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CHRIS JAMES CEO at WAMITAB WAMITAB provides an end-to-end solution - from operative to management level qualifications in resource management and recycling, cleaning, street cleansing, facilities management and parking.
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LOCKDOWN is currently set to continue well into the month and the return to normality will certainly not happen quickly. For the time being we are un- likely to see any change in the guidance for regular hand washing and social distancing that we have become so familiar with over the last few weeks.
In our last article we looked at the draft guidance about managing COVID-19 risks in the context of a range of waste man- agement activities published by the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH). The document: “WISH INFO 13 COVID-19 and waste management activities” is available from the WISH website and is regularly updated as new information becomes available – currently on issue 3 (published 23 April 2020).
How long does the coronavirus live on surfaces?
Those working in the waste and resource sector will have understandable concerns when handling wheelie bins, waste and recyclables. Latest research indicates the coronavirus can live for hours to days on surfaces: on cardboard it can last for up to 24 hours whereas as on metal and plastics it can last for to 72 hours. It is important to
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remember that the virus survives on the skin for more than enough time to allow hand-to-mouth/nose/eyes transmission.
Social distancing
Keeping at least 2 metres apart from other people can pose issues for some waste management activities. Employers should consider precautions such as staggering shift changeovers, not requiring drivers to collect lorry keys in person, staggering use of welfare facilities, limiting the number of people allowed at any one time in offices, welfare facilities and other areas and similar.
PPE (personal protective equipment) •
Gloves
Gloves are no substitute for good hygiene and hand washing. Good ‘glove discipline’ should be followed: if an employee stops work to eat/drink/smoke the basic process is gloves off, wash hands thoroughly, eat/drink/smoke, wash hands again, put gloves back on.
Employees should be made aware of the limitations of glove use, such as touching their faces while wearing gloves which
may be contaminated. In terms of reduc- ing the risk of transmission, gloves should be impermeable/waterproof or be sup- ported by the use of impermeable gloves underneath the standard ones. Employees must be provided with an ad- equate supply of gloves and instructed to change gloves at a frequency appropriate to the type of glove and its use.
• Masks
The need for RPE (respiratory protection equipment) to protect from coronavirus must be based on risk assessment. Where a risk assessment has previously indicated that an employee would be expected to wear respiratory protection as part of their normal job then they should continue to do so.
Screens
Use of Perspex or similar ‘screens’ may reduce, to an extent, the risk from project- ed particles/aerosols, such as produced when someone coughs, but there is little evidence currently that they are effective in preventing the spread of viruses. If an organisation does decide to consider screens, risk assessment should ascertain that:
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