Local Enforcement Agency Correspondence

Injuries and Fatalities at Solid Waste Facilities

Date: May 28, 1999

To: All Local Enforcement Agencies

On the reverse of this memo is a copy of a letter sent as an e-mail to all LEA jurisdictions on April 19, 1999. The letter requests information regarding fatalities and injuries at solid waste facilities from 1990 to the present. There has been some confusion over how the information will be used and whether this information is for site workers or site users.

This information will be used along with data from other sources in assessing the effectiveness of procedures and regulations in protecting general health and safety at solid waste facilities and to provide practical guidance on management practices and standards at solid waste facilities.

CalOSHA data is limited to reported fatalities and serious injuries to site workers. Also, except for explosive gas, neither Title 14 nor Title 27 has reporting requirements regarding health and safety.

Therefore, I am requesting data on injuries and fatalities to site users and site workers, including those that may have already been reported to CalOSHA. The information should include:

• Any injuries and fatalities among site workers reported or not reported to Cal/OSHA.

• Serious injuries, illnesses and fatalities among site users.

(8 CCR 330h defines serious injury or illness as any injury or illness occurring in a place of employment or in connection with any employment which requires inpatient hospitalization for a period in excess of 24 hours for other than medical observation or in which an employee suffers a loss of any member of the body or suffers any serious degree of permanent disfigurement. )

• Type of injury or cause of death.

• How it occurred.

• Type of solid waste facility (landfill, transfer operation, compost facility, etc.)

• Location within the solid waste facility, i.e., where incident occurred (road, tipping area, working face, baler, etc.)

In many cases, data will be inaccessible or incomplete. Please send whatever information is available since 1990. Data will be sorted and organized using the above criteria. All questions and suggestions are welcome.

Text of Prior Correspondence

April 19, 1999

To All LEAs:

LEA Support Services branch is gathering data regarding illnesses, injuries, and fatalities at solid waste facilities since the passage of AB 939, the Integrated Waste Management Act. I am requesting data, from 1990 to the present, regarding fatalities and injuries at landfills, transfer stations, material recovery facilities, waste-to-energy facilities, composting sites, etc. This information may be obtained from your own records, from operator records, logs of special occurrence, or IIPP reporting records.

The information will be used to prepare guidance regarding health and safety at solid waste facilities and as an aid in the assessment of the adequacy of Title 27 and Title 14 regulations in protecting public health, safety, and the environment.

Extraordinary changes have occurred at solid waste facilities since the passage of AB 939. I appreciate all effort in making this data as complete as possible. In turn, we will make every effort to examine this information and prepare guidance for inspectors of solid waste facilities that will be useful and will reflect current activities. Please contact me by e-mail, phone or mail. with questions, information or data.

Sincerely,

Original signed by:

Elaine Novak
CIWMB - LEA Support Services
Elaine.Novak@calrecycle.ca.gov
(916) 341-6380

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