National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) and Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)

(signed September 29, 2019 )

Through the Alliance, OSHA, NWRA, and SWANA will provide NWRA and SWANA members and the public with information, guidance, and access to resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers in the solid waste industry, and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The Alliance will address transportation hazards such as backovers and distracted driving; slips, trips, and falls; needlestick injuries; heat and cold stress; musculoskeletal injuries; and other topics, as appropriate, with particular emphasis on outreach to small- and medium-sized employers.

Raising Awareness: Outreach and Communication:
  • Share information on OSHA’s National Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process.
  • Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
  • Develop information on the recognition and prevention of transportation hazards such as backovers and distracted driving; slips, trips, and falls; needlestick injuries; heat and cold stress; musculoskeletal injuries; and other solid waste industry hazards, and the value of safety and health programs in improving safety performance. Communicate such information (e.g., via the Safety Monday e-newsletter, the OSHA, NWRA, and SWANA websites, and other mechanisms, as appropriate) to employers and workers in the solid waste industry.
  • Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA, NWRA, and SWANA conferences, local meetings, or other events, such as WasteExpo, WASTECON, and SWANApalooza.
  • Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on solid waste industry hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
  • Collaborate with other Alliance Program participants to address workplace safety and health issues, such as needlestick hazards in waste and recycling collection and processing.
  • Encourage NWRA and SWANA members and other industry stakeholders to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices; participate in OSHA's Cooperative Programs, such as the Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program and the Voluntary Protection Program; and utilize OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program to improve health and safety in solid waste workplaces.