Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Waste management and recycling
HSE have become aware of dangerous occurrences during the raising and lowering of waste container skips from hook-loader vehicles. This note highlights the potential for similar failures, and action that can be taken.
Mismatch can occur due to the lifting hook slipping behind the hook bar fitted to the container skip, or by the lifting hook connecting to the wrong part of the container framework. The operator of the lifting mechanism is typically located within his vehicle cab during loading and unloading, away from the hook.
Within the UK, historically lifting hooks and container-skip hook bars are built to the CHEM (Container Handling Equipment Manufacturers) guidelines. Construction to these guidelines will ensure there is insufficient space within the container skip framework for the lifting hook to pass under and there are no other parts of the skip to inadvertently connect to.
However, it cannot be assumed that all hook-loaders and container skips will be built to compatible standards. Whilst other designs may not be inherently unsafe suppliers, hirers and operators of equipment should ensure that hardware measures, information, instruction and training are provided to control the risks of mismatch.
HSE has recently investigated the failure of a wishbone hookbar of a type that may be fitted to compactors, containers and similar types of equipment designed to be hoisted onto hook-loader vehicles.
This alert raises the potential for similar failures, and action that can be taken.
Wishbone hooks ARE NOT inherently unsafe, however they a safety critical component.
Workers carrying out kerbside collection of glass for recycling can be exposed to high levels of noise. The main source of noise appears to be the manual tipping of glass bottles, jars, etc. in to collection vehicle troughs, or in to wheeled bins which are used as intermediate collection receptacles. Levels of noise exposure will vary depending on factors such as the type of collection method used, rate of working and the type and mixture of recyclable materials. It is likely that workers' daily personal noise exposures will exceed 85 dB (the upper exposure action value of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, and in some cases daily personal noise exposures may be as high as 100 dB. The law requires that in these circumstances the employer must put in place technical and/or organisational measures to reduce noise exposure to the lowest reasonably practicable level.
Whilst effective control measures are being developed to reduce noise at source, action should be taken to safeguard the hearing of the workers involved. At the levels of noise exposure associated with this activity, the law requires that personal hearing protection be supplied to, and worn by, the workers concerned. Hearing protection use should be targeted at the noisy activities. Where personal daily noise exposures are greater than 87 dB (the exposure limit value for noise) the work should not carry on unless the employer can either immediately modify the work or working practices to ensure that this limit is not exceeded, or provide employees with suitable personal hearing protection to ensure that the exposure is reduced to below this limit.
Where employees are working on a public highway or around a moving vehicle, there will be a need to ensure that the use of hearing protection does not lead to an unacceptably increased risk to safety. If the work cannot be organised such that the need to wear hearing protection in these higher risk situations is eliminated, then employers should give particular consideration to these additional risks in selecting hearing protection. For example, where it is important that the wearer can distinguish important sounds (e.g. traffic) and warning signals, the use of protectors with a 'flat' frequency characteristic should be considered, as these can minimise the distortion of sounds and decrease the sense of isolation. The employer should also consider the use of 'level-dependent' protectors (sometimes called 'amplitude-sensitive' protectors). These protectors, which are generally electronic, are designed to protect against high levels of noise while permitting good communication when it is quieter. They are most suited to situations where the noise exposure is intermittent."
HSE is currently investigating this issue, and intends to work with the waste management and recycling industries (via the WISH Glass Noise working group – contact Trevor.hay@hse.gsi.gov.uk) to establish how risks from noise during this type of work can best be managed in practice. It is envisaged that a combination of the measures, covering working practices, glass and other waste collection strategies, and collection vehicle design, are likely to be most effective in minimising the noise exposure of workers.
The Revitalising Health and Safety (RHS) Strategy is a Government and HSC/E initiative to raise the profile of health and safety in the workplace. The Government and HSC/E are committed to improving standards and reducing the toll of occupational injury and ill health in British industry.
As part of the 'Revitalising Health and Safety' agenda HSC has identified a number of priority topics for action. These are:
HSE's Manufacturing Sector: Waste and Recycling Section will be working with key stakeholders such as trade associations, trade unions and industry committees to promote good practice and make available general, industry specific and topic guidance.
The Environmental Services Association has recently adopted an Accident Reduction Charter which aims to reduce their members' accident incidence rate by 10% per annum for 5 years.
HSE has launched a three-year intervention with the waste and recycling industry to address serious issues following an alarming number of fatal and serious accidents during collection and processing of municipal waste and recycling activities.
Part of this intervention involves visits to both private companies and 50% of Local Authorities during which the management of health and safety of waste/ recycling collection activities will be assessed. Visits will be made to authorities that contract out services as well as direct labour operation's (DLO's).
At initial visits, inspectors will assess policies and control measures in place, including how these are managed, and follow up one year later to check that LA's and companies required to produce an action plan of improvements have carried these out. The initiative is concentrating on topics such as design and specification of contracts, management of contracts, workplace transport, manual handling and welfare.
Serious and fatal accidents continue to occur in recycling industries while clearing blockages and/or carrying out running repairs inside dangerous machines. Operational inspectors aim to achieve major reductions in the risk of serious or fatal injuries in specific industries by carrying out an initiative to check that:
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 (e.g. musculo-skeletal injury, cuts, slips & 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 Government and Welsh Assembly Government commissioned research to help local authorities identify the most appropriate systems (in terms of health and safety risks) for their particular circumstances. The key element of the research is a “risk comparator tool” which allows authorities to input basic data and then compare a range of systems. The research and risk comparator tool is available at www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr609.htm. Additionally, HSE and WISH have produced a large body of guidance and illustrations of best practice to help organisations manage risks.
The Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) forum exists to communicate and consult with key stakeholders, including local and national government bodies, equipment manufacturers, trade associations, professional associations and trades unions. The aim of WISH is to identify, devise and promote activities which can improve industry health and safety standards.
WISH supports the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety (RHS) initiative, and is committed to reducing accident incidence rates and minimising the risks of occupational ill-health in the waste management and recycling industry.
Recent accidents and incidents generate much interest and without reference to the specific circumstances you will find “bite size” advice articles below. These are topical at the time of writing and relate to the control measures for individual operations rather than the specific events.
The risk of being struck by a vehicle during collection of household waste/ recyclables is high to both workers and members of the public. Collections take place in an environment where operators working with moving vehicles, on/ adjacent to the public highway and in areas into which the public have access. All reasonably practicable steps need to be taken to prevent often fatal accidents.
Expect the unexpected in public areas: members of the public could appear from anywhere.
Reversing is a high risk activity for any vehicle, especially when undertaken in areas to which the public have access.
Can you:
For further guidance see Waste and recycling vehicles in street collection.
Earth moving vehicles used on landfill sites can be safe vehicles when used properly. However, like all vehicles they pose risks to pedestrians around them.
The HSE/ WISH guidance "Safe transport in waste management and recycling facilities" WASTE09 [187kb]
gives more detailed advice on these issues.
Totting is the process of retrieving, by hand, valuable waste or contaminants from general waste. Mechanical shovels are used to expose these items for hand sorting. Several fatalities have occurred when totters have been struck by manoeuvring shovels.
Totters should not be in close proximity to moving shovels as they expose the waste. It is good practice for totters to retreat to a safe segregated and/ or protected area when the shovel is operating. The driver should be able to see the totters and stop if they are not in this safe area when the vehicle is operating.
Pedestrians should be excluded from areas where shovels are operating and vehicles should be equipped with effective all round vision (mirrors/ CCTV).
Other pedestrian workstations should be removed or protected from shovel traffic routes.
This is interim guidance as the HSE is drawing up detailed guidance relevant to totting operations. This should be available in Summer 2007.
Collection activities account for the majority of accidents within the industry. Particular areas that should be considered are:-
'Musculo-skeletal disorders account for approximately one third of all reported injuries in the industry, the majority of these being associated with collection activities and can be both acute (sudden injury) or chronic (cumulative injury).
Many factors can influence the potential for injury from manual handling of waste and recyclables. These include load weight, receptacle type and design, vehicle design, collection frequency, street environment, training, systems of work and the individuals capabilities. Your risk assessment (see Striking the balance) should consider the risks to staff and assess whether those risks have been adequately controlled, implementing controls where reasonably practicable, following the hierarchy of control. So far as is reasonably practicable, the need to undertake any manual handling operation which is likely to involve a risk of injury should be avoided (Manual Handling Operations Regs, Reg 4(1)(a))). Where manual handling cannot be avoided then appropriate steps should be taken to reduce the risk of injury to the lowest level reasonably practicable.
The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) have produced two reports specific to the waste and recycling industry which can be used to inform your assessment of manual handling risks and set out control measures which can be used. It must be stressed that these reports only cover manual handling risks and you will need to take into account other hazards as well as consequential effects elsewhere in the process stream.
Guidance [PDF 861kb] on the ergonomic design and selection of sorting belts used at materials recycling facilities is now available.
We will be working with the industry, manufacturers and designers to investigate:
Best practice guidance to reduce green waste dust by operating a system of controls that help minimise dust clouds is set out in the following guidance written in consultation with the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH).
Research in this area continues. Current worldwide knowledge on the precise effects of bioaerosols from waste and recycled materials on workers is inconclusive and does not yet provide uncontroversial dose-effect relationships. HSE has published research on this issue:-
Waste is considered 'hazardous' under environmental legislation when it contains substances or has properties that might make it harmful to human health or the environment. This does not necessarily mean it is an immediate risk to human health, although some waste can be.
The Environment Agency's interpretation of the definition and classification of hazardous waste can be found in their technical guidance WM2.
Many wastes are newly classified as 'hazardous' and some companies will now find themselves dealing with hazardous consignments for the first time. Hazardous waste is defined in the Hazardous Waste List incorporated in the European Waste Catalogue.
From 16 July 2004 the co-disposal of hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste at the same landfill site was prohibited. On 16 July 2005 the Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) will come into force. Waste producers are required to ensure that their waste meets the WAC; basic characterisation of waste at an early stage is essential.
ESA's website, includes statements and briefings. The Environmental Services Association has recently adopted an Accident Reduction Charter which aims to reduce their members accident incidence rate by 10% per annum for 5 years.
CCTV's are required to be fitted on RCV's by EN1501, and we are currently working on a brief guide setting out how to set up CCTV on a vehicle, the pitfalls to avoid, and regular checks to be carried out. When completed, the guidance will be published on the Waste Management and Recycling websites 'Information Page. 'HSE is also currently engaged in commenting on the latest revision of EN1501'.
The total amount of waste composted in the UK rose from around 60,000 tonnes in 1993 to over 1.6 million tonnes composted in 2001/02.
Composting facilities are becoming increasingly important as the UK reduces the amount of waste going to landfill. The number of available facilities is increasing to process the increasing amount of biodegradable waste recycled
There is a risk of collisions and serious injury if vehicles and pedestrians are not separated. Other risks are created where manual handling activities and mechanical processing of waste are carried out.
Controls include:
The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) was commissioned to review and report on the latest international findings relating to bioaerosol emissions from composting activities.
The Composting Association produce printed guidance on a range of Health and Safety issues . " Health and Safety at Composting Sites: A Guide for Site Managers" and "Standardised Protocol for the Sampling of Airborne Micro-organisms at Composting Facilities". Contact them for their most up to date publications.
HSE has recently investigated three instances in which conventional bin type skip lorries have 'runaway' when lifting skips on slopes.
Investigation of these incidents has found a potential common cause of 'runaway' on a large number of skip lorries. Where lorries are fitted with stabiliser legs at the rear of the lifting frame there is the potential to lift the rear wheels off the ground when lifting, negating the effect of rear wheel braking. If the vehicle is not braked on the front wheels then it can 'runaway' on the free moving front wheels and the stabiliser legs, particularly if they are fitted with roller wheels.
The risk of 'runaways' can be virtually eliminated by:
Specifying the following when buying new skip loaders
On older vehicles:
All wheel braking and flat feet on stabilisers are considered reasonably practicable in most cases. The use of chocks should only be considered in exceptional circumstances and only if they can be used effectively. Their effectiveness depends upon factors such as ground conditions, slope, surface friction, vehicle surge, operator training/ competence and supervision and monitoring.