Bin lifters are specialised bin lifting aids which are designed to lift and tip either 80, 120 or 240 litre wheelie bins into skip style or dumpster bins. Depending on workplace requirements and the weights of bins to be lifted, both manual winding, gas strut assisted and hydraulic bin lifters are available. Bin lifters can be either mobile on castors or fixed in place. Fixed versions may be used in factory situations where bins are wheeled into the fixed unit and the lifter used to empty the bin down a chute or into a skip bin whereas mobile versions may be used where rubbish is transferred to a dump site.
For lighter weight bins or areas where power is not available, the manual or gas assist bin lifters require some manual operation of levers or winders, with gas struts doing the harder work. For heavier bins, the hydraulic bin lifters are operated via key or push button to lift and empty. The following individual workplace requirements need to be considered prior to determining if a bin lifter is suitable within the work environment:
- height and location of skip bin that bins emptied into
- weight and size of rubbish bins
- type of terrain bins will be wheeled over
- type of rubbish in the bins and whether contains hazardous material
- how often the bins are emptied
- distance between bins and site for emptying
- capabilities of individuals using the bin lifters.
Some companies also offer hire of bin lifters as an alternative option to purchase.
Bin lid lifting and closing devices which are foot pedal operated and able to be used on a wide range of bins are also available commercially.
Workplace solutions and adjustments:
For individuals with a disability that restricts their capacity to lift and manouvre items within the workplace such as bins, bin lifters may be of assistance to minimise work lifting requirements. However the provision of lifting equipment should be part of an integrated organisational approach to occupational health and safety, and should be used to complement other manual handling hazard control methods (One Stop Garbage Shop (no date specified); WorkCover NSW 2004; Wrightway Products 1996 – 2007; Ask Equipment Sales (no date specified)).
References:
Asks Equipment Sales (no date specified), Bin Lifters – Static/Mobile, Ask Equipment Sales, Redland Bay, viewed 14 January 2008.
One Stop Garbage Shop P/L (no date specified), Simplicity bin lifter, One Stop Garbage Shop, Melbourne, viewed 14 January 2008,.
One Stop Garbage Shop (no date specified), Electro-Hydraulic Bin Lifter, One Stop Garbage Shop, Melbourne, viewed 14 January 2008,.
WorkCover NSW 2004, Manual Handling Resource, NSW Government, Sydney, viewed 14 January 2008.
Wrightway Products 1996 – 2007, Lid Lifta, Wrightway Products, South Lismore, viewed 14 January 2008,.
Wrightway Products 1996 – 2007, Hydraulic Vertical Lift Bin Tippers/Bin Lifters, Wrightway Products, South Lismore, viewed 14 January 2008,.