Department of Labor Report Indicates Private Solid Waste Companies Have Better Safety Record than Public Sector Solid Waste Entities

Local governments have an incident rate that is more than 4 times the private sector

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2010
Contact: David Biderman, 202-364-3743 or davidb@envasns.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), local government operated solid waste management entities have an incident rate that is more than four times greater than private sector solid waste management companies. Furthermore, when there is an incident, the median days away from work for an injured local government employee is 60 percent more than an injured employee from the private sector.

Regarding this finding, NSWMA President and CEO Bruce J. Parker commented, “Our safety program has been relentless in working with our members to reduce workplace accidents. This is a mandate from our Board of Governors. Working with a very active safety committee and Federal agencies responsible for workplace safety, NSWMA has developed a multi-dimensional safety program. One accident or fatality is one too many.”

NSWMA Safety Director David Biderman stated, “While we are very pleased that the private sector solid waste industry continues to reduce workplace accidents, the disparity between the private and public sector incident rates can and should be eliminated.” Biderman urges all haulers and local governments to participate in NSWMA’s safety programs, including the Be Safe, Be Proud and Slow Down to Get Around (SDTGA) programs, and communicate the importance of working safely to their employees.

Be Safe, Be Proud is a series of industry safety videos developed by NSWMA (under a grant awarded by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration) with the solid waste worker in mind. These videos are available in VHS or DVD formats. The 18-20 minute videos (available in English and Spanish) feature actual solid waste employees in real workplace hazard situations faced by drivers and helpers on collection routes or by workers at landfills and transfer stations. They help companies and governments reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

SDTGA is a public awareness program including 60-second and 30-second television and radio public service announcements (PSA) that NSWMA also developed with support from the OSHA. To request a broadcast-quality copy of the television or radio ads, contact Biderman (davidb@envasns.org or 202.364.3743). In addition to this television PSAs, NSWMA is making SDTGA decals available that haulers may put on their trucks to remind motorists to drive carefully. NSWMA makes the decals available to interested parties at no charge. Haulers can obtain SDTGA truck decals by contacting sales@neihauscorp.com or 859.331.3733).

To get more information about this BLS report, go to http://www.bls.gov/news.release/osh2.nr0.htm.

To learn more about how you can help protect yourself and keep garbage men safe on our roads, visit http://www.environmentalistseveryday.org/safety.

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NSWMA – a sub-association of the Environmental Industry Associations – represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid waste collection, recycling and disposal services, healthcare waste management, or provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry. NSWMA members conduct business in all 50 states.