Health and Safety Executive

Waste management and recycling - Transport

Safe operation of refuse and recycling collection vehicles in a pedestrian environment

Research [PDF 1.83MB] shows that in a typical year, between 7-13 fatalities are caused in the industry by moving vehicles. Between July 2005 and October 2006 there were at least 16 people (workers and members of the public) struck and killed by vehicles – some of them were struck by reversing collection vehicles engaged in street collection activities, whislt several collection workers were struck by other vehicles as they crossed the road.

Statistics in the research report only relate to vehicles engaged in collection activities and exclude incidents categorised solely as road traffic accidents (eg when the vehicle was in transit between activities, such as  returning to the depot/landfill).

Waste and and recycling vehicles in street collection (WASTE 04) [pdf 220KB] provides guidance on the safe operation of refuse and recycling collection vehicles.

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Fatal, major and over-3-day injury accidents in the waste industry global workplace transport-data set

Transport consistently accounts for around 63% of accidents. Many of these accidents occur during street collection of waste and recyclables and can involve the public and their vehicles as well as workers.

The statistics below are extracted from Mapping health and safety standards in the UK waste industry (BOMEL 1).

HSE Year Fatal Major injury Over-3-day injury Total % of waste accidents
1996/97 7 336 2 430 2 773 63%
1997/98 8 362 2 259 2 629 62%
1998/99 13 327 2,255 2 595 63%
1999/2000 7 322 2 229 2 558 62%
2000/01 10 347 2 148 2 505 63%
2001/02 9 327 2 049 2 385 64%
Total 54 2,021 1 370 15 445 63%

The main considerations for preventing transport-related accidents include:

  • safe reversing and use of reversing assistants;
  • crossing roads safely and implementation of policies for single-sided street collection wherever reasonably practicable;
  • route risk assessments to identify specific risks and problem locations;
  • minimising collections at certain times of the day (eg adjacent to schools at start and finish times);
  • installation and use of rearward CCTV and other reversing aids;
  • workers only being allowed to travel inside the cab.

For further guidance see:

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Waste/recycling collection operations in the street (reversing)

The risk of workers and members of the public being struck by a vehicle during collection of household waste/recyclables is high. All reasonably practicable steps need to be taken to prevent accidents. You should consider the following:

  • Have you carried out a route risk assessment that highlights major hazards on the route and indicates how to avoid them or minimise the risks that they pose?
  • Have you highlighted those areas where it is reasonably practicable to carry out single-sided street collection in order to minimise the risks of refuse collectors crossing the road?
  • Watch out for members of the public on foot or vehicles that could appear suddenly and unexpectedly.

You can reduce the risk caused by reversing vehicles by:

  • eliminating or reducing reversing manoeuvres wherever possible;
  • devising and following safe systems of work;
  • using reversing aids such as mirrors, CCTV, detectors and alarms;
  • using trained reversing assistants only when the risks cannot be adequately controlled by the above; and
  • monitoring work activities from time to time to ensure that the agreed system of work is being followed.

For further guidance see:

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Transport on your site

Transport at waste management and recycling sites presents similar risks. However, good site layout and management can reduce these risks. The key to reducing transport accidents is to achieve adequate segregation between pedestrians and moving transport/plant. Depending on the type of premises you have, advice may be found here:

Transport (industry-specific)

Transport (general)

Further information on workplace transport

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Earth-moving vehicles on landfill sites

When earth-moving vehicles are in use you should:

  • ensure all personnel entering the site are familiar with site rules and understand when it is safe for them to get out of their vehicles;
  • eliminate the need to approach bulldozers on foot by communicating via radio or using some other agreed system;
  • ensure the driver has good all-round vision (eg mirrors and CCTV);
  • not climb onto the tracks of the vehicle unless the engine is isolated;
  • only get out of the vehicle when the engine is isolated and has stopped running;
  • not use the emergency exit except in an emergency.

For further advice see:

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Updated 09.04.09