A Widnes-based laboratory has launched a practical safety checklist to help waste and recycling operators identify airborne health risks linked to everyday site activities.
D&F Associates Limited, operating from Widnes since 1999, has developed a Bioaerosol Hazard Source Checklist to support formal risk assessments under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
Bioaerosols are microscopic airborne particles containing bacteria and fungi, generated when waste is stored, handled, sorted or cleaned. They are classified as substances hazardous to health, yet the routine activities that create exposure are not always clearly identified during day-to-day operations.
The checklist brings together common waste-handling tasks associated with elevated bioaerosol levels. It is designed to help site managers review where exposure risks may arise and assess whether existing control measures remain appropriate.
Sandra Davies, Managing Director of D&F Associates, said:
“Handling and processing waste inevitably generates bioaerosols, particularly where materials are moved or agitated. This checklist helps operators step back and review routine activities to ensure potential exposure sources are properly considered within COSHH assessments.”
D&F Associates provides specialist laboratory analysis and technical consultancy to the waste and recycling sector. The checklist draws on over 25 years of industry experience and is available to download at: dandfassociates.co.uk/bioaerosol-hazard-source
Sandra added: “We hope the checklist is useful for people working in the waste and recycling industry to identify whether a potential health hazard is present.”
