News

Safety Matters

December 1, 2022

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey Shows Continued Improvement in Worker Safety

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the 2021 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) on November 9 showing a continued decline in injury and illness rates across the solid waste industry, with historic lows for solid waste landfill, collection, and material recovery facility (MRF) workers. The SOII presents annual data on private industry nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses across the United States.

The injury and illness rate reported by BLS for solid waste landfill workers fell from 3.4 to 2.2 incidents per 100 full time employees in 2021. The rate for solid waste collection went from 5.2 to 4, and the rate for workers at MRFs fell from 5.2 to 3.2. The injury and illness rates for all three sectors are at their lowest levels since at least 2006.

The 2021 injury and illness survey is the second year in which COVID-19 workplace illnesses were reported in the United States. The illness rate for solid waste collection fell from 22.4 per 100 full time workers in 2020 down to 8.4 in 2021. Illness rate data was not made available for solid waste landfill or MRF employees.

Overall, private industry employers reported 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2021, a decrease of 1.8 percent from 2020. This decline was due to a drop in illness cases, with employers reporting 365,200 nonfatal illnesses in 2021, down from 544,600 in 2020, a drop of 32.9 percent. The rate of injury cases actually increased in 2021, with private industry employers reporting a rate of 2.3 cases per 100 FTE workers compared to 2.2 cases in 2020.

To better understand the injury and illness landscape for 2021, SWANA is seeking additional data from members to compare with the BLS report. We ask that you share your company or agency's injury/illness rate for 2021 and 2020. Please send any relevant data to jmaxwell@swana.org by December 9, 2022. All information received will be kept strictly confidential.

On December 16, BLS will provide results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) that includes all fatal work injuries occurring in the U.S. during calendar year 2021. The 2020 census showed that refuse and recyclable materials collection remained the 6th deadliest occupation in the United States. A reminder that SWANA’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan has set a goal of getting off the top 10 list of most dangerous jobs based on BLS data.

Accidents in the News

Through October 31, 2022

Brockton, MA – A 57-year-old collection driver was struck and killed by another truck on company property at around 8:30 am. MORE

Houston, TX – A garbage truck making a right turn at a red light struck and killed a bicyclist. MORE

Andover, MA – A waste service company truck carrying a dumpster was struck by a box truck, killing the box truck driver. MORE

Berks County, PA – A 55-year-old collection truck driver was struck and killed trying to climb into his garbage truck after it began to roll downhill. MORE

Hudson, NY – A collection worker was killed after a dumpster being lowered from a truck fell off and landed on top of him. MORE

Chicago, IL – A 60-year-old helper was killed after being pinned against a fence by his garbage truck as he was directing the driver out of an alleyway. MORE

“Stand Against Impaired Driving” Campaign Materials Now Available

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is reminding employers of CDL drivers about their requirements to register in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and to query CDL drivers they employ or are considering hiring.

FMCSA has created campaign materials to help employers make sure their clients, members, colleagues, or other stakeholders are aware of the Clearinghouse requirements. Materials include web graphics, social media posts, and newsletter articles.

Download the campaign materials and share them throughout the month of December and all year long.

OSHA Updates Flu Safety & Health Page

The U.S. Occupations Safety and Health Administration has updated its Seasonal Influenza Safety and Health Topics Page (SHTP) for workers and employers. The updated SHTP reflects the new 2022-2023 flu vaccine recommendations and includes a new ‘Quick Facts’ section which contains links to pertinent prevention information. The resources highlighted in this SHTP provide up-to-date scientific information on prevention and control measures for protecting workers against flu and other respiratory illness.