The comment came from Paul Thornber, Veolia health and safety manager, who was speaking at a recent HSE and ESA conference in London on improving health and safety in the waste management industry safety.
Mr Thornber said that 25% of accidents involving commercial waste at premises where Veolia provided a service were “due entirely” to workplace conditions.
Citing a lack of control on customer premises as a prime cause, he urged the business sector to join the waste industry in addressing the poor record He added: “It's a problem that needs ownership by waste management companies, their customers and collection operatives.”
Mr Thornber added that sites he had visited had empty bins, sometimes with rubbish strewn on the floor. One bin was even turned upside down.
He said: “Because we are a service industry we go the extra mile. But if you pick up littered waste for six days, is it any wonder manual handling is high up the accident statistics?”
Protection
Mr Thornber said that businesses needed to protect waste workers in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which compels businesses to protect non-employees.
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Veolia is currently drawing up an open letter, information poster and waste bin sticker to remind customers to put the right waste in the right bins, provide clear access to receptacles, and engender safety.
However, Mr Thornber did not shy away from the responsibility of the waste industry in addressing its own poor safety record. He suggested that waste operatives should be given cards to fill in detailing their safety concerns, to improve communication. He said: “All of us, let's get things right at the start.”
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