Take Care of That Dumpster Safely
Whether you take out the trash yourself or manage a large janitorial team, the property manager’s job includes making sure that waste gets disposed of responsibly and safely. The unwieldy weight of dumpsters creates a perfect storm of physical labor that often leads to serious injuries.
Ergonomic solutions exist to ease this burden. Dumpster tugs use a battery-powered motor that handles the load while the employee simply steers.
The facts are clear — moving dumpsters manually is dangerous:
- Wheels do not remove enough of the physical force required to move a dumpster safely.
- Workers who move dumpsters without motorized equipment are more likely to get injured or develop a muscle disorder.
- Risks include strained and torn muscles, herniated discs, and other significant injury.
- Bumpy or inclined ground increases the risk of injury.
What Regulations Exists for Workers Moving Dumpsters?
The exact laws will vary by country and state. Generally, the applicable laws for workers in both the U.S. and Canada require employers to provide a safe work environment. Equipment must be provided and kept in good condition, and the employees should be properly trained on how to use the equipment.
Where the law requires “every precaution reasonable” to protect your workers, this may mean that you need motorized dumpster tugs to sidestep the need for manual pushing and pulling. A worker injury will result in lost time and productivity — and perhaps even a costly compensation claim or lawsuit.
Canada’s OHSA recommends powered equipment such as dumpster tugs, and OSHA in the U.S. also recommends powered equipment for material handling applications.
Explore options for waste container movers and pullers among at DJProducts.com.