Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

The Work

Quarry workers are responsible for a number of jobs in quarries, where materials like limestone, sandstone, chalk, clay, sand and gravel are excavated. Duties include driving heavy plant machinery such as excavators and draglines or operating machinery for washing and grading. In stone quarries explosives are required for blasting and often machinery is used for crushing.  
 
Some quarry firms are responsible for other activities, like coating stones for road building and maintenance, or producing lime, concrete products or ready-mixed cement. Quarry workers may supply and deliver materials to customers. Quarry workers may also be involved in the transportation of materials to building sites.  
 
Quarries can be very noisy and dusty. Nearly all the work is outdoors.

Quarry workers can progress to become a Quarry Manager.

Quarry Manager

Quarry managers combine supervising staff with office based duties like personnel management, budget control, maintenance, and environmental planning. Managers also liaise with local authorities and community groups over planning permission applications.  
 
Quarry managers are responsible for all the modern vehicles, plant and machinery used at quarries. They may plan and organise maintenance and overhauling programmes. Safety is very important in quarry work. Managers make sure that all their employees are aware of safety regulations and procedures.

They are responsible for examining materials produced to ensure a high quality of production is maintained. They must ensure that health and safety regulations are adhered. They are also responsible that the quarry's production level are maintained to schedule and provide information and statistics on performance to the owner company.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Locate grain line patterns to determine how rocks will split when cut.
• Remove pieces of stone from larger masses, using jackhammers, wedges, and other tools.
• Insert wedges and feathers into holes, and drive wedges with sledgehammers to split stone sections from masses.
• Mark dimensions or outlines on stone prior to cutting, using rules and chalk lines.
• Cut slabs of stone into sheets that will be used for floors or counters.
• Set charges of explosives to split rock.
• Drill holes along outlines, using jackhammers.
• Drill holes into sides of stones broken from masses, insert dogs or attach slings, and direct removal of stones.
• Cut grooves along outlines, using chisels.

Further Information

• Quarry Worker - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

New entrants may be school leavers. Employers generally recruit people aged 18 years. 

Key Skills Certs: 

-Blasting techniques

-Shot-firing

-Plant operations & Health and safety (Manual Handling & Safepass) 

-Working at Height 

-Demolition & Earth Moving equipment tickets 

-Earth mover/ Tipper/ HGV tickets

These key skills certs may be available nationwide for low or no cost Search our FET Coursefinder 

Employers require that you have completed prior to employment to Comply with Quarrying Safety Guidelines from HSA.   

Training & Development 

FET Traineeship Construction skills certification programme Search our FET Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Geo-Driller, Bricklayer / Stonelayer, Stone Cutter / Stone Mason NFQ Level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Professional Development 

HSA Quarrying 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €50k

Salaries Vary by employer, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
SalaryExpert / Payscale/ Morgan McKinley/ Excel

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Despite the strong employment growth rate for this occupation over the five-year period, employment only returned to pre-COVID-19 levels in 2022.

Although the green transition may result in an increased demand for elementary workers in energy and sewerage plant operations, the small numbers employed across the various roles in this occupation do not allow for detailed demand analysis.

• Mineral Products Qualification Council

  • MP House, 4a Meadowbank Way, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire NG16 3SB
  • +44 115 983 5755
  • Click Here

• EPIC Services &Consulting

  • Alban Row, 27 - 31 Verulam Rd. St Albans, Herts AL3 4DG, UK
  • Click Here

• Irish Mining and Quarrying Society

  • 27 Upper Pembroke Street Dublin 2
  • 0894927942
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Geological Survey of Ireland

  • Beggars Bush, Haddington Rd., Dublin 4
  • (01) 678 2896
  • Click Here