Waste Collection (Domestic / Commercial) SWMS

Waste collection covers the kerbside and commercial collection of waste — collecting waste and recycling from bins using a collection truck with a lifting mechanism, on roads and at premises. The defining hazards are the collection truck reversing and the runover risk to collectors and the public, the manual handling of bins, the lifting mechanism and hydraulics, and the road and public traffic environment. This document is written on the basis that waste collection is carried out with the reversing, manual-handling, lifting-mechanism and traffic controls in place.

Waste collection is carried out in connection with the plant, traffic and general WHS requirements, with the reversing and runover risk managed, the manual handling of bins managed, the lifting mechanism and hydraulics operated safely, and the road and public traffic managed. The reversing and runover, the manual handling, the lifting mechanism, and the road and public traffic are the considerations. This document coordinates the reversing, manual-handling, lifting-mechanism and traffic controls so the waste collection is carried out safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Engineering: manage the reversing and runover risk with a reversing procedure, cameras, sensors, a spotter where required and minimising reversing, because reversing and runover is a leading cause of fatality in waste collection.
2. 2Engineering: use mechanical aids — trolleys, dollies, stair-climbers, pallet jacks and lifting equipment — and team lifting for the heavy and awkward loads, and manage the manual-handling and awkward-posture hazard with correct technique and the hierarchy of controls for hazardous manual tasks.
3. 3Engineering: operate the bin lifting mechanism and hydraulics safely, keeping clear of the lifter and hopper pinch and crush points.
4. 4Engineering: manage the road and public traffic with high-visibility clothing, warning devices, a safe working position and traffic awareness.
5. 5Engineering: get on and off the truck safely using steps and handholds and three points of contact, and manage the truck movement and stop-start operation.
6. 6PPE: manage contaminated and hazardous waste in bins with the appropriate protection and hygiene.
7. 7Administrative: manage fatigue and the repetitive nature of collection, and the Chain of Responsibility where the collection truck is a heavy vehicle.
8. 8Administrative: all workers must hold the competencies and licences required for the work, including a High Risk Work Licence for forklift operation, a heavy vehicle driver licence for heavy vehicles, and any dangerous goods or other training required.
9. 9Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, traffic and plant movements, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
10. 10Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
11. 11PPE: high-visibility clothing, eye protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, hearing protection where required, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
12. 12Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

Workers are engaged to collect kerbside and commercial waste with a collection truck. The reversing and runover risk is managed with a reversing procedure, cameras, sensors, a spotter where required and minimising reversing, because reversing and runover is a leading cause of fatality in waste collection. The manual handling of bins is managed with the lifting mechanism and correct technique. The bin lifting mechanism and hydraulics are operated safely, keeping clear of the lifter and hopper pinch and crush points. The road and public traffic are managed with high-visibility clothing, warning devices, a safe working position and traffic awareness. Getting on and off the truck is managed safely with steps, handholds and three points of contact, and the truck movement and stop-start operation managed. Contaminated and hazardous waste in bins is managed with the appropriate protection and hygiene. Fatigue and the repetitive collection are managed, and the Chain of Responsibility met where the truck is a heavy vehicle. The collection is carried out safely, and the records retained.

Related legislation

• Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — the plant, hazardous manual tasks, hazardous chemicals and High Risk Work Licence provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The Heavy Vehicle National Law and the Chain of Responsibility, the National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide 2018, and the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, apply to heavy vehicles and the transport of dangerous goods, alongside the model WHS framework, and are administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and the state and territory dangerous goods regulators.
• Forklift operation requires a High Risk Work Licence (LF or LO class) under each state and territory's licensing scheme, and heavy vehicle driving requires the appropriate heavy vehicle driver licence; dangerous goods drivers require dangerous goods licensing and training.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the plant, manual handling, hazardous chemicals and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments, alongside the Dangerous Goods Act 1985.

Frequently asked questions