Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
marillionfan  
#1 Posted : 06 January 2010 10:58:49(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
marillionfan

Just wondering if anyone has any views/experiences on cancelling waste collection services (bins) during these adverse weather conditions.
Canopener  
#2 Posted : 06 January 2010 11:35:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Canopener

I am afraid that I don't think that there is any definitive answer, each Council or contractor has to make their own judgement, depending on such things as the local conditions, reports from crews, observations from supevisors and the accident 'experience' an the effect that the disruption would have on public health issues etc etc.

So far we have found that we have been able to keep the service going albeit, it is taking quite a bit longer and some rounds have not always been completed. We have had a few slips reported and one of those has resulted in suspected broken ribs and this has been reported under RIDDOR. We keep the situation under constant review and will cancel some or all collections if we have to depending on the conditions etc mentioned above.

I understand that on one day last week we had 350 calls from customers variously complaining that bins had been collected late, the following day or not at all. I understand that some calls were quite abusive. Is it me?

marillionfan  
#3 Posted : 06 January 2010 11:43:07(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
marillionfan

Thanks Phil for sharing your experiences. We have cancelled here and will now get the inevitable backlash from the public and members. Our guys are still emptying traditional bins which to mind increases the risk.
Canopener  
#4 Posted : 06 January 2010 12:27:58(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Canopener

Marillion - I see you are in the Midlands, so the decision to cancel seems entirely reasonable to me having watched some of the conditions on the news this morning. I do find the public backlash curious at times.
Ciarán Delaney  
#5 Posted : 07 January 2010 21:54:56(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

"I do find the public backlash curious at times."

Phil,

I totally agree with your post. A scenario arose in Dublin yesterday, where all bus services were suspended and a poster on an Irish forum made a comment about "overzealous Health and Safety" being responsible for the decision.

He did, in fairness, eat humble pie after he tried to drive home later and admitted he was out of order.

I find your posting style refreshing, Thanks for making the forum so interesting and entertaining whilst also being informative.
Canopener  
#6 Posted : 08 January 2010 07:54:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Canopener

Ciaran

Thank you for the compliment. We haven't been hit as hard as many other areas (so far) but driving and walking around off the main routes (which have been well 'serviced' by the 'County') especially for bin collections, has been 'tricky' and we also suspended collections yesterday. I am now heading to the depot for a regular meeting to see how it is all going. Not really anything more in the way of snow, but the untreated minor roads make for an 'intersting' journey!

Keep smiling
grim72  
#7 Posted : 08 January 2010 08:23:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
grim72

Similarly I was listening to Talksport yesterday lunchtime and they were having a real go at H&S professionals for the postponement of football matches because of the conditions of the surrounding areas. I must admit I have risen an eyebrow or two when Ive seen perfectly good pitches unplayed because of this reason, however I went to the Sunderland match on Boxing Day and can see the reasoning behind these decisions.

We park about a 10 minute walk from the stadium and the approach roads tothe stadium that we walked past/over were literally like ice rinks (about 2 inches of solid polished ice) which we could hardly keep our feet on (never mind the cars).

I think it's easy to criticise decisions when you are not there to see the reasoning for yourself. Hence the reason the media take advantage to get the calls coming in.
Hally  
#8 Posted : 08 January 2010 08:48:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Hally

We've not had a collection for almost 3 weeks, nothing to do with the snow / ice or christmas as our collection day wasn't a bank holiday.

And this is in Liverpool City Centre, thinking of sliding 5 minutes to the council offices later on and dumping the rubbish on their steps...
LARRYL  
#9 Posted : 08 January 2010 08:54:21(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
LARRYL

Grim72, I was also at that match and agree the roads and paths across from the ground were treacherous but as long as the stadium walkways and roads are safe then hopefully this weeks game should be ok. I wonder what sort of area around the stadium those in charge look at before deciding its not safe for spectators to attend and call the game off.
Hally  
#10 Posted : 08 January 2010 08:57:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Hally

LARRYL wrote:
Grim72, I was also at that match and agree the roads and paths across from the ground were treacherous but as long as the stadium walkways and roads are safe then hopefully this weeks game should be ok. I wonder what sort of area around the stadium those in charge look at before deciding its not safe for spectators to attend and call the game off.


I would assume it depends on all the main access routes into the area. Slightly easier for Stadium of Light these days i suppose, Roker would have been more difficult.

Dreading to see what the roads around Anfield are like on sunday for our match, and i'm only getting the bus up there.
grim72  
#11 Posted : 08 January 2010 09:28:17(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
grim72

Apparantly ours is the most likely to be called off this weekend (because of the surrounding areas). I'm not sure who is involved in the decision making process, is it the club, the council, the police or a combination of all 3? I would imagine the club would only be responsible for the ground and car parks etc which are always fine.

I know it is only radio talk but I do find it interesting, another topic covered with venom yesterday was that some council had told waste collectors (can we no longer say binmen?) that they were not allowed to take bins with their lids not fully closed because of H&S reasons - danger of rubbish falling out of the gap.

It is probably stories like this that get the publi'c back up more than the fact taht they are unable to collect - both being tarred with a H&S brush means that we will take the flak.
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.