HSE Press Release: E083:04 - 16 June 2004

Waste industry incident rates higher than construction

Incidents rates in the waste industry are higher than those in construction according to research published yesterday by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

'Mapping health and safety standards in the UK waste industry', a report of a research project carried out by Bomel Limited for HSE shows that the number of fatal incidents are over ten times the national average, while accident rates are four times the average. The incidents predominantly occur to refuse/recycling collection workers who manually handle and sort waste.

The research shows that over 40% of injuries are handling and sprain types and approximately one third result from slips, trips and falls. Being struck by vehicles accounts for 3.5% of incidents.

James Barrett, Head of the HSE's Manufacturing Sector said:

"These rates are unacceptable for a major industry, such as the waste sector. This is a growing, dynamic and innovative industry which has to rise to the challenge presented by the figures and reduce the appalling human and financial cost to the industry."

Paul Harvey, HSE Principal Inspector covering the waste and recycling industry said:

"This research comes at a time when the industry is changing rapidly and flags up the need to properly assess and control the risks created by new and emerging collection and processing systems.

"Handling of bags, wheelie bins and skips feature strongly in the accident reports submitted to HSE, evidence also shows an increasing number of reports associated with collecting and sorting waste for recycling. These are areas the industry needs to work on now and in the future.

"HSE are committed to being good partners, during the coming months we will continue working with the industry to promote better standards via intermediaries and industry trade associations and will specifically be looking at manual handling and transport risks."

'Mapping health and safety standards in the UK waste industry' Research Report 240,
ISBN 0 7176 2865 5, price £35, is available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel: 01787-881165 or fax: 01787-313995

Notes to editors

1. UK waste industry accident rate 2001/2 was 2459 accidents/ 100,000 workers.
2. UK waste industry fatal accident rate 2001/2 was 10 fatalities/ 100,000 workers.
3. "Mapping health and safety standards in the UK waste industry" research report was prepared for the Health and Safety Executive by BOMEL Limited.

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