Warning to help prevent waste bin deaths

Date:

7 June 2010

Homeless people are being warned about the dangers of sheltering in commercial bins, following the deaths of three people in the past year - two who were sleeping rough - whose bodies were discovered at waste depots.

Anecdotal reports from the waste management and recycling industry also suggest there have been many occasions where people have been discovered alive in bins prior to, or during, them being emptied. This, along with the recent deaths, has prompted new guidance to be published for those who produce commercial waste, have responsibility for waste storage areas and collect it.

Waste producers, those with responsibility for managing waste storage areas and waste collection organisations all have legal responsibilities (see Notes to editors) to reduce the potential for injury and death to people in bins, and the guidance has been developed following industry calls for clearer ways of working.

It has been produced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in conjunction with the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum (see Notes to editors).

But alongside the publication of the guidance is a message that people should not be putting themselves at unnecessary risk.

Geoff Cox, HSE's Head of Waste and Recycling Sector, said: "We fully recognise that seeking shelter in a bin may be preferable to risking it on the street in all weathers, but we want people to understand what the tragic consequences of that can be.

"We are arming waste producers and collectors with clear guidelines they need to follow to help prevent any further deaths, and we encourage those who are sleeping rough to look after themselves and to look out for each other too."

Duncan Shrubsole, Director of Policy and External Affairs at Crisis the national charity for single homeless people, said: "It is a sad fact that hundreds of people in the UK still sleep on the streets and some end up having to use bins as shelter.

"We hope that this new guidance reaches those who produce commercial waste and is acted upon immediately to prevent any more tragic loss of life or injury to rough sleepers."

Notes to editors

1. Waste producers, those responsible for managing waste storage areas and waste collection organisations all have legal responsibilities under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to reduce the potential for injury and death to people in bins.
2. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
3. The Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum is made up of representatives from the waste management and recycling industry. Its members include representatives from HSE, main trade associations, professional associations, trade unions, recycling organisations and national and local government bodies involved in waste management and recycling. Its aim is to identify, devise and promote activities to improve industry health and safety standards. www.hse.gov.uk/waste/wish.htm
4. The 'People in commercial waste containers' guidance is available to download free of charge at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/waste25.pdf

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