Commercial Compactor Safety Tips

By Kenzo Kawasaki

Image courtesy wikimedia

So, you decided to buy a commercial trash compactor to help you save money and the environment  Bravo!  Your foresight will help save you time and money as well as keeping your property cleaner and pest-free.  Now let’s take the time to cover what you need to do to make sure your employees are out of harm’s way in the operation of your compactor. 
by requiring fewer trips to the local landfill.

Putting the Squeeze on You

Commercial trash compactors are powerful machines designed to apply thousands of pounds of pressure to compress everything from cardboard and plastic to lumber and masonry.  They’re designed to save you space and money by reducing the sheer volume of the waste your business produces.  Because their primary goal is to compress refuse into as small a space as possible, this means you need to keep your staff away from it when it is operating. 

      1.       Is everyone on the same page?  While the machine itself is a tool that is harmless while idle, just like any other power tool in your shop, when it’s running it poses a potential hazard.  Therefore, rule number one in the operation of a commercial compactor is to make sure that everyone in your employ is trained to refrain from approaching it when it is on.  I know this sounds like a common-sense thing that nearly everyone knows instinctively.  But as any business owner knows, there’s always one employee who fails to get the memo.  My recommendation is that you take the time to cover with your staff the care and feeding of a commercial compactor, as well as the do’s and don’ts of operating such a powerful piece of equipment. 

     

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2.       Does everyone heed the warning signs – Before starting the compactor, make sure the machine is good to go.  Is the container correctly positioned to begin compacting?  Is the compactor-attaching mechanism fully and correctly coupled to the container?  Is the trash chute empty or is refuse still clinging stubbornly to it?  Are all the access panels that are designed to be closed, actually closed?  Is everyone standing away from the machine and the control panel prior to activating the compactor?  Is the compactor door fully closed?

While your staff can perform all the required safety steps that insure the machine is used safely 99 out of 100 times, even one slip up can result in a member of your staff being injured.  When it comes to ensuring the safety of your employees, I recommend you mimic the NASA credo that states, “Failure is NOT an option.”  If you see any members of your staff becoming complacent or lackadaisical when near your commercial compactor, make it a point to vocally reprimand them before reminding them that the machine is not a toy.  Only those trained in operating the compacter should be allowed near the controls.  It’s a tool that can make everyone’s job a lot easier provided everyone follows the rules.

      3.       Maintaining the machine – Aside from making safety priority number one, the second rule that needs to be followed is to maintain the machine.  Just like your automobile, a commercial compactor has many moving parts. It also has a complicated system of electrical and hydraulic components that can wear out.  Whether you own your compactor, or you lease it, you are still responsible for keeping an eye on the machine.  If you or your staff notice any unusual noises being made by the machine, or any component acting in a manner other than it usually does, you need to shut the machine down and contact maintenance.  If the compactor shuts down in the middle of a cycle, you need to shut the machine down and contact maintenance.  Just like your car, where odd noises or a sudden alteration in the normal operation of a component is a harbinger of a breakdown, the same can be said of a commercial compactor.  Also like a car, the longer you put off performing routine or needed maintenance, the bigger the repair bill will be when the machine is finally serviced.

Image courtesy Max Pixel

      4.       A commercial compactor is not a DIY project – From the day your compactor arrives and is    From the outset, an installer will arrive at your facility to site, install and test your compactor.  The installer will also provide initial training to you and your staff on the safe operation of the machine.  Then the installer or a trainer will introduce you to the controls, as well as to components like hydraulic rams that compacts your refuse.  Other than clearing an occasional jam, there is no part of the machine that is designed to be maintained by anyone other than a trained technician.  (If you lease the device, the maintenance will be included in the contract.  If you own the machine, the installer will give you a list of preferred local maintenance companies.)
installed on-site, to the required maintenance performed on it from time to time, the machine needs an expert to service it.

      5.       Are your employees dressed for success? – Another thing is everyone who’s is trained and authorized to operate your compactor needs to wear the proper protective gear before powering up the machine.  That means earplugs, hardhats, work gloves and safety goggles need to be in place before activation.   Your facility also may need to be decked out with stairs and railings designed to help designated workers safely clear any jams.  Last but not least, only use the tools specially designed to move material near the machine’s danger zone.  (Never let an employee put their hand, arm or leg into the compactor to dislodge a jam.)

      6.       Unlike most businesses, in the compactor business a lockout is a good thing. – Any time your compactor needs to be inspected, cleaned or maintained, a lockout procedure is required.  This means ensuring all interlocks and emergency stop devices are working properly. It also means powering down the machine.  Only then is it safe to have trained and authorized people approach and possibly enter the machine.  If your compactor is tagged for maintenance or repair, make sure that the machine is locked out and powered down.

Commercial compactors are a boon to businesses provided that they’re used correctly.  Aside from routine and necessary maintenance, if you want to keep your machine running smoothly for years to come it’s advised that you have your staff perform routine inspections to identify potential maintenance issues.  You’ll also want to tell your staff that a clean compactor is a happy compactor.  This means letting them know that the area around the machine needs to be kept clean and tidy.  If you want your staff to safely operate your compactor, it’s a good idea to host monthly training sessions and toolbox talks that can address issues and answer questions about its operation.  Because when it comes to operating a commercial compactor, safety is job one.

Kenzo Kawasaki is president of BC Hydraulic Services, a commercial trash compactor service company based in Jacksonville, Florida.