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Town sanitation worker fatally crushed while riding on the riding step 

of a refuse collection truck (Case #: 18NY063) 

NAICS: 924110 Waste management program administration 

Key words: refuse collection truck, riding step, rear step, vehicle backing up, 

struck by, crushed, refuse and recyclable material collectors, municipal 

sanitation department

SUMMARY

On November 14, 2018, a 60-year-old male municipal sanitation worker, who was on 

the exterior riding step of a refuse collection truck that was backing up, was crushed 

against a parked lawn service truck and then run over by the refuse collection truck. The 

decedent was employed by a town sanitation department. He was a helper on a threemen refuse collection crew consisting of two helpers and a driver who was the crew 

chief. On the day of the incident, the crew was doing residential curb-side pickups along 

a designated route. At approximately 2:30 p.m., the crew arrived at the last street of 

their collection route. The truck was to back approximately 0.34 miles all way to the end 

of the street before moving forward for the helpers to pick up garbage on right side of 

the street. While the truck was backing, the two helpers were riding on the riding steps. 

There was an SUV parked on the driver’s side of the street, and a lawn service truck 

with a trailer parked on the right side of the street. The refuse collection truck backed 

approximately 330 feet and passed the SUV. When the driver was trying to back past 

the lawn service truck, his right-side mirror contacted the lawn service truck, and the 

impact broke the mirror. Due to the broken mirror, the driver could not see the right rear 

side of the truck where the decedent was riding. The driver continued backing and felt 

his truck contact the lawn service truck. He stopped and drove forward to pull away. 

According to the eyewitness, the victim was pinned and crushed in between the lawn 

truck and the refuse collection truck. As the refuse collection truck pulled away, the 

decedent fell to the ground, and he was subsequently run over by the rear right tire of 

the refuse collection truck. The crew member immediately called 911 and the 

Emergency Medical Services responded within minutes. The injured worker died on 

route to the hospital. The cause of death was hemorrhage due to blunt force torso 

trauma. 

INTRODUCTION

At 2:30 p.m. on November 14, 2018, a 60-year-old male municipal sanitation worker, 

who was on the exterior riding step of a refuse collection truck that was backing up, was 

crushed against a parked lawn service truck. As the refuse collection truck pulled away 

from the lawn service truck, the worker fell off the riding step and was run over by the 

refuse collection truck. The decedent was employed by a town sanitation department. 

The New York State (NYS) Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau (PESH) 

investigated the incident. The New York State Fatality Assessment and Control 

Evaluation (NY FACE) investigator met with the PESH compliance officer to review the 
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case information. The NY FACE investigator also reviewed the incident site photos, 

witness statements, police report, death certificate, worker training records, and 

sanitation department worker injury and illness logs. Representatives of the town and 

the town sanitation department provided additional case information. This report 

summarizes the findings of the NY FACE investigation. 

EMPLOYER

The town where the incident occurred had a population over 750,000. Municipal solid 

waste and recyclable collection, transfer, and disposal services were provided by the 

town sanitation department (the employer of the decedent) and five other independent 

municipal sanitation districts. 

The town sanitation department employed approximately 430 workers, including drivers, 

laborers, and sanitation workers, who were represented by a labor union. The shift 

hours were from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The refuse collection workers were “on task”, which 

meant that they could leave work once they finished their assigned routes. Workers 

were permitted to ride the refuse collection trucks on the exterior riding steps providing 

they followed the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)’s safety requirement. 

EMPLOYER FATAL AND NONFATAL INJURY RECORDS

The town sanitation department had another fatal incident in 2014, four years prior to 

this incident. The 2014 incident also involved a worker riding the exterior riding step of a 

refuse collection truck. The victim was a 25-year-old male sanitation worker who was 

employed by the town for 11 months. He was caught and crushed between the refuse 

collection truck he was riding and another town refuse collection truck in an intersection. 

The town was self-insured with the town Human Resource Department keeping worker 

compensation and injury records. PESH requires that all public employers keep the Log 

of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses Form (SH-900). According to the town’s SH-900 

logs, there were a total of 50 injury cases associated with workers using riding steps 

between 2014 and 2018. The workers suffered injuries from falling, slipping, and being 

caught, struck, or crushed.

It should be noted that in addition to the two fatalities the town sanitation department 

had, there was another municipal sanitation worker killed while riding on the riding step. 

The incident occurred in 2008, and the victim was a 33-year-old seasonal sanitation 

worker who was employed by one of the independent municipal sanitation districts that 

served the town. The worker was thrown from the riding step and died from severe head 

injuries while the refuse collection truck was moving faster than 10 miles per hour and 

travelling for distance greater than 0.2 miles. Overall, three municipal sanitation workers 

were killed while using the riding steps in this town between 2008 and 2018.

EMPLOYER WRITTEN SAFETY PROGRAMS AND TRAINING
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The town sanitation department provided its employees with Class 2 ANSI reflective 

vests and gloves. Workers were required to wear them while collecting refuse. 

Employees were also required to wear safety boots. 

The last department-wide safety training on refuse collection operation, which 

specifically addressed the hazards associated with using the riding steps, was provided 

in November 2014 in response to the first town sanitation worker fatality. The training, 

titled “Safe Refuse Truck Operation”, was developed and delivered by the union. The 

training covered the refuse collection safety hazards, collection worker fatal injuries, and

the regulations for using the refuse collection truck riding steps, such as the PESH 

Program Directive and the ANSI standard. 

A department safety coordinator conducted daily checks on the refuse collection trucks. 

According to the town representative, veteran employees provided field training to new 

hires by walking them through the refuse collection procedure, including the safe use of 

riding steps. On arriving at a collection stop, the helpers got out of the truck and the 

driver rolled down the window so that the crew could verbally communicate. If needed, 

the helpers could act as spotters to help the driver navigate traffic. The helpers were to 

stay in the line of sight of the driver. Field training for the new hires was not documented

in writing. 

The sanitation department had developed a progressive discipline program with

disciplinary actions ranging from written reprimands, loss of leave entitlements, and 

suspension without pay, to termination. The department records showed that four 

written disciplinary action notices were issued and three involved misuse riding steps. 

None of the offenders received any disciplinary action beyond the written reprimands. 

The employer stated that the department safety officer randomly checked sanitation 

crews on their collection routes for their compliance with safety rules. The employer also 

stated that it was impossible for management to monitor all the trucks on all their 

collection routes. The management representative stated to the PESH investigator that 

as long as the steps were on the trucks, it was likely that the employees would misuse 

them. 

The PESH investigator concluded that although employees appeared to be 

knowledgeable about the ANSI safety requirements, violations occurred often. The 

PESH investigation confirmed that there was general knowledge of ongoing and

repeated employee violations of safety rules when using the riding steps. The 

progressive disciplinary program was not followed through. There had been discussions 

between management and the union on taking measures to remove the riding steps, but 

the measures were not taken. 

DECEASED WORKER INFORMATION
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The decedent had been employed by the town sanitation department since 2006. As 

part of the sanitation crew, he worked with a driver and another collection worker to 

collect refuse, recyclables, and yard debris on designated collection routes. Sanitation 

department training records showed that he attended the department-wide training 

“Safety Refuse Truck Operation” in 2014. 

EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT

The refuse collection truck chassis was an International 2011 model with a New Way 

rear loading trash compactor. The truck was approximately 33 feet long and 10 feet 

wide, measured between the two front side mirrors which was the widest part of the 

truck. 

Two riding steps were mounted at the rear of the truck, one on each side. The steps 

were 32 inches long by 10 inches wide, and 17 inches above the ground. There were 

two warning signs attached to the truck stating: “Do not use riding steps when the 

vehicle is exceeding 16 kph (10 mph), operating in reverse, or when distance traveled 

exceeds 0.3 km (0.2 mi). Do not mount or dismount step when vehicle is in motion. Ride 

facing the side of the vehicle with both hands on hand holds.” The warning sign on the 

left side of the truck was faded, making some of the wording illegible (photo 1). 

Photo 1. The warning sign on the refuse collection truck was faded with illegible wording (photo courtesy 

of PESH).

The manufacturer required that the operators inspect the riding steps before each use 

to make sure that they are in good working condition. Operators are to keep the steps 

free of all debris, grease, or slick material. The manufacturer also stated that no one 
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should ever ride on the steps if the steps are damaged, bent or broken. The step on the 

driver’s side on this truck was bent (photo 2). 

Photo 2. The riding step on driver’s side of the refuse collection truck was bent (photo courtesy of PESH).

According to the maintenance records, the truck was inspected, maintained, and

repaired a total of 22 times in 2018 prior to the fatal incident in November. Lights, horn, 

brakes, wipers, mirrors, tires, and tire pressure were regularly checked and repaired. A 

complete engine service was done in September. The maintenance department also 

replaced batteries, and changed air, fuel, oil, and carbon filters. There was no 

documentation showing that the riding steps were ever inspected. The bent step was 

not reported, nor was a repair scheduled. 

REGULATIONS ON REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES AND RIDING STEPS

The ANSI standard “Mobile Refuse Collection and Compaction Equipment Safety 

Requirements” (ANSI Z245.1-2017) applies to the operation and use of mobile refuse 

collecting and compacting vehicles. The standard requires that no worker rides the 

exterior riding steps when the vehicle is backing up, travelling faster than 10 miles per 

hour, or more than 0.2 miles in distance. In other words, workers can only ride the riding 

steps when the vehicle is moving forward and travelling no further than 0.2 miles and no 

faster than 10 miles per hour. 

Currently there is no Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 

addressing the hazards associated with refuse collection and compaction vehicles,

specifically the practice of riding exterior steps. OSHA uses its general duty clause to 

cite employers for violations of the ANSI standard. PESH, which enforces OSHA and 

NYS safety and health standards for the public sector in NYS, issued a Program
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Directive in 2006 requiring New York public sector employers to follow the ANSI 

standard. 

New York State Traffic Law (NY Veh & Traf L § 1233. 2) mandates that no person shall 

ride or attach himself to the outside of any vehicle being operated upon a roadway. 

However, vehicles employed by a municipality for local garbage collection are exempt 

from this law. 

New York City prohibits any private sanitation crew member from riding the riding steps 

of refuse collection vehicles on any public roadways. The Business Integrity 

Commission (BIC), an agency of the New York City government responsible for 

regulating the private carting industry, released “Trade Waste Safety Manual” in 2018. 

The Manual clearly states that workers are not allowed to ride on refuse collection 

vehicles’ riding steps on any public roadways even if they follow the ANSI standard.

INVESTIGATION

On the day of the incident, the decedent arrived at work at 6 a.m. He was the helper on 

a three-men refuse collection crew consisting of two helpers and a driver who was the 

crew chief. The crew operated the rear loading compaction truck to pick up household 

garbage along a designated city route. The two helpers rode in the cab until they 

reached the collection site. Once at the collection site, they rode on riding steps 

between the stops while doing curb-side pickups. 

At approximately 2:30 p.m., the crew arrived at the last street of their collection route. 

The street was approximately 0.7 miles long running east and west with private homes 

on both sides.1 The truck entered the midpoint of the street from a side street. 

According to the crew’s routine, the truck was to back up all the way to the east end of 

the street and then move forward for the helpers to pick up garbage on the north side of 

the street. The total backing distance was approximately 0.34 miles. While the driver 

operated the truck in reverse, the two helpers were on the riding steps. 

The width of the street was estimated at about 30 ft. There was an SUV parked on the 

south side of the street facing east, and a lawn service truck with a trailer parked on the 

north side of the street also facing east, the wrong direction (Figure 1). The width of the 

street taken up by the two vehicles was estimated approximately 15 ft, which left 

another 15 ft for the 10 ft-wide refuse collection truck to maneuver through in reverse, 

leaving 2.5 feet of clearance on either side of the refuse collection truck.

The driver backed approximately 330 ft passing the SUV on the driver side. He

continued backing with the lawn service truck on the right side when the truck’s side 

mirror contacted the lawn service truck, and the impact broke the mirror. Due to the 

1 The distances and street measurements cited in this report were estimated based on 

Google Earth available from https://earth.google.com/web.
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broken mirror, the driver could not see the right rear side of the refuse collection truck

where the decedent was riding. 

The driver continued backing and felt his truck contact the lawn service truck. He 

stopped and drove forward to pull his truck away. According to the eyewitness, the 

victim was pinned and crushed in between the lawn service truck and the refuse 

collection truck. As the refuse collection truck pulled away, the decedent fell to the 

ground, and he was subsequently run over by the rear passenger side tire of the refuse 

collection truck. The crew member immediately called 911 and the Emergency Medical 

Services responded within minutes. The injured worker died on route to the hospital. 

PESH conducted a follow up inspection in February 2020, 15 months after the fatal 

incident. The garbage truck that was involved in the incident was painted and fitted with 

a new compactor. The old illegible warning sign on the truck was replaced. However, 

the bent step was still not repaired (Photo 4). 

The PESH follow-up inspection documented that the town sanitation department had 

implemented an annual refuse truck safety training and strengthened the progressive 

discipline program. The progressive discipline program included 5 days suspension 

without pay for first violation, 30 days suspension without pay for second violation, and 

termination for third violation. Workers continued to be allowed to ride the riding steps 

providing they followed the ANSI standard. 

30’ 15’ 

10’ 

Lawn 

service 

truck 

Sanitation 

truck 

N 

SUV 

The right step 

used by the 

decedent 

Figure 1. Illustration of the incident site (top view): After the refuse collection truck backed up passing the 

SUV parked on south side (the driver’s side), it contacted the lawn service truck parked on the north side 

of the street (the right side). The total backing clearance for the refuse collection truck was five feet. 
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Photo 3. The victim was crushed against the lawn service truck while riding the refuse collection truck on 

the right riding step when the refuse collection truck was backing up (photo courtesy of PESH).
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Photo 4. Fifteen months after the fatal incident, the refuse collection truck that was involved in the incident 

was painted and fitted with a new compactor. The bent step was still not repaired (Photo courtesy of 

PESH).

CAUSE OF DEATH

According to the death certificate, the cause of death was hemorrhage due to blunt 

force torso trauma. 

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

Occupational injuries and fatalities are often the result of one or more contributing 

factors or key events in a larger sequence of events. The NY FACE investigation 

identified the following key contributing factors in this incident:

• Employees were on the riding steps of a refuse collection truck while it was 

backing up.

• With an SUV parking on one side and a lawn service truck parking on the other 

side of the street, the total backing clearance for the refuse collection truck was 
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estimated at approximately five feet, or 2.5 feet on each side of the refuse 

collection truck. 

• The exterior right-side mirror was broken due to the refuse collection truck

contacting the lawn service truck. 

• The refuse collection truck driver could not see his right rear side where the 

decedent was riding due to the broken mirror. 

• Employer did not address frequent incidents of employee violation of safety 

requirements when using the riding steps. 

• The progressive disciplinary program was not followed through. 

• There was no refuse collection safety training four years prior to the fatal 

incident. 

RECOMMENDATIONS/DISCUSSION

Recommendation #1. Employers should consider prohibiting the practice of 

riding refuse collection truck riding steps by removing these steps. 

Discussion: Both OSHA and PESH allow workers to use the exterior riding steps of 

refuse collection vehicles provided workers follow the ANSI standard. NY FACE 

reviewed the OSHA Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summary database and 

identified worker fatality cases associated with riding steps that did not involve violations 

of ANSI standard. These case scenarios included: Riders lost their grip and fell due to 

the refuse collection truck making a sharp turn, driving on roads with an incline, or 

driving on icy, rough, or otherwise damaged roads. In one case the victim lost his grip 

while trying to avoid being stung by a bee. Victims lost footing due to deformed or 

damaged riding steps. Tight spaces or narrow streets contributed to victims being 

crushed between their refuse collection trucks and street objects such as utility poles. 

Victims were also crushed by other vehicles even when the refuse collection trucks that 

they were riding did not travel in reverse, faster than 10 miles per hour in speed, and 

farther than 0.2 miles in distance. 

 

Riding refuse collection trucks on exterior riding steps is a common practice among 

sanitation workers, even though the practice is not essential for completing the task.

Recognizing that the practice is unsafe and high risk, and the ANSI standard has not 

been effective in preventing serious injuries and deaths, the State of California and New 

York City had banned the practice of riding on collection truck riding steps. California 

OSHA rule (Title 8. Group 8. Article 61. Compaction Equipment) clearly stated that no 

employee shall be standing on rear steps or side steps of a refuse compaction vehicle 

where the employee cannot be seen by the vehicle operator and is subject to being 

struck by a vehicle or being thrown off the vehicle. 

 

Numerous factors contributed to widespread and frequent nonobservances of ANSI 

standards in this case. Due to the nature of the work, direct supervision and constant 

monitoring of crews on their collection routes was not feasible. The responsibility for 

following the step riding safety rules was often laid on the sanitation crew members 

themselves. The employee violation incidents were not thoroughly investigated, and the 
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progressive disciplinary program was not followed through. The “on-task” system may 

also have contributed to the crew’s decision to choose to use the riding steps over 

walking or riding inside the cab since using the riding steps appeared to be faster and 

easier. To effectively prevent serious injuries and deaths, employers should discontinue 

or prohibit the use of the riding steps by removing them.

Recommendation #2: Employers should conduct incident investigations to 

identify risk and contributing factors and develop specific prevention measures.

Discussion: Between the first fatal incident in 2014 and the second one in 2018, the 

town recorded 50 non-fatal injury incidents that were associated with riding steps. 

Workers suffered injuries from falling, slipping, and being caught, struck, or crushed. 

Employers should conduct thorough incident investigations to identify root causes as 

well as risk and contributing factors which can be used for making necessary policy or 

procedural changes to prevent future incidents. 

Recommendation #3: Employers should provide employee training to ensure that 

workers understand the hazards associated with riding on the riding steps of 

refuse collection trucks and safety rules. 

 

Discussion: The last department-wide safety training on refuse collection truck 

operation was conducted in November 2014, four years prior to this fatal incident. The 

2014 training was provided in responding to the first fatality which also involved a town

sanitation worker killed while riding the exterior riding step. Since then no annual or 

refresher training was provided. 

Employers should provide annual, refresher, and specialized training for employees to 

learn hazards and risk factors associated with each task. Through training, workers can 

gain the knowledge and skills to do their work safely and avoid creating hazards that 

could place themselves or others at risk. Refresher trainings should be provided when a 

change in operation procedure or equipment occurs or new hazards were identified. 

Following an injury incident, a near miss, or employee violation, employers should 

provide additional training to review the root cause and contributing factors that lead to 

the incident or near miss. Employers should discuss with employees the importance of 

following safety rules, so that workers can learn from the incidents and review the safety 

rules as well as their own roles and responsibilities in preventing work-related injuries. 

Recommendation #4: Employers should conduct job hazard analysis (JHA) to 

identify hazards and risk factors and develop effective measures to prevent 

worker injuries associated with refuse collection truck riding steps. 

Discussion: A JHA focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools, 

and the work environment so that the hazards associated with each component and 

each step of the task can be identified before they occur. It is critical to conduct a JHA 
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on refuse collection, which is not only a task with high injury rates, but also a task in 

which one single human error or negligence could lead to severe injuries or deaths. 

The employer in this case required that all sanitation crews follow the ANSI standards 

when operating refuse collection trucks and using the riding steps. However, violations 

were frequent and widespread. The routine of the sanitation crew involved in the fatal 

incident was to reverse their truck approximately 0.34 miles to the end of the street with 

two helpers on the riding steps before moving forward to pick up garbage. While 

conducting a JHA, employers should examine and review each collection route to 

identify hazards and risk factors. Based on the hazards identified through the JHA, 

employers can then develop and implement appropriate prevention measures and 

standard safe work procedures for workers to follow. Employers should review the 

routes with the collection crews to ensure that they understand the risk and do not 

deviate from the designated routes and strictly follow the ANSI standard.

Recommendation #5: When implementing a progressive disciplinary program, 

employers should ensure that appropriate disciplinary actions are carried out and 

followed through. 

Discussion: The town sanitation department established a progressive disciplinary 

program with the intention to intervene, deter, and correct employee misconduct and 

violations. However, the program had not been effectively implemented prior to the fatal 

incidents. Should the town sanitation department choose to continue implementing the 

program, management should ensure that proper disciplinary actions are carried out 

and followed through. 

Recommendation #6: Employers should ensure that the riding steps are 

inspected regularly, and damaged steps are repaired immediately. 

Discussion: The refuse collection truck that was involved in the incident had a riding 

step that was bent. According to the OSHA fatality investigation records, sanitation 

workers have suffered fatal injuries from falling or slipping off riding steps that were bent 

or damaged. Manufacturers prohibited operators from riding on the steps that are 

damaged, bent, or broken and required operators to keep the steps free of all debris, 

grease, or slick material. Employers should ensure that the riding steps are regularly 

inspected to make sure that there is no damage to the steps and that attachment is 

secure. Vehicles with damaged steps should be removed from service, and the 

damaged steps should be repaired or replaced in a timely manner. 

Recommendation #7: Employers should consider implementing an automated 

system for refuse and recyclable material collection. 

Discussion: More municipal and private refuse and recyclable material collectors have 

switched to an automated collection system which is composed of collection vehicles 

that have a mechanical arm with an automated lift and standardized waste containers. 

Residents place the containers at the curb, and the driver maneuvers the arm from the 
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controls inside the cab of the refuse collection truck to pick up the container, empty it 

into the vehicle, and return the container to the curbside. 

Employers should consider implementing the automated collection system since the 

automated trucks eliminate the serious injury risk associated with workers riding on the 

exterior riding steps and alleviate heavy lifting; hence reducing worker compensation 

claims and minimizing insurance costs. 

Recommendation #8: In-depth studies should be conducted to assess the 

effectiveness of the current safety regulations on refuse collection truck riding 

steps. 

Discussion: NY FACE staff reviewed approximately 555 worker fatality cases 

associated with refuse collection trucks that were investigated by OSHA between 1984 

and 2018. The preliminary review identified a total of 155 cases, approximately 28% of 

all cases, that involved victims using riding steps. OSHA allows the practice, provided 

workers abide the ANSI requirements. In-depth review identified fatality cases that did 

not involve ANSI violations: Victims were killed even when the refuse collection trucks 

that they were riding did not travel in reverse, faster than 10 miles per hour, and father 

than 0.2 miles in distance. Workers have lost their grip and fell off the steps due to the 

refuse collection truck making a sharp turn or driving on inclined, rough, icy, or 

damaged roads. Damaged or deformed riding steps and tight space or narrow streets 

have also contributed to worker deaths. 

 

The practice of riding refuse collection trucks on exterior riding steps involves significant 

risk for serious injury including death. There is an urgent need for studies to identify the 

causal and contributing factors associated with the practice, assess the factors that 

might influence worker behaviors, provide evidence-based information for developing 

best industry management practices for safety, and evaluate the effectiveness of the 

current safety regulations. The solid waste industry, governmental regulatory agencies, 

and safety and health researchers should work together to facilitate and conduct these 

studies. 

DISCLAIMER

Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by the NY FACE 

and NIOSH. In addition, citations to websites external to NY FACE and NIOSH do not 

constitute NY FACE and NIOSH endorsement of the sponsoring organizations or their 

programs or products. Furthermore, NY FACE and NIOSH are not responsible for the 

content of these websites. All web addresses referenced in this document were 

accessible as of the publication date.
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REFERENCES

American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Mobile Refuse Collection and 

Compaction Equipment-Safety Requirements. ANSI 245.1-2017. 

National Safety Council, Safety+Health. Sanitation worker safety still a concern for 

SWANA despite ‘small decline’ in deaths. Retrieved June 22, 2020 from: 

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/19618-sanitation-worker-safety-stilla-concern-for-swana-despite-small-decline-in-deaths 

New York State Department of Labor, Division of Safety and Health, Public Employee 

Safety and Health Bureau. PESH Safety Directive. Surveys involving refuse collection 

vehicles. Retrieved June 22, 2020 from: https://cseany.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/02/PESH_Sanitation_Directive.pdf 

2015 New York Laws, VAT - Vehicle & Traffic, Title 7 - RULES OF THE ROAD

Article 34 - (1230 - 1241) OPERATION OF BICYCLES AND PLAY DEVICES

1233 - Clinging to vehicles. Retrieved June 22, 2020 from: 

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2015/vat/title-7/article-34/1233/

City of New York Business Integrity Commission. Trade Waste Safety Manual. 

Retrieved June 22, 2020 from: 

https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/bic/downloads/pdf/safety/bic_safety_manual_022018_final

.pdf

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA Act of 1970 (general duty 

clause) Retrieved June 22, 2020 from: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/oshact/section5-

duties

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation 

Summaries. Retrieved June 22, 2020 from:

https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/accidentsearch.html

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Preventing Worker Injuries and 

Deaths from Moving Refuse Collection Vehicles. Retrieved June 22, 2020 from 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/97-110/default.html. 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Fatality Assessment and Control 

Evaluation (FACE) Program. NIOSH FACE Reports. Sanitation worker runover after 

falling from trash collection vehicle-Virginia. Retrieved June 22, 2020 from

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/In-house/full9411.html 

Massachusetts State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program. Refuse 

Collector was Fatally Injured when Struck by a Backing Refuse Collection Truck. 

Retrieved June 22, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/pdfs/11MA019.pdf. 
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Massachusetts State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program. Municipal 

Laborer Dies after Falling Off the Back of a Forward Moving Refuse Collection. 

Retrieved June 22, 2020 from 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/ma/09MA020.html. 

Massachusetts State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program. City Laborer

Dies after Falling Off a Moving Refuse Collection Truck. FACE Facts. Safety Alert. 

Retrieved June 22,2020 from https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/07/xl/refusetruck.pdf. 

Cal/OSHA-Title 8 regulations. Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders. Group 8.

Points of Operation and Other Hazardous Parts of Machinery. Article 61. Compaction 

Equipment. §4355. Operating Rules for Compaction Equipment. Retrieved June 22,

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Marc J. Rogoff, Donald Ross, Richard E. Lilyquist, Jeffrey L. Wood. Automated Waste 

Collection – How to Make Sure It Makes Sense for Your Community. Retrieved June 

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INVESTIGATOR INFORMATION

This investigation was conducted by NY FACE, Bureau of Occupational Health and

Injury Prevention, Center for Environmental Health, New York State Department of 

Health. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

The NY FACE staff would like to acknowledge the PESH Long Island Area Office for

assisting this investigation.