Employees can be exposed to chemicals in quarries from a number of sources, maintenance staff are often in contact with diesel, oils and greases and other chemicals when carrying out maintenance and repairs. Concrete admixtures can cause skin or respiratory irritation as can contact with concrete itself similarly there are chemicals involved in other processing activities such as asphalt or cement production.

It is important that the material hazard data sheets for such products are kept at the quarry and that a risk assessment identifies the appropriate control measures that are required to be in place. Control measures should not just look at the provision of personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection of dust/particulate masks. It is important that consideration should be given to eliminating the activity or substituting the product, separating the person from the activity or introducing controls such as local extraction of fumes or vapours.