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Review of Trash <br />COIIeC~IOri <br />I m pads <br />IZ3 <br />times the national average. A University of Miami study found that <br />the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities for refuse and recyclable <br />material collectors is impatient motorists who try to pass the <br />garbage truck and hit the collector. <br />Trash collection activities also result in interaction with the general <br />public and as such generate the potential for public safety issues. <br />Efforts to reduce those interactions (e.g., districted collection}, <br />make the public more aware of collection vehicles and drivers <br />(e.g., signage, lights) and provide drivers with additional training <br />and tools to provide for safer collection operations {e.g., video <br />recorders) all contribute to increasing public safety as it relates to <br />trash collection services. <br />Industry Safety Initiatives <br />Waste Management Inc., the largest solid waste services provider <br />in the country, has a model "Mission to Zero" plan and has <br />significantly reduced worker injuries since the model was <br />implemented. Allied Waste Industries, the second largest solid <br />waste provider in the country,. has paid particular attention to <br />vehicle safety, including adding or replacing all incandescent lights <br />with LED's and additional LED strobe lights on each side and the <br />front of the vehicles. As a result of these and other actions Allied's <br />accident rate declined approximately 20 percent in each of the first <br />three years following implementation and driver feedback has <br />been very positive. <br />Slow Down to Get Around Safety Campaign <br />Jurisdictions throughout the country have adopted the "Slow Down <br />to get Around" safety campaign to enhance the visibility of the <br />collection vehicles and have dramatically reduced rear-ending <br />accidents.20 The program is designed to raise safety awareness <br />when passing utility, waste and service vehicles. The aim is to <br />encourage drivers to use the same amount of caution as when <br />passing a school bus, emergency vehicle or road construction <br />crew. <br />Full Automated Vehicles <br />The use of fully-automated vehicles can greatly contribute to <br />worker safety. Automated collection eliminates the constant <br />manual lifting of cans and bags associated with manual collection <br />systems and is more efficient than semi-automated collection. <br />Automated collection uses wheeled carts that are lifted by a <br />mechanical arm on the side of the truck. The driver controls the <br />entire collecfion process without leaving the drivers seat. <br />Automated systems have been shown to result in decreased <br />workers compensation costs and allow experienced older (often <br />20 See httpalwww.rumpke.comlOur_CommitmentlSafety.asp for more <br />~nformatEOn on the Slow Down to get Around safety campaign. <br />Section 2 - 1$ <br />