miami waste management is a dangerous job

Posted on July 15, 2012 by mcooper

Indianapolis – Distracted driving by others sharing the road with garbage trucks is the biggest threat to the tens of thousands of trash collectors who work on the nation’s streets, according to a safety official at Waste Management Inc.

“Obviously, people out in the workforce across our industry, our drivers and helpers, face a lot of exposure and challenges in preventing workplace injuries in an uncontrollable environment,” said Kerry “Oz” Ozment, safety manager for the company’s Missouri Valley area.

“The biggest hazard for us is the distracted driver that’s around our vehicles at all times,” he said. The federal government has called distracted driving an epidemic in this country, but solid waste and recyclable collection employees have to do their jobs every week.

The fact of the matter is that some drivers pay attention when they are around collection vehicles and some do not. Waste Management, Ozment said, relies on both equipment and training to help mitigate the risks associated with distracted drivers.

Equipment such as right side-drive vehicles allows employees to exit their trucks on the curb instead of into traffic. And automated side-loaders provide even more protection as drivers spend most of their time in the cabs of those vehicles. Signage and lighting on vehicles also can help keep passing motorists alert when they are near trash collection vehicles, he said.

Chip Baker, a regional safety manager for Republic Services Inc., agreed that distracted driving is a problem. “It’s an epidemic now. It’s as serious as driving under the influence,” he said.

Companies should understand they have to recognize habits by other motorists and their own drivers, Baker said.

While there are steps that can be taken to help protect drivers and helpers with equipment, training also plays an important part in keeping the employees safe, Ozment said at the recent Waste Fleet Conference in Indianapolis.

“Process is a big factor for us in trying to get the individuals to protect themselves in the field, as well,” Ozment said. “You have to give them that knowledge base of the hazards of the workplace.

“The biggest piece of the puzzle is observing our folks out in the field when they are working to see what types of behaviors are actually happening out there,” he said, “recognizing the positives when they do the right thing and protecting themselves, following our rules and procedures.”

Ozment said a simple “thank you” goes a long way to reinforcing positive behavior.

“When we find gaps in processes or noncompliance issues, [we are] coaching, doing that one-on-one training and gaining commitment from our employees [so] that they are going to do the right thing to protect themselves,” he said.

Observing employee behaviors in the field also is at the core of Republic Services’ safety program, Baker said. “Making sure our employees understand our rules and regulations and they follow them correctly” is a company priority, he said. “And also to give them an opportunity to develop a relationship with their supervisor, it’s a very important thing.”

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