Waste and recycling industry guidance

The HSE has issued new guidance for local authorities (LAs) on procuring and managing waste and recycling services in a bid to reduce death and injury in the sector. The recycling industry has nine times more fatal accidents than the national average and four times as many workers suffer injuries. The HSE is warning local authorities that contracting out does not relieve them of all health and safety responsibilities. It is to carry out targeted inspections of council waste services departments looking at the working relationships LAs have with contractors and at changes made to improve health and safety standards. See www.hse.gov.uk/waste/services