COMPASS ON HEALTH AND SAFETY NEWS
Homeless persons at risk from sleeping in containers
The waste and recycling industry has dealt with a number of deaths in recent years. But these fatalities have not just been among employees but, worryingly, have also involved members of the public sleeping or seeking refuge in waste containers.
People are placing themselves at serious risk of harm by sleeping or seeking refuge in waste containers. If undiscovered during the collection and tipping of the container into the back of a refuse collection vehicle, there is little chance of survival. 11 people have been killed in such circumstances over the last five years, generally suffering the most horrific crushing injuries. Homeless and vulnerable persons within
society are routinely found sleeping rough in waste containers. Containers filled with clean, dry
recyclables such as paper and card present a comparatively more comfortable prospect for those sleeping rough than a container filled with mixed or food waste. There are also reports of people (generally children coerced by adults) being found in clothes banks where, having attempted to remove the clothes within, have found themselves stuck in the container, or sustaining serious injury. Most people tend to be found in
commercial waste 1,100 litre recycling bins or FEL (front-end-loader) containers and such incidents are not necessarily confined to the cold, winter months. One national operator recently reported having found more than 90 people in its bins during the course of last year. A recent survey (conducted by Biffa and
the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, in partnership with Street Link) of waste management operators helped shed further light on this issue and, unsurprisingly, revealed that most
incidents occurred in urban areas and during the hours of darkness. However, perhaps more worryingly, the report also found that in more than 40 per cent of reported incidents collection crews did not discover the individual until the tipping process was being undertaken. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
has previously published guidance advising that potential harm and injury could be reduced through risk assessment and control measures. Where it can be shown that there is an increased risk of people seeking shelter in waste containers (i.e. areas of deprivation or past experience of people in containers; bins located in quiet, isolated areas of customer premises; or in poorly or unlit areas of the site), HSE advised that procedures should be deployed for checking bins on collection. A range of measures was suggested,
which at the most fundamental level includes banging on the side of the container to rouse anyone inside before the bin is lifted. However, this guidance has now been withdrawn as part of a wider government review of the regulatory burden on UK businesses. However, the industry eagerly awaits its reinstatement under the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) forum, which aims to improve health and safety standards across the waste management industry. Once reinstated, the guidance should not
only help raise awareness of this issue but also continue to offer practical assistance to waste management companies in
discharging their relevant duties. Some operators have trained their
collection crews and drivers to check each and every bin, irrespective of the perceived risk of someone sheltering inside. Waste management operators continue to engage staff to help raise awareness of the issue, to ensure that collection crews remain vigilant and are trained on procedures which can help increase the chances of discovering people before the container is lifted and tipped into the refuse vehicle. Other possible control measures include
training drivers and collection crews to look for ‘tell-tale’ signs around a container that there might be someone sheltering inside (i.e. personal belongings, blankets or evidence around the container that the waste within has been disturbed). Some companies have placed warning
signs on their containers, advising on the dangers to help deter people from accessing the bin in the first place. Training staff on the importance of reporting all such incidents helps companies to build up a better picture of the extent of the problem and allows resources to be targeted on ‘hot spot’ towns or areas. While the waste management industry
clearly has a role to play, a partnership approach is more likely to deliver positive outcomes. The legal responsibilities of businesses themselves – those that produce waste in the first place – are often overlooked.
Debbie Williams CMIOSH RMaPS is Principal Safety Consultant at Compass Ltd. Debbie specialises in assisting private sector organisations within the construction, waste management and extractive industries. You can contact Debbie on 01257 482256 or email
dwilliams@compass-ms.co.uk
20 SHM December 2015/January 2016 Issue 121 Register your email for news and updates at
www.skiphiremagazine.co.uk
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