The ESA has today updated its long-running Situational Awareness campaign, which provides a set of ready-made training tools to help operators across the sector address common risks faced by people working in recycling and waste treatment.

The campaign provides videos, posters and “huddle cards” (which aim to guide team talks) to help raise awareness of, and mitigate, a range of common risks, including people driving on pavements to overtake RCVs; violence and aggression; working with bin-lifters, and people sleeping in bins.

Any organisation who would like to view, download and use the training materials can now access the whole collection from the ESA’s new campaigns portal here

The update today adds a new topic – Using handheld technology – to the list of situational risks with an associated video, poster and Huddle Card.

Handheld technology is now much more common than it was in the past, with mobile phones, tablets, and other devices offering a variety of applications that assist with journeys and often integrate into existing dashboard systems and vehicle technology. However, these devices can also be a source of distraction.

Understanding the laws regarding handheld technology and what constitutes its use can help operatives to remain compliant and limiting its use only to times when it is safe to do so. This allows drivers and operatives to maintain their focus, keep their attention on the road and remain aware of their changing environment to avoid unexpected incidents.