When we started our operations, there were no ready-made answers to how we should manage the occupational health and safety risks involved in large-scale plastic sorting. Initial focus was on the obvious hazards: noise, lighting, forklift traffic and cut injuries. But it soon became clear that there were more elusive and less visible risks to address.
“I had previously worked in conventional industry, where the risks are already well-established and clear procedures are in place. Here, at Svensk Plaståtervinning, we have had to take it step by step. Dust was the obvious risk, but then we realised that mould was another, and that endotoxins were also present in our processes,” says Karin Petersson, COO at Svensk Plaståtervinning.
What changed our perspective was an early collaboration with occupational health engineer Kerstin Karlsson. She flagged the risk of dust exposure, which led to extensive measurements. Kerstin Karlsson also works with sawmills and other timber industries, where problems with mould spores have long been known. She saw parallels with plastic recycling – even though the material itself is not organic. Plastic packaging can sit idle for several weeks before it reaches the sorting facility: in municipalities with less frequent collections, during transport and in interim storage.
Like the food industry – but in reverse
Because knowledge of occupational health risks linked to plastic recycling is limited, both nationally and internationally, we sought expertise beyond our own organisation. Analyses were carried out at laboratories in Denmark, and we deepened our collaboration with the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in Gothenburg, whose researchers are now compiling the results scientifically. In the absence of Swedish threshold values, we apply reference values from other countries – and when it came to finding solutions, we had to look to entirely different industries for inspiration.
“We started by visiting other operations. Food companies turned out to be a fantastic source of inspiration – they face exactly the same challenge as us, just in reverse: they try to keep dirt and bacteria out of production, while we were trying to keep them contained within it.”
The project ran for over six months and resulted in new zones, routines and masks that filter incoming air. Powered air-purifying respirators – so-called fresh-air masks – are now mandatory in the sorting area. It is an unusual investment in the industry, where simpler P3 masks are otherwise standard, and it draws attention from visitors.
“Many people react when they see the staff looking like astronauts. That gives us the opportunity to explain why.”
Sharing knowledge with the wider industry
We are well ahead of many other players in the industry – particularly at an international level. Interest in occupational health issues is high, but the level of knowledge varies considerably.
“We hosted a large international recycling company with participants from several countries. They were curious, but had not previously identified this issue. Afterwards, I was flooded with questions about which masks we use, how we had made our assessments, and how we had arrived at our decisions.”
The greatest challenge has not been the technology – it has been ensuring that all employees actually use the protective equipment.
“The risk associated with this environment can become abstract, because the consequences are often not felt until much later. We had to educate people about the risks and demonstrate just how significant the difference is with a mask compared to without one. Employees have also been actively involved in the project themselves – they know better than we do what works and what doesn’t in day-to-day practice.”
We are now sharing our experiences and solutions with other occupational health organisations, including partners across Europe. We have found approaches that have made a real difference, and we are committed to helping set a new standard for how occupational health and safety should be managed in an industry that is growing rapidly.
“It is not just about sustainability and recycling plastic – it is also about contributing to the broader knowledge base around occupational health in this field. We have worked methodically, grounded in the legislation on systematic work environment management: mapping, risk assessment, measures and follow-up,” concludes Karin Petersson.
