Waste and recycling companies prepare for national safety stand down

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), Washington, has announced that dozens of leading companies and independent waste and recycling organizations nationwide will participate in a major national effort to improve safety in the waste and recycling industry. The 2016 NWRA Safety Stand Down launches Jan. 25 with a weeklong training and awareness initiative focused on reducing accidents, fatalities and injuries related to truck backing incidents. The NWRA Safety Stand-Down on vehicle backing will include a daily focus on safety issues related to backing and will conclude Jan. 29, 2016.

The NWRA says this Stand Down will provide participating companies with the tools, guidance and support necessary to move the needle on backing incidents.

Participation in the Stand Down involves waste and recycling companies’ commitment to focusing employees safety sessions during the week on safe backing; conducting a risk assessment and review of backing policies and procedures; and posting Stand Down information at facilities and on social media sites to make employees aware of this effort.

Nearly 50 companies have joined the Stand Down, with additional participants registering as the kickoff to the Stand Down nears, the NWRA says.

Further, in what the NWRA says is “an unprecedented demonstration of common purpose,” several regional waste and recycling associations and the municipal waste community have joined the effort, encouraging their members to participate in the Stand Down. These associations include California Refuse and Recycling Council, the Oregon Refuse and Recycling Association, the Washington Refuse and Recycling Association, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and the Solid Waste Association of North America.

 “We are proud of the commitment of our members, sponsor and partners to work together to raise the bar for safety in our industry,” says Sharon H. Kneiss, NWRA president and chief executive officer. “We are working to raise awareness and elevate our performance as we focus on the importance of a safe environment for our workers and the communities they serve nationwide.”

She adds, “Through training, effective communications and heightened awareness, we are committed to helping improve safety across our industry.”

The Stand Down is sponsored by 3rd Eye Cam Powered by Houston-based AWTI, a leading supplier to the waste and recycling industry. More information on AWTIs products and services can be found at www.awti.com.

“AWTI is proud to be the major sponsor for the NWRA’s 2016 Safety Stand Down,” says AWTI/3rd Eye MobileVision Executive Vice President Mark Regan. “Efforts such as this strengthen and promote the most important principle we must all strive for … making sure every employee and the public they serve go home safe everyday.”

Additional details about the Stand Down can be found at https://wasterecycling.org/our-work/safety.The Safety Stand Down effort is using the social media hashtag #StandForSafety.

As the designated Secretariat for ANSI Standards for the waste and recycling industry for more than 50 years, NWRA also coordinates the ongoing development of new and revised standards for both equipment and protective gear.