Doesn't look safe to me

hitekcountry · May 1, 2010

I rode my bike through a park today where preparations are going on for the cinco da mayo celebration, they were setting up booths and all that. And of course they need a dumpster to clean up all the trash after. So just as I ride through I see the dumpster delivery guy unhooking the cable from the dumpster and he drives off. Where he dropped the thing looks very unsafe to me. It's sitting on a paved walking trail that's on quite an angle and the wheels of the dumpster are on the down hill side.

The first picture I took from a bridge that's about a foot or two higher than the trail that's on the other side of the dumpster. You can see the dumpster is sitting on quite a down hill angle.

The second picture I took from the trail below the dumpster. As a reference to judge how steep the angle is, the building to the left on the dumpster is a sixteen story building and what you see in the picture is only the top 1/3 of the building.

The third picture I took from the trail above the dumpster and the bridge you see just on the other side of the dumpster is where I took the first picture. You can see the only thing stopping the thing from sliding down the hill is the friction of the two skid rails touching the ground at the front of the dumpster.

The forth picture shows the steep angle the dumpster is sitting on, the trail in front going from left to right is level.

Seems to me it wouldn't take much to get that thing moving down hill and I hope no one's in the way when it happens.

Ok so am I just making a big deal over nothing or does anyone else see that as an accident waiting to happen?

irvingj · May 1, 2010

Not that it isn't possible, but those things are really heavy, and don't generally roll well at all, even when on level, paved ground... I bet it would darn near take a collision with a dozer to push it over the edge.

OTOH, you wouldn't catch me standing around under the downhill side of it!

Might not be a bad idea to at least mention it to somebody--

Taylortractornut · May 1, 2010

It wont roll of, the friction of all the dumpsters weight will hold it steady even on a steep slope.. The frame will more likely flex down a bit to help hold it as its loaded. The rear wheel is also on the ground, it will sink in after a few inches of travel. We have 40 rolloff containers at work and they wont roll even the when greased good lol. The rollers on the tail are just used for keeping it from gouging the surface it on. All the pressure on the corners of the front rails holds it down good. When setting our new cans off we often have to let the park brakes off the trucks to let the truck ease out from under the can.

Thomas · May 1, 2010

Think they would put orange flag marker or cone just in case.

RickB · May 1, 2010

With two wheels off the pavement, that isn't going anywhere.

gravybones · May 1, 2010

No worries. Maybe a runaway train would get it moving, but otherwise....no.

beenthere · May 1, 2010

If real worried, you could chock the wheels with a stick laying close-by.

At least on the wheel on the paved area. But likely not going anywhere, and no need to worry. But good to be aware of such things. Many people just don't care, until after something happens.

Mousefield · May 1, 2010

Nice to see people that care about safety. :thumbsup: May be nothing to it but that's how accidents become accidents, people not caring. Wouldn't hurt to call the company and express your concern and find out if they are comfortable with the way it is setup.

dmccarty · May 3, 2010

The thing that bothers me is that the dumpster appears to be near the crest of a hill and around a corner. Seems like someone could easily drive into the dumpster in the dark.

Some cones might help. Some.

Later,
Dan