Andy Taylor writes: “It has been very sad and concerning to see the increase in drowning incidents coinciding with the current heat wave.”Over the weekend there were reports of a 6 year old girl drowning in the sea off Margate, the recovery of the body of a 15 year old boy near Clacton and two people in their 20’s dying in rivers in Bedfordshire and Berkshire. On Friday, we heard from media reports that the body of a 17 year old was recovered from a lake in a disused Quarry, formerly operated by one of our competitors.

Since the start of the school holidays, we have seen a significant increase in trespass on both operational and restored sites, with children/teenagers entering open water; 8 youths were found swimming in one of our Quarry lagoons, while swimming trunks and a towel left at another site belonged to a 12/13 year old. At one of our restored sites, it was reported recently that two boys were swimming and became caught in the weeds, thankfully they were rescued by the local Sailing Club who were testing their new rescue boat and were able to come to their aid.

There is a file in the download section in the UK News website which provides guidance on the requirements for fencing, signage, rescue equipment, etc. for both operational and restored sites, while the leaflets are taken from the MPA Stay Safe website. The “Keeping Communities Safe Around Water” leaflet is new and specifically intended for site teams working near water where they may engage with trespassers, and for individuals involved with community engagement work; printed copies are available from David Yelland at MPA. Under the ‘Teenagers’ section of the MPA website, there is a library of useful information and guidance related to deterring trespass and water safety:

http://www.mineralproducts.org/youth_playsafe01.htm

We should ensure we have done everything we reasonably can to deter trespassers and warn them of the dangers on our sites. Please ensure fences, bunds, signage, etc are in good order and life-saving equipment present and fit for purpose (i.e. throw ropes, life buoys, etc.). During this time of increased risk, at any locations with open water, where there are concerns that trespass may be occurring, take action to employ temporary security.”