Safety Is Key.
Do you think the trash room is a relatively low-risk area? Over a five-year period, one school district in Washington state reported a loss of more than 2,000 work days to dumpster- and recycling-related injuries at a cost of $300,000.
Fortunately, there are some common-sense steps you can take to reduce the risk of costly and painful injuries incurred in the trash room.
Dumpster and Compactor Safety Tips
- No one should ever enter a dumpster or compactor. Materials should be broken down before going in a dumpster, and a long stick should be used to clear congestion in a compactor.
- Areas immediately surrounding dumpsters and compactors should be clutter-free.
- The compactor door should be securely closed before operating and should remain closed until the machine is turned off.
- Hazardous waste should never go into a dumpster or compactor. Contact your local environmental agency for instructions on appropriate disposal methods.
- Compactors should be serviced only by authorized personnel after completing lockout-tagout procedures.
- Use caution opening and closing dumpster lids to avoid pinching fingers and hands.
- Employees should inform their supervisor immediately if they see evidence of animals or other pests around the dumpster. Under no circumstances should they attempt to handle the problem themselves.
- In case of a dumpster fire, call 911.
Promote Trash Room Safety with the WasteCaddy Dumpster Mover
Pushing and pulling heavy dumpsters from the trash room to the pick-up spot can result in serious injuries that are hard to heal. Contact us to learn why our WasteCaddy dumpster mover from DJ Products is an efficient and cost-effective way to improve workplace safety.