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Waste management is a huge part of how we keep our world and our homes clean and livable. Unfortunately, waste management is also a more dangerous job than most people realize. In fact, solid waste collection was the fifth most dangerous job in America in 2017, with 35 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers. Those numbers highlight the extreme need for improved Safety In The Waste Management Industry .
Safety In The Waste Management Industry – We have got a little bit of advice for waste collection workers who want to step up their safety game. From packing the right safety supplies to navigating traffic safely, these are the tips that will keep you safe during the solid waste collection process.

#1: Come Equipped with Safety Supplies that Prepare You for the Weather
Like anyone with a demanding job, a waste collection professional has to come to work with the right gear. Since waste collection professionals work outside most of the time, they need to prepare themselves with a weather-appropriate kit:

  • Hot Weather: Light-colored clothing with long sleeves, plus a safety vest with pockets made from breathable mesh. Durable safety sunglasses and a hat or headband to keep sweat off your face.
  • Cold Weather: Layered high visibility clothing with synthetic insulation (as it performs better than down in wet conditions). Boots with good grip for navigating ice or snow.
  • Rainy Weather: Rain jacket, extra changes of dry clothes, waterproof boots and a reflective vest (if your rain jacket is not reflective).

In addition, no matter what environment you are working in, always make sure to bring some water to drink since dehydration can strike in any type of weather.

#2: Always Complete a Pre-Shift Inspection of Your Collection Vehicle
When it comes to safe waste collection, every little thing counts. Make sure to check each of the following as part of your pre-shift inspection:
• Tires
• Brakes
Hoist and lift systems
Fire extinguisher
• Backup alert system
• Windshield wipers
• Engine fluids
• Lights (including hazard lights)
First aid kit
• Cameras (if present)
If any of the above is out of order, correct the problem immediately and/or notify a supervisor.

#3: Never Operate the Collection Vehicle in Reverse if Possible
The most common waste collection vehicles are large trucks equipped with lifts. Operating a waste truck requires care and skill, and operation in reverse is particularly difficult. If possible, try to never go in reverse. Circling the block may be more time-consuming, but it is better than a potentially deadly accident.
Sometimes, you will have no choice other than to reverse the truck. Under these circumstances, the driver always needs to have assistance from a second person on the ground who helps direct the truck. The person directing needs to keep a vigilant eye out for vehicles, children, animals and any other hazards that might be present. If at any point the driver can no longer see the person on the ground, the driver must stop immediately.

#4: Commit to Good Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene is more important than ever now that the threat of COVID-19 is always looming. Waste collectors should be aware of the risks they face and take extra precautions, including the following:
• Wear proper PPE, including mask and gloves
• Tend to wounds or other injuries as soon as they happen
• Do not touch your face any more than is absolutely necessary
• Ask a doctor whether vaccines such as tetanus and/or hepatitis are appropriate for you
• Immediately report puncture wounds from hypodermic needles and seek prompt medical attention
• Shower as soon as you get home
• Wash your work clothes separately from other garments
• Have multiple sets of work clothes ready so you do not have to reuse dirty ones on short notice

#5: Practice Good Physical Handling Techniques
Handling waste bins and bulk waste correctly is one of the most important ways to avoid injury while on the job. Use the following techniques to minimize the physical risk:
• Always lift with your knees and keep your back straight throughout the lift
• Whenever possible, roll garbage bins instead of carrying them
• Carry heavy bins and other heavy waste with two hands when you must carry them
• Make sure your feet are firmly planted before attempting to lift heavy waste
• Use a variety of throwing techniques to avoid repetitive strain injuries
• Be aware that unmarked sharp objects are a constant possibility

#6: Know How to Escalate a Safety Complaint
The best way to resolve a safety complaint is simply to take it up with the other people involved. Talk to your coworkers and discuss how safety issues can be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.
Sometimes, you may need to report the complaint to a supervisor. It is best to know your department’s complaint procedures ahead of time so that you can file yours quickly and discreetly if necessary. Make sure your complaint is specific and actionable, and that it follows established procedures.

In extreme cases, you may need to contact OSHA or your state’s Department of Labor. Remember that you are probably protected by whistleblower laws, so do not be afraid of retaliation from your boss or coworkers.

#7: Avoid Letting Routine Turn into Complacency
Routine and habit are key tools for developing a safety culture, but they can also work against you. When you perform the same safety checks every day before work, you can become vulnerable to complacency without even realizing it.

Try having a different member of your team perform the safety checks each day on a rotating schedule so that no one person falls into the routine too much. It can also be useful to keep visual reminders of your checking processes around the workplace to provide a handy reminder of the proper procedures.

Following Best Practices
Sanitation workers are some of the most essential workers in our economy. If you are out there collecting waste, know that America is grateful to you for doing a dangerous and difficult job. Just remember to keep yourself safe and follow best practices for Safety In The Waste Management Industry to stay healthy.

Hazardous Waste Management Software

HazMat T&T is a hazardous waste management software solution designed for Environmental Service Companies and companies who generate a large quantity of hazardous waste. The solution tracks hazardous waste from cradle to grave aiding compliance, providing accurate waste inventory, increasing waste handling efficiency, reducing risk and also helps manage waste costs. HazMat T&T Hazardous Waste Management Software can be deployed in a number of deployment scenarios, from Large Hazardous Waste Generators, tracking their hazardous waste at their site to Environmental Service and Waste Management Companies using it track and manage hazardous waste at transfer and disposal sites.

Fire Extinguisher Barcode Inspection Software

Fire Extinguisher Barcode Inspection Software system can be used to manage monthly fire extinguisher inspections, annual inspections and 6 year and 12 year inspections and also general fire safety inspections. Allowing Managers to record safety observations while performing facility tours which can improve overall fire safety. A Fire Extinguisher Inspection Software system that can create corrective actions as a result of inspection failures and allocate these corrective active actions to the appropriate persons, with deadlines for resolution will greatly reduce the time, effort and cost of managing NFPA inspections. Implementing a Fire Extinguisher Barcode System, where users scan each fire extinguisher using a Mobile Fire Extinguisher Inspection Software App aids with compliance with NFPA and The joint Commission and other Authorities having Jurisdiction(ADJ’s)  within Universities, Colleges, Hospitals, Medical Centers, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas and many other sectors.

Easy to Use – Fire Extinguisher Barcode System

IMEC Inspection Software is am easy to use fire extinguisher barcode system which will schedule, manage, track and report on any type of inspection, including Facility, Equipment, People etc. Use Cases include fire extinguisher barcode system, equipment or asset inspection system or facilities inspection software. When used as a fire extinguisher barcode system Inspections are performed via the Mobile app which is available on iOS, Android and Windows devices. The user identifies the inspection point by scanning a barcode, or picking from a list based on location. The Mobile App which is part of the fire extinguisher barcode system will then display the list of custom Forms or Checklists.  The fire extinguisher barcode system inspections can be performed offline if no internet connection is available.

The IMEC Mobile Safety App can also be used as a Fire Door Inspection App and with the Web based flexible Forms Manager the solution can be used as a Fire Door Inspection Software Solution also. Fire Door Inspection Software is used is large facilities with large quantities of Fire Doors like Hospitals, Universities and also Cruise Ships.

Not Just A Fire Extinguisher Barcode System but a Complete Fire Life Safety Inspection Software Solution

IMEC Inspection Software can be deployed as a full Fire Life Safety Inspection Software solution that can be used to manage an organization’s full range of fire and life safety inspections.  The IMEC Fire Life Safety Inspection Software can manage any type of inspection, use cases include Fire Doors, Fire Pumps, Eyewash Stations, Emergency Lights, Emergency Showers, Grease Traps, AED’s and many more.  The IMEC Fire Life Safety Inspection Software can manage any type safety equipment or asset inspection. The user identifies the inspection point by scanning a barcode, or picking from a list based on location. The Mobile App will then display the list of custom Forms or Checklists. The solution can be used within Hospitals as a Hospital Inspection Software solution to manage all hospital inspections and Environment of Care Rounds. Hospital Inspection Software makes Daily, Weekly and Monthly Inspections more efficient and accurate. IMEC’s Hospital Inspection Software allows health care and facility managers to monitor the inspections across their entire organization to aid compliance and increase efficiency.

EH&S Inspection Software

IMEC’s EH&S Inspection Software can be used to manage any type of EHS Inspection and allows manager to record safety observations while performing facility tours which can improve overall workplace safety. This EH&S Inspection Software solution that can create corrective actions as a result of inspection failures for inspections performed using the Safety Inspection Software Mobile App. Corrective actions are allocated to the appropriate persons, with deadlines for resolution which will greatly reduce the time, effort and cost of managing compliance inspections. Implementing an EH&S Inspection software solution, where users using the Safety Inspection Software Mobile App can easily perform inspections in the field aids compliance, reduces risk and standardizes the inspection process within your organization.

Asset Inspection Management Software

IMEC’s Asset Inspection Management Software can be used to manage any type of Asset Inspection. This Asset Inspection Management Software solution can create corrective actions as a result of asset inspection failures for inspections.  Corrective actions are allocated to the appropriate persons, with deadlines for resolution which will greatly reduce the time, effort and cost of managing compliance inspections. Implementing an Asset Inspection management software solution, where users using a Mobile App can easily perform inspections in the field aids compliance, reduces risk and standardizes the inspection process within your organization.

Lock Out Tag Out Software Solutions

IMEC’s Lock Out Tag Out Software Solutions allow a LOTO procedure to be defined for each piece of equipment that requires LOTO to be managed within the system. Equipment can be managed from both Mobile and Web App. Isolation points for the each piece of equipment are managed, images associated with both the piece of equipment and isolation points can be annotated to include energy source icon, arrows, sequence etc. Lock Out Tag Out Procedures can be authored using the Mobile App with version control and with an approval workflow. Lock Out Tag Out Procedures are executed using the Mobile App on any Smart Phone or Tablet. Lockout Tagout procedures are initiated by the user identifying the piece of equipment by either scanning QR Code or selecting the piece of equipment from a list. A complete history of completed Lockout Tagout Procedures is recorded. The status for the piece of equipment can be updated after LOTO is complete – Locked / Unlocked. An Audit option on the Mobile App allows a procedure to be reviewed without performing LOTO on the piece of equipment. Corrective Actions can be created for any Non-conformances or changes required recorded during the Procedure Review. Data Analytics within the IMEC Lock Out Tag Out Software Solutions provide machine downtime analysis to aid in operational efficiency and investment decisions.

IMEC Technologies provides Safety Management Software to increase worker safety and aid compliance. IMEC’s Safety Management Software will manage inspections and audits, provides hazard identificationincident reporting, management of corrective and preventative actions from generation to closure. IMEC provides lock out tag out software solutions that will allow users to create lockout tagout procedures using an intuitive Mobile App and Manage Lockout Tagout Procedures, also the Review and Execution of those Lockout Tagout Procedures using the Mobile App. Annual Lockout Tagout Procedures audits are conducted using a Mobile App. The Mobile Inspection App allow users to perform inspections and audits, for example the system can be used as a Fire Extinguisher Barcode Inspection Software system to manage monthly fire extinguisher inspections and general fire safety inspections and also to record safety observations and manage corrective actions, anywhere and anytime. The solution can be used as a fire extinguisher barcode inspection software system or life safety inspection system to aid compliance in Higher Education, Healthcare, Industrial and Commercial Organizations. Benefits from a Fire Extinguisher Barcode System include the elimination of paperwork and reducing the burden of compliance with regulations such as NFPA, The Joint Commission. The Mobile App can also be used as a Fire Door Inspection App and with the flexible Forms Manager the solution can be used as a Fire Door Inspection Software Solution also. Fire Door Inspection Software is used is large facilities with large quantities of Fire Doors like Hospitals, Universities and also Cruise Ships. The Incident Reporting App allows users to easily and quickly report incidents, hazards and near-misses, these are then sent to the appropriate people for action and are managed to closure.  Web Apps provide features such as, setup, management, scheduling tools, analysis, reporting and dashboards etc with the ability to report incidents to government bodies such as OSHA and RIDDORHazMat T&T is a hazardous waste management software solution designed for Environmental Service Companies and companies who generate a large quantity of hazardous waste. The solution tracks hazardous waste from cradle to grave aiding compliance, providing accurate waste inventory, increasing waste handling efficiency, reducing risk and also helps manage waste costs. HazMat T&T Hazardous Waste Management Software can be deployed in a number of deployment scenarios, from Large Hazardous Waste Generators, tracking their hazardous waste at their site to Environmental Service and Waste Management Companies using it track and manage hazardous waste at transfer and disposal sites. For more information visit our website www.imectechnologies.com