SWANA responds to fatal occupational injuries report

Refuse and recyclable material collection remains the 5th deadliest job in the U.S., a position it has held since 2013, according to recently released data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS has released its 2017 National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, showing 30 fatalities in this occupation compared to 31 in 2016. The fatal work injury rate increased in 2017, however, from 34.1 to 35 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers.

By industry category, solid waste collection workers (NAICS 562111) suffered 32 on-the-job fatalities, compared to 31 the year before.

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Silver Spring, Maryland, issued a statement following the release of the data.

“We are not surprised by the disappointing 2017 results, as SWANA tracks all worker and third-party fatal incidents in the United States and Canada involving the solid waste industry,” SWANA Executive Director and CEO David Biderman says in the statement. “Solid waste collection continues to be the 5th most dangerous job in America, with a higher workplace fatality rate than police officers or fire fighters.

“SWANA’s preliminary data also indicates an increase in the number of worker fatalities in 2018, with nearly 50 solid waste employee fatalities recorded through Dec. 15, 2018,” Biderman says.

Deaths among landfill employees (NAICS 562212), which are part of the reported industry total, have decreased in recent years, from nine deaths in 2015 to six deaths in 2017. There were also four fatalities among material recovery facility (MRF) workers (NAICS 562920) in 2017. In 2016, MRF data didn’t meet BLS publication criteria.

In the release from NWRA, the organization says the release of the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries each year is a sobering reminder of the safety challenges that workers in the solid waste industry face every day. SWANA says it takes seriously its commitment to get waste and recycling collection out of the top 10 most dangerous jobs and wants to ensure all workers in the industry in the U.S. and Canada make it home safely each day.

SWANA says a variety of its resources will help the industry reach that goal, including SWANA’s new Hauler Safety Outreach program that puts safety resources directly into the hands of the haulers who dump loads at disposal facilities across North America. It also has the SWANA Safety Pledge, which asks haulers to commit themselves to consider worker, customer and public safety in every decision that they make.

SWANA says it urges the industry to improve its safety record. The organization will release its own review and analysis of 2018 fatalities in the United States and Canada in early 2019. For more information on SWANA’s safety programs, visit swana.org/safety.