Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 9th April 2026 Issue no. 1205
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Launch of practical checklist to help waste operators identify airborne health risks
D&F Associates has launched a practical safety checklist to help waste & recycling operators identify airborne health risks linked to everyday site activities. The lab, operating from Widnes since 1999, has developed its Bioaerosol Hazard Source Checklist to support formal risk assessments under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
Bioaerosols are microscopic airborne particles containing bacteria and fungi, generated when waste is stored, handled, sorted or cleaned. They are classified as substances hazardous to health, yet the routine activities that create exposure are not always clearly identified during day-to-day operations.
The checklist brings together common waste-handling tasks associated with elevated bioaerosol levels. It is designed to help site managers review where exposure risks may arise and assess whether existing control measures remain appropriate.
"Handling and processing waste inevitably generates bioaerosols, particularly where materials are moved or agitated,” explains Sandra Davies, the company’s managing director. “This checklist helps operators step back and review routine activities to ensure potential exposure sources are properly considered within COSHH assessments.
"We hope the checklist is useful for people working in the waste & recycling industry to identify whether a potential health hazard is present."
D&F provides specialist laboratory analysis and technical consultancy to the waste & recycling sector. The checklist draws on over 25 years of industry experience and is available to download at:
2nd April 2026