Risk Assessment for Waste Handling and Recycling.

Contract
Site:
Number:
Name: Position: Date:
Assessed by:
Signed:

Description Of Work: Collecting, sorting and recycling waste materials on site and transporting off site (excluding sites where contamination has not been removed or where explosives or
other specialist military items have been stored or manufactured).
Residual
Risk
Risk
Task / Job Component Hazard Persons at risk Rating Controls / Precautions to Reduce Risk
Rating
L/M/H
L/M/H
 Engineering solution drawn up by competent person.
 Temporary bracing barriers and signs to exclude
Waste handling and Surveyors, engineers, workers,
unauthorised persons.
recycling. Unstable structures. client’s personnel, general public, M L
visitors.  Waste only be stored on stable floors capable of
supporting load. (No overloading of floor levels with
demolition waste.)
 Wheel wash facilities on site and sheeting down of
Surveyors, engineers, workers,
lorries.
Spread of contamination off site. client’s personnel, general public M L
 Careful control of surface water.
visitors.
 Liaison with neighbours/police.
 Provide suitable face masks and goggles.
Surveyors, engineers, workers,  Where possible site dusty materials down wind of
Dust/eye injury. client’s personnel, general public, H workers. L
visitors.  Wetting down site roads and rubble stock piles.
 Health surveillance.
 Survey and protection of underground services.
 Segregation of highly flammable wastes, oxidising
Surveyors, engineers, workers,
agents, flammables and sources of ignition.
Explosion/fire. client’s personnel, general public, H L
 Site security fencing and lighting.
young/old/infirm, visitors.
 Specialist ex-rated plant to be considered.
 Hot works permits.
Unauthorised access/protection of Surveyors, engineers, workers, H  Netting to scaffolds or fans or both. L
the public. client’s personnel, general public,  Security fences and gates with appropriate signs and
young/old/infirm, visitors. possible need for night security watchmen or CCTV.
 Segregation of dangerous waste, e.g. rebar and waste
liquids.

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 Removal of protruding nails.

 Timber stacks secured against overturning by sticking
and banding.
 Secure covers to excavation pit.
 Survey by an occupational hygienist prior to handling.
 COSHH assessment on materials such as silica dust.
 Consider vaccination.
Surveyors, engineers, workers,
 Enforce high standards of personal hygiene including
Chemicals/biological hazards. client’s personnel, general M L
public,visitors. eating, smoking and drinking.
 Specialist cleaning/purging redundant vessels and
pipework and removal of specialist wastes.
 Procedure to deal with sharps.
Surveyors, engineers, workers,  Gloves.
Dermatitis. client’s personnel, general public, M  Waterproof barrier cream. L
young/old/infirm, visitors.  Health surveillance.
 Provide hearing protection and enforce wearing when
Surveyors, engineers, workers,
operating machines.
Noise. client’s personnel, general public, H L
 Signs.
young/old/infirm, visitors.
 Audiometric testing.
 Invest in plant where the operator does not stand on the
Surveyors, engineers, workers, machine.
Whole body vibration. client’s personnel, general public, M  Provide frequent operator changes. L
young/old/infirm, visitors.  Rubber mats for operator to stand on.
 Health monitoring scheme.
 Survey before demolition and removal of all asbestos
containing materials (ACMs) by specialists. It is illegal to
Surveyors, engineers, workers,
sell ACMs including corrugated AC roofing sheets (this
Asbestos. client’s personnel, general public, H L
does not apply to similar sheets which have been
young/old/infirm, visitors.
proved by approved laboratory tests to contain no
asbestos).
Contact with machinery or vehicles. Surveyors, engineers, workers, H  Inspection by competent engineer before being put into L
client’s personnel, general public, first use.
young/old/infirm, visitors.  Regular guard and interlock inspections.
 Trained operator.
 Manufacturer’s instructions.
 All machinery movements to be under the control of a
qualified Banksman/Slinger.
 Wearing of high-visibility clothing, no loose clothing or

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 Risk Assessment for Waste Handling and Recycling.

jewellery.
 Minimise reversing movements and follow site traffic
arrangements in health and safety plan, including
barriers to demarcate pedestrian routes.
 CCTV mounted on all tractive units.
 Maintenance of conveyor skirts.
 Crusher permit-to-work system.
 Selection of suitably sized loader and provision of clear
instructions.
 Semi-static plant mounted on easy to clean, well
blinded hardstandings.
 Use of safety devices and daily checking of these in
addition to stop and start button functions.
 Training in safe manual handling techniques.
Surveyors, engineers, workers,
 Provide clear access routes to work areas.
Manual handling. client’s personnel, general public, H L
young/old/infirm, visitors.  Provide points of attachment on all to facilitate
mechanical handling.
Surveyors, engineers, workers,  Suspend work during strong winds, poor visibility or icy
Weather. client’s personnel, general public, M conditions. L
young/old/infirm, visitors.  Provide chinstraps for safety helmets.
Surveyors, engineers, workers,
 Specialist advice and materials to prevent entry into
Control of waste liquids. client’s personnel, general public, H L
watercourses and drains.
young/old/infirm, visitors.
 Installation by qualified electrician with issue of
electrical installation certificate with a schedule of
Surveyors, engineers, workers,
inspection and test results before first use on site.
Electricity. client’s personnel, general public, H L
 Regular maintenance checks as recommended by
young/old/infirm, visitors.
manufacturer.
 Supply cables ducted and protected.
 Provide safe access routes with barriers to separate
vehicles and pedestrians.
Surveyors, engineers, workers,  Good housekeeping.
Slips, trips and falls. client’s personnel, general public, H  Safety footwear. L
young/old/infirm, visitors.  Edge protection where there is a risk of falls at edges or
openings.
 Good lighting.
Surveyors, engineers, workers,  Minimise work at heights by dismantling items already
Work at heights/fall of material. H L
client’s personnel, general public, lowered to the ground. Appropriate use of harnesses by

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 Risk Assessment for Waste Handling and Recycling.

trained personnel. Tubular steel scaffolds. Mobile

elevating work platforms. Establish and police exclusion
zones, install scaffold fans and debris netting.
young/old/infirm, visitors.  Drivers to remain in FOPS designed cabs.
 Edge protection on plant platforms and permanent
ladders with special non-slip rungs.
 Skips regularly inspected for wear and tear.
 Ramps to have level tops and maximum 1:10 gradient,
Surveyors, engineers, workers,
well compacted with minimum 1.5m high edge
Overturn of plant. client’s personnel, general public, H L
protection.
young/old/infirm, visitors.
 Vehicles to have seat belts and ROPS.
Surveyors, engineers, workers,  Systematic removal as work proceeds.
Nails. client’s personnel, general public, M  Designated storage for rough materials. L
young/old/infirm, visitors.  Safety footwear with mid-soles.
Site-specific Activities Additional Site–specific Hazards Persons at risk Additional Controls Required

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Risk Assessment for Waste Handling and Recycling.

Likelihood
How often could the hazard occur? Consider the task, frequency,
duration, method of work, employees involved.

Severity
How serious would the hazard’s effects be if
realised? Consider the type of hazard, biological, ergonomic, physical and
chemical.

Risk = Likelihood x Severity

E.g. Likelihood (4) X Severity (3) = 12 HIGH RISK

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