In this article from Croner-i, Caroline Raine looks at the challenges of how to manage hazardous waste safely, with a particular focus on dealing with the disposal of lithium batteries.

Health and safety on waste sites and when managing waste has never been so important. There are so many hidden dangers and hazards from, for example:

• Asbestos
• Chemicals, such as brake fluid or print toner
• Batteries
• Solvents
• Pesticides
• Oils
• Equipment containing ozone depleting substances, such as fridges
• Hazardous waste containers.

National Operational Guidance (NOG) that has been written for the UK Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) reports over 300 waste fires per year. And according to independent body, Material Focus, batteries cause “three and half times more” fires in the waste stream than previously reported. They also found that more than 700 fires in bin lorries and recycling centres were caused by batteries that had been dumped into general waste.

One of the biggest challenges when dealing with waste fire are deep seated fires which start at the centre of a rubbish pile (typically there are two types of waste fires, surface fires and deep-seated fires).
 

Top tips on how to deal with waste on site

Don’t let waste build up. When dealing with waste on a waste site, ensure that there is a process in place to separate, segregate and dispose of the waste. The risk of fire is greater when there is more waste for longer periods of time. The more waste there is, the further a fire will spread and larger piles are more likely to self-combust if stored for longer periods of time. To reduce the risk, reduce the amount of waste being stored.

Segregation is important - ensure there are gaps/spaces between piles of waste. Most guidance suggests having breaks of at least 6m.

Ensure the site is secure and has CCTV; arson can be a big problem on waste sites.

Ensure that the site has a strict no smoking policy.

The UK FRS NOG fires on waste sites guidance is a useful resource, as is the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) document, Reducing fire risk at waste management sites.
 

Risk assessments

Carry out a risk assessment that:

•    Identifies all potential ignition sources
•    Looks at segregation and breaks — do not stack too high and make sure you leave gaps
•    Looks at the suitability of fire detection, suppression systems and firefighting equipment
•    Considers the risk of fire outside of site working hours, and has controls in place to minimise the risks
•    Looks at staff training and competence.