The Waste Industry Health and Safety (WISH) Forum has crafted this guidance to mitigate safety and health risks inherent in the waste and recycling sector, specifically focusing on the operation of household waste recycling centres (HWRCs). This updated version now includes managing Health and Safety at Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) Civic Amenity (CA) Sites
HWRC/CA sites have long been integral to waste and recycling management in GB. Originally conceived as facilities for the public, and sometimes trade clients, to dispose of materials not typically collected at kerbsides or excess household waste, their scope has evolved. Initially accommodating bulky items, garden waste, rubble, and domestic appliances, these centres now handle a broader array of materials, including certain hazardous wastes like waste oil, automotive batteries, and gas cylinders. Moreover, HWRCs stand out as they are accessible to the general public, a characteristic uncommon in most waste management facilities.
More information on this guidance can be found here
This safety alert is directed towards organisations in the waste and recycling sector that operate vehicles equipped with hydraulically operated rear doors, hatches, or body sections. It comes in response to a tragic incident involving a fatal accident where an individual was working beneath the top-hinged hydraulically powered rear door of a road sweeper. The failure of the door mechanism resulted in it abruptly closing, leading to fatal crush injuries. The content of this alert is also relevant to other waste vehicles featuring hydraulically operated components that pose a similar risk. Examples include the top-hinged rear door of a walking-floor bulk waste trailer and the raising rear body section found on most refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) and similar vehicles.
In March 2023, WISH released a position statement addressing the safe utilisation of RCV (refuse collection vehicle – bin lorry) bin-lift equipment in automatic mode. This fact sheet, issued in January 2024 by WISH, builds upon the aforementioned statement, incorporating advancements since its issuance. It is expected that this sheet will undergo revisions and updates as additional developments arise. Primarily directed at users of RCV bin-lifting equipment with automatic functionality, designers, manufacturers, and suppliers may also find the information valuable.
The Guidance can be found here.