Rear Loader Safety and Operations is a 22-minute online course that trains refuse collection workers and drivers on the safe operation of rear-loading garbage trucks, including compactor hazards, riding step procedures, and backing safety. It is designed for sanitation workers, solid waste collection crews, and fleet supervisors, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.
Refuse and recyclable material collection is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Bureau of Labor Statistics data consistently ranks waste collection workers among the top ten occupations for fatal work injury rates, with approximately 60 fatalities per year nationally. NIOSH has documented that 67% of refuse collection fatalities between 1980 and 1992 were vehicle-related, with over a third involving workers struck by or run over by the collection vehicle itself. While OSHA does not have a specific standard governing refuse collection vehicles, the agency enforces the General Duty Clause and frequently cites ANSI Z245 safety standards for mobile refuse equipment in enforcement actions. Serious violations carry penalties up to $16,550.
This course prepares your sanitation workers and drivers to operate rear-loading refuse collection trucks safely and to recognize the hazards unique to this equipment. Your employees will learn proper riding step procedures, compactor operation safety, backing and spotting protocols, traffic awareness during curbside collection, and personal protective equipment requirements. The training addresses the most frequent incident types in refuse collection - backing incidents, falls from riding steps, and compactor crush injuries - with practical procedures your crews can apply immediately.
OSHA does not have a dedicated standard for refuse collection vehicles or sanitation workers. However, the agency enforces the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act) and investigates all workplace fatalities in the solid waste industry. OSHA frequently references ANSI Z245.1, Safety Standards for Mobile Refuse Collection and Compaction Equipment, which provides design, operation, and training requirements for rear loaders and other collection vehicles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks refuse and recyclable material collectors among the occupations with the highest fatal work injury rates nationally. NIOSH research indicates that vehicle-related incidents account for the majority of refuse worker fatalities, with backing incidents, falls from riding steps, and struck-by events representing the leading causes. Public and private solid waste employers that fail to train workers on these hazards face General Duty Clause citations with penalties up to $16,550 for serious violations and $165,514 for willful violations.
| Team Size | Price per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 - 9 | $24.95 |
| 10 - 24 | $19.95 |
| 25 - 49 | $17.95 |
| 50 - 99 | $17.50 |
Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.