WASTE MANAGEMENT – REFUSE VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
Sensing safety
Waste collectors take to the streets on a daily
basis – picking up and disposing of household and
industrial waste. Operating such large vehicles when
pedestrians, cyclists and other motor users are
around requires the utmost attention. Cameras and
detector systems can help improve operational safety
TBy Adam O ord
ransport associated
with collection activities
(municipal and commercial)
and operations at a range
of waste management
and recycling sites represent the
most signi cant risk of serious or fatal
accidents to workers and members
of the public, according to the UK’s
Health and Safety Executive (HSE;
www.is.gd/ebaked).
It points out that there were a
total of 57 fatalities in the waste
management and recycling industry
between 2001/02 and 2009/10 caused
by ‘being hit by a moving vehicle’. At least
21 of those 57 fatalities, furthermore,
were associated with the collection of
municipal or commercial refuse.
The safety body o ers some
‘main considerations’ to help prevent
transport-related accidents. They
include carrying out a route risk
assessment to highlight major hazards
and indicate how they may be avoided or
the risks minimised, as well as identifying
areas where it is reasonably practicable
to carry out single-sided street collection
to minimise the risks of refuse collectors
crossing the road.
Another consideration surrounds safe
reversing and use of reversing assistants.
The risks associated with reversing
vehicles can be reduced, it explains,
by eliminating or reducing reversing
manoeuvres wherever possible; devising
and following safe systems of work; and
Roof-mounted side
camera off ers another
perspective
Turn sounder and
warning sticker
while corner, side and rear sensors warn
of any risk nearby, especially in vehicle
blind spots. The system can also be linked
to a speci c driving manoeuvres, so a
driver can view the appropriate camera
when the left-hand indicator or reverse
gear is engaged, while audible alarms with
a spoken message can also warn other
road users of potential danger.”
Vehicle tracking and asset monitoring
solutions provider Ctrack is now seeing
a growing demand for integrated camera
solutions to reduce risk, improve driving
styles and provide video proof of
incidents. The company’s rear camera
o ers IR (infrared) night vision up to 10
metres and 120°-wide viewing angle that
can be linked to an in-cab monitor when
reversing to provide a visual aid to the
driver, while an audible alert can warn
other road users to take caution.
“An external camera should possess
the appropriate IP-rating ingress
protection to ensure it is protected in all
using reversing aids, such as mirrors,
CCTV, detectors and alarms.
ALL-ROUND VIEW
Visual and audible aids can be of great
help to refuse vehicle operators because
there are typically several blind spots
around such a large vehicle. These
systems not only aid in reversing
activities, but also they can help with
front, near and far-side observation.
Vernon Bonser, sales director at
in-vehicle CCTV technology supplier
VisionTrack (pictured, right, p58),
explains: “A combination of vehicle
cameras and sensors can give the driver
a 360°-view around the refuse collection
vehicle via an in-cab monitor, providing
visibility of cyclists, motorcyclists,
pedestrians and other road users that
they might not be able to see normally.
“Front, side and rear cameras ensure a
refuse vehicle is covered from all angles,
56 www.operationsengineer.org.uk Autumn 2020
/ebaked)
/www.operationsengineer.org.uk