Waste Truck Safety Management on the Road

The jobs associated with the waste and recycling industry are considered some of the most dangerous and challenging, and for the right reasons. For a start, workers will have to face the health risks associated with handling different kinds of waste. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), handling of waste and refuse can bring the workers closer to harmful microorganisms, including drug-resistant ones. Also, handling of waste by-products can lead to sharps-inflicted injuries, toxic exposure to pharmaceutical products, chemical burns and more. More than the health risks, waste truck operators also face safety concerns when navigating the roads. Some countries see an increase in accidents on the road driven primarily by the sheer weight and size of trucks. With some waste trucks weighing 18 to 26 tonnes, combined with their size and poor (or lack of visibility), it’s only natural that these vehicles are dangerous when on the move. And when you put these vehicles in busy streets with pedestrians or in a tight street with little room for manoeuver, the risk of an accident happening increases.

Make Small Investments in Safety

These concerns and issues faced on the road can be reduced by making a few small investments in safety. This means working with a safety professional, and by installing appropriate safety products and accessories that can help boost visibility and ensure a safer driving experience. Some of the most popular and efficient products that can be installed are reversing cameras, mobile digital recorders, and reversing alarm systems. Here’s a quick look at how these products can help waste truck drivers and operators.

Reversing cameras. With reversing cameras, drivers can say goodbye to the traditional blind spots. Since drivers can confidently see the rear and the sides, the incidence of accidents and collisions will be reduced.

Mobile digital recorders. Digital recorders don’t just monitor, these are used to capture images and videos which can be helpful in tracking behavior. The captured images can also be used in accident analysis and in false claim prevention.

Reversing alarm systems. Sometimes, visibility and driver awareness is not enough. There are instances when workers and pedestrians on the ground are caught unaware of an oncoming truck. But with reversing alarms, pedestrians are informed if a truck is reversing because of the noises created.

Adding this three safety equipment and products can go a long way in promoting safety in the workplace. These may cost you a few hundred dollars but these are ‘small investments’ in the name of safety.