The number six has been coming up in my various social media feeds recently. In December 2021, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics released its 2020 Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illness report where the waste and recycling industry held steady in 6^th position. And now, in 2022, the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) is celebrating its 60^th year; however, I hope this is not an indication of how much time it will take our industry to get off the top 10 list of most fatal industries. Will NWRA’s 70^th anniversary have us in 7^th position? Will NWRA’s 100^th anniversary have us in 10^th position? I am confident we can get off the top 10 list much faster than that.

The waste and recycling industry has shown that it prioritizes safety, but we can’t fight this fight alone. Therefore, NWRA is stepping up to the plate to lead this fight by challenging the Consumer Product Safety Commission on inherently dangerous consumer products; monitoring and commenting on federal regulations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Heat Standard; working with the National Safety Council to not only survey the industry for a baseline safety threshold but also produce a foundational safety package for our members; host our annual Safety Symposium at WasteExpo; and so much more.

So, how do we get off the top 10 list by NWRA’s 70^th anniversary and not just drop to 7^th or, even worse, move back up to 5^th or higher? An easy first step is to attend WasteExpo and the NWRA Safety Symposium in May. Here, you will hear from safety professionals throughout the industry about what has worked, what hasn’t worked and what steps we’re taking to improve safety in the future. We will also have an overview of what is happening at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and OSHA. Understanding what’s next for these regulatory agencies can help you as a safety professional realize your vulnerabilities and learn how to make your company safer.

By taking that expert knowledge and combining it with proven safety best practices, I believe we can get ourselves off the top 10 list. I don’t want to be standing here 10 years later writing about how the industry is still one of the most dangerous industries with a fatality rate 10 times higher than the rate for all workers. Make the commitment to safety and join us at WasteExpo for a lively discussion of how we can move the needle on safety going forward.