WASTE DISPOSAL & RECYCLING
WORKPLACE WASTE
Here, Direct365, workplace products and services provider, offers advice on how to identify and deal with the waste in your business.
Dealing with waste goes far beyond ensuring you deposit your leftover lunch in the bin. This vital element of workplace life keeps morale levels high and staff fit and healthy for work. Research by PwC found that, annually, sick days cost UK businesses £23 billion. How much are they costing your business?
Before learning how to deal with waste, we must first learn how to identify the most pressing issues you may be up against.
Offensive waste can be hazardous, but not all hazardous waste is offensive. Whilst this may seem confusing, the definitions are vital as they help us complete the correct course of action for dealing with said waste.
HOW TO IDENTIFY WASTE Waste is classified as hazardous if it is harmful to you, your staff or the environment. Examples given by the Health and Safety Executive include asbestos, solvents, pesticides, oils, batteries, chemicals, and equipment containing substances that may affect the ozone layer, for example fridges.
You may not come into contact with many of these substances, but if you do it is imperative that you handle them with caution. Failure to follow procedures could lead to serious health issues arising in the workplace with potentially irreversible consequences.
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For example, if you did not follow correct procedures when dealing with waste that could contain asbestos, you would put yourself and others around you in danger. Even second- hand contamination from asbestos fibres that have latched on to clothing is enough for someone to develop serious lung diseases in later life.
Offensive waste, on the other hand, is less of a direct threat to a person’s health, although disposing of it can be unpleasant. The HSE describes this type of waste as materials that are deemed unpleasant, but waste that is non-infectious so doesn’t pose a direct threat if handled correctly. Examples of this waste listed by the HSE include nappies, used sanitary products, gloves and gowns, plasters and catheter and stoma bags.
You probably don’t want to come into contact with waste like this, but it’s less likely to harm you if you do when compared to hazardous waste.
If left to build up, the bacteria can however pose a threat to you and those in the workplace environment. Research conducted by Initial Washroom found that one in four employees don’t wash their hands after using the staff facilities. Let’s say, for example, someone comes into contact with a sanitary disposal unit and then fails to wash their hands, they could then carry all of that bacteria into the office.
You might think you’re protected by washing your hands, but if an employee spreads the germs around the office, you could come into contact with them again without your knowledge.
HANDLING HAZARDOUS
AND OFFENSIVE WASTE Whilst you may not want to take responsibility for offensive waste, it’s your duty to manage its disposal. It’s a dirty job and someone has to do it, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you. Third-party companies can help you handle offensive waste for a hygienic and swift removal before bacteria has a chance to spread.
Hazardous waste on the other hand can often be a delicate operation. Not just anyone can tackle asbestos or pesticides, and if you don’t know what you’re doing you could cause some serious damage, as mentioned before. You may need to consult professional help to deal with this type of waste carefully. Those trained in the removal of hazardous waste can dispose of this material before it causes an issue for you and your staff. Unless you are trained in removing certain types of waste, you should not attempt to do the job yourself.
In their own ways, each type of waste can be dangerous, particularly if not handled with care. Make sure you’re taking care of your professional surroundings, for a safer future for your business.
www.direct365.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com
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