NWRA responds to updated occupational fatality data

NWRA responds to updated occupational fatality data
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) updated final figures for industry and occupational fatality data, for which preliminary results were released in September 2015. In its 2014 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, BLS detailed that refuse and recyclable material collectors, as an occupation, ranked fifth among American workers, with a total of 27 fatalities in 2014, down from 33 in 2013.

An analysis by Washington-based National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA)  of the just-released final data shows that a majority of this reduction was attributable to a decrease in fatalities in the private sector. Over the past four years, fatalities in the private sector by occupation has decreased by 28 percent (dropping from 25 in 2011 to 18 in 2014), while fatalities in the public sector nearly doubled (rising from 5 to 9.)

Despite this lower number of fatalities, the rate of fatalities in the occupation overall rose from 33 to 35.8 per 100,000 workers for the year. BLS also analyzes data by industry, and in the industry defined as Solid Waste Collection in 2014, 40 fatalities occurred, 27 in the private sector and 13 in the public sector. The data shows that the refuse and recyclable material collectors occupation account for two-thirds of the fatalities in the solid waste collection industry.
Nationally, across all industries tracked by BLS, including government, fatalities rose 5.1 percent in 2014 to 4,821. For all private industries, fatalities rose 6.9 percent to 4,386.

NWRA, which represents private industry waste and recycling companies nationwide, notes it has spearheaded a comprehensive industrywide series of initiatives in concert with its member companies aimed at reducing fatalities, injuries and accidents. In March 2016, NWRA led a Safety Summit with leading safety professionals in the private waste and recycling industry, and adopted a three-year strategic plan designed to reduce the rates of fatality, injuries and accidents through industry wide measurement, collaboration and process improvement.

An NWRA data task force was formed during the Summit is now engaged in the work of improving current data metrics used with the industry as part of its long term plan to reduce fatalities, injuries and accidents.
 

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Source: Recycling Today
NWRA responds to updated occupational fatality data
<![CDATA[The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) updated final figures for industry and occupational fatality data, for which preliminary results were released in September 2015. In its 2014 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, BLS detailed that refuse and recyclable material collectors, as an occupation, ranked fifth among American workers, with a total of 27 fatalities in 2014, down from 33 in 2013. An analysis by Washington-based National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA)  of the just-released final data shows that a majority of this reduction was attributable to a decrease in fatalities in the private sector. Over the past four years, fatalities in the private sector by occupation has decreased by 28 percent (dropping from 25 in 2011 to 18 in 2014), while fatalities in the public sector nearly doubled (rising from 5 to 9.) Despite this lower number of fatalities, the rate of fatalities in the occupation overall rose from 33 to 35.8 per 100,000 workers for the year. BLS also analyzes data by industry, and in the industry defined as Solid Waste Collection in 2014, 40 fatalities occurred, 27 in the private sector and 13 in the public sector. The data shows that the refuse and recyclable material…