As summer brings longer days, many of us spend more time enjoying outdoor activities. Whether it’s children playing in the garden, families going for walks, or neighbors gathering for barbecues, our communities are bustling with activity. At Bord na Móna Recycling, we want to ensure that everyone stays safe during waste collection days. Here are some important safety tips to keep in mind to improve the safety of pedestrians, children and our employees.
Child Safety
Waste collection vehicles can be attractive for children, with many fascinated about where waste goes and how machinery operates. Many children do not understand the potential risks associated with these vehicles and their lifting equipment and may run into the street.
Here are a number of thing that you can do:
- Teach your family, especially young children, about the importance of staying safe around waste collection vehicles.
- Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries for where children can play, ensuring they stay away from the street and waste collection areas on collection days. It is good practice to refrain from playing or cycling on the road when the waste vehicle is in operation. Where possible, we kindly encourage you to observe your children during collection days.
- Discuss Safety Rules: Have regular conversations about street safety and the importance of being aware of large vehicles.
- Maintaining a Safe Distance: Remind your children that they should keep their distance from the waste collection vehicle at all times. This ensures our team has enough space to work and reduces the risk of accidents.
- Children may want to try and assist our helpers to pick up waste or move bins. The loading area of the truck is an unsafe zone and it is essential that children are taught not to approach this area. They are also not permitted to sit into the cab of the vehicle, stand on the rear step or press any buttons.
Driver and Helper Safety
Waste collection vehicles will travel with a driver and multiple helpers. Our control measures require helpers to walk alongside waste collection vehicles and they spend most of their working day out of the truck collecting and returning bins. For the safety of all involved;
- Please remain patient when in the presence of waste collection vehicles.
- Drive Slowly: Our waste collection trucks move slowly through neighbourhoods, allowing us to complete our routes safely. However it is equally important for all drivers to reduce their speed and stay alert.
- Do not pass out the waste collection truck on the inside as it is dangerous to do so.
- Keep your distance from the back of the truck at all times and remember that helpers travel on the rear step of the vehicle.
- Be extra vigilant for our helpers, as they will be operating outside the truck.
At Bord na Móna Recycling, the safety of our community and employees is our top priority. By following these simple yet effective #summersafety tips, we can all enjoy a safer, happier summer. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our communities safe.
