Damming research was published yesterday by the HSE which showed that around 4,000 accidents are reported by the waste industry each year, or approximately 2,500 per 100,000 workers. This is nearly five times the national average accident rate, and the fatal incident rate of 10 in 100,000 is ten times the national average.
James Barrett, head of the HSE's Manufacturing Sector, said: “These rates are unacceptable for a major industry, such as the waste sector. This is a growing, dynamic and innovative industry which has to rise to the challenge presented by the figures and reduce the appalling human and financial cost to the industry.”
” This is a growing, dynamic and innovative industry which has to rise to the challenge presented by the figures and reduce the appalling human and financial cost to the industry.“
– James Barrett, head of HSE Manufacturing Sector The research, conducted by Bomel Limited, was based on 2001/02 figures and revealed that incidents were mainly reported from refuse or recycling collection crews manually sorting the waste.
With around 160,000 workers employed in the waste industry, growing by an estimated 45,000 extra jobs by 2010, the HSE is keen for the sector to tackle this poor safety record.
Paul Harvey, HSE principal inspector for waste and recycling, said: “This research comes at a time when the industry is changing rapidly and flags up the need to properly assess and control the risks created by new and emerging collection and processing systems.”
The HSE now plans to work with the waste industry, particularly the public sector, to promote better standards through intermediaries and trading associations.
Mr Harvey said: “Handling of bags, wheelie bins and skips feature strongly in accident reports submitted to HSE. Evidence also shows an increasing number of reports associated with collecting and sorting waste for recycling, these are areas the industry needs to work on now and in the future.”
A spokesman for the Environmental Services Association said: “Private sector operators recognise that historically we could do better. Four years ago ESA began its own accident reduction initiative and we are expecting very shortly to launch further activities with the Health and Safety Executive.”
The HSE report, Mapping health and safety standards in the UK waste industry, can be downloaded from the HSE website.
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