Lions, Scouts or a local football club may run a sausage sizzle on the day which will also help raise funds for them.

3. Some sort of entertainment for children is recommended. This can be anything from crawling over a piece of mobile equipment to face painting or a sand pit or bouncy castle to play in. Consider the health and safety implications of such activities (covered below).

4. Ensure you have plenty of staff/helpers on hand for the day as you will not know how many people are going to turn up, and at what times.

5. Management of visitors is key to a successful open day. Ensure you have a clearly marked muster point, signs and barricades etc. to preclude entry to the site other than under your direction. Adequate car parking should also be provided.

6. Ensure there is adequate advertising for, and promotion of, the event (see an example flyer below).

Health and Safety:

1. Ensure you risk assess all activities, access etc. that could expose visitors to hazards at the site on the day, and ensure you have adequate controls to avoid harm.

2. It is a good idea to not operate the plant, isolating it will remove a number of hazards. This will also eliminate the need to issue Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

3. For visitors to see the operation, provide a bus or buses that can escort people around the site (ensuring they do not get out of the bus), or if possible, establish a viewing area that provides a good view of the activities. Have several workers available to explain the activities and answer questions.

4. While not required by legislation, it is a good idea to notify your local WorkSafe Inspector of you intention to conduct an open day. They may also be able to assist with the risk assessment.

5. If you are going to run activities for children, ensure they are supervised, all hazards are adequately controlled, and the area is fenced/barricaded etc. (refer to photo on previous page).

6. Due to the uneven nature of most quarry sites, it is a good idea to specify that closed in shoes must be worn on site. Have a few old pairs of shoes available should people turn up without closed in footwear.

If you require any assistance in organising a quarry open day, please contact Wayne on ph 021 944 336, or email wayne@aqa.org.nz.

Download Open Day PDF here.

Example flyer for Quarry Open Day: