Broken glass cuts recycling worker
SAM MORTON
Ouch: Kerbside recycling collector Fabio Silva is nursing a wound to his hand after being stuck by a sharp piece of discarded window glass that was put out in a recycling bin.
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Residents are being asked to check that glass is recyclable before putting it out for collection, after a piece of broken window cut a collection worker's hand.
Blenheim man Fabio Silva was sorting through the recycling bins in the back of the truck in Picton on Tuesday when he came across a large bundle of newspaper.
He didn't realise it was wrapped around broken glass. The glass went through his hand and damaged nerves.
"I felt very faint at the time and afterwards, but the boss helped me clean up and told me to get help," he said. He is off work for three weeks and on ACC.
Mr Silva, who has been in his job for about 18 months, said he hoped people would make his job easier by thinking about what to recycle in future.
Earthcare Environmental managing director Mike Jones said the incident was a concern, but generally the public complied with the recycling rules.
"Glass is really the only dangerous material we collect and it is certainly a hazard at all times.
"However, we always ensure our workers' awareness is high and comprehensive training is given to everyone to deal with these types of situations and to prevent injuries."
RECYCLING TIPS
Do not put the following items in your recycling bin:
Glass: light bulbs, broken glass, window glass, mirrors, ceramics, drinking glasses.
Plastics: plastic films or bags, chippie packets, cereal liners, coffee refills, oil containers, polystyrene, meat trays, bubble wrap.
Paper/card: painted or waxed paper, wrapping paper, drink cartons, tetrapaks, pizza boxes.
Other: nappies, foodscraps, flowers, paint and rope, cups, plates and saucers, toys, fibreboard and hazardous chemicals.
- The Marlborough Express
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I know this man &, he's by far the best worker in this company!!! I know all of them wear gloves @ all times &, for that to have happened with him, the situation was impossible to be avoided!!! The gloves aren't glass proof obviously...he's so good @ this job that, he can do two people's job @ once easily!!! So, Fabio, we from the Nativity Church & your family love you so much & we wish you all the best to a fast & total healing... Ps: All the best to the Earthcare environmental workers too, you're doing a fantastic job!!! Thank you so...
It was actually a rule in the earlier days of rubbish collecting to always wrap glass in newspaper to protect the rubbish collector so the person probably thought they were doing the right thing. He should have been wearing gloves which is an OSH issue, plus looking at the photo there's no sign of any bandaging but the article say nerve damage and three weeks off work? ACC huh?
That's a real shame and all, but these people must deal with glass every day. Shouldn't he have been wearing gloves?
It would be very beneficial if you could also instruct household consumers the best way to dispose of broken glass.
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I work with this man on the very same truck, and he was in fact wearing gloves at the time. Broken glass will cut through just about anything, and we are always very careful about watching what we pick up. Unfortunately this time the glass wasn't seen.
The best way to dispose of broken glass is to wrap it in newspaper, plenty of it, and put it into your rubbish bag. Everyone should have a copy of all the information regarding collections, but if not, call the council, or check it out online.
Also, this article isn't quite correct. It states Tuesday, but it was in fact the Tuesday the week before. Fabio has been off work for more than a week now, so it's likely the wound has healed enough that the bandage isn't needed at the moment.