Legal Review: Garbage Collectors in Maryland at Risk on the Job

By a Maryland worker’s compensation attorney with Price Benowitz LLP

You might never think of it as a dangerous profession but working as a garbage collector is listed as one of the top five most dangerous jobs in the United States. This job is putting thousands of lives at risk each day as trash trucks hit the streets across the state of Maryland.

Things have gotten so dangerous for garbage collectors that they are almost 10 times more likely to die on the job than the majority of commuters who pass the trucks each day.

Why such a high probability? For starters, the increase in distracted drivers plays a major role in the safety of garbage collectors.

Garbage collectors aren’t alone in this risk. There’s construction workers, police officers, paramedics, EMTs and firefighters who are all put in danger when operating at roadside construction sites or accident scenes.

Between the years of 2011 and 2016 there was a 52 percent increase in the number of accidents involving waste collection trucks, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Incidents involving other vehicles are not the only risks associated with working as a garbage collector. These workers must also deal with heavy equipment that could crush them if they are not paying attention. If a worker gets their hand or arm stuck in the compactor and no one notices, the compactor could pull their entire body into the truck, crushing it.

Other risks include materials getting stuck in the compactor and then jettisoned from the truck by the same piece of equipment. Garbage collectors have been injured in this manner in the past. Some have even been injured by needles that have been disposed of improperly.

“Staying safe while on the job in Maryland should be the goal of every employee,” a Maryland workers’ compensation attorney with Price Benowitz LLP said. “Suffering an injury on the job can be devastating to your health and career. Take as many safety precautions as possible each day.”

Injuries to garbage collectors don’t just happen because of accidents, as mentioned earlier. Workers can suffer injuries to their arms, legs and back due to the weight of the items being thrown into the truck.

The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill this year that requires drivers to change lanes, when they can, if they approach a vehicle with amber lights activated. The bill was signed into law on May 8 and took effect on October 1.