SHREDDERS/BALERS/COMPACTORS
HE NUMBER of fatal incidents in the waste management industry is over ten times the national average while accident rates are four times the national average, according to Mapping health and safety standards in the UK waste industry, a report of a research project carried out by Bomel for the Health & Safety Executive in 2001- 2002. The report goes on to say the incidents predominantly occur to refuse/recycling collection workers who manually handle waste. Even though the report is 10 years old, the work place continues to be a dangerous place; particularly when it involves machines like balers, shredders and compactors. David Lummis, chief executive officer at the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), says: “Balers, shredders and compactors are dangerous pieces of equipment which could, if not used sensibly, maim or even kill. The penalties for unsafe working practices can be harsh; not just for the company, but for individuals who can be personally prosecuted
Taking a safe approach T
Despite the increase of sophisticated technology in shredders, balers and compactors, they are machines to be handled with care. What are the risks and what kind of safety measures are being taken by manufacturers?
for unsafe actions. However, it is the victim who really suffers,” adds Lummis. “On too many occasions, accidents are created by overriding safety guards, inappropriate loading techniques and just plain carelessness. A full risk assessment should be undertaken on all the likely hazards that may affect workers. This should include all risk areas; for example, the delivery of materials, potential hazards in their content, unloading, loading, despatch, electrical hazards, trip hazards, to name just a few.” Risks identified by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for operatives dealing with compactors include fatal crush injuries from closure of the pre-compaction lid and main compaction ram when the machine is started up while clearing blockages; falls into the compaction chamber and amputation of limbs when operators reach into openings in the compaction mechanism. Kent-based Excell Environmental Solutions says it takes pride in the safety measures that are to be found on the foam compactors they
sell into the UK market. “Those machines equipped with additional crushing equipment like pre-breakers, where counter-rotating shafts with sneering hooks catch the material reducing its fraction size prior to introduction to the compaction process. It is here that particular attention is placed to operator protection. “A support to standard safety equipment as compulsory inclusions, are emergency closedown switches or warning horns, but much more important is the professional training of operators which should be more focused and regular to avoid bad habit forming.” The spokesperson from Excell Environmental Solutions stresses that the most important area for attention to safety with foam compactors is the feeding hopper design.
“While consideration to the size of the input fraction has a great influence on the design, the method by which the material is brought to the hopper mouth must also be considered from an ease of access point of view. While any responsible machine manufacturer would
strongly recommended the inclusion of a simple conveyor feed, there remain a number of installations relying on manual feed. A compromise between safety issues and efficient operation of the machine has been designed-in to take account of this probability.” Excell Environmental Solutions points out that the maximum safety for manual feed can be achieved by a simple, sensible approach of setting minimum distances in height and length from the hopper mouth while CE rules define rules for distances from danger spots. To avoid accidents from happening BSIF’s Lummis says training is a core part of any safety regime.
“It is vital workers know how to operate safely and these messages are reinforced and adhered to.
“The importance of health and safety in the waste management world can’t be under estimated, the legislation is in place for a reason and rules need to be adhered to. Ignoring them may cost lives,” concludes the CEO.
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June 30 2011 9
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