WESTCHESTER COUNTY TO HOST SANITATION WORKERS SAFETY EVENT.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY SANITATION WORKERS SAFETY OUTREACH EVENT.

Department of Environmental Facilities focuses on Safety in the Solid Waste Industry.

(Yonkers, NY) – Westchester County’s Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF), in conjunction with the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), will be hosting a Safety Outreach Event for municipal and private sanitation employees on Wednesday, September 18, from 9 a.m. to noon at the County’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Yonkers. 

Collecting refuse and recyclables is the 5^th deadliest job in the United States. The County encourages both solid waste vehicle drivers and the public to take steps to make sure everyone gets home safe. SWANA’s safety tips include:

·         Always wear your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), especially high visibility vest and outerwear

·         Never use your cell phone to talk or text at the facility, or while driving

·         Don’t ride on the step while the truck is backing up or going forward at more than 10 mph, or further than 1/5^th of a mile

·         Always comply with safety belt rules

·         Don’t exceed the speed limit and don’t rush

As an extension of Driver Appreciation Week, SWANA has provided, and the County will be distributing, safety tip cards and reusable water bottles to the first 250 solid waste drivers. The card encourages drivers to go online to sign SWANA’s safety pledge at: SWANA.org/SAFETY. City Carting of Westchester will be providing refreshments for the collection crews.

For more information, visit www.westchestergov.com/recycling or call (914)813-5425.

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