There are many different ways in which domestic and commercial waste is collected and taken to an appropriate facility for processing. The regular household or commercial bin collection is the most obvious one, but there are many more:
- Local authority bulky uplift services
- Skip provision
- Civil amenity sites
- Bottle and clothing banks
- Household waste recycling centres
- Specialist hazardous waste collections
The majority of workers in the waste and recycling industry are involved in the collection of waste and, sadly, the majority of injuries and fatalities in the sector are also related to waste collection. This is largely because it involves the use of vehicles.
Statistics
Being hit by a moving vehicle and or making contact with moving machinery were the most common causes of fatalities in the industry over the five-year period from 2015/16 to 2019/20, each type of accident accounted for 30% of the fatalities amongst waste workers. While 21% of deaths were caused by being struck by a moving/falling object.
Refuse vehicles are involved in many accidents involving lifting operations with a common example is that of a skip falling due to an insecurely attached lifting hook. Other common waste collection accidents include slips and trips and being struck by a moving object.
Workers involved in waste collection are also at risk of:
- Manual handling injuries
- Industrial deafness – especially when glass collection is involved
- Infection from needlestick or sharps injuries
- Being hit by a falling or moving object
- Moving machinery
- Slips and trips
Are You Entitled to Compensation
If you have been injured at work – even if you are unsure whether you would be able to claim compensation – it is in your interests to contact our specialist lawyers today. We can listen carefully to your account and investigate matters for you so that you can see if you would have a reasonable chance of securing compensation for your injuries.
We provide a No Win No Fee service for cases we believe have a strong chance of success and work to ensure that those responsible are fully held to account for their actions. Call us on 0800 0891 331 and take your first step towards your work accident compensation.
