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ESA backs guidance for waste workers

By 06/04/2020News

The Environmental Services Association has backed the advice document produced by the UK’s WISH Forum, which provides guidance on managing coronavirus risks for waste management activities.  

WISH finalised its advice document about managing COVID-19 risks for waste management activities on 2 April

The document, published on 2 April, (see letsrecycle.com story) sets out safe working practices to limit the transmission of coronavirus among waste and recycling workers. It also aims to reassure waste workers who are currently serving on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis.  

Jacob Hayler, executive director of the ESA said it highlights that services can be safely maintained as long as businesses and operatives follow good hygiene standards, and have the facilities to be able to do so.   

It is vital that operatives and managers maintain a regular and open dialogue and that any team member who feels unwell with suspected COVID-19 goes some immediately or does not come in to work”, Mr Hayler explained.  

He added: “The guidance does not recommend the use of facemasks or other medical PPE other than nitrile gloves, but ESA and its members are closely monitoring conventional PPE supply chains to ensure sufficient quantities remain available to meet the industry’s requirements.”  

Social-distancing

The ESA says that the document has also recognised the difficulty in maintaining social-distancing rules for collection crews, and also considers any risk associated with this to be low. 

Jacob Hayler

Jacob Hayler is the executive director of the ESA

It added that the guidance is not prescriptive about crew numbers in cabs, however suggests that numbers should be minimised through a range of measures.  

Hayler added that following the guidance, residents can support waste collection workers by handing on to bulky waste, or materials theyd otherwise take to recycling centres, until services go back to normal.  

 He said: Householders should not be putting this material in their general waste, as this will further strain services.”  

Our sector is well-versed at keeping its employees safe in respect of workplace hygiene but is now more important than ever than frontline recycling and waste workers follow the instructions provided by their respective employers and take note of the guidance provided by WISH.  

On behalf of the ESA, I would like to sincerely thank all recycling and waste operatives and support staff for continuing to provide such a vital public service in this time of national crisis.”  

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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment