HomeMy WebLinkAboutTR-100-81 W\SWI'\KNONIfDGE AND
CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
40 TEMPERANCE STREET
BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO
L1C3A6 TELEPHONE 623-3379
Report to the Chairman and Members of the General Purpose and Administration Committee
meeting held December 7, 1981.
Report Number: TR-100-81
Subject: Ashes put out for Garbage Collection in Bowmanville
Urban Service Area.
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Recommendation:
It is respectfully recommended:
1. That this report be received for information and direction as to the
actions to be taken to publicize this concern.
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Background and Comment:
On November 27, 1981 at approximately 8:00 a.m. a fire started in one of the
garbage packers used for collection in Bowmanville. This is the first incident this
winter season, but there were three fires in the garbage packer during the 1980-1981
winter season. None resulted in bodily injury but some damage was sustained to the
garbage packer. This is a matter of some grave concern as the fires internal to
garbage packer put both men and equipment at risk. Our Works employees, who are
not trained firefighters, must endeavour to extinguish the fire in the accepted manner
which is either by increasing the pressures to suffocate the fire or use of the
fire extinguishers which the garbage packer carries. If these methods fail the load
must be dumped and then extinguished or an attempt made to reach the fire department
where the fire fighters can fight the fire with their equipment.
In all cases we put our employees at considerable risk from the heat of the
fire and increased pressure inside the garbage packer of possibly rupturing the
hydraulic cyclinders and hoses which are inside the packing unit, thereby releasing
oil to fuel the fire and a possible explosion.
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TR-100-81
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Background and Comment: cont'd. . . . .
If an employee enters the packer in an attempt to extinguish a fire, there are all the
inherent dangers and circumstances which might result in serious injury or death to
that employee. Since the employees are unaware of the exact contents of the packer
any number of unknown hazards may result from a fire within the packer.
By-Law 78-34 clause 5(vii ) states that all ashes shall be cold and shall be
placed in an approved container. With the increased use of wood burning stoves etc.
it is very important that the public realize the risk at which they place the Town's
employees when the public does not fulfill its responsibility by ensuring that all
ashes placed out for collection are cold.
It is our hope that Councils' attention and concern with regard to this
matter will assist in advising the public of the dangers inherient in their
irresponsible actions and thereby save the Corporation from any needless injury to
its employees or expense to repair or replace its garbage collection equipment.
Consideration has been given to inserting a notice with the 1982 tax bill
for Bowmanville residents but this would not directly advise tenants of our concerns.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn C.A. , B.Com,
Treasurer
11281
G81-PWG-1