Northern Ireland’s first Level 4 Institute of Quarrying Geotechnical Awareness course

The first group of students from organisations in Northern Ireland to take the Institute of Quarrying’s (IQ) new Level 4 geotechnical qualification has completed the course, delivered at ConExpo, presented by Simon Collins and organised by David Johnston of Jabez Safety Solutions.

The IQ Geotechnical Knowledge for Managing Mineral Processing Operations programme covers Levels 2, 3 and 4. This new programme provides a flexible and innovative approach for anyone working in the extractive industries and has been developed in response to feedback from employers and industry professionals, and with support from MP Awards. The awards are open to IQ members and non-members alike. Engineering Geologist, Simon Collins has had a long career in geology and geotechnical roles and spent over two decades of his career with Aggregate Industries, most latterly as Head of Geology, Geotechnics and Land Survey. He is the author of Rockfall Hazard Appraisal System (RHAS), a simple, rapid, visually based method of determining the level of hazard that rockfall represents in UK quarries, it can be used by non-geotechnical specialists to quantify hazard and identify appropriate management strategies. Now in semiretirement, Simon is sharing his knowledge and expertise through these courses.

David Johnston has a long career in the extractives industry, specialising in health, safety, environment, transport and maintenance and in the development and delivery of third-party accreditation systems. He has been a member of the Institute of

Quarrying (IQ) since 1986 and was made a Fellow of the institute in 2006. He has served as the Honorary Secretary and Chairman of NI Branch and has served on the IQ Council and on the Board of Trustees.

David is planning to run more IQ Geotechnical Awareness courses this autumn and anyone interested can contact him by phone on 07887 514410 or by email at jabezsafetysolutions@btinternet.com.