QUARRY operators across the South West are campaigning to raise awareness of dangers of swimming in quarry lakes.


Quarry operators have joined forces with the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to warn people of the dangers of swimming in open water in quarry lakes, rivers, reservoirs and canals.


The campaigns, launched on Friday, June 26 at Tytherington Quarry in Thornbury, follow 15 water-related fatalities in quarry lakes over the last two years, and will run throughout the year.


The quarry campaign, run by the Mineral Products Association (MPA), places particular emphasis on the impact that immersion in cold water can have on the body and how it can dramatically affect even a strong swimmer’s abilities.


Nigel Jackson, chief executive Mineral Products Association (MPA), the main association for the UK quarry operators, said: “We are working with key stakeholders as part of a national drowning prevention strategy, to help people to better understand why plunging into the cold water of a quarry lake or reservoir is very different from a swimming pool, or other types of supervised swimming locations.


“We want these dreadful tragedies to be avoided and believe the best way to do this is by making sure as many people as possible share these water safety messages.”


The quarry campaign is timed to support National Drowning Prevention Week, a campaign run by the RLSS UK, and particularly encourages people to share information about Cold Water Shock using the slogan “Tell a friend. Save a friend.”


Di Steer, chief executive of RLSS UK, said: “We welcome the involvement of organisations like the MPA in Drowning Prevention Week.


“With warmer weather and school holidays, we are keen to ensure that members of the public better understand these potential hazards.


“Taking part in leisure activities, both in and around water, is great fun. Drowning Prevention Week is not about stopping people enjoying this, but simply about raising awareness of potential risks and encouraging them to stay safe by using designated, lifeguarded, swimming sites.”


The quarry campaign highlights numerous potential hazards that may exist, including concealed obstacles beneath the surface that can injure or entangle swimmers, very deep water, unexpected currents and pumps, unstable edges making it easy to fall in and difficult to exit, pollution and high alkalinity.