City Laborer Dies after Falling Off
a Moving Refuse Collection Truck

FACE Facts
SAFETY ALERT

Occupational Health Surveillance Program
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
March 2010

Incident
In 2009, a 49-year-old male city worker died while collecting waste from homes. The victim was part of a three-person work crew assigned to a refuse       collection truck with two seats inside the truck’s cab. The victim and a co-worker were riding on the rear step of the truck while traveling to the next collection location. 
The victim fell from the back of the truck as it drove over an indent in the road, going about 30 miles per hour (mph). The victim landed on the road, hitting his head against the asphalt. He was taken to a local      hospital where he died two days later.

What Employees Can Do
Safety Reminders for the Work Crew
Collectors
For safe riding:
•	Do not ride on the steps if the truck is going faster than 10 mph or more than 0.2 miles. 
•	Do not ride on the steps when the truck is backing up.
•	Do not board or dismount from riding steps until the truck is completely stopped, and the driver is aware of your location.
•	Do not jump, on and off riding steps. Use the handles and step carefully.

Drivers
To help keep collectors safe: 
•	Alert collectors to get into the truck’s cab before you travel over 10 mph or more than 0.2 miles.
•	Wait for collectors to signal before moving the truck.

			More recommendations and resources on back

Occupational Health Surveillance Program
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
March 2010

FACE Facts
SAFETY ALERT

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), in cooperation with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, conducts the project known as FACE (Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation).  FACE seeks to prevent occupational fatalities by identifying and investigating these incidents and then developing and disseminating prevention strategies to those who can intervene in the workplace.
This document is in the public domain and may be copied freely.  Please share this document with others.  It can be found on the MDPH website at www.mass.gov/dph/face. If you have comments or questions, call the Massachusetts FACE project at 1-800-338-5223.

National Institute for Occupational   Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths From Moving 
Refuse Collection Vehicles 
Go to: www.cdc.gov/niosh/refuse.html

Work-related Roadway Crashes: 
Prevention Strategies for Employers 
Go to: www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-136

Free print copies of each of these can be requested.
E-mail: pubstaft@cdc.gov
Call: 1-800-CDC-INFO or 1-800-232-4636

Waste Age Magazine
Free access to Waste Age materials is available online,      including information on health and safety. 
Go to: http://wasteage.com
Call: 1-866-505-7173

MA Division of Occupational Safety (DOS)
The DOS offers free consultation services to help 
employers improve their safety and health  programs and train employees.
Go to: www.mass.gov/dos/consult

MA Department of Industrial Accidents(DIA)
The DIA has grants available for providing workplace health and safety training to employers and employees. Any company covered by the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Insurance Law is eligible to apply.
Go to: www.mass.gov/dia/safety

MA Department of Public Health
The Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) project investigates work-related fatalities and develops prevention recommendations. Full reports of this and other incidents are available for free online. 
Go to: www.mass.gov/dph/face                                     and click on “Educational Materials” and then “Fatality Case Reports”

What Employers Should Do
Safe Refuse Collection Practices
Schedule Ahead
•	Set schedules so that work crews have enough time to finish their tasks without  rushing.
•	Schedule only as many workers to a crew as there are seats inside the collection truck’s cab.
•	Provide other transportation options if there are more crew members than seats in the truck’s cab.

Train Routinely
•	Provide employees with an initial training on  safety and policies, as well as refresher trainings,  as needed.
•	Develop a short version of the initial employee training to be used for easy refresher trainings, when an incident or near miss occurs.

Post the Policy
•	Use this fact sheet and other safety notices to remind crew members about policies that help ensure worker safety.

Massachusetts Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Project 1-800-338-5223

Waste Collection Resources

Massachusetts Resources

Going faster than 10 mph?
Going more than 0.2 miles?
Ride inside, instead.