OSHA, the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA), and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) provide NWRA and SWANA members and the public with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers in the solid waste industry and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). The Alliance will address transportation hazards such as backovers and distracted driving; slips, trips, and falls; needlestick injuries; heat and cold stress; musculoskeletal injuries; and other solid waste and recycling industry hazards, as appropriate, with particular emphasis on outreach to small- and medium-sized employers.

Raising Awareness: Outreach and Communication

• Share information on OSHA’s National Initiatives (Emphasis Programs, Regulatory Agenda, Outreach), and opportunities to participate in initiatives and the rulemaking process.
• Share information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• Develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards such as backovers and distracted driving; slips, trips, and falls; needlestick injuries; heat and cold stress; musculoskeletal injuries; and other solid waste industry hazards, and communicate such information (e.g., via newsletters; the OSHA, NWRA, and SWANA websites; and other mechanisms, as appropriate) to employers and workers in the solid waste and recycling industries. Ensure information developed reflects the workforce and is available in multiple languages and formats.
• Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA and NWRA, and SWANA conferences, local meetings, or other events such as WasteExpo and the SWANA annual conference.
• Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on solid waste and recycling industry hazards to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
• Ensure Alliance activities are informed by the perspectives of non-managerial workers employed in the solid waste and recycling industry by establishing a worker safety and health advisory committee of non-management level employees that is reflective of the solid waste and recycling industries’ workforce to: share information about workplace rights and responsibilities; gather information about safety and health practices in member facilities; and collect feedback on Alliance activities.
• Collaborate with other Alliance participants to address workplace safety and health issues, such as lithium battery hazards in waste and recycling collection and processing.
• Encourage NWRA and SWANA members and other industry stakeholders to build relationships with OSHA’s Regional and Area Offices; participate in OSHA's Cooperative Programs, such as the Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program and the Voluntary Protection Program; and utilize OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program to improve health and safety in solid waste workplaces.

Training and Education

• Develop effective training and education programs for the solid waste and recycling industry regarding transportation hazards, slips, trips, and falls; needlestick injuries; heat and cold stress; musculoskeletal injuries; and/or other industry specific hazards and communicate such information to constituent employers and workers. Ensure training materials/programs are made available in appropriate languages and formats to meet the needs of their target audiences.
• Develop effective training and education programs for the solid waste and recycling industry to promote understanding of workers’ rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers. Ensure training materials/programs are made available in appropriate languages and formats to meet the needs of their target audiences.