The UK’s Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) has updated its advice document about managing COVID-19 risks for waste management activities.
The original document was published on 2 April 2020 (see letsrecycle.com story) and includes advice on how to mitigate COVID-19 risks in activities such as collections operations, bulky waste collections and at waste plants.
This morning (April 15), an updated Version Two of the guidance was published. It remains a live document and may be further updated and revised as new information is released and the issue develops. The document can be seen on the WISH website as Info 13.
Updates
The updated guidance includes further advice on hygeine measures which could help to reduce the risk of transmission.
One of the standout changes has seen the inclusion of advice relating to ‘screens’ , similar to those seen in supermarkets, to reduce the risk of transmission.
WISH say there is “little evidence currently that they are effective in preventing the spread of virus”, but said many employers have started to install them.
However, dependent on their design and placement, screens may reduce, to an extent, the risk from projected particles/aerosols, WISH added.
If installing a screen, the update guidance says they cannot be a substitute for god hygiene, must be cleaned regularly and a risk assessment must be carried out first.
Other measures which have been added in include ensuring cab windows are open to encourage airflow, ensuring ‘pop-up sinks’ are cleaned regularly and following normal monitoring processes aimed at checking crews are following good hygiene.
Version two of the document includes updated measures regarding collection including reference to screens (library picture)
Guides
Alongside update hygiene measures, the updated document has also provided links to other guides which have been published since 02 April.
This includes the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) guide on reporting incidents relating to COVID-19 under RIDDOR and government guidance on social distancing in the workplace.
Other changes in the latest document include more detail on cleaning procedures, information regarding materials recycling facilities (MRFs) and also vehicles plus a note emphasising that records should be kept of change.
Input
The document has been compiled with input from a number of agencies including the HSE and Public Health England (PHE), but sits alongside separate advice the two bodies have issued.
A further revised version is expected next week, and the WISH says it will be “keeping the document under constant review and will be publishing updated versions as quickly as we can to recognise changes in scientific understanding on COVID19, rectifying an errors in the INFO sheet and to include expansions, clarifications and improvements which have been suggested.”
WISH says it already has some material for issue 3 which the pressure of time meant that it was unable to include in this issue.
Changes
For ease of reference, letsrecycle.com has highlighted what are thought to be the updates in red on the version two document and these can be seen HERE.
The document is on the WISH website HERE at Info 13.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
