Dive Brief:
- The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) announced it will begin collecting safety data, through a survey, from municipalities about collection injuries and accidents as part of its renewed emphasis on worker safety in the solid waste industry.
- "The frequency of accidents in our industry, particularly fatal ones, is unacceptable," said David Biderman, SWANA executive director and CEO. "SWANA will continue to expand its safety offerings so all of the hard-working men and women in this great industry return home to their families safely, every day."
- SWANA will be discussing this initiative at the Safety Summit during its annual conference, WASTECON, in Orlando, FL, Aug. 24-27.
Dive Insight:
Injuries and accidents — including fatalities — are incidents that occur in the industry all too often. SWANA, which has supported the Slow Down to Get Around initiative, is taking the problems seriously.
Collecting data to pinpoint the problems is an important step that can lead to increased safety.
SWANA plans to host a webinar on post-collection safety issues at transfer stations, recycling facilities, and landfills in the fall. It also expects to hear from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in September whether its application for grant funding to provide safety training in 2016 has been approved.
