38.1 Objective
38.1.1 This Regulatory Standard sets forth preventive requirements and measures to safeguard the occupational safety and health of workers engaged in urban sanitation and solid waste management work.
38.2 Scope of Application
38.2.1 The provisions of this Standard apply to the following urban sanitation and solid waste management activities:
a) Collection, transportation and transshipment of municipal solid waste and healthcare waste until delivery for final disposal;
b) Sweeping and washing of markets, roads and public places;
c) Weeding, grass cutting and tree pruning;
d) Green space maintenance;
e) Curb scraping and painting;
f) Cleaning and maintenance of urban facilities, monuments, tunnels, bridges and viaducts;
g) Dredging and cleaning of drains, sewer inlets and similar facilities;
h) Sorting and handling of recyclable municipal solid waste;
i) Beach cleaning;
j) Municipal solid waste receiving stations;
k) Final waste disposal.
38.2.1.1 In respect of healthcare waste, relevant dedicated regulations shall be followed in addition to this Standard.
38.2.1.2 For the purpose of this Standard, municipal solid waste is defined as follows:
a) Household waste;
b) Waste generated from commercial, industrial and service activities with properties and quantities similar to household waste, which are classified as municipal solid waste upon owner confirmation, excluding waste that shall be managed by producers in accordance with laws, administrative rules, judicial rulings or conduct adjustment agreements;
c) Waste produced from the activities specified in Clause 38.2.1.
38.2.1.3 This Standard shall not apply to the handling of:
a) Industrial wastes governed by Regulatory Standard NR-25 concerning industrial waste;
b) Wastes from basic public sanitation services;
c) Construction wastes;
d) Agricultural, forestry and livestock breeding wastes;
e) Transportation industry wastes;
f) Mining wastes.
38.2.1.4 The activities specified in Item 38.2.1 may be stipulated in the specific annexes of this Standard.
38.3 General Provisions
38.3.1 The entity shall keep updated records of all service areas classified by working routes, operation sections and collection sites, including service stations, site features and employee service guarantee standards.
38.3.1.1 The aforesaid records shall include the following contents:
a) Working route and service section coverage;
b) Staff travel distance and on-site environmental features;
c) Waste collection vehicle routes;
d) Scheduled working hours for each route excluding unexpected incidents;
e) Minimum staffing quota for each route and type of work;
f) List of vehicles, machinery and working equipment.
38.3.1.1.1 The records shall support preliminary ergonomic assessment and formal Work Ergonomic Analysis where necessary.
38.3.1.2 Relevant data shall be available to members of the Internal Accident and Harassment Prevention Committee upon request, and electronic data management systems are allowed.
38.3.2 The entity shall set up service stations at reasonable locations along working routes for field staff to take rest, meet physiological needs and have meals, complying with Annex II of NR-24 Sanitary and Comfort Conditions at Workplace.
38.3.2.1 When using externally cooperated service stations, employers shall regularly inspect facility operation status to ensure compliance with the above requirements in accordance with Annex II of NR-24.
38.3.2.1.1 The entity shall open feedback channels for employees to report problems existing in service stations.
38.3.3 Employers shall equip working vehicles with water, soap and hand-drying supplies for workers exposed to dirt and contaminants.
38.3.4 Employers shall supply fresh drinking water at all working routes and sites via sealed portable containers for on-site drinking during work.
38.3.4.1 Personal drinking containers shall be kept in hygienic storage spaces, and shared use is prohibited.
38.3.4.2 Water storage containers shall be filled before work starts and cleaned regularly or at the end of each working shift.
38.3.5 Staff transport vehicles shall meet the following requirements:
a) Comply with traffic regulations;
b) Be fitted with sturdy fixed storage compartments separated from passenger areas if work tools and materials need to be carried.
38.3.6 For work exposing employees to road traffic hazards, employers shall formulate safety procedures including warning signage in line with actual operations and applicable traffic rules.
38.3.7 Employers shall draw up contingency plans to respond to emergencies during operations, taking extra risks and excessive workload of workers into consideration.
38.4 Occupational Health Medical Control Program
38.4.1 This program shall include active immunization plans mainly against tetanus and hepatitis B, formulated based on occupational risk assessment results from the Risk Management Program.
38.4.1.1 Vaccination shall follow the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. Previous valid vaccination records can be recognized subject to medical judgment.
38.4.1.2 Employers shall provide staff with publicity materials covering the necessity, benefits of designated vaccinations, as well as potential hazards caused by non-vaccination or vaccination refusal.
38.4.1.3 Employers shall issue vaccination certificates to employees after arranging vaccinations.
38.4.1.3.1 If employees receive vaccinations via public medical institutions, the employer shall require them to submit relevant vaccination certificates for filing.
38.4.1.4 Vaccination status or vaccination refusal shall be recorded in the employee's individual medical file.
38.4.2 The Occupational Health Medical Control Program shall formulate health management protocols in accordance with hazard identification and risk assessment results specified in the Risk Management Program.
38.4.3 Where risks are identified in the Risk Management Program, the program shall formulate special handling procedures for occupational accidents caused by sharp instruments, whether the employee takes sick leave or not, including follow-up observation of the employee's physical recovery condition.
38.5 Vehicles, Machinery and Equipment
38.5.1 Vehicles, machinery and equipment shall be cleaned regularly to maintain hygienic conditions.
38.5.2 Self-propelled machines used for work covered by this Standard shall comply with NR-12 Safety of Machinery and Equipment, and meet the following requirements:
a) Hazardous areas and moving parts shall be fitted with guards to prevent body contact. Guards may only be removed for cleaning, lubrication, maintenance and adjustment, and must be reinstalled afterwards.
b) Operators shall not leave running equipment unattended.
c) Effective measures shall be taken during temporary and long-term shutdowns to prevent accidental startup risks.
d) When the operator's sight is blocked, a qualified guide shall be assigned for on-site guidance.
e) Special precautions shall be taken against overheated tires and brake systems to avoid explosion and fire hazards.
f) Equip rear-view mirrors and reverse audible alarm linked to the gear shift system.
g) Operation is forbidden in postures that affect equipment stability.
h) Before starting or moving the machine, confirm no personnel stay on, under or nearby to avoid accidents.
i) Ensure brakes are applied and wheels locked prior to operation; take extra safety measures on sloped and uneven ground.
38.5.3 Solid waste collection and compaction vehicles shall be equipped with at least:
a) Side-mounted compaction cycle controls, enabling operators to clearly observe working areas and feeding openings.
b) Front and rear rotating or flashing warning lights installed without obstructing workers' sight.
c) Soundless monitoring cameras that activate automatically when reversing, enabling drivers to observe rear operations, without replacing other visual safety measures for staff.
d) Reversing audible alarm.
e) Lighting systems above loading and unloading zones to ensure visibility during night work and low-light conditions.
f) Well-maintained and clean vehicle seat upholstery.
g) Audible warning devices installed at the rear of the vehicle.
h) Emergency stop devices for the compaction mechanism fitted on both sides of the vehicle.
38.5.3.1 Employers shall formulate and enforce operating rules requiring workers to stay at the vehicle sides while the compaction mechanism is in operation.
38.5.3.2 Reversing is only permitted when the driver has full sight of all on-site workers. No personnel are allowed within the reversing path or at the rear of the vehicle.
NR-38 - Occupational Safety and Health at Work in Urban Cleaning and Solid Waste Handling Activities
