Injuries among solid waste collectors in the private versus public sectors

• Published in: Waste management & research 2011-10, Vol.29 (10), p.1043-1052
• Main Authors: Bunn, Terry L., Slavova, Svetla, Tang, Minao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidents, Occupational - economics; Accidents, Occupational - statistics & numerical data; Accumulators; Adult; Age; Automation; Collectors; Employment; Female; Garbage collection; Health risks; Humans; Illnesses; Initiatives; Injuries; Injury prevention; Insurance claims; Kentucky; Male; Middle Aged; Motor vehicles; Occupational accidents; Occupational Injuries; Occupational safety; Occupations; Private sector; Private Sector - economics; Private Sector - statistics & numerical data; Public sector; Public Sector - economics; Public Sector - statistics & numerical data; Refuse Disposal; Risk; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Risk Factors; Sanitation services; Solid wastes; Studies; Time Factors; Waste management industry; Workers; Workers compensation
• ISSN: 0734-242X; 1096-3669
• DOI: 10.1177/0734242X11410115

Solid waste collection is among the occupations with the highest risk for injuries and illnesses. Solid waste collector injuries were characterized in terms of injury risk and employment industry sector (public versus private) using Kentucky workers' compensation first reports of injury and claims data. When compared to 35–44-year-old workers, solid waste collectors who were under 35 years of age were less likely to have a workers' compensation first report of injury or claim that resulted in awarded benefits. The probability that a workers' compensation first report of injury or claim would result in an awarded benefit was higher if the worker was employed as a solid waste collector in the private sector compared to the public sector, or was injured due to a motor vehicle-related injury or a push-or-pull type of injury. A better understanding of the differences in the contributing factors for an injury that results in a first report of injury or claim with awarded benefits (e.g. job activities, new and refresher worker safety training, type of equipment used, differences in collection vehicle automation, and differential reporting of injuries on the job) between the public and private sectors is necessary to target injury prevention strategies in this high-risk occupation.