Safety guidance for operators in the waste sector could be in-line for review, with a senior health and safety expert in the waste industry indicating that information will be ‘more accessible’ in future.

Safety guidance documents are routinely kept up to date with a review every 18 months to account for developments in technology, procedure and experience.

But, since 2014, WISH – which is made up representatives from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), local authorities and the waste management and recycling industry – has signalled a slight change in tack for how these guidance documents are presented.

Part of the review process involves ‘tidying up’ the documents, and, according to the chair of WISH, Chris Jones of Cory Environmental, future health and safety guidance will focus on “accessibility” and giving people quick access to vital information.

Previously upwards of 25 guidance documents on specific subjects existed, following review processes some of these have been withdrawn and either replaced or consolidated with updated documents.

There are now currently 19 documents hosted on the WISH site, covering a range of specific issues as dealing with landfill fires, operating materials recycling facilities (MRFs) and reducing noise from kerbside glass collections.

Mr Jones added: “What we are trying to do now is trying to create a thin piece of guidance that has all the principles and key points. Instead of having a document over 90 pages, we ended up with a much shorter document.”