Despite many advances in waste collection practices and technology, those who work in waste collection will constantly be exposed to a certain hazard level.
In particular, if bin lifters are not handled correctly, or there is an incompatibility between the bin lifter and the bin regarding size, waste removal workers risk injury from being struck by bins as the lifter moves or getting entangled in the lifter itself.
Therefore, proper training and equipment maintenance goes a long way in improving safety. The most effective solution, however, is to invest in smart lifting solutions that can handle large volumes of waste without the excessive physical exertion needed by waste removal workers. Let us take a closer look at how that works. But first:
What are smart bin lifters?
Smart bin lifters are designed to lift, tip out and lower garbage bins with minimum manual pushing or pulling movements. They run on a power source and are designed to handle large volumes of waste without spilling or contaminating.
There are different models of smart bin lifting solutions by Simpro for different applications and scenarios, from school cafeterias to industrial plants, within construction to food processing units.
Benefits of using smart bin lifters
Filled rubbish bins are hard to manage, not to mention unpleasant to come in close contact with. Some may expose workers to additional dangers such as those carrying glass or contaminated materials. Working manually to empty rubbish bins puts waste collection employees at risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
Also, it puts them at risk of infection due to possibly harmful rubbish exposure. By contrast, smart bin lifters made garbage bins a breeze to handle, at least by comparison. Here is how they make things easier:
- Greater efficiency in collection and disposal – Bin lifters can handle large volumes of waste at a go, which means waste collection employees can service more households/businesses on each of their rounds, which saves time and money.
- More hygienic conditions – Bin lifters can lift and tilt full rubbish bins straight into a skip within seconds. This eliminates the need for manual contact and keeps everyone safe.
- Greater cost-efficiency – A sturdy bin lifter can lift and tilt up to 600 kilograms of rubbish in one go. This one-time investment allows waste collection teams to switch to larger bins and reduce overheads.
How to choose the right bin lifter
Not all bin lifters are made equal. Here are the points you must consider when picking the perfect lifter for your business:
- Determine the right size – There are different capacities of bin lifters available depending on whether you need one for regular use (such as at a school cafeteria or recycling plant) or factory use (such as an industrial unit that generates large volumes of scrap metal). Depending on the size of your waste material, you may also want to invest in a custom cradle or wheelie bin lifters.
- Determine how often you need to tip per day – The smaller models require manual effort, so we recommend them if you tip up to ten times daily. Any more than that, and we recommend going for a hydraulic bin lifter. These are designed to handle massive loads independently with minimal risk of malfunctioning.
- Determine how high your dumpster or skip bin is – Different models of bin lifters can handle different heights. And if you are worried about your garbage toppling over, do not! All the top garbage can lifters come with standard full-guarding and door interlock systems.
- Know the work and space requirements for your lifter – If you are working in an area with restricted pedestrian/public access, you can opt for a full-swing bin lifter. If you work in school, commercial or residential areas, though, you will want to use lift-and-tilt bin lifters that keep their lifting motion within the footprint of the lifter.
How to maintain safety and hygiene at your workplace
While bin lifters are critical to more efficient waste collection, you must maintain and skip your bins regularly. Here is what we recommend:
- Declare the type and amount of waste disposed of in the skip. Generally, household waste, bricks, concrete, tiles, steel, aluminium, green waste, dirt and sand are acceptable. It is essential to be clear and accurate about this, as certain waste items are considered biohazards and would not be accepted. Be sure to sort out your waste by type – it makes things easier for everyone!
- Have enough waste bins so you do not need to overstuff them. In fact, overstuffed bins may not even be accepted by the waste disposal company. Wash them regularly with soapy water (ideally a jet spray), and have a proper clean-up at least once every two weeks.
- If any waste bins have leaks or odours, discard them immediately.
- Note any weight restrictions on the skip and sort out your waste to use the available space optimally, such as keeping flat items at the bottom before adding heavy objects and avoiding air pockets by loading the bin with smaller items or crushed paper/cardboard.
- Work with someone who can help recycle your waste better and learn best practices to sort out recyclables before you tip your rubbish.
- Do not put any forbidden items in the skip, including fibreglass, paints, oils, chemicals, empty chemical containers, batteries, explosives, and so on. If you believe your waste has one or more items, consult someone specialising in hazardous waste.
The future of bin lifters and workplace safety
Bin lifters have been a game changer for the waste collection industry, and going forward, we are likely to see even more investment in designing better models that do more of the work. Hydraulic bin lifters, for instance, are becoming increasingly popular for industrial applications.
And as power sources like solar power kits and lithium-ion batteries become increasingly cheaper, keeping bin lifters charged will be easier and more affordable for everyone. A bin lifter is an absolute must-have if your business works in waste management or handles large volumes of waste.
Undoubtedly, it can be expensive, but it will be worth it! If you want to enquire about our bin-lifting solutions, contact us today!
