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Gasman  
#1 Posted : 29 January 2020 11:37:01(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Gasman

On my way to work I saw a bin lorry and men loading bins into lorry on busy road. The men obvioulsy running around behind lorry and in traffic from one side of the road to the other. I was thinking that the poor H&S person involved in the RAMS for this must have had a busy time trying to control all the risks. The obvious risks would be manual handling and traffic. I would find it really interesting if anyone has ever come across a set of RAMS for this task just out of curiosity really.

aud  
#2 Posted : 29 January 2020 13:15:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
aud

Gasman - are there 'RAMS' - no probably not, I have never come across them within council services.

RAMS is shorthand for risk assessment / method statement.a particular construct of the construction industry, and organisations who service or work for this sector, which seems to have infiltrated other areas, - despite no reference to the term RAMS on the HSE website. 

However, there will be safe work procedures, derived from the guidance from the WISH - the Waste Industry Safety & Health - forum. This group works closely with the HSE. Search for 'Waste' in HSE site to find all you ever need to know about waste, recycling and collections, plus things you never even thought of, for the curious - as you are.

Waste authorities or companies tend to also develop 'route risk assessment' to supplement any general guidance - WISH 04 on street collections is 46 pages long, although lots of diagrams. 

The H&S person will probably guide management to use WISH protocols as much as possible, but is not responsible for controlling all the risks, and may not even be involved in the route risk assessment process as it is primarily operational.

The waste collection function is driven by cost, always has been, and it is not uncommon to see deviations from WISH guidance or in-house procedures. The monitoring of H&S compliance on routes is a key priority for HSE, as this is where theory meets reality and fails.

Having said all that, there are relatively few catastrophic incidents out on the routes, mainly down to the street savvy operatives. Manual handling is less of a risk (nowadays) than you might think, although musculoskeletal injuries are now more subtle than the old back injury. Slips & trips, and being struck by wheelie bins - even falling from the vehicle clamps - are more significant. Also there is a risk to others from these activities, especiallythe reversing of trucks.

thanks 2 users thanked aud for this useful post.
Dazzling Puddock on 29/01/2020(UTC), Gasman on 30/01/2020(UTC)
RayRapp  
#3 Posted : 29 January 2020 15:19:22(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp

Refuse collectors do have health and safety training, RAs and route planning. Part of the route planning is to assess which roads can be used to collect bins from both sides of the road or just one side, dependant on how busy the road normally is.

The problem is that refuse collection is usually 'job and knock'. This encourages refuse collectors to ignore their route planning by doing just one pass on a busy road rather than two in order to finish earlier. Manangers should be doing periodical checks to ensure personnel comply with their training...most don't bother.

Elfin Davy 09  
#4 Posted : 29 January 2020 16:31:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Elfin Davy 09

In one of those "total coincidence" moments I've just come across this:

https://www.shponline.co.uk/news/binman-escapes-being-crushed-by-bin-lorry/

No comment necessary...

thanks 1 user thanked Elfin Davy 09 for this useful post.
Gasman on 30/01/2020(UTC)
HSSnail  
#5 Posted : 30 January 2020 08:03:48(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
HSSnail

LA's do have risk assessments and safe working practices for refuse collection - but like any such admistration system they can fail.

If you have never seen this Biffa Drops capagine video it worth a look to see what these people face every day on the street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ4c4OqJj6c

thanks 2 users thanked HSSnail for this useful post.
Gasman on 30/01/2020(UTC), John D C on 30/01/2020(UTC)
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