Workplace Safety

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Workplace Safety

• Robyn Hathcock
• University of Oregon
• Campus Recycling

CURC 2007 Teleconference Series Effective
Management of Recycling Operations December 4,
2007
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Who is the person responsible for safety in
your recycling program?
?
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Overview

• UO Recycling Program
• 10 Things a Recycling Coordinator Needs to Know
  about Safety

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UO Campus Recycling

• Recycling Program institutionalized in March 1991
• Operates as a department within Facilities
  Services
• 5 full-time staff members (supervisors)
• 40 student recyclers during academic year work
  (500 labor hours per week)
• 1500 recycling sites
• Student crews service sites by electric truck,
  Step Van or on foot
• Processing warehouse for paper, county depot
  transfer station for bottles/cans

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10 Things a Recycling Coordinator Needs to Know
About Safety

• How to recognize job hazards
• What PPE is required for each job
• When safety audits are conducted and by whom
• What safety rules and policies are in place
• What safety training new employees receive
• What year-round safety training employees receive
• If employees are reporting hazards and accidents
• How accidents are responded to and investigated
• Where accident information is kept and how to
  access it
• Safety Resources

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Recognizing Job Hazards

• Job Hazard Analysis PPE Assessments
• Equipment changes
• Checking PPE
• Accessible in all work areas
• Condition of gloves, glasses
• Employee comfort
• Pre-Operation Checklists
• Vehicles and mechanized equipment

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Recycling
Bottles Cans Sorting
ü
ü
Closed Toe Shoes
Nitrile Gloves
http//facilities.uoregon.edu/safety/misc/ppecert.
pdf
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(No Transcript)
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Safety Audits

• Required and voluntary audits
• Trip hazards, labeled hazardous materials
• Train employees to conduct audits

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Safety Policies Rules

• Management leadership
• e.g, vehicle first aid kits, vehicle operation,
  PPE, accident procedures
• Clear expectations for employees
• Create policies specific to your recycling
  program
• Vehicle backing and stretching policies

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UO Recycling Program Policies

• Vehicle Backing
• Many solo vehicle accidents
• Most student recyclers work in pairs
• - Passenger spots for backing maneuvers
• - Training on how to be effective spotters

Stretching - 10 minute stretch at start of work
day - Prevents/decreases severity of injuries -
Opportunity to get focused for work - Supervisors
stretch too!
Both policies were so successful in reducing
recycling program accidents, Facilities Services
adopted similar policies for all FS employees!
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New-Hire Safety Orientation

• Emphasize safety rules and policies
• Reiterate that PPE is not optional
• Personalize the message
• Work injuries impacts life outside of work
• Individual responsibility
• Fellow workers safety
• Have a safety orientation with volunteers

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UO Recycling Safety Orientation

• Introductory and University Safety videos
• Personal Protective Equipment Applications
• Emergency Medical Plan
• Chemical Hazard Communication MSDS Training
• Locations, Jobs and Equipment to Avoid Without
  Prior Training
• Watch stretching video and discuss the stretching
  policy
• First Aid station, safety manual and MSDS book

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Safety Training

• Monthly trainings
• Address seasonal issues
• Address past accidents
• Training can happen daily through daily work
• Empower employees to conduct trainings
• Involve recycling employees on safety committees

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Reporting Hazards Accidents

• Safety Hazard reporting (potential accidents)
• Formal hazard report forms
• In vehicles, emergency contact list, first aid
  kit and accident information packet
• Emphasize importance of reporting hazards and
  accidents
• Barriers to employees reporting an accident
• Fear of discipline
• Fear of a negative reputation

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Accident Investigation

• Investigation kit
• required paperwork, camera (for vehicle
  accidents)
• Conduct an investigation in a neutral manner
• Involve the employee in the analyzing the
  accident
• Extracting something good Accidents are learning
  opportunities

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Accident Tracking

• Past accidents help prioritize efforts in
  training, education and equipment
• Common incidents in recycling
• Lifting injuries
• Slips, trips and falls
• Vehicle accidents
• Catch hazards
• Demonstrate need for equipment changes
• Hydraulic tailgates
• Collection toters with better ergonomics
• Gloves with better puncture protection

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Resources

• Campus environmental health safety department
• U.S. OSHA
• http//www.osha.gov/
• http//www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3071.pdf
• Nonprofit Risk Management Center
• http//nonprofitrisk.org/tools/workplace-safety/p
  ublic-sector/wsp-ps.htm
• UO Facilities Services Safety Office
• http//facilities.uoregon.edu/safety
• Questions? Robyn Hathcock rjhath_at_uoregon.edu
• [phone]