Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/85081
A side-loading design requires a com- mitment to using the bins that go with them, and a strategy to deal with the waste that won't fi t inside a bin. Safety first Other upgrades to refuse equipment are being introduced in the name of safety. "Accidents and injuries and 'struck-by' injuries and fatalities in this industry are still a huge concern," Bradley says. The role of a solid waste collection worker is now the seventh- most dangerous job in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. It recorded 26 related fatalities in 2010, up from 20 in 2009. Truck features can help make a dif- ference. New equipment standards to be unveiled in 2012 will focus on the need for fall protection and ladders. "They're very tall vehicles," Bradley says. "If someone falls off one, they usually sustain a fairly signifi cant injury. " Options such as backup cameras, event recorders, collision avoidance systems and alarms also are promis- ing to keep a careful eye on the space around a truck. "They all go to a safer operation of the vehicle itself, and giving the operator the ability to have greater awareness of his surround- ings," Bradley says. The growing inter- est in tools like these is leading her association to track their installation beginning next year. But as advanced as technologies can be, ongoing specs still will need to consider the harsh operating realities that always will be faced by a refuse hauler. "We have a diffi cult applica- tion out here," Nicholas says. "We have garbage fl ying, and sometimes it falls out of a can, it falls down onto an arm, and it can do these kinds of things." The industry's mechanics need to maintain easily accessible common components and replace things like O-rings or hoses, he says. And some upgrades always will be related to the fi ght against brute force. "Right in the rear loader, in the hopper, for example, whatever the manufacturer's standard offering is, where all this material is be- ing thrown in and you cycle this thing 1,000 times a day, we put a little heavier steel in that area," Nicholas says. "With all the technology that's hap- pening out there, we still like the old KISS system. We like the manufacturers who still want to 'Keep It Simple' and think about their designs at our level and what we have to do. " Covered This Winter. Start your engines – every time – with Howes Diesel Treat. And enjoy a little extra protection for yourself with a FREE Howes deluxe travel blanket. Either way Howes has you covered. Now that's sure to put a smile on your face. Relax, Howes Has You Prevents Diesel Fuel From Gelling, Guaranteed! Saves Money and Eliminates Downtime Increases Power and Fuel Economy Treats More Fuel than Competing Brands Particulate Filter Friendly and Warranty Safe Professional Grade Performance Since 1920 when you purchase 6 bottles of Howes Products See stores for details or visit www.howeslube.com Offer ends: 3/31/12, available while supplies last. Fleece Travel Blanket! FREE! Howes Deluxe Write 239 on Reader Service Card or visit ccjdigital.com/info COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | JANUARY 2012 35