Accidents in the Environmental Industry,
Are They Avoidable? By Steve Shirley, QSP
Imagine you are at your desk and the telephone rings: there’s been a tragic accident, one of the staff has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition. What do you do? Have you experienced this yet? How many environmental managers have? The answer is, far too many.
According to the latest statistics issued by the Health and Safety Executive, there are more accidents and fatalities per thousand people working in the Environmental Waste Management Industry than in any other sector. In the past, attention to the numbers of accidents in the waste industry has been masked by other sectors, coupled with the fact that statistical reporting of accidents and near misses has improved. This has the effect of bringing the waste management industry to the forefront of concern. Health and Safety is a statutory duty for everyone: it is also there for a purpose, which is to prevent or avoid accidents and to save lives. At the start of the millennium, within the waste management industry sector, the number of fatal incidents were over ten times the national average and the accident rates were four times the national average. The figures have improved over the last ten years but they are still significantly high.
There are currently around 162,500 people employed in the waste management industry and there are approximately 4,000 reported accidents from the sector each year.
The amount of municipal waste collected is on the increase at about 2.5% per year and approximately 25% of this is recycled or composted. The Government has committed the country to increasing the amount of recycling over the coming years, which means that the numbers of people employed in the industry will rise. Consequently, if there are no changes to the present regime, the amount of accidents will remain high. In 2006 there were nine fatalities recorded in the waste industry in a nine week period, Although this example is unusually high, it has to be a sure sign that we have a serious problem. As well as the accidents in this industry, there is the associated human suffering and financial implications. Of course some accidents are inevitable but most are completely avoidable. So how do we start to avoid these all too frequent accidents? A change or increase in a positive health and safety
|132| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE
culture within an organisation is often the first logical step to take. This can go a very long way in reducing the overall numbers of accidents at work. The management can lead the workforce in a positive health and safety culture by setting a good example. This could be achieved by improving their own knowledge of safe procedures and practices relevant to their own jobs. There are many training courses available, which could help the managers in the right direction. Making the work force more aware of health and safety issues and safe practices may also be achieved through training. Giving the workforce the knowledge of where to obtain further information could help reduce accidents
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) monitor health and safety in the workplace in terms of the numbers of accidents and fatalities using the Reporting of Injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). Under these regulations it is the duty of most employers to report any deaths, over three day injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences. It does not stop there, the fines and custodial sentences for employers being prosecuted under health and safety legislation have increased in recent years. With the ever increasing interest by the HSE in the waste management industry it should come as no surprise to any of us that there has to be a major change in the waste management health and safety culture soon. One of the best and most cost effective methods of instilling a positive health and safety culture into individuals is through training.
Employers must ensure that all employees have health and safety training. The ultimate in health and safety recognition is to be accepted into the Institute of Safety and Health (IOSH). The usual starting route to IOSH membership is to obtain a level 4 qualification accredited by IOSH, these are all listed on the IOSH web site. There are many universities offering full time courses to achieve level 6 qualifications in occupational health and safety. The British Safety Council also offer an accredited course. The NEBOSH diploma, is typically one day a week for twenty six weeks at a college. There are of course examinations at the end of each of the NEBOSH courses which have to be passed.
One method of entry to IOSH membership which may be attractive is the National Vocational Qualification
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152