As the drive to maximise the amount of household recyclable waste gathers momentum, regular roadside glass waste collections now take place across the UK.
A detailed risk assessment must be carried out by those that are engaged in the process of recycling with specific attention to noise for those involved with roadside glass collections
Sarah Broadbent, 3M
However, this activity presents potentially significant occupational health and safety risks to those employees involved in the collection and handling processes.
As a whole, the waste and recycling industry has nine times more fatal accidents than the national average with four times as many workers suffering injuries (figures according to HSE). As a result the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in consultation with the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH), has created some new guidance to help managers safely manage and reduce the potential risks posed by kerbside glass collection.
For those with the responsibility of managing the health and safety of roadside collection, legal duties are imposed by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, where measures have to be implemented to eliminate or minimise risks from noise and reduce the potential noise exposure to the lowest reasonable practicable level.
Where a daily personal noise exposure exceeds the upper action value of 85 decibels (dB), employers have to use organisational or technical control measures which may also include the use of hearing protection.
Guidance
Guidance from the HSE highlights noise levels taken from various field events and shows that it is common for levels to exceed 87dB. It is at this level that immediate action must be taken to reduce noise on a permanent basis.
A detailed risk assessment must be carried out by those that are engaged in the process of recycling with specific attention to noise for those involved with roadside glass collections.
Some factors affecting the level of noise are:
– manual tipping of glass items;
– collection to metal troughs on side loader vehicle;
– collection to ‘slave' wheeled bins (glass only).
There is a difference in noise levels depending on the working methods used. For example, the noise exposure is generally greater for fast depositing methods than for slow depositing methods.
After consideration of the measures to control and reduce the risks to noise exposure – such as alternative working methods, modifications to glass collecting equipment and work rotation – personal protective equipment (PPE) in the form of hearing protection may need to be provided.
This will be required if the action or limit values set out by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations have been exceeded.
Protective equipment
Hearing protective equipment (HPE) must be given with instruction, information and training, and although it is provided to protect the wearer, it does not come without its own risks.
Choosing the right type of hearing protection is essential as over-attenuation could increase the risk to the worker by masking important roadside sounds.
HPE is available in many different types ranging from earplugs, banded and corded plugs through to passive earmuffs and more advanced electronic ear muffs. Consideration should be given to products with level dependency which are designed to shut out high impact noise but also amplify low level sounds, so as not to isolate the worker from conversation or surrounding sounds.
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