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Refuse Collector Injury Statistics Pre and Post Automation of fleet

By Charlotte Davis posted 06-25-2015 07:33 PM

  

Hello Everyone

Charlotte Davis here, Manager of Solid Waste at  the City of Nanaimo, BC.   

 

 I am currently working on a business case to take to Council here regarding the potentail to Automate our garbage fleet.

 

The main issue we have with our current manual collection system (and the crux of my agreement) is the high injury rate.  I know that automation will greatly reduce our injury rate but have not been able to find any statistics or case studies to back up this point.   

 

Do you know of any studies or do you have any statistics from your own system that you would be willing to share with me at all please?

 

 In case you are interested, here is what I know:

 - Forbes Business review rates the manual collection of solid waste as the 6th most dangerous job in North America.

- Here at the City of Nanaimo we have had 33 injuries to our refuse collectors in the last 3 years.

- Refuse collectors make up less than 1% of our workforce yet constitute around 17% of the loss time injury costs.

- Over all injuries have cost us about $430K over the last three years.

 

I have spoken with other municipalities who have told me that injury rates have gone down as a result of automation but none have had any concrete stats to share with me. Any information  you can provide would be greatfully received.

 

Thanks

 

Charlotte

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