Health and Safety

>> Guidance from the Environment Agency on the use of dirty wood waste for animal bedding.

Guidance from the Environment Agency on the use of wood waste as animal bedding. The EA have been working with the wood waste sector to ensure consistency of regulation across, reduce the potentiality of harm to livestock and minimize the subsequent contamination of land.

>> New inquiry launched on green finance

The Environmental Audit Committee is today launching a new inquiry into Green Finance. This inquiry follows on from the Committee's previous inquiries on a green economy, environmental taxes and environmental aspects of Autumn Statement 2012. The Committee held a joint seminar with the City of London on green finance to help scope this inquiry.

>> Bolton recycling firm sentenced after worker crushed

Whilst this report does not relate directly to the organic waste industry it is an example of how accidents can happen and the need for all staff to be mindfull of the need to follow proceedures

>> European Commission starts review of waste management and recycling targets

The European Commission has started a review of the legally-binding targets set out in the Waste Framework Directive, the Landfill Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.

>> Effects of chemical fertiliser and animal manure on soil health compared

Fertilising crops with cattle manure can lead to better soil quality than when synthetic fertiliser is used, recent research indicates. The use of cattle manure in the study led to greater soil fertility by encouraging higher microbial activity, and the researchers suggest that it could potentially improve soilâ��s ability to cope with periods of difficult growing conditions.

ORG launches health & safety consultants’ scheme.

Organics Recycling Group has launched a health & safety consultants scheme. The scheme which is managed by ORG will see Business Health Partnership (BHP) and Chrestomatics offering substantial discounts to ORG members using their consultancy services.

Revised Guidance on the Safe Use of Lift Trucks

It is almost certain that many of our members use lift trucks around their sites. This revised guidance on operator training from the HSE will help site operators and managers facilitate the safe use of these trucks on their sites.

ORG Health and Safety News Letter

The ORG Health & Safety News Letter featuring accident and incident reports from the final quarter of 2012

Is health surveillance required in my workplace?

Composting is a natural process that relies on the actions of micro-organisms, the process will release dust & bio-aerosols, which represent potential health hazards. Whilst good health & safety practice should mean that steps are taken to protect workers from exposure to these hazards it must be assumed that there will be a residual risk arising from these hazards.

Using Work Equipment Safely.

Every year there are numerous incidents arising from the incorrect use of work equipment. This guidance seeks to reduce the risk of these accidents.

The need for waste management a salutary lesson.

Planning for waste management was neglected on this project leading to an explosion and injuries to workers. Employers should remember that they are responsible for the safety and actions of their employees.

A consultation on the proposed removal of the requirement for the HSE to approve first aid training and qualifications, .

CD248 – A consultation on the proposed removal of the requirement for the Health and Safety Executive to approve first aid training and qualifications, a review of the Approved Code of Practice and the content of associated guidance.

Consultation published on proposals to simplify and clarify RIDDOR reporting requirements

HSE is consulting on proposals to simplify and clarify the reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences.

Supervisor and team leader competence in roadside waste and recycling collection activities.

Despite some improvement over the last five years, the health and safety performance of the waste and recycling industry remains poor in comparison to other industries. Collection activities represent one of the most hazardous activities associated with the industry, with approximately 80% of accidents occurring during collection of household and trade waste.

Improving Cabin Air Quality for Plant Operatives

This guidance has been written by AfOR member BMAir to provide information for site & company health & safety managers on how to reduce the risk to site personnel in respect of cabin air quality when operatives spend prolonged or frequent periods of time in mobile plant.

Statistics on Fatal Injuries in the Workplace 2011/12

HSE statistics on fatal injuries in the workplace. The addition of provisional data for the period April 2011 - March 2012 suggests a levelling-off in the previous downward trend in the rate of fatal injuries, over the last four years. The key points from the release are:

Health and Safety Issues Relatiing to Transport Operations Associated with Waste Collection

Transport operations associated with collection activities (municipal and commercial) and at a range of waste management and recycling sites represent the most significant risk of serious or fatal accidents to workers and members of the public. ‘Struck by moving vehicle’ accounts for about only 4% of all reported accidents, however, over 40% of all fatalities fall within this category.

Outdoor working

When working outdoors the weather can have an effect on an individual's effectiveness and this is not readily managed using just engineering controls. In these circumstances some of the most effective ways of managing these environments is by introducing some simple administrative controls for example:

Kent waste company fined after worker loses arm

A waste and recycling company has been fined £10,000 for safety failings after a worker lost most of his arm on an unguarded conveyor system at a site in Kent.

Recycling firm fined after worker crushed to death

An Ystrad Mynach recycling firm has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a yard foreman was crushed to death. Norman Mayne (56) from Newport died after he became trapped between a container and a skip at Amber Services Ltd's recycling yard at Dyffryn Business Park on 25 June 2008.

Health risk management: A practical guide for managers in SME’s

Guidance for the managers of SME's on health risk controls

Asbestos health and safety

Asbestos is the greatest cause of work related death in the UK. Every week there are at least 20 asbestos related deaths. This section of the HSE website gives advice on the control of asbestos

Health and Safety FAQs

This site provides answers to numerous frequently asked questions in the area of health & safety.

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) Change – 6 April 2012

From 6 April 2012, subject to Parliamentary approval, RIDDOR’s over three day injury reporting requirement will change. From then on the trigger point will increase from over three days’ to over seven days’ incapacitation (not counting the day on which the accident happened).

Health and safety in the plastics industry.

This area of the HSE website should provide help and advice for our members in the packaging industry.

HSE Advice on Manual Handling

Musculoskeletal disorders are a major source of injuries within the workplace. These injuries can be caused by manual handling. This area of the HSE website gives advice on avoiding these injuries.

Health & Safety Advice on the Servicing of Motor Vehicles

Guidance from the HSE on safe working practices in vehicle maintenance.

Infections at Work

This article links to a HSE website giving advice on the control of infections. Since the composting industry produces dust and bio-aerosols that represent hazards to health this site should prove interest to many in the organics recycling industry. The site has a section dedicated to the waste management industry.

HSE Guidance on School Trips to a High Risk Site

A report by the HSE on the management of school trips to high risk sites. Whilst a sawmill is not directly part of the organics industry there are many parallels between the Sawmill site and sites within the organics recycling industry.

Workers Exposure to Dust & Endotoxins at Composting Sites Case Study

This research characteries compost workers’ exposure to dust, endotoxin and β-(1–3) glucan during various operational practices and investigate whether dust concentrations are a useful indicator of endotoxin exposure in compost workers.

The study used 88 ambient air tests and 117 personal air tests. Results showed that there was an increased exposure to endotoxins even when dust levels were within legal limits. The research noted a significant correlation between dust levels and personal endotoxin concentrations and indicated personal inhalable dust levels may be a predictor of endotoxin concentrations.