WRAP has released a report revealing that those working in recycled glass collections are at risk of exposure to high noise levels.

Hoare Lea Acoustics was commissioned by WRAP to carry out UK-wide surveys of recycled glass collections. The surveys were conducted across 21 recycling/refuse collection operations in order to determine noise exposure levels and bring information and understanding to the ‘perceived problem of occupational noise associated with different systems of kerbside glass collection’.

According to the report , the study provided an overview of the ‘typical noise levels caused by the various methods of collection and the different vehicle designs currently in operation in the UK’ and highlighted which systems were generating excessive noise and therefore posed ‘long term health risk[s] to workers.’

Survey overview

Acoustic consultants from Hoare Lea shadowed workers during glass collection activities and measured the sound pressure levels to which each crew member was exposed. Noise levels were measured for specific activities which, while varying slightly between collection systems, included: ‘a single kerbside box sort at the vehicle, a quick drop of materials to a trough or stillage, a hydraulic bin lift and tip to RCV, and slave bin fills’.

Among the 21 recycling/refuse collection operations measured, the following systems were included:

• Single stream co-mingled
• Two stream partially co-mingled
• Kerbside type kerbside sort vehicle
• Stillage type kerbside sort vehicle
• Commercial glass
• Bottle bank collection
• Refuse collection utilising wheeled bins

Results of the study were measured against upper and lower exposure action values, points at which employers are required to take steps to reduce noise exposure in compliance with HSE Noise at Work Regulations. These values are:

Lower exposure action values:

• Daily or weekly exposure of 80 decibels (dB)
• Peak sound pressure of 135 dB

Upper exposure action values:

• Daily or weekly exposure of 85 dB
• Peak sound pressure of 137 dB

Regulations require that employers ensure minimal noise exposure as much as possible, and that organizational and technical action be taken when an employee is exposed to 85 dB on a daily or weekly basis. If daily personal noise exposure reaches 87 dB, employers are required to cease work immediately and not proceed until measure are in place to ensure that this is not repeated.

Survey results

Overall, the study determined that all collection systems have the potential to produce noise exposure levels in excess of the lower exposure action values. Results from the varying operations and collections services, however, yielded a broad sweep of results.

The highest levels of noise exposure were produced by: the co-mingled two stream system, where crewmembers loaded boxes into slave bins (due to the proximity of workers to the slave bins while filling them directly); stillage kerbside sort vehicles that lacked noise reduction features; all Kerbsider type vehicles (with or without noise reduction features). All of these systems produced noise exposure levels in the range of, or in excess of upper exposure action values.

Co-mingled single stream and conventional wheeled bin refuse collections systems, stillage vehicles with noise reduction features, commercial glass collection, and bottle bank collection all yielded results in the range of lower exposure action values.

Noise reduction measures such as sound-blocking headgear and vehicle technology (including lined troughs, rubber linings, and top-loading vehicles) were considered in the study for the role they may be able to play in enabling employers to meet health and safety regulations. Vehicle technologies met with mixed reviews (seemingly successful for stillage vehicles but not at all for Kerbsider type vehicles), and sound-blocking headgear was noted to be useful but not always practical during time-sensitive collection circuits.

The report states its results in agreement with previous HSE guidelines:

“The outcome of the study clearly supports the previously issued guidance by the HSE that there is risk of exposure to levels of noise at both the Lower and Upper action levels for operatives involved in the collection of glass for recycling. In the case of collections systems utilising Kerbsider type vehicles the risk is significant. This study also shows that there is a risk of exposure to levels of noise at the Lower Action Level for operatives involved in any of the collection activities measured.”

WRAP hopes that the findings ‘will inform the industry of these risks and will feed into future vehicle and equipment design and decisions regarding collection systems’.

Download WRAP’s ‘Noise exposure in glass collections for recycling’ report.