Managing Site Waste
Managing waste in an organised and safe way contributes to e ciency and sustainability. Storing rubbish and material waste unsafely contributes to the thousands of slips, trips, and falls that injure workers and cost employers in lost production.
Awareness of Hazards
Site wastes are environmental hazards for workers. Messy workspaces limit workers awareness of other risks and increase preventable accidents. Cluttered site access and blocked exits are critical risks in an emergency and are illegal under the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015).
Understanding Risks
Waste, liquids, and debris create slip, trip, and fall risks and can conceal other objects that can injure workers. Clear access and egress are critical for emergency evacuations and emergency responses.
Cluttered sites prevent free access for mobile work platforms and equipment which encourages unsafe practices. Accumulated rubbish and waste (e.g. timber o cuts) are flammable and increase fire risks – especially toxic materials.
Unnecessary waste and poor disposal impact upon the natural environment and encourage vermin infestations creating biological risks. Hazardous waste (chemical hazards) is defined in the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations (2017). Hazardous waste can present risks of explosion, fire, oxidation, toxicity, and corrosion.
Safe behaviours are recycling, safely disposing of hazardous products, and segregating hazardous gases and liquids as per Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
Unsafe behaviours include disposing of hazardous waste in general rubbish.
Eliminate or Minimise Risks
Risk controls focus on either the hazard or the behaviour of workers and others.
Eliminate the hazard. Remove waste from site. Prefabrication of work off-site.
Substitute the hazard. Consider using less toxic materials.
Isolate the hazard. Clearly designated disposal areas for recyclable, non-recyclable, and hazardous waste. Secure storage for hazardous materials.
Use engineered modifications. Provide rubbish chutes.
Focusing on human behaviours include:
Administration of safe systems of work. Hazardous materials managed by a competent person. Checks, certs, and audits. Communication, cooperation, and coordination between PCBUs. Training and information for workers (e.g. SDS). Emergency response planning. Site inductions.
Personal protection equipment (PPE). Hardhats, footwear and gloves.
businesses are Site Safe members.
SiteWise members.
people trained every year.