How to Improve Health and Safety in Waste Management?
Over the years we've come a long way in our approach to health and safety, and in our journey to improve we've learned a thing or two. Explore our waste management health and safety tips and see if there's room for improvement within your business processes, environment, or equipment.
What can you do to help promote health and safety?
Small and frequent changes in the short-term have a lasting impact on you and your workers' safety, and adhering to basic health and safety guidelines save lives and avoids unnecessary accidents in the workplace.
Accidents can include:
- contact with vehicles
- manual handling injuries
- compaction & machinery injuries
- exposure to hazardous materials,
- noise injuries as a result of poor or no PPE
Tips to Keep you Safe at Work
Stay Alert Around Compaction Equipment
Compaction equipment can be dangerous if it's not taken seriously. When working with, or around, compaction equipment stay alert for both your own and other safety.
Consider Homeless Rough Sleepers During Collection
Rough sleepers often seek refuge in large containers and risk being injured as a result. Taking an extra 5 seconds to check larger containers and waste bins can keep people safe around compaction equipment.
1. Be Aware of Trip & Slip Safety
Slips, trips, and falls usually happen when moving containers and bins over uneven ground, across slippery surfaces, through gravel and over obstacles such as manholes or kerbs. Take extra care, or work in pairs, when conditions require it.
Appropriate Safety Signage
Waste management and collection requires both heavy machinery and large vehicles to be efficient and effective. Therefore, it's imperative that pedestrians and operators remain safe when around them. Ensure that all your sites have appropriate signage and always stay vigilant, whether you're an operator or pedestrian.
Be Weight Aware
Unfortunately, there will be occasions when containers and bins will be over it's designated weight. In this instance, it can cause a wide range of personal injuries as well as cause damage to vehicles and equipment. Always take extra care and be mindful of safety measures when moving or handling a container.
Keep Workspaces Clear
Keeping areas immediately around waste containers and bins free from obstructions, accumulated waste, and other items helps to avoid accidents and dangers.
