Alan Dillon, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with special responsibility for Small Business, Retail and Employment has signed into law the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2025. 

The primary objective of these Regulations, which will come into effect on 01 January 2026, is to strengthen protections for those working in and affected by the quarrying industry.

The revised Regulations will improve safeguards in relation to the use of explosives, and enhance the efficiency of the compliance process as quarries can now operate within a simplified legislative framework. Furthermore, the Regulations will enable quarry operators to take appropriate measures and to notify the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in the event of a temporary cessation of quarry operations. This will reduce the financial and legal burden on operators who have quarries that are not currently economically viable. The process of submitting approved forms has also been streamlined with the addition of an online submission option, amongst other enhancements.

The Regulations were developed by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the HSA and incorporate recommendations from the Quarry Safety Partnership (QSP). 

In welcoming the Regulations, Minister Dillon said:

“These new regulations will have a positive impact on the quarrying sector as they improve protection for those working in and affected by that industry. 
It is crucial to have good occupational health and safety standards to protect workers’ lives and their long-term health and wellbeing. The foundational principle of workplace health and safety is that every worker is entitled to a safe place of work. These updated regulations will assist employers with their overall responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees. 
I would like to thank the Health and Safety Authority for their assistance in developing these regulations, as well as their continued commitment to making Ireland a safer place to work.”

Mark Cullen, interim CEO of the HSA, also commended the signing of the new Regulations:

“The updated quarry regulations are a welcome step forward in ensuring that quarrying operations in Ireland are carried out to the highest safety standards. By simplifying processes and enhancing safeguards, particularly around the use of explosives, the updated regulations will make a real difference in protecting workers and supporting employers in meeting their responsibilities. I am grateful to the many industry stakeholders who contributed to this important update, their input will help protect the lives and wellbeing of workers across the quarrying industry.”