Really!

What exactly are they saying...."Don't wear your La Boutine's or Prada footwear here"
"to prevent further deterioration"...in other words you use this path too much!
"operatives moving stone by hand" ...Chain gang in operation!
"take another route" ...don't annoy the workers/operatives/slaves/chain gang/drones!
"be vigilant and look out for falling boulders" ...operatives /chain gang may chuck stones at you!
and where did the word "operative" come from?
In my day an 'operative wielded a scalpel not a pick & shovel!!

Seriously