Collecting waste and recyclables

• Introduction
• Striking the balance
• Design and maintenance issues

Introduction

Collection activities account for the majority of accidents within the industry. Key areas of concern include:

• vehicle operations [PDF 178KB]
  Particularly reversing and the risks of 'struck by injury' to both workers and members of the public;
• musculoskeletal injuries from handling receptacles of waste and recyclables;
• slips and trips;
• personal protective equipment, eg high-visibility clothing and cut-resistant clothing;
• personal hygiene and on-board handwashing facilities;
• hoist/receptacle compatibility;
• noise in glass collection.

• Safe waste and recycling collection services [272KB]

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Selecting systems - Striking the balance

Comprehensive risk assessment is essential to ensure that services are delivered with risks controlled so far as is reasonably practicable.

• Guidance on sensible risk management

Local authorities, private sector and community sector organisations will have many factors to consider when selecting collection/transfer/treatment systems for waste and recyclables. Legally there are several factors that will play a part in determining what is the most appropriate for each circumstance. These duties might include environmental controls, meeting landfill diversion targets, delivering value for money service and ensuring the health and safety of those affected by the industry. Organisations need to consider all these factors and balance them.

When assessing the risks and evaluating the various options available it is essential that all hazards are identified and evaluated (eg Musculoskeletal injury, cuts, slips and trips, transport etc).

Your assessment process may also need to consider the hazards and level of risk presented across the entire process, from collection to final re-use/recycling/disposal. This may allow the consequential effects of each step in the process to be accounted for. For example a particular collection system may result in greater/less manual handling in subsequent processes. HSE, in partnership with DEFRA, Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government, has commissioned research to provide information to local authorities that will further assist this process.

The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), Human Factors Science group has recently produced this research report "Waste and recyclables health and safety final report incorporating Risk Comparator Tool user guide" RSU/RA/07/01.

This publication aims to provide a means for local authorities and others to compare the level of risk from different waste and recyclables management systems. This, when used alongside other criteria, such as environmental targets, cost and local availability, can help make a balanced decision on the most appropriate overall system, taking appropriate account of health and safety issues.

Additionally, HSE and WISH have produced a large body of guidance and illustrations of best practice to help organisations manage risks.

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Design and maintenance issues

Manufacturers, designers and users should consider the following issues which can impact upon the health and safety of carrying out collection activities:

• The ergonomic design of waste materials receptacles
• The design of vehicles and systems of work used for 'kerbside sorting'
• The maintenance of lifting points on skips, 'bottle banks' and similar

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