HealthandSafety Executive

Healthhazardsinthewasteand recyclingindustry
Introduction
ThisgoodpracticeguidancehasbeenproducedbytheHealthandSafety Executiveinconsultationwiththewasteandrecyclingindustryandhealth professionals. Itisforemployers,managersandsupervisorstohelpthemunderstand,removeor reducetheriskofillhealthassociatedwithhandlingwasteandrecyclablesduring collectionandsortingactivities(bothatthekerbsideandatmaterialsrecycling facilities(MRFs)).ThisdocumentsupportsthehealthpocketcardStaycleanstay healthy,1 whichprovideswasteandrecyclingworkerswithbasichealthinformation. Thisguidancedoesnotcoverhealthissuessuchasnoise,musculoskeletal disorders,drugs,alcoholandmentalhealth. Therisksassociatedwithyourparticularactivitiesandthemethodsofreducing thoserisksshouldbeidentifiedduringyourriskassessment.

Healthhazards
Illhealthfrompotentiallyhazardoussubstancescanoccurviafourroutes:
skincontact, especiallythroughcutsandabrasionsorthroughcontactwith

theeyesmucusmembrane;
injection throughsharpsinjuries; ingestion throughhandtomouthcontact(commonlyexperiencedwhen

eating,drinkingorsmoking);and
inhalation throughthelungs.

Healthhazardsthatmaybeencounteredinthecollectionandsortingofwasteand recyclablesinclude:
faecespresentinnappies,incontinencepadsandstomabags; animalwaste(includingstrawandhay)producedfromlittertrays,hutches,

pensetcofnormaldomesticpets; deadanimalcarcasses; rodentinfestations; hazardousliquidssuchaspaint,varnishesandcleaningproducts; carbatteries; bloodborneinfectiousmaterialwithinusedneedles/syringesanddrug/sex litter;and brokenglassandothersharpitems.

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Riskassessment
It isalegalrequirementforemployerstocarryoutariskassessmentoftheir activitiestoidentifywherecontrolmeasuresareneeded.Theassessmentprocess should:

identifythehazards; identifythosepotentiallyatrisk; assesstherisksfromthosehazards;and identifyareaswherecontrolmeasuresandsystemsofworkarenecessaryto controlthoserisks,sofarasisreasonablypracticable.

Discusshealthandsafetyissueswithyouremployeesandtheirsafety representatives;askiftheyhavecomeacrossanyhazardsyouhaventidentified. Theyknowwhatactuallygoesonandthelocationswheretheriskishighest(eg areaswheredirtyorusedneedlesmightbeencountered),andcanhelpdevelop practicalsolutionstoproblems.

Preventingorcontrollingtherisk
Youshouldpreventoreliminateexposuretohazardoussubstances.Wherethisis notreasonablypracticable,exposureshouldbeadequatelycontrolled. ControlofexposureshouldfollowthehierarchysetoutintheControlof SubstancesHazardoustoHealthRegulations2002(COSHH),ieuseengineering controls,workprocessesandsystemsofworkinpreferencetorelyingonpersonal protectiveequipment. Rememberthatalthoughausefuladditionalmeasure,vaccination/inoculationdoes notguaranteethatinfectionwillnotoccur.Aminorityofpeoplegainnoprotection, asthevaccinedoesnottriggeranimmuneresponse.Itisthelastlineofdefence forcollectionworkers,loadersandpickers. Someworkersmayalsoneedhealthsurveillance.Youroccupationalhealth professionalshouldbeabletoadvisewhensurveillanceisneededandhowit shouldbeimplemented.ContactHSEsInfolinefordetailsorseeTheEmployment MedicalAdvisoryServiceandyou HSE5.2 Yourcontrolmeasuresshouldbesupportedby:
clearinstructionsforthetask; trainingforallstaff(includingcasualandagencystaff)inoperationofthose

controlmeasures;
informationtomakeothersawareofpotentialdangers;and regularchecksandmonitoringtoensurethesystemisworkingasplannedand

isfollowed.

Controlmeasures
Employerscandoanumberofthingstomanagetheriskofillhealthintheirown workplaces.Considerthefollowingandadaptthemtoyourlocalcircumstancesto establishasafesystemofwork:
Workwithotheragenciestoreducetheriskatsource,egneedlereturn

schemes,guidanceforhouseholdersonhowtopresentwasteandrecyclables, dogfaecesbins,hazardouswastereturnschemesetc.
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Provideappropriateequipmentforthetask,eglitterpickingtongs,shovels,

ventilationequipment,sharpsboxes,containersandlighting.
Provideanduseappropriateprotectiveclothing,eggloves,safetybootsand

cutresistanttrousers.
Makesureoperatorsandtheirmanagersunderstandtherisksinvolvedthrough

properinformation,instruction,trainingandsupervisioncheckthey understandkeymessages. Promotegoodpersonalhygiene(thiswillsignificantlyreducetheriskofill health).Itisessentialthatworkerswashorcleantheirhandsbefore: eating; drinking; smoking; usingthephone; takingmedication; insertingcontactlenses; wearinggloves; usingthetoilet;or afterbecomingcontaminatedwithinfectedmaterial. Makesureworkersknowwhattodoifthereisaspillage,iftheybecome contaminatedoriftheyhandlecontaminatedmaterial. Makesureworkersknowwhatthereportingarrangementsare,shouldtheybe potentiallyexposedtoahazardoussubstance.

Personalhygiene
Goodpersonalhygieneisessentialtopreventillhealth.Providefacilitiesforworkers tomaintaineffectivehygiene.
Provideadequatehandwashingfacilities,includingmildsoapandtowelson

collectionvehicles.Cleansingwipesaloneshouldonlybeprovidedonvehicles wherethereisaminimalhealthriskofexposure.Avoidstrongorabrasive cleansersthatcancauseirritantdermatitis. Provideaneffectiveskincareprogrammetokeeptheskinmoisturised,iemild cleansers,cleantowelsandpreworkandafterworkskincreams.Barrier creamscanbeausefuladditiontotheskincareregimebecausetheymakeit easiertoremovecontamination.However,theyshouldnotbeusedasa substituteforsuitablegloves. Useyourriskassessmenttodecidewhichskincareregimeisappropriateforthe tasksyourworkerscarryoutanddrawupproceduresaccordingly.Makesureyour workersreceivesuitabletraining.

Healthsurveillance
Workers(includingagencyworkers)shouldbesubjecttoregularhandinspection. Thisislikelytoinclude:
Appointaresponsibleperson,suchasasupervisor,firstaiderorcrewleader,

tobetrainedbyanoccupationalhealthprofessionalonthesymptomsand signsofdermatitis.Setupasystemofperiodicskininspections. Carryoutregularinspections.Thelikelyriskofdermatitisfromtheworkwill determinethefrequencyofinspection,typicallyatleastmonthly. Trainworkerstorecogniseandreportrelevantsymptomsandsignsofillnessto theresponsibleperson. Arrangefornewworkerstohavetheirhandsandforearmsinspectedbefore theystartworktoestablishwhethertheyhaveanexistingcondition.

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Referworkerswithrelevantsymptomsorsignstoanoccupationalhealth

physicianwhoisfamiliarwiththerisksoftheprocessandtheprinciplesof healthsurveillance.

Healthhazardspresentinwasteandrecyclingprocesses
Thefollowinghazardscanbefoundinthewasteandrecyclingindustry.Specific controlmeasureswillvaryfromprocesstoprocessuseyourriskassessmentto identifythesecontrols. Dermatitisandskindiseases Causesofdermatitisandskindiseaseincludewetworkandcontactwith chemicalsordust,whichproducesanabrasiveeffectontheskinorremovesthe skinsnaturaloils,allowingtheskinsurfacetodryandcrack,especiallyonhands, wrists,elbowsandforearms.Fingersandthewebsbetweenthefingersarethe mostcommonlyaffectedpartsofthebody. Oftenworkerswithaskincomplaintfindtheproblemclearsupawayfromwork. Symptomscanincludeitching,roughordryskinandredness. Controlmeasures Contactwithwetmaterialisoftenunavoidable;protecthandsbywearing gloves.Handsshouldbethoroughlydriedafterwashingandbeforepullingon gloves. Infectiousdiseases Bacteriaandviruses Bacteriaandvirusesaninfectthebodyiftheyare breathedin,swallowed,or penetratetheskinifitispuncturedwithcontaminatedsharpsorbrokenglass.They canalsocauseallergicreactions.Potentiallyvulnerableworkerscanincludeloaders handlingwasteandrecyclablesandpickershandsortingatconveyorbeltsor MRFs.Driversandcrewdischargingloadsatsortingstationsortipsandstaff employedatandworkingclosetodischargingvehiclesmaybeexposedtohigh levelsofdustthatmightcontainmicroorganisms. Controlmeasures Considerinstallingproperfiltrationincollectionvehiclecabstoprovidegood airqualityfordriversandcrew(ridinginthecab).Makesurefiltersare changedinaccordancewiththemanufacturersinstructions. Sprinklersystemsaroundthetipcanreducedustemissionsduringtipping operations.Theareaaroundpitsshouldbekeptclean(takingintoaccount thenatureofthematerialandactivity).Avoiddrybrushingbyusingvacuum cleanerstoremovedustaccumulationfromfloorsandledges. Tetanus Tetanuscanbecausedbysharpobjects,suchaswoodshards,nails,metaletc penetratingtissue.Symptomsincludeexaggeratedreflexes,musclerigidityand uncontrolledmusclespasms(lockjaw).ImmunisationisavailablefreefromGPs regardlessofworkplacerisk.

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Controlmeasures Removenailsfromtimberandavoidwalkingonwasteorrecyclableloads andpiles.Wearprotectiveshoes,bootsorclothing.Encourageworkersto keepvaccinationsuptodate,egbyperiodicreminderswithpaynotifications. Leptospirosis(Weilsdisease) Leptospirosisisawaterborneinfectionassociatedwithrats.Symptomsinclude fever,headache,vomitingandmusclepainitcanleadtojaundice,meningitisand kidneyfailure.SeeLeptospirosis:Areyouatrisk?3 Controlmeasures Wearsuitableprotectivegloves,shoes,boots,trousers, and/orclothing. Avoidhandlingbagsandotherreceptaclesaccessibletoratswithouthand andforearmprotection.Washhandsafterhandlinganycontaminated clothingormaterialandalwaysbeforeeating,drinkingorsmoking. Toxocariasis Toxocariasisisaroundwormparasitethatcanenterthebodybyhandtomouth contactwithcatanddogfaecesorcontaminatedmaterial.Followingingestion,the eggshatchandthelarvaemigratetotheliver,lungs,eyesandbrain. Controlmeasures Askhouseholderstosecurelybagorwrappetfaecesandlitter.Good personalhygieneisthekeyhereandtheneed(andfacility)forloadersto washtheirhandsincasesofcontaminationorleakageandbeforeeating, drinking,smokingetcisessential. HIVandhepatitisB HIVandhepatitisBarebloodbornevirusesacquiredbythetransferofbodyfluids fromaninfectedpersontothebodyfluidsoftherecipient,egbyneedlestickinjury. Refuseandrecyclingcollectioninvolvingplasticbags,handsortingmaterialinto kerbsidecollectionvehiclesandfromMRFpickinglinesorconveyorbelts,and streetlitterpickingaretaskswherethereisapotentialforinjury.Unlesstherisk assessmentclearlyindicatesthatthereisnoriskofthis,thenitisreasonableto considerofferinghepatitisBimmunisation.Noimmunisationisavailabletoprotect againstHIV. TreatmentforhepatitisBismosteffectivewhengivenwithinafewhoursofthe injury.Whereriskexists,youshouldidentifydirectaccesstreatmentclinicssothat a workercanattendtheclinicfollowinganeedlestickinjury(oftenviacasualty). HepatitisBmaycauseacuteinflammationoftheliver(hepatitis),whichmaybelife threatening;however,acarriermayshownosymptomsatall. Controlmeasures Providesharpsboxesandpincertools,tongs,litterpickers,tweezersora dustpanandhandbrushforpickingupneedles.Considerreplacingbag collectionswithrigidreceptacleswherepracticable,asthesecanreduce sharpsinjuries.

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Provideproperinformation,trainingandsupervisionsothatyourworkers understandtherisks.Theyneedtoknowwhytheyshouldtakeextra precautionsandcareifcollectingfromknowndruguserandlitterareas,and knowandfollowyourorganisationsprocedures.Somelocalauthoritieshave druglittercollectionteamsthatoperateonacalloutbasis. Schemesthatencouragethesafedisposalofusedneedlesamongdrug users,managementofvulnerableandknownareasfordrugabuseand awarenessraisingamongresidentscanhelpensureneedlesarenot encounteredunexpectedly.SeeDefrasadviceinTacklingdrugrelatedlitter: Guidanceandgoodpractice.4 HepatitisA HepatitisAistransferredbyingestionofinfectedfaecalmaterial.Thisoftenoccurs viacontaminatedwater. Controlmeasures Providehygienefacilities,informationandtraining.Personalhygieneis essential,includingwashinghandsbeforeeating,drinking,smokingand before/afterusingtoilets. Immunisationcanbeoffered. Encouragehouseholderstosecurelywrapfaecalmatter(petwasteandlitter) beforeplacingitindomesticwaste.Considerrunningawarenesscampaigns amonghouseholderstoraisetheseissuesseeHSEswastemanagement website.5 Fungiandmoulds Fungiandmouldsare likelytobefoundindampareas,onorganicmaterialor naturallyoccurringinsoil.Theyarewidelyfoundintheenvironmentandcancause infectionandallergy,suchasfarmerslung,ifsporesarebreathedin.SeeGreen wastecollection:Healthissues.6 Salmonellosis Salmonellosiscanbecausedbyvariousspeciesofthebacteriasalmonellaandis transmittedbyhandtomouthcontactwithfaecesorcontaminatedmaterial, resultingindiarrhoea,vomitingandfever. Controlmeasures Providehandwashingfacilities.Goodpersonalhygieneisessential,including makingsurethathandsarewashedbeforeeating,drinkingandsmoking. Scrotalcancer Canbecausedbymineraloils,typicallyusedengineoil,comingintocontactwith theworkersscrotumviasoiledhandsandimpregnatedclothing. Controlmeasures Providecleanclothingandwashingfacilitiesforsoiledworkclothing.Good personalhygieneisessentialandworkersshouldwashtheirhandsbefore andafterusingtoilets.
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Referencesandfurtherreading
References 1 Staycleanstayhealthy.Lookingafteryourhealthinthewaste/recycling industry PocketcardINDG415HSEBooks2007(singlecopyfreeorpricedpacks of25ISBN9780717662623) 2 TheEmploymentMedicalAdvisoryServiceandyou LeafletHSE5(rev1)HSE Books2000Webonlyversionavailableatwww.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse5.pdf 3 Leptospirosis:Areyouatrisk?PocketcardINDG84HSEBooks1990(single copyfreeorpricedpacksof20ISBN9780717625468) www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg84.pdf 4 Tacklingdrugrelatedlitter:GuidanceandgoodpracticeDefra2005 www.defra.gov.uk 5 HSEswastemanagementwebsite:www.hse.gov.uk/waste

6 Greenwastecollection:HealthissuesWaste02HSE2007 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/waste02.pdf Furtherreading A stepbystepguidetoCOSHHassessmentHSG97(Secondedition)HSEBooks 2004ISBN9780717627851 HandlingneedlesinthewasteandrecyclingindustryWaste19HSE2007 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/waste19.pdf Fivestepstoriskassessment LeafletINDG163(rev2)HSEBooks2006(singlecopy freeorpricedpacksof10ISBN9780717661893) www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf Incidentatwork?FlyerMISC769HSEBooks2007 www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc769.pdf Householdersawarenessraisingexercise:www.hse.gov.uk/waste/campaign.htm andwww.hse.gov.uk/waste/communicating.htm Bloodbornevirusesintheworkplace:Guidanceforemployersandemployees LeafletINDG342HSEBooks2001(singlecopyfreeorpricedpacksof10ISBN 978 0 717620623)www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg342.pdf Workingwithsewage: ThehealthhazardsAguideforemployees Pocketcard INDG197HSEBooks1995www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg197.pdf HSEwebsite:www.hse.gov.uk Skinatwork:www.hse.gov.uk/skin/index.htm Typesofskindisease:www.hse.gov.uk/skin/diseases/index.htm Temperatureworkinginhotandcoldenvironments: www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/factors.htm Wastemanagement:www.hse.gov.uk/waste

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Furtherinformation
HSEpricedandfreepublicationsareavailablebymailorderfromHSEBooks,
POBox1999,Sudbury,SuffolkCO102WATel:01787881165Fax:01787313995
Website:www.hsebooks.co.uk(HSEpricedpublicationsarealsoavailablefrom
bookshopsandfreeleafletscanbedownloadedfromHSEswebsite:
www.hse.gov.uk.)
ForinformationabouthealthandsafetyringHSEsInfolineTel:08453450055
Fax:08454089566Textphone:08454089577email:hse.infoline@natbrit.comor
writetoHSEInformationServices,CaerphillyBusinessPark,CaerphillyCF833GG.
Thisdocumentcontainsnotesongoodpracticewhicharenotcompulsory butwhichyoumayfindhelpfulinconsideringwhatyouneedtodo. Thisdocumentisavailablewebonlyat:www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/waste15.pdf. Crowncopyright Thispublicationmaybefreelyreproduced,exceptfor advertising,endorsementorcommercialpurposes.Firstpublished10/07.Please acknowledgethesourceasHSE.

PublishedbytheHealthandSafetyExecutive

Waste15

10/07

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