5 to Stay Alive: Safety Tips for Collection Employees

It bears repeating that there is nothing more important in this industry than worker safety. Once employees are safe, only then can all of us do our duty to society and planet as solid waste professionals.

That's why the safety experts at the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) have compiled 5 tips for waste and recycling workers, depending on where they work.

Today, we're covering collection workers. So here are SWANA's "5 to Stay Alive" tips for collection employees:

They are:

1. Always wear PPE, especially high visibility vests and/or outerwear
2. Never use your cell phone while driving the truck or at a disposal facility
3. Don’t ride on the step if the truck is BACKING or going more than 10mph or 1/5th mile
4. Always comply with safety belt rules
5. Don’t exceed the speed limit and don’t rush

List courtesy of swana.org.

SWANA has compiled similar lists for workers at Landfills, MRFs, Transfer Stations, WTE fascilities, and Compost facilities. You can read them all here.

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