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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) - Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025
The Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025 were signed into law on the 11th of September 2025. They will come into effect on the 1st of January 2026.
The Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025 are relevant to quarry owners, operators, self-employed, employees, quarry contractors and anyone working in a quarry.
Yes, there are new and amended definitions. These are as follows:
- Regulation 3 (1) (e) and (f) -Definition of a quarry is new, everything else under existing 3(1) remains the same.
- Regulation 3(2)(c) The wording has changed but the same effect.
- ANBI - new
- Blasting Explosive - new
- Cap Sensitive - new to reflect update use of explosives
- Explosive Article - new
- Explosive Store - amended to suit quarry operations
- Haul Road - new
- Inspection - new
- On-site-mixing – new
There has been further clarity regarding existing definitions:
- Permanent Cessation of Quarry Operations - defined
- Temporary Cessation of Quarry Operations - defined
- Quarrying Operations - defined
- Quarry Skills Certification Scheme – defined
There is no change relating to borrow pits. Borrow pits outside the area where construction will take place are covered by these Quarry Regulations. The excavation of minerals within the identified boundary of a construction site where the mineral extracted is used exclusively within that site is not defined as a quarry.
The appointment of the quarry manager should be in writing. The appointment is then included within the management structure of the quarry, and all staff should be made aware of the appointment.
Yes, the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025 now requires a temporary quarry manager to be appointed whenever the quarry manager is absent for such a period that their duties cannot be performed. This is to ensure that someone competent is always in charge of the quarry.
Yes, the Regulations require that a quarry manager (including a temporary one) is a competent person in order to fulfil their duties. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 deems a person competent, where having regard to the task he/she is required to perform that person possesses sufficient training, experience and knowledge appropriate to the nature of work to be undertaken.
Operators should review their current management structure and identify someone who can act as a temporary quarry manager. They should then assess their competency to ensure suitability for the role, identify any training requirement and draft a written appointment letter specifying their appointment. All staff should then be briefed on the temporary quarry manager appointment, so it is clear who is in charge when the quarry manager is absent. This can be done on an annual basis.
Yes, the owner of the quarry must appoint an operator to run the quarry, and the operator must then notify the HSA on the approved form AFQ1 in Schedule 2 of the Regulations not later than 14 days after the appointment.
If the quarry is closing permanently then the appropriate section of the approved form AFQ2 is completed and returned to the Authority.
The Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025 now requires the notification of temporary cessation of quarry operations. If the quarry is closed for a period of more than 6 months with the intention of re-opening at a later date, then notification to the HSA in approved form AFQ2 is required.
If you have notified the Authority of an appointment of a quarry operator or of the permanent cessation of quarrying operations, there is no need to resubmit a form. However, from 1st January 2026, if the operator changes or there is a permanent or temporary cessation of quarrying operations, the approved AFQ1 & AFQ2 forms must be used.
The approved AFQ1 and AFQ2 forms can be found in Schedule 2 of the Regulations or can be downloaded from our Forms page here.
Currently this is not available. A system for notifying the Authority online will be available at a later stage.
Yes, the requirements for a competent person to thoroughly examine personal flotation devices every 12 months remain the same. However, a report of the results of the examinations should now be contained in the approved form AFQ3. The AFQ3 form should be signed and dated and a copy given to the operator. The AFQ3 form can be found in Schedule 2 of the Regulations.
Yes, the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025 requires the operator of a quarry to appoint competent persons to carry out drilling of shotholes.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 deems a person competent where, having regard to the task he/she is required to perform that person possesses sufficient training, experience and knowledge appropriate to the nature of work to be undertaken.
Yes, a record of the appointment of a competent driller must be kept at the quarry for a period of 6 years.
Yes, a review of your shot firing rules should be carried out to reflect any changes that might be made arising out of the amended Regulations such as appointments, authorisations of personnel, and procedures for the safe transport, use and disposal of explosives on site.
The Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025 require the driller or shotfirer to inform the Explosives Supervisor of any changes to the blast specification. Any changes during the drilling operations and loading of shotholes that may affect the blast specification should be recorded and notified to the Explosives Supervisor and approval sought for any change. The changes should be formally approved before proceeding.
Regulation 52 is new and requires the operator to ensure that procedures are in place for the recording of and accounting for all explosives and ANBI used or disposed of at the quarry. These records must be made available to a Government Inspector or An Garda Síochána if requested.
Records of geotechnical assessments are required under these Regulations to be kept for a period of 6 years.
This section has been removed as the existing Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 cover air receivers, pressure systems and is applicable to quarries.