Tips for making collection workers’ jobs safer in the snow

In an effort to help ensure the safety of waste collection workers, the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) has released snow safety guidelines to help eliminate common causes of worker injury during the winter. These best practices are aimed at informing residents of how they can better prepare their waste when weather conditions are poor.  

7 tips for making collection workers’ jobs safer in the snow

• Check the hauling company’s website for weather collection schedules and instructions.
• Don’t put out the collection container while it’s snowing or before there is heavy snowfall.
• Cover the opening of the container so snow doesn’t add excess weight, as open containers with snow could injure collection workers.
• Shovel out a space for the container to help assist collection workers.
• Shovel out containers buried in the snow so the hauling company can get to it.
• Be sure to clean up and put back containers knocked over by snowplows.
• Report the severity of any damaged container to your hauling company.

In addition to the above guidelines aimed at residents, NWRA and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) recently released 10 tips for collection workers for staying safe in winter weather.