Dumpster Safety Archives

What Things Should Never Go Into Your Dumpster?

Wondering whether that plastic bottle of cleaning spray can go into the dumpster? At your work place, employees and visitors are wondering similar questions all the time. Find out what items can’t be thrown away and post a list near dumpsters to prevent messy and dangerous situations!

Toxic Chemicals

Items that contain hazardous chemicals include batteries, electronics, and light bulbs. Many household cleaners and hygiene products also contain chemicals that should not be put into landfills.

Flammable Materials

Dumpster fires might start with a match or cigarette butt, but the fuel typically comes from flammable waste thrown into the dumpster. These include oil, lubricants, paint, and fuels including gasoline, butane, and propane.

In restaurants and commercial kitchens, tell staff to never discard oil-soaked rags or aprons. These should be soaked in water first or taken to a hazardous waste drop-off.

Items That Are Illegal to Throw Away

Many of the above items are prohibited by local laws and the rules of your waste removal service. Other illegal or banned items may include sharps, thermometers, smoke detectors, tires, and treated lumber.

Some cities have begun outlawing food waste in the trash, making compost bins mandatory. Stay ahead of the game so your business is prepared for any new environmental rules on the horizon!

Use a Dumpster Mover for Convenience

Dumpsters come with many rules, regulations, and safety concerns. Make things simple with a dumpster mover that just one employee can use.

Our WasteCaddy dumpster mover can tow 5,000 pounds, while the WasteCaddyLite can push a standard commercial dumpster weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Contact us if you’d like a free demo!

Is It Best to Push or Pull a Heavy Dumpster?

DJ Products’ Dumpster Caddy Reduces Workplace Injuries

Deciding whether to push or pull a loaded dumpster can have a significant impact on your health, and the health of your employees. Moving several hundred pounds of trash and metal unassisted is never easy and can be close to impossible if the surface isn’t completely flat and smooth.

Pushing or Pulling – Which is Better?

In most cases, pushing a dumpster will result in less strain on your back and is generally safer since it cannot end up rolling over you if you fall down. Even so, a fully loaded dumpster can weigh half a ton or more, making it extremely difficult to move even with two people on the job.

How to Alleviate the Problem

Dumpster tugs are designed to work around the problem of forcibly moving a dumpster by giving you a way to use a powered device to help move it along. Our tugs are designed to be operated by only one person, making it less likely that you will need multiple employees to handle trash collecting activities. In a hotel or apartment complex environment, this frees up maintenance workers to focus on more pressing matters surrounding the comfort of your guests and residents.

DJ Products has developed dumpster tugs that make moving trash around extremely simple. To find out more about how our products can benefit your business, give us a call at 1-800-686-2651

Dumpster Loading Safety Tips for Your Maintenance Staff

Dumpsters Weigh Tons and Can Cause Terrible Accidents if Not Handled Correctly.

Routine trash removal from multifamily properties, office buildings, and industrial facilities can be an unpleasant and even dangerous job. Trash loads vary by size and weight, making the trash room the most likely area for worker injuries in a multifamily property.

Many of those injuries are fall-related or strains that occur when someone is manually trying to move a heavy dumpster. A battery powered dumpster caddy from DJ Products can significantly reduce the risk of injury and maximize manpower by enabling one person to easily move heavy trash containers.

Other safety tips for maintenance staff

Commercial trash often includes hazardous materials such as broken glass and other sharp objects. Provide your maintenance staff with proper personal protective equipment such as safety glasses and work gloves. Signage should clearly indicate that no smoking is allowed in the trash area and that only authorized personnel are to handle the trash and move dumpsters. The dumpster area should be secure and well lit to prevent trespassing.

Maintain waste containers and the trash area

Damaged trash receptacles should be repaired or replaced. Properly closed lids will deter pests. Workers should avoid lifting waste containers or trash bags above their heads when putting them in dumpsters. You may need to build a platform to elevate workers above dumpster openings to prevent lifting injuries. Keep a fire extinguisher near the trash area and keep the area free of potential trip hazards. It’s a good idea to sweep the entire area each week after trash collection.

A powered dumpster caddy from DJ Products helps your company operate more efficiently and safely. Contact us to speak with one of our courteous and knowledgeable sales engineers about which battery-powered trash mover is best for your facility.

Communities Focus on Reducing Solid Waste – Can You Help?

How quickly does your dumpster get filled up? Many communities are working to save the environment by focusing on reduction of solid waste. Here are some ways you can join the fight.

Tips to Reduce Solid Waste

1. Throw Fewer Things Away

Common sense dictates that the fewer things you throw away, the less garbage you’ll have. Get into the habit of thinking twice before automatically disposing of an item. Has it really outlived its usefulness? Maybe you can repurpose the item or pass it along to someone else who can put it to use.

2. Be Mindful of Packaging

Earthworks Group, a consulting firm that specializes in sustainability projects, says that packaging comprises approximately one-third of the contents of our country’s landfills.

Even if your business doesn’t actually package products, it uses items that come in packages. Look for suppliers that use minimal packaging made from recycled materials.

3. Promote Recycling

Recycling pays double dividends. It keeps items out of landfills and reduces the need for natural resources.

Some of the more common recycling programs include:

• Curbside recycling containers for widely-used items such as newspapers, glass bottles and aluminum containers

• Community recycling centers or recycling zones

• Composing programs that gather organic waste for mulch or landfill cover

Improve Operations with an Electric Dumpster Pusher

No matter how heavy your dumpster gets, a single employee can move it safely and efficiently using a dumpster pusher from DJ Products. Call 800.686.2651 to learn more about products like our best-selling WasteCaddyLite, which can move loads of up to 2,000 pounds.

What to Know About Dumpster and Trash Fires

According to the National Fire Protection Association, dumpsters and trash rooms are among the primary sites of reported fires. Use these tips for preventing dumpster fires to reduce risk of loss and injury in your workplace.

Keep Hazardous Waste out of Dumpsters

Dumpsters are not a catch-all for any type of waste. Gasoline, oil and other flammable liquids don’t belong in the trash room. This rule also applies to sealed or empty containers and items such as rags that are saturated in chemicals.

Not all hazardous waste is liquid. The Environmental Protection Agency cites ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity and toxicity as the primary characteristics that define hazardous waste. Their website includes detailed information regarding identification and disposal.

Watch for Signs of Spontaneous Combustion

Fires don’t always require an accelerant. Organic waste generates heat as it decomposes, which can result in temperatures sufficient to cause combustion.

Many locales have regulations governing disposal of grass clippings, compost and other dead plant matter. Check with your local community to make sure you’re in compliance.

Always Secure Dumpsters

Unfortunately, dumpsters often attract vandals who cause destruction simply for its own sake. If it’s not possible to store the dumpster in a fenced, locked area, be sure to lock down the dumpster lid.

WasteCaddy: “Like Having Another Employee on Staff”

Fires are only one of the reasons why trash rooms are the most dangerous spot in a workplace. Our popular WasteCaddy reduces injury risk factors such as pushing heavy dumpsters or pinching fingers in the lid.

Visit our website to learn more about the WasteCaddy and other battery-powered tugs, pushers and movers from DJ Products.

Tips for Loading Up Your Dumpster

Protect the Safety of Your Employees with the Dumpster Caddy

Did you know that a disproportionate amount of worker injuries occur around dumpsters? You can injure a shoulder while throwing bulky items, or sustain a repetitive-stress spinal injury from maneuvering dumpsters up and down ramps.

That’s why so many organizations use waste container pullers like the WasteCaddy dumpster mover and why your team should know more about dumpster safety.

Tips for Using Dumpsters

Some of the best tips for using a dumpster come from companies that rent dumpsters to the general public, because they have to coach people on loading dumpsters every day. Here’s what we can all learn from a roll-off rental service:

• Put lightweight items on the bottom if possible, so heavier items will compact them

• Spread weight around instead of letting heavy items stack up in one place

• Break down large objects to conserve space and save money, and to prevent long items from sticking out

• Wear gloves, eyewear, and other personal protective equipment when loading a dumpster with loose debris

• Avoid prohibited items from dumpsters such as paint, fuel, asbestos materials, etc.

Automated equipment makes dumpsters less likely to cause injury or property damage. The WasteCaddy dumpster mover from DJ Products eliminates the painful, dangerous task of manually pushing or pulling a loaded dumpster.

There’s a productivity boost, too, because our bin pullers and dumpster tows can free up an employee. Many of our users have gone from two employees moving dumpsters to only needing one worker to do the job.

With the WasteCaddy dumpster mover (or WasteCaddyLite for 2-yard dumpsters and other containers up to 1 ton), you can improve dumpster safety even more!

What Isn’t Safe to Throw Away in Your Dumpster?

Some things shouldn’t be thrown away because recycling them is so easy—like aluminum cans. Other things truly cannot be thrown away because of laws, regulations, or a company’s environmental ethics. If your organization has not established what items are unacceptable for the dumpster, then it’s time to make a list.

At DJ Products, we’re often stressing the importance of safety for employees who use and maneuver dumpsters with our WasteCaddy dumpster mover. It’s also important to be safe about what items go into the dumpster, in terms of both worker injury and eco-friendly practices.

Common Items That You Can’t Throw Away in a Dumpster

Prohibited items can vary depending on state and local laws or the rules of your trash collection service. Whether prohibited or not, you should think twice about these kinds of items:

• Items with environmental hazards: computers, electronics, rechargeable batteries, appliances that contain refrigerant such as mini fridges and window air conditioners, CFL light bulbs and other items containing mercury.

• Flammable items: gasoline, butane, and other fuels, oil and lubricants, and liquids such as paint, varnish, and wood stain.

• Other dangerous materials: medical supplies such as syringes, sharps, and scalpels. For dangerous items like broken glass and ceramics, use heavy paper bags to prevent injury.

• Check with your city or collection company: construction and demolition waste including dirt, rock, concrete, drywall, roofing shingles, etc.

More About Dumpster Safety

Many of our clients purchase a WasteCaddy dumpster mover after discovering that an alarming percentage of worker compensation claims are related to dumpster duty. Contact us at DJ Products or read more about our WasteCaddy dumpster mover and bin pullers.

What Are the Benefits of a Focus on Ergonomics When It Comes to Trash Moving?

Have you looked at your trash room from your employees’ point of view? What looks like an efficient layout may actually be subjecting workers to undue physical stress, putting them at risk for injuries and reduced productivity.

An ergonomically designed workplace takes into account employees’ capabilities and limitations to ensure maximum performance with minimum strain. Here are some valuable benefits ergonomics can have for your company.

How Ergonomics Improves Your Workplace

Injury insurance claims have an impact on the bottom line that goes beyond the obvious. Roughly 33 percent of workers compensation costs are expended on musculoskeletal injuries, while lost productivity and other indirect costs multiply that by up to 20 times.
In addition to physical injuries, poor ergonomics can cause general fatigue and frustration. While employees might be healthy enough to work, they may be too tired and demoralized to put forth full effort.
Concern for your employees’ health and welfare promotes an overall culture of safety, which in turn improves morale. When employees feel appreciated, they’re more engaged in their work and less likely to leave.

Improve Worker Safety with a Dumpster Pusher from DJ Products

Our customers have discovered that a high number of injuries such as back and shoulder strains and pinched fingers were a result of moving bulky dumpsters up and down inclines and around tight corners. Bringing in temporary replacements unfamiliar with the job only made matters worse.

As one customer put it, using our WasteCaddyLite dumpster pusher is “like having another employee on staff.” Visit our website to learn more about how our ergonomically designed dumpster pusher can improve safety at your workplace.

Keeping Your Trash Room Clean Prevents Fires

Make Moving Waste Easier and Safer.

Do you think that there’s not much point wasting time in keeping your trash room clean? A messy trash room is more than just an eyesore. It’s a safety hazard that can even result in fires.

When A Trash Room Goes Up in Flames

The staff at a downtown Phoenix high-rise found out the hard way how dangerous dirty trash rooms can be when their compactor recently caught fire. Firefighters who responded to the scene found light smoke and the sprinklers had gone off. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

Grease, sludge and dirt can build up in a dumpster. Tests show that this residue is flammable at temperatures as low as 180 degrees. If someone carelessly flicks a cigarette butt inside, or smoldering ashes are mistakenly dumped, a fire can start almost instantaneously.

Complicating matters, the grimy build-up can keep the dumpster doors from closing securely, in effect creating a wind tunnel that intensifies the fire. Any paper and cardboard in the dumpster or trash room are also likely to accelerate the flames.

Legal Aspects of Poor Trash Room Maintenance

If the doors on your trash chute don’t close properly, it constitutes a violation of fire safety codes. Noncompliance can be subject to citations, fines and other penalties, but these are insignificant in the face of possible property damage, injuries and fatalities.

Improve Trash Room Safety with a Dumpster Puller from DJ Products

Have trash room injuries impacted your available manpower? Our electric WasteCaddyLite dumpster puller makes it safe for a single employee to maneuver dumpsters up and down inclines and through narrow passages. Visit our website for more information.

Trash Rooms and Compactors are Dangerous!

Protect the Safety of Your Employees with the Dumpster Caddy

Trash collection and disposal seems like it should be a fairly benign activity, but sadly trash rooms and compactors have been the sites of a number of serious injuries and fatalities over the years.

Compactor Accidents Can Have Tragic Results

One of the more devastating accidents occurred at Grocery Outlet in Redwood, CA. Mendie Udo, a 43-year-old janitor who had worked at the store for several years, was discovered inside the trash compactor by another employee. Responding firefighters declared him dead at the scene.

Although there were no witnesses, a spokesperson for Cal/OSHA said there was no doubt that Udo was crushed in the compactor and there were no signs of foul play. Based on the position of the body, authorities speculate that Udo leaned into the machine.

Enforce Compactor Safety Rules in Your Workplace

Any employee who uses a compactor should be thoroughly trained in its proper operation. Here are some other safety measures that should be implemented in your workplace:

• The operating key should never be left in an unattended machine.

• Always examine the inside of the compactor’s bin before starting.

• Employees should never climb into the compactor or put any body parts inside the bin.

• Turn off the power and use long-handled tools to clear jams.

• Point of operation guards should be firmly in place at all times.

Prevent Workplace Injuries with a WasteCaddy from DJ Products

Transporting dumpsters and waste bins to the trash room can also cause injuries. Visit our website to learn how our battery-powered WasteCaddy can improve efficiency and cut down on workplace injuries and costly medical claims.

Tag: Dumpster Safety