News
Safety Matters
July 21, 2022
Safe + Sound Week
OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week is coming up next month, August 15 – 21. This is a nationwide event held each year that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America's workers safe. There are a number of safety challenges to take on the S+S webpage, including the newest one, Eyes on Safety.
SWANA Chapters, municipalities, and businesses are encouraged to register for Safe + Sound Week today. Visit the Safe + Sound Week webpage to sign up to participate, and for ideas on planning and promoting your event. After signing up, download the Participate in Safe + Sound Week document for ideas on how to recognize your commitment to safety and health programs. Also, check out the event archive to see how businesses from previous years participated in Safe + Sound Week.
SWANA support of Safe + Sound Week is part of SWANA’s National OSHA Alliance commitment and member participation will help to achieve that goal.
Accidents in the News
San Francisco, CA – A man riding a motorized unicycle died in a collision with a garbage truck at approximately 4 am. MORE
Dayton, WA – A 63-year-old customer was killed at a transfer station when she was pinned to a wall by a pick-up truck being backed by her daughter who accidently hit the accelerator instead of the brake. After being pinned, the victim fell from the deck into the trailer parked in the pit below. MORE
Temple, PA – An 83-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed by a backing garbage truck. MORE
Fort Myers, FL – A 26-year-old motorcyclist died after going through a green light when a garbage truck headed the opposite direction made a left turn at a flashing yellow signal, crashing into the motorcyclist. MORE
Boonville, IN – A 69-year-old man died at a county waste and recycling facility when he became trapped between a truck and a gate. MORE
OSHA Elevating Efforts to Protect Workers After Increase in 2022 Trenching Fatalities
Trenching fatalities across all industries increased at an alarming rate during the first half of 2022, surpassing last year's total by 68 percent. In response, Assistant Secretary of Labor Doug Parker is taking more extreme measures to hold employers and other responsible parties accountable when their failure to follow required safety practices puts workers' lives at risk.
SWANA issued a Safety Matters on trench and excavation safety for the solid waste industry that can be accessed by members here.
U.S. Transitions to 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
On July 16, the U.S. transitioned the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to 988 – an easy-to-remember three-digit number for 24/7 crisis care. The lifeline also links to the Veterans Crisis Line.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a network of more than 200 state and local call centers supported by HHS through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
VA administers the Veterans Crisis Line through the Lifeline’s national network. Because of VA’s partnership with the Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line is affected by this transition to a new number. Veterans and their loved ones can now Dial 988 then Press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
The U.S. had one death by suicide every 11 minutes in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10-14 and 25-34. From April 2020 to 2021, more than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses. Studies have shown that after speaking with a trained crisis counselor, most Lifeline callers are significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful.
More information on 988 is available at www.samhsa.gov/988 and https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs.
Upcoming Safety Events
Safe + Sound Week
National
August 15-21, 2022
Safety Summit @ WASTECON®
San Diego, CA
December 5 – 8, 2022
