Occupational Fatalities in the Solid Waste Industry Julia Zhu, Project Director New York State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (NY FACE) Program New York State Department of Health

NY FACE Funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Conducted throughout the state excluding NYC Major program activities:  collect case information on occupational fatalities  investigate fatal cases  develop and disseminate injury prevention products (reports, fact sheets, alerts and training manuals)

Presentation Outline Review of 26 cases of solid waste worker deaths Discussion of preventive measures for selected cases

Fatality Case Review 27 cases ( ) of solid waste worker deaths were identified from NY FACE database  There are more cases in the NY FACE database may not be classified as solid waste worker deaths due to incomplete information  BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries keeps the official tally.

The fatal case occurred to the following businesses: City government Recycling Waste transportation Power plant Waste equipment service Landfill

Victim Job Titles Drivers (10) Recycling plant workers (6) Garbage collectors (3) Company owners (2) Laborers (2) Engineer (1) Sanitation worker (1) Contractor (1) Mechanic (1)

Incident Locations Streets/roadways (9) Recycling plants (9) Landfills (2) City compost site (1) Power plant (1) Equipment maintenance shop (1) Public parking lot (1) Transfer station (1) Demolition site (1)

Causal Agent Categories Mobile equipment were involved in 16 cases:

Causal Agents (Cont.) Motor vehicles (5) Recycling equipment (3) Confined space (2) Undetermined (1)

Confined Space Death: Case #1 A 27 year-old worker was working on a sewage tanker truck. He descended into the tanker from the top hatch and was quickly overcome by toxic gas and died. A co-worker entered the tank to rescue the victim. He collapsed inside the tank but was rescued and survived.

Confined Space Death: Case #2 In May 2003, a 32-year-old city engineer collapsed in a manhole while attempting to retrieve a flow meter and was pronounced dead after he was transported to a hospital. Oxygen Content in the manhole: 2.1% (O 2 in air 21%)

Prevention Measures Perform job hazard analysis Implement a confined space entry program Provide training and periodic refresher training Provide supervision to ensure workers follow the safe entry program

Recycling Equipment: Case #3 A 42 year-old waste recycling laborer was killed when he fell into a baler and became trapped.

Prevention Measures Inspect all baling and compacting machines to ensure that all safety features are functioning properly; Provide employee training; Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule Keep baler operating manuals

Mobile Equipment Fatal Cases Mobile equipment involved: – Dump truck – Forklift – Front-end loader – Landfill compactor – Garbage truck – Utility truck

Causes of Mobile Equipment Related Cases Ran over by mobile equipment Crushed by mobile equipment Struck by mobile equipment parts Fell off mobile equipment Mobile equipment maintenance

Crushed by Mobile Equipment: Case #4 A 54 year-old recycling facility worker was operating a forklift near a loading dock when the forklift went off the loading dock. The victim attempted to jump from the vehicle to escape the fall, but the vehicle landed on him. He died of the crushing injuries.

Struck by Mobile Equipment Part: Case #5 A 59 year-old truck driver was killed when the cargo arm of his truck lifted and collided with girders that supported a bridge he was driving under. The cargo arm then dropped on him, crushing him.

Fell off Mobile Equipment: Case #6: A 21-year-old garbage collector was riding on the passenger door step of a garbage truck. He fell off and was crushed by the truck while the truck was backing into a dead end street. Case #7: A 30 year-old garbage collector was killed when he fell of the back of a garbage truck. The truck was driving around a corner when the victim fell off and struck his head on the ground.

Preventive Measures Perform job hazard analysis Train operators about loading dock safety Ensure that workers not ride on the side or back of their vehicles Make sure all mobile equipment are in safe condition and can be safely operated on roadways

Ran over by Mobile Equipment: Case #8 In February 2002, a 35 year-old male truck driver was unloading waste material at a landfill. The victim got out of his cab to clean the walking floor in his trailer during unloading. He was struck and killed by a landfill compactor that was backing up.

Case #8 Victim was wearing an earth-tone Carhart suite Tight working space: the victim was five feet from the trailer when he was struck Landfill compactor operator blind spot was 35 feet long Victim was cleaning the walking floor during unloading

Walking Floor-Case #9 In September 2006, a 38 year-old truck driver was buried by a load of compost and died at a city compost site. He entered the trailer to cover the front section of the walking floor with a piece of tarp.

Be Aware of the Walking Floor Drivers tried to sweep or covering the walking floor during unloading to save time and reduce manual cleaning Consider using automatic tarping system

Preventive Measures Develop a traffic control plan Design work area and mobile equipment travel routes to reduce vehicle backing up Require delivery drivers to remain inside their trucks during unloading Set up a designated sweeping area that’s away from all traffic for cleaning Require all visitors wear high visibility safety vests Cooperate with host employer to ensure delivery drivers safety Provide employee training and supervision

Solid Waste Industry - a High Risk Industry Solid waste industry fatality rate : 21.1 per 100,000 full time equivalent worker ( ) Fatality rate for all US workers for the same time period: 3.9 Source: CFOI

NY FACE Website NIOSH FACE website: Contact info: Julia Zhu Bureau of Occupational Health NYSDOH Troy New York