Four garbage truck drivers in Waste Pro’s New Orleans Division, located in Kenner, LA, have earned the company’s coveted $10,000 Safety Award. Bruce Green, Brian Tonglet, Kendall Coleman, and Roland Turner (not pictured) were presented with their big checks on May 12 during a celebration in their honor. For Coleman and Turner, it was their second time earning the award. “This group is the definition of the Waste Pro Way,” said Louisiana Divisional Vice President Jesse Murphy. “They don’t let anything stop them from being the best of the best, not even a pandemic – they always show up to work with a great attitude.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has consistently ranked solid waste collection in the top five most dangerous jobs in the United States, with fatality rates being as high as ten times the national average. For that reason, Waste Pro established the $10,000 Safety Award Program in 2004 to encourage drivers to practice safe habits at all times. To date, approximately $5 million has been awarded to drivers who have earned the award.
To be eligible, drivers must go three years without an at-fault safety event, maintain a positive attitude, have a strong attendance record, and keep a well-kept truck. Waste Pro is the only private company in the solid waste industry to offer such an award to its drivers. An award of $5,000 is available to helpers who meet similar criteria.