The annual average fatality rate within the waste sector had shown a gradual decline from 14 in 2016/17 to 1 in 2021/22. A testament to the hard work, dedication and focus across the sector to improve Health & Safety performance.
However, despite this drop, the waste sector remains relatively high-risk compared to most other industries and fatality stats have now performed a U-turn to pre 2018/19 levels. The number of waste sector fatalities increased to 6 during 2022/23 and a further 8 fatalities have already been recorded in 2023/24.
Between 2017/18 and 2021/22, the waste sector recorded an average of five fatal injuries per year, representing 4.08 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers. In 2022/23 the average rate of fatal injuries per 100,000 workers was 5.02. The HSE had suggested that the average fatality rate in the waste sector was as much as ten times higher than all other industries, where a total of 135 fatalities were recorded across all industries in 2022/23.
*Table - Number of fatalities per 100,000 workers 2018/19 to 2022/23
The three most common causes of fatal injuries continue to be falling from height (40), being struck by a moving vehicle (20) and being struck by a moving object (29).
WISH (The Waste Industry Safety & Health) Steering Group are currently consulting with the sector regarding revisions to WASTE 23 ‘Safe Waste and Recycling Collection Services’ given the higher levels of fatalities related to moving vehicles. The guidance document, written in collaboration with several partners including the HSE and the ESA, was originally published in 2015, and includes Task & Finish, Route Risk Assessment, Competence, Supervision & Monitoring, Worker Engagement, Accidents, Incidents and Near-misses.
This guidance document relates to risk management from collection service activities, which means it is relevant to all Local Authorities in the UK operating either an insourced (DSO) or an outsourced (Contracted) arrangement.
WISH documents are seen as best practice following consultation with relevant stakeholders. However, WISH guidance is not a substitute for duty holder or health & safety advisor judgement. Duty holders are responsible for verifying and evaluating their organisations compliance with health & safety law.
The links to both the published version and the draft revision are included below:
Published version - WASTE-23-.pdf (wishforum.org.uk)
Draft revision - WISH WASTE 23 safe waste recycling collection services 202X consultation draft 2.2.docx (live.com)
For ease of reference, LARAC have included a tracked change version at the link below:
The deadline for consultation responses is 31 October 2023 and any comments should be sent to WISH using:
Please also note that LARAC will be responding soon to the WISH consultation regarding the Waste 23 guidance document.
