Brush, Limb, and Bulk Waste Collection Safety

Key Hazards

• Cuts, punctures, and eye injuries from branches, wire, glass, and sharp debris
• Strains and crush injuries from heavy, awkward, or shifting items
• Workers struck by loaders, grapple trucks, trailers, or passing traffic
• Contact with overhead power lines while handling long material
• Entanglement or ejection hazards around chippers and powered equipment
• Unstable loads falling during collection, loading, or transport

2–3 Minute Talk Script

Brush and bulk waste piles can contain long branches, heavy furniture, appliances, wire, glass, nails, hidden containers, and material placed near traffic or overhead utilities. The crew should inspect the pile and surrounding area before handling begins.

Traffic controls and collection-vehicle positions should create a protected work area without blocking sight distance or trapping workers between the vehicle and passing traffic. Workers should approach from the safest side and avoid carrying long items into a travel lane.

Branches and bulky items should be evaluated for weight, balance, tension, sharp points, and hidden contents. Workers should not pull from the bottom of an unstable pile or stand where material can roll, spring, or collapse toward them.

Mechanical equipment, grapple trucks, loaders, lift gates, dollies, and team handling should be used when items cannot be moved safely by one person. Hands and feet should stay clear of pinch points between the load, ground, vehicle, and equipment.

Long limbs, metal, and equipment booms can contact overhead conductors. The crew should identify power lines before lifting or swinging material and maintain required clearance using appropriate equipment and work methods.

If brush is chipped, only trained workers should feed the chipper using approved techniques. Loose clothing should be controlled, workers should remain outside the infeed and discharge hazards, and ropes, wire, metal, and other foreign objects should be removed.

Loads should be distributed and secured so branches, appliances, and debris cannot fall or project into traffic. Tailgates, straps, tarps, and trailer connections should be checked before the vehicle moves.

Unknown liquids, cylinders, batteries, refrigerant appliances, sharps, and suspected hazardous material should be separated and handled under the appropriate procedure. The collection crew should not improvise disposal for items outside its training.

Safety Reminders

• Inspect piles for sharp, heavy, unstable, and hidden hazards.
• Protect the crew from passing traffic and equipment movement.
• Use mechanical help or team handling for awkward items.
• Keep hands and feet out of pinch and collapse zones.
• Maintain clearance from overhead power lines.
• Use trained workers and approved methods around chippers.
• Secure every load before transport.

Ask the Crew

• What hidden or unstable hazards are present in the pile?
• How will traffic and collection-equipment movement be controlled?
• Which items require mechanical or team handling?
• Are overhead lines within the handling or boom area?
• How will the final load be contained and secured?