Rubbish Removal Safe Work Method Statement

Safe Work Australia provides guidance on weight limits for manual handling tasks, though these are guidelines rather than absolute regulatory limits. For infrequent lifting (less than once per 5 minutes), maximum weights are approximately 16kg for male workers and 13kg for female workers when lifting between knee and shoulder height. Frequent lifting (more than once per minute) should not exceed 6-8kg per lift. These limits assume ideal conditions including firm level ground, compact load with hand holds, and neutral spine posture - real-world landscaping conditions rarely provide these ideal circumstances. Factors reducing safe weight limits include awkward load shapes without handholds, uneven or sloped ground, twisting during lift, lifting from ground level or above shoulder height, and wet materials increasing weight beyond appearance. Any load exceeding these guidelines requires mechanical handling equipment, team lifting by two or more workers, or load reduction by splitting into multiple lighter loads. Workers must never attempt lifts they feel exceed their physical capacity regardless of time pressures or equipment availability. Employers must provide adequate mechanical handling equipment including wheelbarrows, loaders, or excavators eliminating manual lifting of heavy loads rather than relying on worker strength.

Snakes and spiders shelter in green waste piles, compost heaps, and accumulated debris particularly during warmer months (October-April) when activity levels peak. Before handling any waste pile, conduct visual inspection from minimum 2-metre distance looking for snake presence, disturbed surface patterns indicating recent activity, or visible spider webs. Use long-handled rake to gently disturb surface layer whilst standing back observing for movement - snakes typically flee from vibration unless cornered or protecting nest site. Never reach into piles with hands without prior visual confirmation of safety. If snake observed, immediately stop work, mark area with temporary barrier, and contact professional wildlife handler for removal - never attempt to kill, capture, or work around snakes as this significantly increases bite risk. For redback spider presence (typically on underside of objects, in voids, or dark sheltered spots), use insecticide spray labeled for spider control and wait 24 hours before handling materials allowing time for product to work. Funnel-web spider presence requires professional pest controller as these aggressive spiders defend territory. Wear cut-resistant gloves rated Level 5 providing some protection against small fangs though not substitute for caution. Use pitch forks and rakes to manipulate materials maintaining hands clear of potential creature habitats. Work in pairs enabling one worker to observe whilst other handles materials and provide immediate first aid if bite or sting occurs. Ensure current snake bite first aid supplies including compression bandages and marker pens for bite location marking. Brief all workers on snake bite first aid: keep victim still, apply broad pressure bandage to entire affected limb, mark bite location, call emergency services immediately. Never wash bite site, cut wound, or attempt to catch snake for identification.

Landscaping waste requires segregation into distinct streams for appropriate disposal complying with environmental regulations and facility acceptance criteria. Green waste including grass clippings, leaves, prunings, and untreated timber can be disposed at council green waste facilities or commercial composting operations where materials are processed into mulch or compost for reuse. Most facilities require green waste free from contamination with soil, plastic, metal, or treated timber. Construction debris including bricks, concrete, and clean fill can be disposed at licensed landfills or construction and demolition recycling facilities where materials are crushed and recycled for road base. Recyclable materials including metals (steel, aluminum, copper), plastics, and cardboard should be segregated and delivered to recycling facilities maximising resource recovery and reducing landfill levies. Treated timber (CCA, creosote, or paint coatings) cannot be composted or burnt and requires disposal at licensed landfills accepting contaminated timber - some facilities require treatment verification before acceptance. Contaminated soil from remediation sites, areas with chemical spills, or materials suspected of asbestos content require specialist disposal at licensed facilities with appropriate environmental protection authority documentation. Many disposal facilities charge by weight or volume with higher costs for contaminated materials and mixed loads. Pre-sorting waste on site reduces disposal costs by maximising green waste volumes (lowest cost) and minimising landfill quantities (highest cost). Verify disposal facility acceptance criteria before transport as rejected loads require return to site for resorting creating additional costs and manual handling exposure. Maintain disposal dockets as evidence of appropriate waste management for environmental compliance audits and client reporting requirements.

Loading vehicles on sloped or unstable ground creates significant rollover and runaway risks that can cause fatal crush injuries. Tipper trucks with raised trays during loading shift the centre of gravity upward and rearward - on even 5-10 degree slopes this shift can exceed the stability angle causing rollover. Soft or recently disturbed construction site ground may lack adequate bearing capacity, with vehicle weight causing ground subsidence that pitches vehicle sideways initiating rollover. Parked vehicles with inadequate parking brake application or brake systems with reduced capacity from heavy loads can roll down slopes striking workers or structures. Always position vehicles on level, firm ground verified by observing no vehicle lean in any direction. If site conditions prevent finding level areas, use mechanical equipment to create level pads using compacted road base or timber mats distributing load across wider area. Ensure parking brake applied and transmission in park (automatic) or low gear (manual) before commencing loading. Consider using wheel chocks on downhill wheels providing secondary restraint if brake system fails. Never allow workers to position themselves downhill from loaded vehicles where rollaway potential exists. For excavator or loader operations on slopes, maintain machine position uphill from receiving vehicle eliminating risk of machine rollover striking workers. Load vehicles conservatively when site access requires traversing slopes during departure - partially loaded vehicles maintain lower centre of gravity reducing rollover risk compared to maximum legal loads. Conduct site assessment before every loading operation as ground conditions change with weather, construction activities, and vehicle traffic creating new stability hazards. If any doubt exists about ground stability or vehicle positioning safety, relocate to alternative location or use alternative loading methods rather than accepting elevated risk for convenience.

Sharp object injuries from thorns, glass, metal fragments, or nails are common in rubbish removal and require immediate response to prevent infection and ensure appropriate medical assessment. Immediately stop work and move to clean area away from contaminated materials. Remove any gloves carefully avoiding further contamination of wound. Irrigate wound thoroughly with clean water from tap or bottled water for minimum 2-3 minutes removing soil, plant material, and debris from wound site - this is the single most important action reducing infection risk. Apply firm pressure with clean cloth or gauze stopping any bleeding typically within 2-5 minutes. Examine wound for remaining foreign material including embedded thorns or splinters requiring removal using clean tweezers - if deeply embedded or broken fragments present, leave in place for medical removal. Apply antiseptic solution and clean dressing covering wound completely. Report injury immediately to supervisor and complete first aid register entry documenting injury details, first aid provided, and date of occurrence. Verify currency of tetanus vaccination - puncture wounds contaminated with soil present high tetanus risk requiring vaccination within 24-48 hours if not current (boosters required every 10 years). Seek medical assessment for any wound requiring suturing (typically cuts deeper than 6mm or longer than 20mm), wounds on hands or face where scarring concerns exist, embedded foreign material requiring removal, signs of infection including increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pus discharge, or if tetanus vaccination status uncertain. Continue monitoring wound for 7-14 days as delayed infections can develop particularly with plant thorn injuries that introduce bacteria and plant toxins deep into tissue. Some plant species including Grevillea cause inflammatory reactions requiring medical treatment with anti-inflammatory medications. Return to work permitted once bleeding controlled and appropriate dressing applied, though consider task modification avoiding waste handling for 24-48 hours allowing initial wound healing.