Let’s delve into the vital subject of safety in the refuse collection industry, particularly when dealing with rear-loading trash trucks and dumpsters. Refuse collection is among the most dangerous jobs in the United States, accounting for over 1% of all occupational fatalities between 1992 and 1997. In this line of work, hazards abound. But today, we’re zeroing in on one that doesn’t always make the headlines – crushing hazards during the dumpster emptying process.
Over the past few years, OSHA has investigated many fatalities involving workers crushed when the dumpster became dislodged during emptying. How does this happen, you ask? Well, dumpsters can become dislodged during the emptying cycle if the locking bars aren’t engaged, allowing the dumpster to swing around to the side of the truck. Alternatively, the dumpster can fall if the wire rope fails, or if the hook becomes dislodged from the dumpster’s lifting eye.
In one case, a waste handling company employee was fatally injured while operating a rear-loading trash truck. The employee was emptying a dumpster into the back of the truck when the load shifted, causing the dumpster to rotate toward the passenger side of the vehicle, where the employee was standing and operating the controls. Tragically, the employee was caught between the dumpster and the side of the truck. In this instance, the dumpster’s trunnion bar wasn’t secured by the locking bars, or “latch-up mechanisms.”
Given these hazards, what can be done to promote safety?
- All devices used to empty dumpsters into rear-loading trucks, including the trunnion bar locking mechanism, wire rope, and hooks with safety latches, should be thoroughly inspected to ensure they’re present, correctly connected, and fully operational.
- Employers should develop a training program and procedures regarding the use of securing devices during the dumpster emptying process. Employees should only operate the compactor when the dumpster is on the ground.
- Employers and employees should adhere to the recommendations outlined in the “ANSI Standard Z245.1-1999 American National Standard for Equipment Technology and Operations for Wastes and Recyclable Materials-Mobile Wastes and Recyclable Materials Collection, Transportation, and Compaction Equipment Safety Requirements.”
This ANSI Standard has some key takeaways:
- Ensure that no one removes or disables any safety device.
- Monitor employee activities and take appropriate action to promote adherence to safe practices.
- Implement a maintenance program for equipment that includes regular inspections and repairs by trained, competent maintenance personnel or contractors.
Ensuring safety in the workplace, especially in high-risk professions like refuse collection, is no small feat. However, by adhering to these guidelines and maintaining a culture of safety, we can make this industry safer for all.
References:
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/shib120903.pdf
