Waste Management trains drivers to be safe in the heat

Protecting its drivers from the record heat has been a critical concern for Waste Management this summer as temperatures climbed to historically high levels.

Garbage truck drivers are well known for their hard work and long days on collection routes. They start before dawn and work well into the day's hottest heat. Some will make as many as 1,000 collection stops in a day. That's why company managers focus special attention on heat-related health issues as the mercury soars into the 90s and beyond.

Illinois was among the locations recording the hottest July ever.

“We care about our people,” said Safety Manager Rick Grochowski. “I want to make sure they're okay. I tell them I want them to come home to their families safe and sound. The most important thing is that you go home to your family healthy at the end of the day.”

As a precaution, drivers are advised in their daily meetings to be aware of the heat and the symptoms of heat exhaustion, said Grochowski. He said they begin their routes aware of forecasted temperatures and the need to stay hydrated.

Waste Management advises them to take three steps to avoid heat stress on the job:

• Drink plenty of water and fluids like sport drinks containing electrolytes.

• Avoid caffeinated drinks that dehydrate the body.

• Watch co-worker activities to be alert for heat-related symptoms that might affect drivers or helpers.

Drivers experiencing heat stress might notice hot or moist skin and muscle cramping, he said. They should move to a cooler or shaded area and drink water.

The signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, intense thirst and cool, moist skin. It can include fatigue and weakness and loss of coordination. In addition to hydrating and cooling themselves, drivers showing signs of heat exhaustion are advised to elevate their legs and massage their limbs.

Grochowski said the symptoms of heat stroke, a potentially lethal condition, can include absence of sweating, hot, red or flushed dry skin, breathing difficulty, pupils that are constricted, headache and dizziness. He said it also can include worker confusion or unusual behavior, weakness, nausea and vomiting. If heat stroke occurs, water and ice should be applied to the skin of the driver to provide cooling and the 911 emergency number should be dialed immediately to obtain assistance.

Waste Management managers and dispatchers do wellness checks on their drivers during the day to see how they are feeling. Drivers begin their routes equipped with coolers of water, Gatorade and ice supplied by local divisions. More fluids will be brought to them on their routes. In some cases, Waste Management asks its service communities to allow its drivers to start routes early to avoid the mid-day heat.

“The effect of heat stress can be fatal if you don't take care of it,” Grochowski said. Overexposure to heat can lead to driver safety issues, including fatigue, lack of focus and being distracted. “When you get too hot, you lose focus. Heat stress can cause confusion,” he said. Drivers are advised to drink water and fluids that replace the electrolytes in their systems and to eat.

Being well rested before working in the heat is also important. Drivers should get at least seven hours of sleep each night, Grochowski said. It's important that drivers avoid what Grochowski calls “sleep debt” – brought on by working too hard and sleeping too little.

Waste Management uses its frequent safety meetings to communicate the importance of staying hydrated. “When you're thirsty, you're already starting to dehydrate,” he said.

The Company's driver rule book, new hire training, and safety meetings cover heat issues. Incidents that may occur are shared, making the drivers more aware of heat concerns. Grochowski said the training and followup provide a means of communication and a knowledge of best practices.

Graphic information is offered, too. A poster in placed in driver bathrooms displays a urine color chart, asking the question, “Are you drinking enough water?” As a rule, the darker yellow a person's urine may be, the greater the need to drink water.

Grochowski sees drivers as Waste Management's link to its customers. “They are our lifeline out there. They take care of our customers.”