News
Safety Matters
June 16, 2022
SWANA RESPONDS TO TROUBLING NEW TRAFFIC SAFETY STATS
SWANA is very concerned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recent release of safety data revealing a 15 percent increase in traffic fatalities in 2021. This is consistent with SWANA data that shows a continuing high level of third-party fatalities from incidents involving waste collection vehicles, despite an apparent decline in collection worker fatalities in the solid waste industry in 2021.
“This federal data confirms what SWANA and our members are seeing: other drivers on the road are driving too fast, do not always comply with traffic laws, are sometimes distracted, and causing many collisions with waste collection trucks and other vehicles,” said SWANA CEO and Executive Director David Biderman. “SWANA urges the driving public to drive more carefully, particularly near large vehicles like waste collection trucks,” he added.
Thirty-five members of the public have died in roadway accidents involving the solid waste industry this year, compared to 37 at this same time in 2021. Many of these incidents involve drivers crossing the center line and hitting collection vehicles or crashing into them when they are stopped, suggesting that distraction may be playing a role in many of these tragic collisions.
SWANA is committed to reducing worker injuries and fatalities through awareness, training, and education. SWANA’s robust safety offerings include distribution of the weekly Safety Matters tip sheet to members, the coordination of Chapter Safety Ambassadors, and an annual Safety Summit at WASTECON®. These programs provide ongoing resources for public and private solid waste operations of all sizes throughout the United States and Canada. SWANA and its New Jersey and New York Chapters also recently signed a two-year agreement with the OSHA Region 2 office to help protect workers from health and safety hazards present in all aspects of the solid waste industry.
2022 SWANA Safety Award Submissions Due Friday, July 1!
SWANA is seeking out the Biggest Safety Improvements, Best Safety Innovations, and COVID-19 Resiliency throughout the solid waste industry. LEARN MORE AND APPLY HERE
ACCIDENTS IN THE NEWS
Through May 31
Rowan County, NC – A motorcycle crashed into the back of a garbage truck stopped for collection killing both riders. MORE
Prince George’s County, MD – A garbage truck hit a curb and overturned killing the 43-year-old driver and injuring two passengers. MORE
Brooklyn, NY – A 35-year-old bicyclist was hit and killed by a garbage truck. MORE
Elizabeth, NJ – A 70-year-old forklift operator was killed in a fire at a transfer station. MORE
Lycoming County, PA – A 30-year-old motorcyclist died after striking the back portion of a garbage truck as it was making a turn. MORE
Jacksonville, FL – A garbage truck struck a guardrail and rolled over, hitting a pole in the median, and killing the 55-year-old driver. MORE
Portland, IN – Three adults were killed in a crash with a garbage truck when the SUV driver pulled into the path of the oncoming truck. MORE
Sacramento, CA – A bicyclist died after colliding with a garbage truck at an intersection. MORE
Davis, CA –A 19-year-old UC-Davis student was killed while biking when she was struck by a campus garbage truck. MORE
Myrtle Beach, SC – A motorcyclist died in a crash with a garbage truck. MORE
OSHA REVISES HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION WEBPAGE
Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill while working in hot or humid conditions. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) revised Heat Illness Prevention campaign webpage consolidates resources on the dangers of working in the heat and how to keep workers safe.
The webpage contains a lot of important information about heat stress, employer responsibilities, and valuable information all employees should know about heat illness. It also includes a printable fact sheet and heat stress poster for distribution and a link to important NIOSHA guidance on heat injury prevention.
In April, OSHA launched a National Emphasis Program to protect workers from heat illness and injuries. As part of the program, OSHA will proactively initiate inspections in over 70 high-risk industries in indoor and outdoor work settings when the National Weather Service has issued a heat warning or advisory for a local area. OSHA also issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking for heat injury and illness prevention on October 27, 2021, with a proposed rule still pending.
UPCOMING SAFETY EVENTS
National Safety Month
National
June 2022
Lightning Safety Awareness Week
National
June 19 – 25, 2022
Trench Safety Stand-Down
National
June 20 – 24, 2022
SWANA Safety Awards Due
International
July 1, 2022
Safe + Sound Week
National
August 15-21, 2022
Safety Summit @ WASTECON®
San Diego, CA
December 5 – 8, 2022
