In a new report by the US Department of Labour, the number of deaths within the solid waste collection industry has declined significantly since 2009. Compared with figures in 2008, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, revealed that the fatality rate in both landfill and solid waste collection employees has continued to drop in recent years.
The report shows that both refuse and recyclable materials collectors have seen 12 fewer fatalities during 2009, which constitutes a 39 per cent drop in deaths in the industry. With 31 deaths in 2008, there were just 19 deaths last year. The report also indicated that all waste management and remediation service workers saw a drop in fatalities from 74 to 43 during the same time frame, constituting a 42 per cent drop.
David Biderman, the Safety Director for the National Solid Waste Management Association (NSWMA) said that the industry was very pleased with the significant reduction in workplace deaths during 2009. According to figures from NSWMA, the leading cause of employee deaths has been being hit by a collection vehicle and that the industry would continue to work on reducing those incidences. Seven collection staff died as a result of being hit by a work vehicle in 2009. So far, in 2010 there have been four fatalities from vehicle accidents, Mr Biderman answered.
To help further reduce fatalities the industry has produced a series of Be Safe Be Proud videos that have been produced by NSWMA. The videos are 18-20 minutes in length and are designed to highlight the hazards faced by workers while on collection routes or working in landfills. The videos were produced using a grant from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
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