Renting a roll-off dumpster is an excellent option whether you're working on a short-term project that's generating a lot of trash or you need something for long-term garbage collection but don't want to buy a dumpster. However, these massive containers can cause injuries if not used correctly, which may lead to expensive lawsuits against your company. Here are three tips for keeping yourself, your employees, and people in the community safe while using these dumpsters.
Put in the Right Spot
The first step to minimizing the risk of accidents or other safety issues occurring with your dumpster rental is to place the container in a secure area and preferably one where it is concealed and/or can be locked away. Dumpsters are attractive to different groups of people for different reasons, and these people may try to access the container and injure themselves in the process.
For instance, a dumpster at a manufacturing plant may be attractive to thieves looking to scavenge metal waste to sell to recycling facilities. If your company is located in an area frequented by children, kids may play on the dumpster or try to grab stuff inside it and hurt themselves. Even if you have warning signs posted, you could still face legal repercussions—at least where kids are concerned—due to attractive nuisance laws.
To keep unwanted people out of your dumpster, have it delivered to an out of the way spot and invest in erecting a lockable fence around it. Try to find a place that's away from the building, cars, equipment, trees, and other items that could get damaged when the dumpster is delivered and removed.
Load It Evenly
Another thing you can do to minimize the risk of injuries is to make sure the dumpster is loaded evenly. When the weight of items placed in the dumpster is distributed unevenly, it can tip over without warning—crushing anyone with the misfortune of being around—or damage property (e.g. cause the ground to crack underneath).
It's important to train your employees to carefully place items in the dumpster so the trash builds up along the entire length and width of the container. You should also have someone check the dumpster on a regular basis and redistribute the trash as necessary if it appears to be building up in a lopsided fashion.
You should also avoid overfilling the container. Roll-off dumpsters have limits on the amount of weight they can hold, and certain materials (e.g. bricks, metals) can cause you to easily exceed the limit even if you don't fill the dumpster completely. Going above the weight limit can made it difficult, if not impossible, for the container to be safely dumped when the time comes. The rental company should provide you with information about the maximum weight a container can hold. Be sure to enquire about it, though, if the representative forgets to tell you this important piece of information.
Ban Smoking Around the Container
Lastly, make the area around the dumpster a no-smoking zone. Although the dumpster area may afford employees a bit of privacy away from customers and other looky-loos, it's important they avoid lighting up around the garbage container. Oftentimes, dumpsters are filled with flammable materials that will catch on fire if a cigarette that hasn't been fully extinguished is flicked on them. The last thing you want is suffer extensive property loss due to a dumpster fire.
Roll-off containers are a convenient way to collect refuse generated by your company and projects. Use these safety tips to minimize injuries and avoid legal problems. For more information about this issue or to rent a container, contact a dumpster rental company such as TCM Sweeping and Disposal.
