Ok, I was following a trash truck the other day for a couple blocks. Your standard old one guy driving, two on the back, all wearing high vis apparel. So I looked at this with my new set of wasteful eyes and thought, how would a union trash company operate. Im not bashing all unions.. They certainly have their place and without them wed all be suffering in some way, I just know how some incredibly overbearing ones operate. Lets begin our day... 4 AM Begin day with morning brief.. outlining on paper our risks associated with the given tasks at hand. All crew members read and understand task specific dangers.. 4:30 AM Morning stretch routine followed by PPE inspection (personal protective equipment) for you novices. 4:50 AM Two escort trucks arrive with flagger personnel (2 persons per truck, one driver one flagger) and visual hazard equipment (road cones, signs and flares if needed) 5:00 AM CDL carrying driver starts truck after 10 minute walk around and vehicle checklist is completed. 5:10 AM Truck driver and Refuse collection force/material handlers (2 persons) arrive at truck suited up in weather appropriate gear and PPE, get into trash truck and buckle up. When ready to depart facility, driver radios escort trucks, escort trucks confirm ready for departure. Escort truck contacts facility personnel and requests watchers to accompany 3 vehicle convoy out the gate. 5:20 AM Watcher (4) arrive and observe trucks, in the 4 corners of entire convoy, giving them hand signals of all clear when exiting the gate to the public street. 5:45 AM Convoy arrives at first house on the removal route. Escort truck 1 parks 100 feet ahead of trash truck, Escort truck 2 remains 100 feet behind trash truck. Escort drivers stop vehicle, set brakes, place in park, shut down vehicle and get out and place wheel chock appropriately. Flaggers get out as well and set cones around area blocking off lane for approximately 400 feet. Flaggers stand at beginning and end of diversion, with signage for directing traffic. Flaggers signal handlers that its safe to exit vehicle, driver sets brakes, shuts down truck, notes this in log book including location and time, Handlers stretch again and travel to the area of garbage collection slowly, while inspecting ground for potential hazards, no hazards or danger, inspect the garbage for the same. None exist, with proper kevlar gloves on, two people, hunker down with the knees to pick up the first trash receptacle, Slowly lift and steady the load, both slowly carry the garbage can to the truck rear and on the 3 count, tilt it in, dumping contents. Both handlers inspect the inside of the can and confirm that it is empty. Handler 1 (lead) takes out daily receptacle report and signs off that it is empty, double checks that the can number and the sign off sheet are alike. Both handers repeat this process for all cans at the removal location. Loose bags are at this location, A call is placed to the refuse engineer, they advise that they are authorized to handle loose goods, but proceed with extra caution due to shifting load possibility. Both handlers retrieve load nets to help contain possible breakage. all loose bags are accounted for and noted by the lead handler. Engineer is called to inform them of the same. Engineer notes in daily log, Both handlers retreat back to truck. 6:25 AM 15 minute break while escorts and flaggers clear area. 6:40 AM Escorts advise they are ready to move to the next. Driver starts truck, handlers are buckled in, all equipment stowed. Driver completes log book. 6:45 AM Convoy proceeds ahead, to next house. 6:46 AM Convoy stops at next home, same street side, Escorts and flaggers proceed as before, truck shut down, Handlers given the go to retrieve garbage from area, Upon inspection, its noted that a couch has been placed out with the regular trash, Lead handler notes this in daily log, retrieves camera from equipment bag and proceeds to take 75 -12 megapixel images of the issue. Lead then contacts Refuse Engineer. Refuse Engineer then orders an immediate stand down of all trucks on all routes until this is resolved. Engineer contacts management team. Management team calls emergency meeting to review Residential Refuse Removal Guide (RRRG). Management team can not locate a procedure for removal a couch surrounded by garbage cans. Management team then receives digital photos from site and goes over data and contacts digital model department. Digital model department (DMD) reviews data and contacts lead handler for precise measurements and more photos. After requested information is received, DMD begins generating 3-d models of the issue and works with engineering to develop a safe practices application guide to this particular problem. The computer then runs simulation after simulation until a risk factor of .28% resolution is achieved. A set of instructions are quickly printed up, laminated and bound for each truck operating in the area and couriered to every truck on every route. 5:25PM Courier arrives on site and hands off the instructions to the lead. Lead notes the log. Lead handler and assistant review new procedure and perform dry run until each understand and can perform task efficiently. Safe practices sign off sheet is filled out. 6:00 PM Both handlers remove the garbage cans from around the couch. As cans are cleared, Young couple pulls around convoy and stops, while two handlers are emptying last can, couple walks through safety barrier and collects couch. Handlers advise them they are not allowed, couple ignores warning and loads couch into back of their vehicle, drives away. 6:30 PM, Convoy starts end of day procedure. Driver fills out log book, flaggers and drivers and handlers all set to return. Lead contacts manager and gets approval for overtime due to unforeseen bulk item. 7:00 PM Convoy returns to station and hands off equipment and reports to 2nd shift crew. 2nd shift crew empties truck and fills tank and makes ready or the next long hard day.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 22:09:01 +0000
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