May 16-20 is Waste Industry Safety Stand Down

Heat illness is deadly but preventable. Last year alone, at least 30 workers in the U.S. died from heat exposure. Canadian statistics are similar, relative to the smaller population. Waste and recycling workers all over North America who work in hot weather, including the Northern U.S. and Canada during the summer months, are at risk. That is why the National Waste & Recycling Association is sponsoring an industry Stand-Down on Water Rest Shade the week of May 16, 2016.

NWRA is joining with OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention Campaign, which has reached more than 10.7 million people. All companies who take the pledge will commit to holding training sessions and developing other opportunities to work safely in the heat.

We are asking that companies commit to:

Assess the risk associated with heat exposure.Develop a Heat Illness prevention plan that includes:§Understanding the health effects of heat§Processes to prevent heat exhaustion§How to respond to symptoms and illness Review and update your company's policy for safely working in heat.Let us know your plans for the week.

Companies committing to this effort will be recognized on our website and in our social media. We will be issuing special Safety Monday alerts addressing Water Shade Rest each day that week. In addition, we are developed a toolkit that includes:
Instructions on how to participate Fact sheets, posters and other educational resources Heat Index guidance Training document instructing workers on heat illness Press release template that can be modified for each participant.

Our January Stand Down on Backing included participation by 60% of the private industry and was reported by participants to be of great value. It also received coverage from industry media and NIOSH.