Will Flower 

Waste facilities such as transfer stations, recycling centers and landfills require a keen focus on safety. Waste Advantage Magazine is offering a series of tips and suggestions to keep everyone safe. Each month we’ll compile a list of suggestions focusing on different aspects of worker safety.  In our first article, we focus on safety when working around rolling stock.

Protecting Workers Around Big Equipment

All employees and equipment operators need to take extra precautions around payloaders, compactors, and other rolling stock.  Make certain your employees are safe by follow these best practices:

  1. Require the use of Personal Protective Equipment including high visibility clothing, hard hats, gloves and protective eyewear.
  2. Provide the necessary training to equipment operators.  Every equipment operator should be aware of the safety features on the machine and be fully trained on all operations.  A skilled and experienced drive should be assigned to work with and train new drivers.
  3. Equipment operators must be trained to pay special attention to workers who may be on foot and working near machines.
  4. Provide training to workers who are working around rolling stock (large and small).  Employees should be educated to avoid and use extreme caution when in or near blind spots, danger zones and equipment crossing areas.
  5. Managers should regularly observe equipment operators and talk with operators about their work behavior.  Managers and supervisors should coach equipment operators when necessary especially to highlight good behavior and areas where improvements can be made.
  6. Limit the number of people near equipment.  Keep drivers and helpers off the tip floor and away from the active face of the landfill.
  7. Install clearly marked pathways for workers to walk in transfer stations and MRFs.
  8. Make sure the backup alarms and lights on equipment are working properly.
  9. Operators should make sure all the windows on their equipment are clean and clear.  Cracked windows and mirrors should be replaced.
  10. Lastly, terminate employees who refuse to operate safely.  You will be doing them a favor and maybe even save their life!

 

Safety around rolling stock is critical to the operation of every solid waste and recycling facility.  Following work rules, good safety training and common sense will help keep people safe!

 

Will Flower is the President of Green Stream Recycling headquartered on Long Island, NY.  Green Stream Recycling specializes in the processing of recyclable materials and the creation of high quality recyclable materials for manufactures.  Will has 31 years of experience in the area of solid waste management and environmental protection. He has worked in the Director’s Office of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, for Waste Management, Inc. and later, for Republic Services. Inc.  He has held operational and executive leadership positions.

 

Share your safety tip. Next month’s safety tip will focus on preparedness for cold weather.  Submit your suggestions to Will Flower at [email protected].  

 

 

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