Department Of Labor Reports Continued Safety Improvement By Solid Waste Industry
Washington, DC - According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Labor, the injury rate for solid waste collection workers declined significantly in 2009. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that the injury and illness rate during 2009 for solid waste employees continued to decline, as it has in recent years. The BLS report indicates that the injury and illness rate for solid waste collection workers decreased dramatically to 6.1 from 7.7 per 100 full time employees, more than a 21 percent decrease. The injury rate for landfill employees increased marginally from 5.5 to 5.9. As recently as 2006, the rates for solid waste collection and landfill employees were 8.0.
NSWMA Safety Director David Biderman stated, "The sharp decline in collection injuries validates the efforts that NSWMA and many companies are making to improve safety performance. However, the slight increase in landfill worker injuries demonstrates we need to keep looking for ways to keep industry employees safer. We need to continue striving for additional safety improvements in the future."
Biderman continued, "Based on injury data that I have reviewed, I suspect that many small companies, particularly haulers who are not NSWMA members, have injury rates well above the national averages."
Biderman urges all haulers and governments to participate in NSWMA safety programs, including Safety Monday, the Be Safe Be Proud and the Slow Down to Get Around (SDTGA) programs, and communicate the importance of working safely to their employees. NSWMA produced 60-second and 30-second versions of a television ad with support from the OSHA. To request a broadcast-quality copy of the television or radio ads, contact Biderman (davidb@envasns.org or 202.364.3743). In addition to this television PSA, NSWMA is making SDTGA decals available that haulers may put on their trucks to remind motorists to drive carefully. NSWMA makes the decals available to interested parties at no charge. Haulers can obtain SDTGA truck decals by contacting sales@neihauscorp.com or 859.331.3733).
To learn more about how you can help protect yourself and keep garbage workers safe, visit http://www.environmentalistseveryday.org/safety.
SOURCE: National Solid Wastes Management Association