This document provides information on health and safety in the waste and recycling industry. It outlines 5 key learning outcomes related to identifying hazards and risks, conducting risk assessments, emergency response procedures, proper personal protective equipment use, and managing assigned work. The waste and recycling industry has a poor safety record, with injuries primarily from manual handling, slips and trips, and being struck by vehicles. Employers are responsible for conducting formal documented risk assessments and keeping health and safety policies and documentation.

1. 7517 Principles of
Sustainable
Resource
Management
Unit 203 How to work safely in
the waste and recycling industry

2. Outcomes for the unit
 5 outcomes





Know how to identify and deal with work related
hazards and risks
Know how to work with risk assessments
Know how to respond to emergencies
Know how and why to select and use the correct PPE
Know how to manage the work given to you

3. Commitment to Recycling
 The UK is committed to increasing the amount of
materials recycled and reducing the amount of
waste sent to landfill.
 Consequently, the numbers employed in these
industries, with the quantity and range of
materials handled and recycled has risen quite
substantially over the last 10 years

4. Commitment to Recycling
Municipal household and commercial collections
activities cover the collection of residual
waste, green waste and recyclables. Around 70%
of all workers are in this industry sector, and they
account for about 80% of all the reported injuries.

5. The overall industry performance is poor and with RIDDOR
reportable injuries in the waste and recycling sector over 4
times greater than most other industry sectors.
The main causes of accidents include:
•Manual Handling (Muscular skeletal disorders (MSDs))
•Slips and trips
•Hit by moving, flying or falling object
•Falls
•Hit by something (object)
•Hit by moving vehicle*
•Contact with moving machinery
•Needlestick/sharps

6. Most serious accidents in terms of severity relate to being
struck by a moving vehicle.
In the 6 years 2004/05 to 2009/10 there were around 31
RIDDOR-reportable fatalities (including 9 members of the
public) relating to municipal and domestic collections.
17 fatalities of which were attributable to household waste
collections.

7. 1. Identifying and dealing with
work related hazards and risks
 What is meant by the
term hazard?
 Something that has the potential to cause harm
 What is meant by risk?
 The likelihood that an accident will happen
because the hazard exists

8. Identifying risks - exercise
 Provide an example for each of the





Waste and material handled
Machinery and equipment used
Vehicles and plant
Site conditions
Unsafe behaviour
 Describe the effect these


following risks:
Self
Others
could have on:

9. Responsibilities
 Who is responsible for health
and safety in the
workplace?
 All staff
 Management – hierarchy of responsibilities
 What are reporting procedures in place for hazards
you've identified?
 What are your legal requirements?
 Organisational requirements?

10. Working with risk assessments
 Formal risk



Documented, recorded and revisited regularly or
when a procedure changes/following an incident
Where can these be found?
Are you aware of the content?
 Informal

assessment
risk assessment
Specific to the situation, identification of hazards,
carried out on the job

11. 11
5 Steps to risk assessment
Identify Hazard
Decide who might
be harmed and
how….
Record your findings
and implement
them…..
Review your
assessment and
update as necessary.
Evaluate the risks
and decide on
precautions…..

12. What are
the
hazards?
Who might be harmed
and how?
What are you already doing?
Do you need to do anything else Action by
to manage this risk?
whom?
Action
by
when?
Done
Slips and
trips
Staff and visitors may be
injured if they trip over
objects or slip on
spillages
We carry out general good
housekeeping. All areas are well lit
including stairs. There are no trailing
leads or cables. Staff keep work areas
clear, eg no boxes left in walkways,
deliveries stored immediately, offices
cleaned each evening
Better housekeeping is needed in
staff kitchen, eg on spills
date
date
All staff,
supervisor
to monitor

13. Informal risk assessment
 In what situations would you
carry out an informal risk
assessment?

14. Punch & Judy need a risk
assessment
False!

15. You don't need to secure your load
if you're just driving down the road
False!

16. Health and safety banned sweets
from being thrown into the crowd
False!

17. Health and safety ban traditional ties
for clip-on ones to avoid choking
False!

18. Documentation
 Risk register
 Health &
Safety handbook
 Organisation handbook
 Annual review
 Quality policy
 Health & Safety policy
 Meeting minutes
 H&S committee information

19. Health & Safety Regulations relevant
in the Waste/Recycling Industry

The management of health and safety at work regulations 1999

Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992

The health & safety (information for employees) regulations 1989

The reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations
1995 (RIDDOR)

The control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002 (COSHH)

20. WISH
 Waste Industry
Safety Forum
 WISH is a multi-party forum made up of organisations
representing the waste and recycling industry. Its
purpose is to provide information, identify solutions
and stimulate action across the industry to ensure the
health, safety and well-being of those working in the
industry and those affected by its activities.

21. WISH Objectives 2009-2013
 Objective 1: Accident performance

Reduce RIDDOR reported cases by 10% year on year
 Objective 2: Number of working days

lost
Reduce number of days lost
 Objective 3: Management of health and safety

Consistent safety management systems throughout
 Objective 4: Health and safety climate and attitudes

Improve attitude of workforce towards H & S
 Objective 5: Competence

Increase the levels of competence throughout

22. Responding to Emergencies in the
Workplace
 Responding to:
 Fire
 Explosion
 Collision
 Spillages
 Injury

23. Organisational Procedures

Procedure in place in the event of an emergency






Preparedness and response
Fire drill
Evacuation
Raising the alarm
Reporting the incident
Who co-ordinates the emergency response?



Accidents to people
Accidents on the work site
Information to communicate

24. Organisational Procedures
 Minimising effect of an

emergency
Know the emergency plan, what to do, how to react
 What problems could arise




in reporting?
Appropriateness of how to report
Availability of staff
Communication difficulties
Conflict of interest

25. Know how and why to select and
use the correct PPE
 Selection of Personal Protective Equipment
 Nature and type of work
 Assessment
of the workplace
 Assess what is needed
 Equipment and materials
 location

26. Wearing the correct PPE...









Uniform
Gloves
Protective footwear
Head protection
Hi-visibility clothing
Waterproofs
Protection from sun
Own safety and protection
Legal requirement

27. Managing the work you are given to do
 Why might you not be able to do the
work given
to you?
Lack of training
 Hazards in the workplace
 Faulty equipment
 Medication
 Physical or mental capacity
 Pregnancy
 Age limited work
 Qualified


What action would you take? What are your options?

28. Multiple choice test
45 minutes
28 questions
Pass mark 16 out of 28