Quarrying - North District

Quarrying works in the north of England comprise extraction and processing of aggregate from hard rock quarries, including associated drilling and blasting works.

Materials are extracted in relatively small quantities and used in various Forestry England civil engineering applications, mostly for the construction and maintenance of forest roads for the purposes of facilitating timber harvesting. Quarrying operations are therefore undertaken in a number of specific locations, in close proximity to the point of use of the extracted materials. Typically, extraction of materials will take place over a period of a few weeks each year, with material then stockpiled within the quarry, or at other designated locations for use as and when needed.

This Framework is divided in to 2 Lots:

Lot 1 - Drilling and blasting

Lot 2 - Extraction and processing/crushing

The Supplier carries out all drilling and blasting operations, in accordance with the Quarries Regulations 1999 particularly Part V and the Explosives Regulations 2014 , and the quarry Health and Safety Document. Blasting activities typically take place at 2 to 5 sites per year, with tonnages between 20,000 and 35,000T per blast.

The Client (The Operator) will retain 8.1.(c) responsibilities during blasting operations. The Supplier’s named individual will be appointed as the 8.1. (d) and the client will also appoint the Supplier’s named individual as the Explosives Supervisor under regulation 25 of the Quarries Regulations for the duration of the Work Order.

This requires the Supplier to have capability in the following areas:

1. Provide suitably qualified, competent and qualified personnel to undertake the following duties:

 Explosives Supervisor

 Shotfirer

 Driller

 Blast Designer

 Face profiler

 Trainee Shotfirer (if required)

 Handing of explosives

 Transportation of explosives

2. Provide all required survey work relating to the blasting operation.

3. Provide all plant and equipment required including fuels, oils, transportation, explosives and accessories (except those items mentioned below that will be supplied by the Client). Provide testing certification under PUWER regulations for plant and equipment used during operations.

4. In the event of a misfire undertake all works to make the situation safe, including provision of all plant and equipment.

5. Provide vibrographs and operator if required.

6. Produce a blast design and full report for each blast.

Unless otherwise agreed the Client provides all stemming materials, prepares the blast area to an agreed standard and provides suitable operated plant for the distribution of stemming material. The Client also provides all relevant Geotechnical information and maps required, undertakes any appointments and provides the Supplier with sentries and means of communication on the day of each blast.

Forestry England retains the Regulation 8(1)(c) competent individual, while the Supplier’s named person is formally appointed as the Regulation 25 Explosives Supervisor.