HEALTH & SAFETY Don’t bin safety concerns
The incidence of serious injury and death in the waste and recycling industry is still too high, according to a recent statement from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
And the potential risks are greater than ever, despite safer equipment being available, according to Peter Selkirk, CEO of waste container man- ufacturer, Taylor. “As an industry, we cannot afford to sit still when it comes to health and safety,” he argues.
According to Taylor, the trend among businesses is to opt for the lowest price contractor to collect waste, and added competition is tempting organ- isations to make short-term savings by purchasing containers that don’t meet EN840 quality standards, or the HSE’s own WISH guidelines. A poor quality 1,100-litre bin can fail in safety-crucial areas, putting opera- tors and the general public at risk. To address this, Taylor is embarking on a campaign to educate decision- makers, regarding waste handling and waste container equipment. The company is providing informa- tion about the standards set-out in the EN840 standard and the require- ments of the WISH guidelines. “Waste bins have been taken for granted for many years, but this is because the majority of the items in use today are of a high quality standard,” explains Selkirk.
Beware of overloading dangers
The job of a waste collection manager is complex. Making sure crews and trucks are safely collecting waste effi- ciently is a priority. Operators have to balance legal compliance and duty- of-care issues while maintaining high levels of service.
Peter Selkirk talks to HSE executives during a visit to Taylor’s test facility
“It is imperative that this standard is maintained, and the potential risks made plain to those who may be considering using equipment that does not conform to the relevant standards.”
Taylor has invested in its own test house, an R&D facility that offers EN840 accreditation. Readers can download Taylor’s guide to EN840 and the requirements of WISH guide- lines from the company’s website. A free information pack is available.
www.taylorbins.co.uk/EN840 Solution aids blind spots
Brigade Electronics has launched a pulsed radar system with close-in cor- ner to corner blind-spot detection. The Workzone Backsense (below) is ideal for light to medium duty mobile plant machinery, completing Brigade’s port- folio of Xtreme and Standard pulsed radar obstacle detection systems.
Workzone has two antennas offering complimentary detection ranges. One antenna offers a shorter radar beam for close-in detection across the back of the vehicle, while the other offers a 3m range. The sensors are connected to an-in cab warning device to alert the driver of an object, vehicle or person in his danger zone when manoeuvring.
www.brigade-electronics.com
Overloading makes a vehicle unsta- ble and increases stopping distanc- es. Tyres can overheat and fail, and it causes excessive wear to the road surface. Braking and drive systems, running gear and suspension systems become worn-out prematurely reduc- ing the life of the truck and can cause a catastrophic failure.
To address this, vehicles can be fit- ted with a system that gives plenty of warning when an axle or vehicle is approaching an overload. Telematics alerting the depot remotely or even the transport manager directly by text have been available for some time. Loading equipment such as bin lift hoists and compactors can be stopped, leaving drivers no alternative but to redistribute load or unload the truck. Onboard weighing keeps
tors safe and legal. Vehicle Weighing Solutions specialises
in onboard
weighing and axle load protection, and can offer a complete onboard weigh- ing service, from small vans through to trucks. The company has opened a new Midlands workshop and increased its team of installers to cope with the increase in retrofits.
www.vwsltd.co.uk April 2011 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 39
John Allen, VWS
operations manager, outside the VWS Chesterfield installation workshops
opera-
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