SCOUTS RECYCLING SCHEME FACT SHEET: WHS Human health and safety are essential in the daily peratins f a dnatin site and shuld be placed at the frefrnt f a participating Scut Grup s best peratinal practices. Waste management systems and services shuld be designed and perated in a manner that prevents the ptential risk f injury r illness assciated with the cllectin, strage and transprtatin f material. This includes risk t: Vlunteers and ther individuals managing the dnatin site s service, bins and equipment Yuth and adult members meeting at the Grup Hall and surrunding premises Members f the public dnating their recyclable materials t Grups Others engaged in r affected by the dnatin site and the Grup s recycling effrts Nearby residents and users f adjacent prperties. When cnsidering t participate in the Scuts Recycling Scheme, it is imprtant t accept that every Scut frmatin is different. Physical aspects such as layut, vehicle access and adjacent prperties will determine whether yur frmatin can safely accmmdate a dnatin pint. Spending the time at the start t carefully plan and design the cllectin area t mitigate risks will help prevent future injuries and cmplaints. It als can save time and mney in the lng run. Belw we have set ut sme guidance and recmmendatins. Hwever, yu shuld perfrm a risk assessment fr yur particular site, t identify hazards that are specific t yur frmatin. This will imprve yur chances f success by achieving a cllectin pint that is easier t use and safer t perate. Is yur Frmatin suitable fr participating in the Scuts Recycling Scheme? When deciding whether t participate in the Scuts Recycling Scheme r nt, it is imprtant t accept that nt every Scut frmatin is suitable. Physical aspects such as layut, vehicle access and adjacent prperties will determine whether a dnatin pint can even be accmmdated. Als, there must be sufficient recycling vlumes in yur lcatin as well as willing Scuts resurces t maintain the dnatin site n an nging basis in rder t make the Scuts Recycling Scheme a success. The guide belw can assist yu in cnsidering whether yur frmatin is suitable r nt. Once yu have decided t prceed, yu need t plan the layut and make sure that any structures that are cnstructed are sund, and that the area is maintained n an nging basis. Only nce yu have 1
determined that a dnatin pint can physically be accmmdated at yur frmatin and there are sufficient vlunteers t maintain it, shuld yu cnsider prceeding. Guide t Determining whether yur Frmatin is suitable fr a Dnatin Site Is there sufficient space t accmmdate cllectin receptacles such as wheelie bins? Is glass currently permitted n the prperty? Is legal parking available near the receptacles, with rm t maneuvre a vehicle/trailer? Is the area well-lit and free f inherent trip hazards like deep gutters, pen drains, large tree rts? (cnsider night time drp-ffs) Is the area away frm strmwater drains where stray cntainers can enter the strmwater system? N adverse impact t nearby residents? E.g. visual impact, increased activity, nise (the sund f bttles being dumped int a wheelie bin, can be very lud, especially at night time). Is the area relatively free f vandalism and dumping f rubbish? (Dnatin sites might be mistaken as a charity bin fr the dumping f unwanted husehld gds). Are there sufficient scuting members and vlunteers t set-up the site, maintain the site and transprt the cntainers regularly (and have a trailer if applicable). Cnsider if there are ther aspects that will determine whether yur site is suitable r nt. If yu cannt answer yes t all the abve questins, yur frmatin may nt be suitable. If yu still wish t prceed, yu need t address these risks befre prceeding. Design and Cnstructin Once yu have decided t set up a dnatin site: Cnsider the exact lcatin and layut, t cmply with the abve pints. Carefully cnsider the type f receptacles t use e.g. wheelie bins, milk creates, cages and hw they can safely be handled and transprted. Remember that cans cannt be redeemed if crushed, s this adds t the vlume. Cnstruct any structures securely i.e. nt cllapse r blw away and hurt smene. Scuts might be held respnsible if harm ccurs frm design. N sharp edges where peple can cut themselves in cntact. Avid creating crevices fr snakes etc. t reside. If secnd hand materials are used, ensure they are sund. Cnsider the ptential fr vandalism r misuse e.g. use a hle-in-the-wall set up, r lcked receptacles t restrict access. Carefully cnsider any lcking mechanisms such as padlcks - make sure that adults r children cannt becme trapped r lcked inside, either accidentally r during hrse play. Avid using receptacles that can cllect rainwater as this will increase weight. Prir t cnstructin, cnduct a risk assessment fr the wrk. Fr example: 2
Safe use f pwer tls Visual inspectin f electrical crds Manual handling Traffic management (i.e. shuld cars be temprarily excluded frm parking in the immediate vicinity n Scuts land while the cnstructin is in prgress?) Safety and curtesy fr members f the public passing by Enclsed safety shes Drinking water D nt climb n structures that are nt designed t hld persn s weight. Is asbests present at that frmatin? If s, d nt drill/cut. Develp safety instructins fr transprting t a cllectin pint, and make sure vlunteers are aware f these rules. Handling Recyclable Materials Safety Instructins The list belw prvides basic rules add any rules that are specific t yur frmatin. Manual handling f recyclable materials must take place during daylight hurs r when adequate lighting is available t prevent the likelihd f individuals tripping ver bstacles and traffic hazards such as bjects and uneven surfaces. Use apprpriate manual handling techniques see belw. Wear PPE sturdy enclsed shes with nn-slip sles, sturdy glves and sun prtectin. Obey parking rules, and shw curtesy fr residents and passers-by. Cnsider using a sptter. Keep clear f reversing vehicles r trailers make eye cntact with driver. Clean up debris afterwards - Debris is NOT t be swept r hsed dwn strm water drains. Drivers must be licensed. If using trailer, ensure bth car and trailer are registered and adequately insured, and the driver is sufficiently capable. Obey safety rules / parking rules at the cllectin pint. Return the receptacles ASAP. Reprt damaged items and equipment. A first aid kit shuld be made available when cllectins are being transprted. Manual Handling Use safe manual handling techniques, team lift fr heavier lads. 3
Avid: Repetitive r sustained frce High r sudden frce Repetitive mvement Sustained r awkward psture Preparatin Clear the lifting area f all hazards and bstructins Check the lad Check the characteristics f the lad (size, weight, shape) Crrect ft psitin (t prvide a stable base and even weight distributin) Yur frnt ft shuld be placed beside the lad and pinting in the directin yu intend t mve Yur back ft shuld be placed slightly behind and hip width frm the frnt ft Prper hld Hands shuld be diagnally ppsite fr security and cmfrt Use the full length f yur fingers and palms t avid fatigue Bend yur knees Reach dwn t the lad by bending yur knees, using leg muscles instead f back muscles Keep yur back straight Keep yur back as straight as pssible Raise yur head with yur chin just befre lifting Arm psitin and grip Keep yur arms as clse t yur bdy with elbws tucked in as much as pssible while lifting and carrying 4
D nt change yur grip whilst carrying a lad Setting the lad dwn Reverse these prcedures when setting dwn a lad Maintenance All recyclable materials shuld be stred in secure strage cntainers such as lckable wheelie bins t prevent litter. Sufficient space and dispsal capacity shuld be included t ensure bins d nt becme vercrwded r verladed. The crrect size and type f bins and equipment shuld be used, fr the purpses fr which they were designed r intended. All materials held in stackable strage (e.g. milk crates) shuld be stwed in a manner that minimises the risk f falling r being disldged. N mre than fur milk crates shuld be stacked ne n tp f the ther. The strage area shuld be mnitred t track dnatin vlumes. Strage cntainers shuld be emptied and replaced as necessary t avid verflw. Inspect area regularly, including checking that lighting wrks Make sure the pathway frm vehicles t the cllectin pint is free f trip hazards Establish additinal pest management if needed. Prvide brm and brush/pan nearby, t clear brken glass Mnitr area and empty / replace receptacles as necessary t avid verflw Use PPE e.g. enclsed shes, sun screen, sturdy glves (e.g. gardening glves) Debris is NOT t be swept r hsed dwn strm water drains. Reprting Injuries and Incidents General Reprting Duties Any individual wh is invlved in, witnesses r is alerted t an incident r accident causing damage t prperty and/r injury t persns must cmplete an Incident/Accident Reprt Frm, which can be fund n the Scuts Australia NSW website. 5
Where necessary emergency services must be cntacted n 000 and individuals present and able must administer first aid t the injured/ill persn t preserve the life and wellbeing f the persn. Significant Safety Incidents The CEO f Scuts Australia NSW must be ntified immediately in the event f any incident which invlves the fllwing: attendance f emergency services including fire brigade, ambulance r plice; the NSW Envirnmental Prtectin Authrity (EPA); Gvernment authrity investigatrs; Health Department investigatrs; an incident which culd be cnsidered serius in that majr cnsequences were nly narrwly avided (i.e. a near miss); an incident which attracts media attentin; an incident relating t child prtectin (the Child Prtectin and Issues Management team must als be ntified); r a ntifiable incident i.e. serius injury In any investigatin int an incident/accident/injury/near miss/hazard, individuals may be requested t be invlved in a rt cause analysis meeting t discuss and determine exactly the rt cause f the event. In these discussins, a sequence f events that led up t the incident will be revealed and analysed. Risk cntrls fr the future will then be put in place. Where there were already risk cntrls t prevent an incident, these will be reviewed and adjusted. 6