Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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HSE publishes in-depth manual handling analysis on kerbside recyclables collection
Targets for reducing the volume of waste going to landfill have led to an increase in the processing of domestic waste in an attempt to reclaim recyclable materials. Manual sorting tasks can be conducted at the kerbside during waste collection and, if poorly designed, can create risks - hence the publication by the Health & Safety Executive of an in-depth analysis of the many types of equipment used and procedures followed.
This report describes research to better understand the kerbside collection and sorting methods currently employed by the waste industry and to determine how manual handling risks can best be reduced or controlled. Six detailed case studies are presented showing a range of vehicles and processes in operation.
Manual handing risks were influenced by both vehicle and waste collection container design and some encouraged poor handling approaches. The researchers make recommendations that the waste management industry capture the key features of best equipment design in a 'design principles' document that would form an industry benchmark for designers and customers and that the industry continues to seek to design-out manual handling risks before new waste collection vehicles enter widespread use.
Download a copy of the report: RR1141 - Comparative analysis of manual handling practices in kerbside collection of recyclable waste at:
20th June 2019