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#1 Posted : 14 February 2008 17:38:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kris
Can anyone suggest which is the safest way to handle domestic wheelie bins over kerbs (i.e. where there is no dropped kerb) from a manual handling perspective -

Pulling it?

or

Pushing it?
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#2 Posted : 14 February 2008 19:01:00(UTC)
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Posted By Alan Nicholls
Kris
From a manual handling point of view, it is far better to push the wheelie bin for 2 reasons.

1. you have more control of the bin as it passes over and down the kerb, if the contents of the bin are unstable the bin is loaded top heavy, the natural action of the bin will be to fall away from the operator,landing flat on its base.
2. it is much safer to be looking in the direction of travel.
If your operator pulls a heavy bin off the kerb it will tip towards him /her, which may result in injury.
Regards Alan N
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#3 Posted : 14 February 2008 19:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By alex mccreadie
I would suggest you go out with the boys that use them and see what they think. I have carried out the exercise and our boys liked to pull the full ones of the kerb and again pull them back up on to the kerb. That worked for them but they were Bristolian,s (Joke) but this may not work for everyone.

Good Luck
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#4 Posted : 15 February 2008 08:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mitch
Push down pull up! Pull down and potentially damage wheels/axle, push up, impossible.
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#5 Posted : 15 February 2008 08:13:00(UTC)
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Posted By Brigham
Makes me wonder why I got involved in H&S in the first place...
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#6 Posted : 15 February 2008 08:26:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mitch
To help people, we can't all be perfect, or just to practise being disparaging and sanctimonious
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#7 Posted : 15 February 2008 10:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By Brigham
Why so defensive and personal Mitch, can we no longer pass comment without fear of repercussion?
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#8 Posted : 15 February 2008 10:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tabs
now, now, play nicely :-)

anyone posting comment is likely to get one back. nice or nasty, that's what forums seem to consist of.

Constructive comments hardly ever get nasty comments - sarchy, or rhetoric quips often do.

If you post a comment like that, expect some flak ... it's not a new forum and there are lots of examples you must have read by now?

(Tabs now ducks and watches things thrown whistle over his head, lol)
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#9 Posted : 15 February 2008 11:00:00(UTC)
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Posted By Brigham
Nice one Tabs and I fully agree. However, if my post offended, it is that, that should have attracted comment, not me personally...
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#10 Posted : 15 February 2008 11:32:00(UTC)
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Posted By Pete48
Why anybody gets wheelie offended on these fowums escapes me. I bin reading and posting for years and have rubbished stuff and been rubbished. Keep the lid on it I say.
I'm with Mitch; Push down, pull up. Works for most things in life actually. Socks, bicycle pumps, Friday posts??

have a good weekend
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#11 Posted : 15 February 2008 11:36:00(UTC)
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Posted By Tabs
Pete48: You must get the 2008 (1st quarter) award for worst puns! Well done! Take the money and go and get trashed!
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#12 Posted : 15 February 2008 11:57:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mitch
Pet48 And pants! With that I'm off to the pub, the joys of working in textiles!!!
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#13 Posted : 15 February 2008 12:08:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Some sound advice above as I would expect on this Forum.
A problem arises when the Local Authority issues all households with a letter (As many have) requesting that on collection day all bins are to be presented at the kerb side with the handles facing out onto the road - entirely incorrect presentation from a Manual Handling pov!!!!
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#14 Posted : 15 February 2008 12:22:00(UTC)
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Posted By John-Mark
LAs request that householders position their bins with the handles facing outwards
because the bin needs to face this way to be loaded correctly on to the lorry.

JM
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#15 Posted : 15 February 2008 13:26:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Respectfully John-Mark, your reply does not justify the rationale of how bins are to be presented at the kerb.

The issue being discussed is how best to protect from injury those who have the task of emptying the bins.

Accessing the bin from the footpath and dropping it down the kerb onto the road (as opposed to pulling it) is being suggested here as a safer way of getting the bin from the footpath to the vehicle. This advice accords with that from the HSE and other informed sources.
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#16 Posted : 15 February 2008 13:31:00(UTC)
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Posted By Fornhelper
As an aside I would be interested in what forum contributors think about this scenario:

LA advise tenants / property owners that wheelie bins are to be left at kerbside. To get bins from house to kerbside tenant / owner has to transport said bin (full and heavy) down 2 flights of stairs (stairs on public pathway not in own property). Said tenant / owner hurts back whilst doing so.

Would tenant / owner be in a position to lodge claim for injury as LA did not provide safe method of doing so?

We have a potential claim along these lines and would be interested in any views

FH
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#17 Posted : 15 February 2008 13:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By John-Mark
In reply to Ron's posting:

I agree entirely Ron, I was merely explaining why the bins have to face outwards.

I'm aware of the HSE's guidance, and would agree with it, but I've never seen a refuse collector pushing a loaded wheelie bin to the lorry, so presumably the guidance is not being passed on to the operatives.
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#18 Posted : 15 February 2008 14:09:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ali
Push -v- pull ? I think as long as you can see where you're going does it really matter ? The load is on wheels anyway, so frictional force is easily overcome at point of contact (not the same as dragging). What is important is slips & trips that might arise as a result of poor visibility.
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#19 Posted : 15 February 2008 14:16:00(UTC)
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Posted By alex mccreadie
Lots of lovely posts again. Move on to this scenario "push the bin of the kerb as the wheels drop they hit the flat kerb stone which is an inch or two below the tarmac oops then hit the raised tarmac "

Loads of kerbs and roads are like that.

Manual handle exercise your way out of that one.

As I stated earlier what works for one might not work for another, this means in different roads, towns and cities?

Pulling leaves you in more control.

"Have you ever tried pushing a length of rope"

Have a nice weekend I am just of to read LOLER again. I know an elbow is not covered it says so but I have a Total Knee replacement which makes it mechanical. I know PUWER covers it but I am not sure if I need a Thorough examination through LOLER regs. (Sorry Bruce still think I am right about the Multi Gym)
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#20 Posted : 15 February 2008 14:19:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kris
Wow! What a response. There's a whole new science here - wheelie bin mechanics.
Thanks all.

Can anyone tell me where I can find the HSE advice relating to handling wheelie bins - document name/number?
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#21 Posted : 15 February 2008 14:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By John-Mark
Kris,

just type "Refuse Collection" into the search box on HSE web site, and you'll get a whole raft of stuff there.
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