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With the back-to-school season, increased foot traffic, and the challenges of adverse weather conditions, it is essential to stay vigilant to ensure everyone’s safety on the road and at solid waste facilities.
By  Will Flower

Professional drivers of garbage collection vehicles and recycling trucks play a crucial role in maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of our communities. However, with great responsibility comes the need for heightened awareness and safety, especially when it comes to protecting pedestrians, bicyclists, and fellow workers.

Back-to-School Awareness
As schools reopen, there is a significant increase in the number of children walking and biking to school. School zones are bustling with activity, often during your regular routes. Keep young pedestrians safe:
• Slow Down in School Zones: Always adhere to the reduced speed limits in school zones, typically 20 mph or less. Children are unpredictable, and reducing speed gives you more time to react.
• Watch for Crossing Guards: Be on the lookout for crossing guards and follow their signals. They are there to manage the safe crossing of students.
• Avoid Distractions: Whether it is checking your route or adjusting the radio, minimize distractions when driving through school zones. Full attention is critical.
• Pay attention to kids crossing the street around school busses.

Navigating Intersections Safely
Intersections are hotspots for accidents, particularly when large vehicles like garbage trucks are involved. Safely navigate intersections:
• Stop Completely: Always come to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights, even when in a hurry. Rolling stops can lead to dangerous situations, especially if pedestrians or cyclists are present.
• Yield to Pedestrians: Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks. Ensure that you have a clear view before proceeding through an intersection.
• Wide Turns: Be mindful of the space you need when making wide turns. Check mirrors and blind spots for pedestrians or cyclists that may be in your turning radius.
• Be Alert for Distracted Walkers: Many pedestrians are using headphones/earbuds or paying attention to their mobile devices. Drivers need to be alert for walkers and runners who are not paying attention, especially at crosswalks.

Staying Alert in Bad Weather
Adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, or fog can significantly reduce visibility and increase stopping distances. Here is how you can stay safe:
• Reduced Speed: Slow down in bad weather to give yourself more time to react. Wet or icy roads can increase stopping distances by several times.
• Increased Following Distance: Keep a greater distance between your truck and the vehicle in front of you to allow for extra stopping time.
• Clear Visibility: Ensure your windshield, mirrors, and cameras are clear of snow, ice, or condensation. Good visibility is crucial for spotting pedestrians and cyclists.
• Make sure headlights are clean and functioning: As part of pre-trip and post-trip inspections, the driver should inspect the vehicle’s lighting system to ensure the headlights and safety lights are functional. Any lights that are not working should be quickly repaired.

Protecting Bicyclists on the Road
Bicyclists are more vulnerable on the road, and garbage trucks, with their size and limited visibility, pose a significant risk. Here is how to keep cyclists safe:
• Three-Feet Rule: Maintain at least a three-foot distance when passing bicyclists. If the road is narrow, wait until it is safe to pass without crowding them.
• Check for Cyclists Before Turning: Always check your blind spots and use your mirrors before making a turn, especially in urban areas where cyclists are more prevalent.
• Avoid Distraction: Just like with pedestrians, avoiding distractions is key when sharing the road with cyclists. Stay focused and keep your eyes moving.

Pedestrian Safety at Solid Waste Facilities
There are a surprising number of people walking around solid waste transfer stations, recycling centers, and maintenance facilities. At any given time, there could be employees, contractors, vendors, inspectors, and delivery people at a solid waste facility. Additionally, some facilities conduct public tours for adults and children requiring extra precautions to protect visitors who may not be aware of potential hazards.
The biggest threat to pedestrians at solid waste sites are vehicles such as trucks, forklifts, payloaders, and other wheeled vehicles. The following safety tips will keep pedestrians safe:

• Use Personal Protective Equipment, including high visibility clothing.
• Provide training to equipment operators and have drivers and operators pay special attention to people who may be on foot near machines.
• Limit the number of people near equipment. Keep people away from the tip floor and away from the active face of the landfill.
• Provide training to workers who are working around rolling stock (large and small). Employees should be educated to avoid and use extreme caution when in or near blind spots, danger zones, and equipment crossing areas.
• Install clearly marked pathways for workers to walk in transfer stations and MRFs.
• Make sure backup alarms and lights on equipment are working properly.
• Operators should make sure all the windows on their equipment are clean and clear.
• Use signage to alert pedestrians of potentially hazardous situations. Signage is especially important on loading docks and stairs.
• Review work areas, walkways and stairs to ensure adequate lighting. Lighting is an important part of pedestrian safety. People need to see where they are walking.

General Safety Tips
In addition to specific scenarios, maintaining overall safety practices is essential:
• Regular Equipment Checks: Ensure that your vehicle’s safety equipment, such as lights, brakes, and mirrors, are in good working condition.
• Audio Alarms: The horn and back-up alarms are important safety tools. Keep in mind air horns are loud and can startle pedestrians and cyclists, leading to accidents.
• Always use Personal Protective Equipment: High visibility safety vests can increase your visibility.

As a professional garbage truck driver, you play a vital role in the community. By staying vigilant, especially during the back-to-school season, at intersections, in bad weather, and around bicyclists, you can help prevent accidents and ensure the safety of everyone on the road. Remember, safety is not just about protecting yourself, but also about protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities. | WA

Will Flower is a consultant with 40 years of experience in the area of solid waste management and environmental protection. He has held operational and executive leadership positions at the Director’s Office of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services. Inc. and Winters Bros. Waste Systems.

Share your safety tip. Submit your suggestions to Will Flower at [email protected]