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By aligning the right technology with the right safety training content, waste companies can not only meet their compliance obligations, but also protect their most valuable asset—their people.
By Lloyd Andrew and Erl Henry

The waste and recycling industry operates within a landscape with unique hazards, regulatory requirements, and operational complexities. As safety concerns grow and industry standards evolve, companies are increasingly recognizing the critical importance of robust safety training programs. This article explores a few of the challenges faced by the waste industry, and the compelling advantages of using a Learning Management Systems (LMS) platform to ensure a safer, compliant, and more efficient method of providing safety training.

The Current State of Safety Training Requirements in Waste Management
There is often confusion over the specific safety training required for employees in waste management. OSHA mandates that waste companies conduct safety training tailored to the specific hazards faced by workers—ranging from driving a 60,000-pound trash truck on crowded city streets, to operating heavy machinery at transfer stations, or managing waste in landfills. OSHA emphasizes that training should be hazard-based, focusing on the risks employees are exposed to daily.

Complementing OSHA requirements are the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z245 standards which are voluntary consensus standards that specify safety training topics based on potential hazards. For example, operating equipment such as compactors, balers, and landfill machinery requires understanding equipment-specific safety procedures.

Moreover, equipment manufacturers like trucks, compactors, and balers specify training requirements in their operations manuals. Proper understanding of these topics reduces accidents and prolongs equipment lifespan.

Challenges in Delivering Effective Safety Training
One of the most significant hurdles in implementing comprehensive safety training in waste management is the presence of multiple shift start times. For example:
• Front load drivers starting their routes at 2:00 a.m.
• Residential collection drivers leaving the yard at 6:00 a.m.
• Maintenance crews working on second shifts when the trucks are back in the yard.

This fragmented schedule makes traditional instructor-led, stand-up training sessions nearly impossible to coordinate across all shifts. Training all employees on the same topics becomes resource-intensive and inefficient when reliant solely on in-person methods, often leading to gaps in knowledge.

Additionally, the varied roles—drivers, laborers, operators, maintenance personnel—often require tailored content, further complicating training efforts. The challenge lies not only in scheduling, but also in delivering relevant, engaging content that workers can relate to, which is why so many companies, particularly small haulers, are using LMS platforms which have waste industry specific training courses.

The Role of a Learning Management System (LMS)
An LMS revolutionizes safety training, providing a centralized, flexible, and scalable platform that meets the industry’s unique needs. Here is how LMS systems help waste companies overcome training challenges:

• Customized Content: Waste industry-specific modules designed to address the safety training requirements and operational risks covering collection routes, transfer stations, landfill safety, and more.
• Accessibility 24/7: Employees can access training modules any time before their shifts, during downtime and breaks, or at the end of the day, eliminating scheduling conflicts.
• Consistent Content Delivery: All workers receive the same waste industry specific safety information, ensuring consistent understanding regardless of shift or role.
• Automated Recordkeeping: The LMS automatically tracks who has completed each course, when, and the score achieved. This simplifies compliance and audit preparations.
• Cost Savings: Companies reduce expenses associated with traditional classroom training, instructors time, and the time to gather everyone in one location at the same time, impacting collection schedules and customers.

Why Industry-Specific Content Matters
Selecting the right training content is critical. Generic long-haul trucking videos may offer visual engagement but often lack relevance and fail to resonate with waste workers. Workers in MRFs or landfill operations face hazards that are quite distinct from other industries.

• Industry-specific training programs deliver focused, relatable content that enhances understanding and retention. For instance:
• OSHA requires safety training on common topics, such as hazard communication, hazardous energy control (lockout/tagout), personal protective equipment, and confined space training.
• ANSI standards require the training programs be designed to train workers on their assigned jobs, tasks, and use of related equipment, upon initial assignment to a job or task and with periodic refresher training as necessary to maintain the required level of competence.
• Waste drivers need safety courses on driving safety, route safety, rear load riding step safety requirements, and heat stress during collection.
• MRF workers benefit from training on material sorting safety, equipment lockout/tagout procedures, hearing conservation, bloodborne pathogens, and waste-specific PPE.
• Transfer station operators require modules on heavy equipment safety, hazardous materials recognition, and specific emergency response actions, like how to handle lithium-ion battery fires.

Such tailored content ensures employees grasp complex safety concepts relevant to their daily tasks, ultimately leading to safer workplaces.

Benefits of Using an LMS-Based Safety Training
Investing in an LMS-driven safety program provides enduring advantages:

• Improved Safety Culture: Consistent safety training reinforces safety as a core value within the company encouraging proactive hazard management.
• Regulatory Compliance: Automated tracking simplifies compliance with OSHA, ANSI, and other standards, minimizing legal and financial risks.
• Reduced Incidents and Costs: Properly trained workers are less prone to accidents, reducing downtime, insurance premiums, and compensation claims.

The cost of an LMS (Learning Management System) varies widely, depending on factors like the number of users, features, hosting options, and support needs. Costs can range up to tens of thousands of dollars annually for an enterprise-level system. There are additional administrative costs associated with the system, such as ensuring staff are managing and using the system. To address these hurdles, many smaller waste companies are using LMS systems that are managed by an outside company. Some companies offer the benefits of an LMS system content and courses designed specifically with the waste industry in mind. In summary, LMS costs are highly variable. It is crucial to carefully evaluate your specific needs and budget when choosing an LMS and to understand the different pricing models available.

An Efficient Solution
In the waste industry, companies cannot afford to have improperly trained workers; the potential consequences of unsafe work practices are too high. Investing in effective safety training is not optional; it is essential. LMS courses coupled with onsite observations and instructions ensure workers understand and can properly demonstrate the skills needed to work safely. The waste and recycling sector’s unique hazards, operational hurdles, and regulatory demands require a training approach that is flexible, targeted, and measurable. A Learning Management System that contains industry-specific training for the waste industry offers an efficient solution to overcome these challenges, improve training consistency, and ensure regulatory compliance. Beyond the immediate safety benefits, a robust LMS training platform helps create a strong safety culture, reduce operational risks, and deliver long-term cost savings. By aligning the right technology with the right safety training content, waste companies can not only meet their compliance obligations but also protect their most valuable asset—their people. | WA

Lloyd B. Andrew III, CIH, CSP, is President of EnvirOSH Services, Inc., a nationwide professional safety and health consulting company with highly specialized expertise in the waste and recycling industries. Lloyd also serves on the Safety Advisory Board of Waste Industry Training, a provider of LMS-based online safety training programs tailored specifically to the waste industry.

Erl Henry serves on the Advisory Board of Waste Industry Training, a provider of LMS-based online safety and basic operational training programs. Erl has more than 45 years of experience in the manufacturing side of waste handling products.

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