The WISH Forum has produced its latest information document for Covid-19 and waste management activities highlighting the need for “employer responsibility and assessment”.
The document, published on 6 August 2021, notes that many restrictions relating to Covid-19 are being revised, relaxed or withdrawn, in particular relating to public health.
WISH says that for workplace health and safety, the onus has shifted from legally-required rules to a more guidance-based approach. Consequently, the nature of the information document has also changed.
The document is part of a series which the WISH Forum has produced throughout the pandemic – it released the first one on 2 April 2020, just a few weeks after the first lockdown started. Since then regular updates have been carried out.
Explaining more about the change in approach for this document, in a foreword to the document, it is stated: “This change is, partially, reflected in workplace health and safety advice. For example, the move in England from ‘Social Distancing’ to ‘reducing social contact’ (see sections below). Accordingly, the emphasis of, and approach taken by, this version 11 of WISH’s COVID-19 information document has also changed.”
[A webinar on the changing picture around Covid-19 measures and the waste sector, at which the latest document was mentioned was held last week – you can watch the webinar at this link.]Reminder
Employers are reminded that they should already have a Covid-19 risk assessment in place and that these now need to be reviewed. “New variants of Covid-19 may result in vaccination being less effective and in the future government may reapply mandatory controls if risk levels rise again. You should keep informed about developments and review your assessment accordingly. You should also keep informed about mandatory requirements which may remain in place, such as on self-isolation and what to do if an employee informs you that they have contracted Covid-19.”
The WISH document comments that it may be difficult for an employer to position themselves between removing all measures that were in place through to maintaining all controls. It remarks: “Many employers will probably take an approach during the review of their risk assessment which lies somewhere between these two polar opposites.”
HWRCs
On HWRCs it is suggested that vehicle restrictions might be removed but a policy of not assisting members of the public with wastes to reduce social contact between employees and the public might be maintained. And, it notes that booking systems could just be operated for weekends when sites are busier.
Collections
On domestic waste collections, it is noted that it might be decided to remove restrictions on the number of operatives in a cab, but that employees should still keep vehicle windows open and avoid contact with members of the public.
‘Change in approach’
Chris Jones, chair of the WISH Forum, invited all those interested in the document to carefully read the foreword to document 11. He said: “This update adds an entirely new forward to the document that explains some of the challenges that we have faced, the change in approach, and attempts to provide information, support and guidance on how to deal with the changes introduced by the release of lockdown, in England on 19th July, later in the other devolved nations. We hope that readers find it useful.”
“I have to continue to thank and acknowledge the questioning, challenges, feedback and responses that we have continued to receive” – Chris Jones, WISH Forum
He continued: “I have to continue to thank and acknowledge the questioning, challenges, feedback and responses that we have continued to receive from employers, employee representatives, unions, regulators and others across the waste and recycling sector. Your contributions are vital to our being able to keep the guidance updated and relevant to the latest experience and learning. We continue to encourage feedback via info@wishforum.org.uk.”
And, Mr Jones said he would like to again “recognise and acknowledge the hard work of the WISH INFO13 working group. After 14 months and ten versions to have to pick up 50 pages of information which you have worked on pretty constantly for that time, and review with it with an entirely different mind set and approach is challenging to both motivation and intellect. A lot of effort and time has gone into this review and so I make no apology for thanking them again for their efforts and for rising so magnificently to this latest challenge.”
Related link
Covid-19 WISH Information document 11
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
