Second NWRA Safety Stand Down Kicks Off

Nearly 60 companies and several regional waste and recycling associations and the municipal waste community are participating in the National Waste & Recycling Association’s (NWRA) second “Safety Stand Down” of the year beginning today. The emphasis of this week’s activities is keeping collection workers safe during hot weather.

Through this effort, NWRA is equipping participants with guidance and tools on water, rest and shade as preventative measures to prevent the health of industry workers as temperatures begin to soar in summer months. The weeklong training and awareness initiative focuses on reducing heat-related illness and injuries.

Organizations support the effort include the California Refuse and Recycling Council, the Oregon Refuse and Recycling Association, the Washington Refuse and Recycling Association, the International Scrap Recycling Institute 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,” NWRA President and CEO Sharon H. Kneiss said in a statement. “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…. Through training, effective communications and heightened awareness we are committed to helping improve safety across our industry,” said Kneiss.

This stand down follows the association’s previous effort that took place in January, with a focus on backing.

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

The Stand Down is sponsored by 3rd Eye Cam Powered by AWTI, a supplier to the waste and recycling industry, whose products and technologies are directly contributing to improving safety

Additional details about the Stand Down can be found here. The Safety Stand Down effort is using the social media hashtag #KeepSafetyCool