Worker Protection

Eliminate the Hazard, Reduce the Hazard, Protect against the Hazard

Composting involves mechanical equipment, physical labor and handling of diverse biological materials. It is usually practiced outdoors for long hours, in all types of weather. Even when composting takes place indoors the environment can be difficult for workers. By its nature, composting exposes operators to assorted microorganisms (e.g. molds and bacteria), dust, vapors, noise, sharp objects, heavy objects, fog, sunlight, heat, extreme cold, strain, fatigue and mechanical and electrical machinery. Thus, composting inherently entails safety and health hazards. Even when composting facilities employ sound practices, there will always be risks associated with day to day operations, and occasional accidents. However, awareness of the hazards, prevention and preparedness keep the risks from becoming safety incidents and health problems.

Although there are a few general safety and health guidelines, different composting operations face different sets of hazards. Facilities vary in scale, the feedstocks handled, composting methods, types of equipment, climate, worker skills and training, seasonality, hours of operation and level of management. The feedstocks handled, methods employed, the equipment used and the work practices followed strongly affect the specific safety and health hazards encountered and the associated levels of risk.

Safety and health hazards should be addressed using a hierarchy of control measures. Ideally, the source of the hazard should be eliminated first; for instance, by altering the process, redesigning equipment, changing tools, installing ventilation, isolating the machine, or adding machine guards. If the hazard can’t be eliminated, it should be reduced through management practices like improving working procedures or establishing administrative controls, such as job rotation or reduced work time. To guard against any potential hazards that remain, the next step is adequate protection, like using personal protective equipment.

In the U.S., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversees and establishes occupational health and safety regulations on a federal level. In addition, individual states establish their own worker safety regulations, although most states tend follow OSHA’s lead and adopt most of the federal requirements.

For a private industry or commercial composting facility, the OSHA standards apply.
For a public (city, town, county, or state) entity, other than the federal government, the state may have developed its own safety or may have adopted Federal OSHA standards. To determine which regulations apply to a given public facility, check with the state’s Department of Labor or the OSHA’s website (www.osha.gov).
For workplaces under its jurisdiction, OSHA can cite and/or fine employers for failure to comply with regulations. Where a state has assumed this responsibility, the state can cite or fine workplaces for noncompliance. If a specific health and safety regulation does not exist, a citation or fine may be issued for noncompliance with the “general duty clause” of the OSHA Act.