Almost 90 per cent of UK waste industry workers feel safe in the workplace
ESA survey reveals that operatives in the recycling and waste management sector largely feel happy with health and safety standards, although welfare facilities and mental health improvements are still needed.
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has published the findings of its second biennial Health and Safety Culture survey, providing insights into the current health and safety culture within the UK’s recycling and waste management sector.
Conducted between July and September 2024 by Snap Surveys, the survey builds on data established in 2022, with nearly 2,500 industry participants sharing their perspectives.
The survey revealed a broadly positive outlook on health and safety within the sector, with 87 per cent of respondents reporting feeling safe in their workplace. More than 90 per cent also felt happy raising health and safety concerns within their organisation if they had any, while 85 per cent felt they had adequate training that enabled them to undertake work safely.
ESA Policy Advisor, Stephen Freeland, commented on the results: “While it is perhaps a little disappointing that there is no significant change to report in safety culture in the intervening two-year period between the first and second surveys, it is nonetheless encouraging that satisfaction levels across most of the nine statements have remained consistently high.”
The survey recorded industry reactions to nine statements, including reporting and investigating incidents, safety information, mental health, health and safety training, use of equipment, raising safety concerns, safety at work, the industry’s safety performance, and welfare facilities.
Welfare facilities and attitudes towards mental health received the lowest scores at 73 per cent satisfaction, although most respondents still regarded these areas positively.
Freeland added: “Clearly there remains some work for our industry to do in respect of welfare facilities and attitudes towards mental health, both of which are areas ESA has produced guidance and resources to support over the last year.”
Despite the survey highlighting feelings of safety, in 2023/24, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found waste and recycling to be the UK’s second most dangerous industry, with the sector recording 3.65 fatalities per 100,000 workers - nine times the all-industry rate.
HSE is expected to take targeted actions in line with governmental focus on mental health and the results of their own survey, which align with ESA’s plans to integrate these findings into its 2025/26 H&S work plan.
