Safety Trends

1. Safety Trends MWMA 2004 Fall Summit Lexington, Kentucky Susan Eppes, EST Solutions

2. Overview • Identify workplace hazards • Explore safety program trends • Review best practices

3. When/where do workplace accidents happen? • Everywhere • In 2001, 5.2 million people were injured on the job in the United States – one every 6 seconds (DuPont)

4. How much does an accident/injury really cost? (Hint: Probably more than you think.)

5. Cost of garbage pick-up • Average cost per household is $12 to $20/month (NSWMA)

6. Direct Costs: How much profit do you have to make to pay for the accident/injury?

7. Direct Costs • Average cost of a lost workday case is $33,000 (National Safety Council) • Cost to U.S. business is $1 billion each work (Liberty Mutual)

8. Indirect Costs • Some estimate the costs to be 2 to 5 times greater than direct costs • Equipment downtime • Replacing and retraining workers • Hiring temporary workers • Overtime

9. Why OSHA Matters • Good source of data • Can help you • Identify hazards • Tailor solutions • Establish priorities

10. Why OSHA Matters • State and local government workers are excluded from Federal coverage (OSH Act of 1970) • However… • States operating their own workplace safety and health programs under plans approved by the U.S. Department of Labor cover most private sector workers • Also requred to extend coverage to public sector workers in the state

11. OSHA Regulations • Permit states without approved plans to develop plans that cover only public sector workers • In these states, private sector employment remains under Federal OSHA jurisdiction • 23 states/territories operate plans covering both public and private sectors • 3 states operate public employee-only plans (CT, NJ, NY)

12. States with Approved Plans *Public sector only

13. OSHA 2003-2008 Strategic Management Plan Goals • 15% drop in fatalities • 20% drop in injuries and illnesses

14. OSHA 2003-2008 Strategic Management Plan • Strategic plan also covers issues not traditionally addressed by the agency but that account for many work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths • Workplace violence • Work related motor vehicle accidents

15. Solid Waste Workplace Hazards and Solutions

16. Where do accidents happen in the solid waste industry? • Residential collection • Commercial collection • Disposal facilities • Landfill • Transfer station • Material recovery facility • Maintenance facilities

17. Who gets injured? • Truck drivers • Spotters • Helpers • Sorters • Mechanics

18. Powered industrial trucks Hazard communication Electrical wiring Respiratory protection Guarding floor and wall openings General duty clause Personal protective equipment Lockout/tagout Means of egress Portable fire extinguishers Permit-required confined space Bloodborne pathogens Violations

19. Solid Waste Workplace Hazards and Solutions: Rear End Loader • To reduce the potential for injuries: • Follow ANSI Z245.1 guidelines • Only ride 2/10 of a mile • Don’t exceed 10 miles per hour • No riding while backing the vehicle • Only ride on riding steps, not loading steps or entry/exit steps • If you lose view or contact of helper, stop backing up • Stop two-sided pickup • Wear visibility vests • Step off only after vehicle stops • Check road conditions; if not smooth, get in cab

20. Solid Waste Workplace Hazards and Solutions: Space Management • Tip-overs • Tipping floor • Working face • People and equipment

21. Solid Waste Workplace Hazards and Solutions: Material Storage • Bale integrity • Stack integrity • Daily inspection • Restricted work area

22. Solid Waste Workplace Hazards and Solutions: Commercial Containers • Securing container to truck • Auto-tarpers • Tarping stations • Turn down loads

23. Solid Waste Workplace Hazards and Solutions: Lockout/Tagout • Balers • Conveyors • FEL top door • Truck maintenance • Cleaning • Clearing jams

24. Solid Waste Workplace Hazards and Solutions: Working under Suspended Loads • Truck maintenance • Tailgates • FEL forks • Containers

25. Collection Route Best Practices • Route observations • Seat belts • Lockout/tagout • Personal protective equipment • Safety devices • Contract language for bids and RFPs • ANSI Z245.1 compliance • Defensive routing

26. Collection Best Practices:Defensive Routing • Minimize backing • Eliminate double siding/zigzagging • Perform right-hand routing • Control speed

27. Waste Industry Best Practices • Employee buy-in • Supervisor involvement • Management commitment • Effective training

28. Supervisors and managers • Ride-alongs • Observation • Equipment selection • Reward and incentive program

29. Employee buy-in • Give input into • Equipment selection • Routing • Processes • Bad stops • Reward best practices • Suggestion program • Family involvement

30. Effective training • It’s quality, not quantity • New employee orientation should not be 6 hours of videotapes…. • Hands-on training • Must be ongoing process

32. Susan Eppes, EST Solutions EST Solutions, Inc. provides professional, integrated ergonomics, safety and health consulting services focused on reducing operating costs by controlling accidents, injuries and compliance costs. For more information, please contact Susan Eppes at 832-435-3472 or seppes@houston.rr.com.