Quarries - Stay Out! Stay Safe!

Quarries - Stay Out! Stay Safe!

The Department for the Environment today urged an effort by the public, especially teenagers, to stay away from disused quarries this summer.

There have been a number of deaths and serious injuries at disused quarries. The summer campaign will see new signage at known dangerous quarries, posters, social media and a big push to raise understanding of the scale of the threat and danger.

Alex Attwood said: “We all should be aware of the dangers of disused quarries. Several people have died in disused quarries in recent years. I have met or heard from some of the families and their pain and anxiety that more lives should not be lost, is vivid.

“Today I am launching a series of actions to encourage ‘Stay Out! Stay Safe!’ to highlight the dangers of swimming in quarries. Disused quarries are not playgrounds. They are not places to explore. I cannot emphasise enough that everyone, adults, teenagers and children must stay away. Quarries are “no go areas".

“Most people do not realise how very cold quarry water can be. It can be much colder than rivers and the sea and this causes swimmers, even the best swimmers, to cramp, go into shock and drown quickly. This is the stark truth. We must all tell the message – “Stay Out! Stay Safe!”

“Quarries pose other hidden dangers. Old machinery can be left in the quarry and become submerged by rainwater over time. Such machinery may not be visible and can cause serious injury or death to anyone who jumps onto it.

“I urge all parents to know where your children are at all times, particularly during the summer holidays.”

Quarry water can also be polluted with industrial contaminants or can be very alkaline, both of which can cause skin irritations and other health complaints. Disused quarries also pose a threat to motorcyclists and mountain bikers through collapse or subsidence or a landslide of a quarry face.

The Minister added: “The good weather may last over a couple of weeks, meaning more people will go into the water. But I am asking everyone to do what they can and ensure no-one goes into quarry water.”

For more information, click here.