According to the National Institute for Occupational Health & Safety (NIOSH) there were 599 fatalities in the solid waste industry between 2003 and 2009. Most of these were from transportation accidents. Overall, the days-away-from-work (DAFW) for the solid waste industry declined from 2003-2009: from 347 per 10,000 workers to 184. The average DAFW for all U.S. industries was 106 days.
NIOSH has issued recommended standards that workers not ride on the outside of trucks moving faster than 10 mph nor travelling greater than 0.2 miles between stops. Many of the fatalities occur from other motorists striking the worker – so proper training for workers, planning routes with streetlights during dark hours, and use of proper clothing to increase visibility are important tools.
The Flanders Group provides extensive services for managing Workers Compensation insurance programs for the Refuse/Waste collection industries. This includes recover-at-work programs for injured employees to reduce the long-term cost of DAFW claims. Please contact The Flanders Group today to discuss the overall risk management program of your refuse or waste collection business.