HOBI Weekly Blog Recap (11/27-11/30)
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, work-related injuries in the recycling industry were high in 2022. It’s not surprising, considering workers encounter hazards in electronic waste recycling that cause serious injuries, hearing loss, and expose workers to harmful dust and toxic compounds. These hazards are capable of causing severe and permanent illness and can form without the individual’s knowledge. Therefore, it is always a good idea for employers to provide a safe and healthy workplace by recognizing hazardous materials and setting safety measures in place.
E-waste disassembling, shredding, and glass breakage generate fine dust, which can cause illness because the dust could contain metals such as lead, cadmium, or beryllium and various chemicals. If the dust gets into the hand or food, it’s easy to inhale or swallow. To help reduce the exposure, employers should keep eating areas clean and provide warm water, soap, and clean towels. Before employees manually disassemble CRTs and flat screens, they should be provided with tools that allow the safe dismantling of the components.
Most people might not consider the serious effects workplace noise has on workers’ hearing. Loud noises such as hammering, drilling, and using power tools can cause permanent damage to a person’s hearing. In order to reduce the noise, minimize the vibration of the workbench by arranging a layer of plywood or rubber matting on top of the workbench. Use engineer control when levels exceed the arranged exposure limit. If this is not sufficient, provide hearing protection such as ear muffs and ear plugs or rotate workers from loud areas every so often.
Electronic waste can be physically difficult to handle and has a big impact on muscle strains. Equipment such as dollies, hand trucks, lifters, and turntables help prevent muscle strain by making it easier to handle these sorts of materials. Special gloves can also help minimize the amount of strength needed from workers to grip objects.
It is essential for employers to inspect the workplace and ensure that everything is up to date and the work conditions are safe for workers to operate in. Written documents and injury and illness prevention programs that explain the safety measures in place help provide transparency and peace of mind to employees as well as clients. Training employees about safety in the workplace and how to handle hazardous materials can also help prevent accidents.
As the foundation for health, environmental safety, and data security, recycling companies are required to have certain certifications in order to provide safe and compliant operations. HOBI is an R2v3, RIOs, and ISO 14001 certified company. HOBI has more than 30 years of experience in the IT asset management and disposition industry and focuses on maximizing the return value on your retired IT assets and ensuring they are disposed of properly.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.
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