The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) today announced the launch of its second safety stand down with an emphasis on 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 pretext the health of industry workers as temperatures begin to soar in summer months. The 2016 NWRA Safety Stand Down on Water, Rest and Shade launches on May 16 with a weeklong training and awareness initiative focused around reducing heat-related illness and injuries, a common challenge for industries where workers spend considerable time outdoors. This NWRA Safety Stand-Down will include a daily focus on safety issues related to keeping cool, hydrated and healthy in warmer weather and will conclude on May 20, 2016.
NWRA has made safety its top priority, a pledge shared by its member companies. This Stand Down will provide participating companies with the tools, guidance and support necessary to move the needle on heat-related health incidents. In 2014, 1,160 injury and illness cases with lost work days involved exposure to environmental heat in the services providing industries. The Waste and Recycling industry falls into this sector. The NWRA is assisting with tools to help employers make employees aware of the risk. Through this Stand Down, NWRA aims to prepare companies to address the concern and provide employees the resources they need to stay healthy in the heat. “The purpose of the NWRA Safety Stand Down is to raise awareness, prevent, and teach waste and recycling industry workers and employers about working in hot weather and provide valuable resources to address these concerns’, said NWRA President and CEO Sharon H. Kneiss.
This Stand Down comes on the heels of the highly successful NWRA Stand Down on Backing that took place in January. This Stand Down brought together more than 60 percent of the industry for a week of education, discussion and resource sharing to reduce backing related incidents. Participation in the NWRA Safety Stand Downs involves waste and recycling companies’ commitment to focusing employees safety sessions during the week on heat safety; conducting a risk assessment and review of backing policies and procedures; and posting Stand Down information at facilities and on social media sites to make employees aware of this effort. NWRA encourages companies and partners in the waste and recycling industry to register for this Stand Down and thereby contribute toward a Safer, Smarter, Stronger waste & recycling industry. “NWRA, its members and partners in this Stand Down, are committed to safety. This is one of multiple efforts NWRA is leading to move the needle on safety in our industry for our workers and the communities we serve,” said Kneiss.
For more information, visit https://wasterecycling.org/our-work/safety.