Injuries and fatalities in the extractive industry often occur – and reoccur – because of systemic failures. Tony Ferrazza explains how a course being run by the IQA on behalf of the NSW Resources Regulator is educating quarry professionals to recognise the underlying causes of past safety incidents in their own operations.
Resource recovery and utilising alternative construction materials to support urban growth came under the spotlight as part of a recent Engineering Insights virtual event hosted by wet processing industry experts CDE.
A paper on the challenges of quarrying in one of the world’s harshest and inhospitable environments has received this year’s Caernarfon Award.
Kingscliff Sands, in northern New South Wales, has endured a lot for a start-up business – a global pandemic, an uncertain economy and adverse weather. Its choice of wet processing plant has been a boost in such trying times. Damian Christie reports.
Although a subspecialty of the extractive industry, dimension stone quarrying is a significant part of Australia’s heritage – and continues to add flair and innovation to building infrastructure. A near century-old leader in the field explains how its extractive techniques differ to regular quarries and draw on fit for purpose earthmoving equipment to manufacture its products.
The M518R trommel, manufactured by MDS International, is becoming a regular fixture of the recycling aggregates market, particularly as Australian industry embraces opportunities to develop substitutes for conventional quarry products.
People person first, quarry manager second is how Steve Butcher sees himself. Even after winning the IQA’s Quarry Manager of the Year Award, Hanson’s Bass Point head of operations says there’s never a dull moment on the job when working with a diverse range of people and tasks.
More than 25 laboratories affiliated with quarrying operations have recently participated in the first round of a fine aggregates proficiency testing program to assess the strengths and purities of construction materials. Proficiency Testing Australia co-ordinated the program and analysed the results.
Once an integral foundation of the Sydney construction market, the Penrith Lakes area – and in particular a 24ha clay pit within it – has been transformed into a centre for recreation, commerce, education and conservation in the past two decades.
Most people would list some essential qualities of quarrying equipment as robust, reliable, low maintenance, and maybe high tech. But one feature becoming increasingly important, in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions is Australian-made.