Dumpsters are useful and aid in safety and cleanliness, but they are dangerous if used improperly. Contact with debris, improper lifting, entering the dumpster, and falling lids cause injuries. Use proper precautions when using an industrial garbage container (dumpster). Failure to consider safety risks may result in serious injury or death.

Understand the Safety Concerns

Contact with debris and waste may lead to bruising, cuts, scrapes, broken bones, and head injuries from falling. Improper lifting can lead to strained and pulled muscles, back injuries, and neck injuries. Falling lids pose a danger, too. Fallings lids may lead to concussions, bruises, broken bones, and other serious injuries.

Entering a dumpster can be fatal. A person who climbs into a dumpster risks entrapment within the dumpster. Though rare, it is possible for a person inside a dumpster to experience injuries from garbage trucks trying to empty the dumpster. Those who enter a dumpster also face cuts, scrapes, abrasions, punctures, bruises, broken bones and possible head injuries.

Container Safety Features ? Heed Safety Standards

Make sure your dumpsters have warning labels that tell users not to enter the dumpster, reminding them to close all lids and doors after use.

Use an open-top dumpster for industrial situation unless the loads are heavy. Open-top dumpsters are less likely to encourage users to enter the dumpster.

Use a side load or rear-swing dumpster for heavy loads, allowing users to lift garbage into the dumpster safely.

Build a ramp up to rear-swing dumpsters for super heavy loads.

Use a wheelbarrow and ramps or other lifting equipment for unusually heavy loads.

More Safety Tips

1. Use caution when placing debris in the dumpster
2. Never enter the dumpster
3. Wear work gloves when reaching into the dumpster
4. Use proper lifting techniques
5. Use ramps when necessary for excessively heavy garbage
6. Close all lids and doors when not in use

This article was written by Sherman Rogers of All-waste, LLC; a dumpster rental company who provides dumpster delivery service and same-day dumpster pick-up service to residential, commercial, retail and industrial customers. Sherman has the size, shape and competitive priced dumpster for any size job. Other services include container service, trash pick-up, hauling rubble, waste removal and delivery of landscaping supplies including mulch, sod, top-soil, crush aggregate and more. Visit http://thegarbageman.com/ for more information about services offered.