Emergency Stop System

Providing and maintaining a safe work environment is a never-ending process, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Constant attention to safety increases awareness and often brings new ideas and applications. Thomas Edison, the famous inventor who patented over 1,100 inventions symbolizes an era of great innovation.

But as they say, “necessity is the mother of invention,” and whenever there is a need, someone will come up a way to address it. For example, after a fatality occurred at a California landfill owned and operated by the Riverside County Waste Management Department (RCWMD), the County began to aggressively look at ways to improve safety awareness.

Now it should be noted that the RCWMD landfills are efficient, progressive and well run. Their performance, including their safety performance would have ranked among the best in the industry—even before the accident.

However, no matter how effective a safety program is, when an incident occurs, it generally results in heightened sensitivity and often may lead to further improvements in safety.

According to Hans Kernkamp, general manager and chief engineer with the RCWMD, this is exactly the effect the fatality had on the department’s operation.

The fatality brought about an increased sensitivity to safety. One of the changes the County implemented was the Emergency Stop System (ESS). Recognizing that in some cases other workers may see a threat seconds before an accident happens, the County found a way for workers to warn each other about a looming accident—immediately.

Every machine at the landfill is now equipped with an audio alarm and flashing light that can be actuated by any other worker. So, when a worker sees a potential risk, such as a child outside the car, someone scavenging near the active face, or a truck pulling in too close behind a bulldozer, that worker can hit the button and, like the smoke alarms in your house, all the alarms are activated simultaneously. The workers have been trained to stop working immediately when the “All-Stop” alarm is tripped. To ensure the ESS functions properly, workers have received specific training and the system is tested weekly—sometimes unannounced.

During a recent demonstration during SWANA’s Landfill Symposium tour, the system was activated and all the machines stopped…within seconds.

Once the ESS is activated, nobody goes back to work until the project supervisor identifies the risk, affirms conditions are safe, and gives the OK. To prevent abuse or overuse of the system, every unit is also equipped with an electronic tag that identifies who initiated the “All-Stop.”

This is a standalone system and does not replace a landfill’s current radio communication network. It is intended solely to provide an immediate warning of impending danger.

And compared to fumbling around for a walkie-talkie on the floor or behind the seat, the ESS can save precious seconds that could mean the difference between an accident and a near miss, maybe even between life and death.