By Sintons Law

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Waste & Recycling Sector Plan https://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/og/og-00100.pdf supports the strategic industry initiative to prevent people being injured or killed after entering large commercial bins (typically 660 litres capacity and above). The HSE state that there have been numerous cases where members of the public have gained access to commercial bins for shelter and then been injured or killed when those bins were emptied into collection and compaction vehicles.

When engaging with businesses that use commercial waste bins e.g. retail or licensed premises, Local Authority Health and Safety Regulators should raise duty holder awareness of the need to manage the risks of unsecured access to bins.

Where the risks arise as a Matter of Evident Concern, (where there are signs of people getting in or trying to get into bins and/or other risk factors suggest it is reasonably foreseeable), Local Authority’s should take appropriate enforcement action, in accordance with the Environment Agency Regulations 1998, collaborating with HSE where necessary through the usual channels.

Full guidance or duty holders can be found in the Waste Industry Safety & Health (WISH)  using the following link https://wishforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/WASTE-25-.pdf

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