For those of you that were not aware, the HSE started their targeted inspection regime on October 3rd with the aim of visiting 500 ‘waste-related’ sites across the industry.
The purpose of this inspection programme is to target a) machinery guarding and b) workplace transport at waste and recycling sites. Together, these two issues account for the majority of serious and fatal injuries in the sector.
The HSE have confirmed they are focussing on the following areas between October 2022 and March 2023:
♦ Waste & Recycling (General)
The collection of domestic and commercial wastes, processing including reuse and recycling, recovery of materials, biological treatment of organics material, thermal treatment and disposal activities.
♦ Civic Amenity/Bring Site/Household Waste Recycling Centres
Hand sorting of residual black bag waste is an activity which is increasingly taking place at HWRCs. The HSE have clarified the legal position with the industry and confirmed that an assessment of the risks must be completed and necessary control measures put in place.
♦ Material Recovery Facility (MRF)
♦ Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT)
The publication of WISH Waste 29 ‘Practical Isolation and Lock Off Guidance in October 2021 and the recently published WISH Waste 33 ‘Principles of Machinery Safety’ will be paramount at these sites.
♦ Metal Recycling including End of Life Vehicles (ELV)
Machinery guarding and isolation remain a key risk within the waste and recycling industry. Between 2016/17 and 2020/21 around a third of deaths in the sector resulted from workers coming in to contact with machinery. Preventing access to moving parts and the failure to develop, implement and supervise procedures for clearing blockages or for maintenance remain key aspects of messages within the guidance documents.
♦ Skip Safety
In the last 5 years, over three quarters of all fatal injuries were related to transport, machinery and being struck by objects. The fatality rate in our sector still remains around 17 times higher than the ‘all industry’ rate per 100,000 workers. It is estimated that there are an average 4,000 non-fatal injuries to workers every year between 2014 and 2021. The main causes of these injuries have resulted from slips & trips, lifting & handling and being struck by objects.
♦ Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
♦ Waste Transfer Stations
Workplace transport is still a key risk within the sector. Between 2016/17 and 2020/21, around a third of fatalities in the sector were the result of moving vehicles and/or poor vehicle and pedestrian segregation.
Initial results from the inspection regime should be available during the spring. Until then, go home safe!
