Requires sanitation workers to receive certain training

6 Co-sponsors

• Mike Spano
• Jose Rivera
• Margaret Markey
• Michelle Schimel
• Ellen C. Jaffee
• Gary Finch

7 Multi-sponsors

• Joan Christensen
• Barbara Clark
• Rory Lancman
• Alan Maisel
• David McDonough
• Linda Rosenthal
• Darryl Towns

BILL NUMBER:A7437B

Title of bill

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring sanitation workers to receive training

Purpose or general idea of bill

Amend the labor law requiring sanita- tion workers to receive training specific to their work

Summary of specific provisions

Labor Law is amended by adding a new article 23-c. Article 23-c defines department, employee, and employer. It details the training setting forth responsibilities and requirements for trainers and trainees. It also describes the nature, timing, and frequency of the training in addition to record-keeping requirements and approved agencies that can provide the training.

Justification

Sanitation work is a dangerous and often fatal occupa- tion. In July of 2005, John-Paul Rodrigues, a twenty-four year old Ossining sanitation worker, died after a fall from the back of a sanita- tion truck. His death followed other sanitation worker deaths in West- chester County occurring over the previous few years. Since Rodrigues' death, a Bronx sanitation worker died from injuries sustained from a sanitation truck fall in 2006, and a nineteen-year old Town of Babylon seasonal worker died from a head injury after he fell from a moving truck in July, 2007.

According to a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) May 1997 report, many sanitation worker fatalities occur when workers fall or are struck by refuse collection vehicles. The National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities surveillance system indicated that between 1980 and 1992, 450 workers aged 16 or older died in incidents related to refuse collection; 303 of these incidents were vehicle related. Of the vehicle related deaths, 36% occurred when the worker slipped or fell from a refuse collection vehicle, was struck or run over by the vehicle, or fell and was struck or run over by the refuse collection vehicle, 18% of the 110 fatalities occurred when the refuse collection truck was backing up.

Deaths from traumatic occupational injuries represent a significant public health concern, having enormous emotional and financial repercus- sions on affected families and society. These deaths are preventable. NIOSH has reported that sanitation employers and workers may not be fully aware of or are complacent about the hazards of riding on and working near moving refuse collection vehicles. NIOSH recommendations include annual and refresher training for all sanitation workers which has been mandated in this legislation.

There are minimal or no costs to municipalities for instituting sanita- tion worker training. First, most if not all municipalities have train- ing programs in place. Second, if there are no training programs, there is training at no or little cost available through state grants, state- wide and local unions like the Civil Service Employees Association, the Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau of the New York State Depart-

ment of Labor (PESH), and the National Solid Waste Management Associ- ation.

Prior legislative history

Similar to A.9919 and S.7824 in 2007/2008

Fiscal implications

Minimal to none for municipalities

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regu- lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.