2024 BLS Data Signals Progress in Waste Collection Safety
New BLS data shows a slight decline in waste collection fatalities in 2024. But with the profession still ranked among the most dangerous in America, sustained focus on safety — including intelligent route planning — remains essential.
– 3 Min Read
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its 2024 fatal injury data this morning, and there is measured but meaningful progress for the waste and recycling industry. Solid waste collection workers experienced a slight decline in fatalities and moved from the fourth to the fifth most dangerous job in America.
Any reduction in fatalities is positive news. But ranking fifth on the list of most dangerous occupations is still a sobering reminder of the risks sanitation workers face every day. For an industry built on public service, protecting the men and women behind the wheel must remain the top priority.
We believe safety must be integrated into daily operations — not treated as an afterthought. Intelligent route planning plays a critical role in reducing risk exposure. By designing routes that limit dangerous maneuvers such as backing, U-turns, high-risk left turns, and unnecessary roadway crossings, organizations can drastically reduce accidents before a truck ever leaves the yard.
Industry thought leader David Biderman, president of Biderman Consulting and former CEO of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), said that sustained focus on safety is essential to driving long-term improvement. That sustained focus must include operational strategies that proactively reduce risk.
Technology alone is not the solution — but it is a powerful enabler. When intelligent route planning is combined with driver coaching, telematics insights, compliance monitoring, and clear accountability standards, organizations create a layered safety culture that protects workers and the communities they serve.
“The slight improvement in the fatality rate for waste collection workers is welcome, but this is no time for anyone to be taking any victory laps,” Biderman said. “Local governments, haulers, and the larger solid waste companies need to all continue focusing on worker safety and compliance. Better coaching, new technologies, intelligent route planning that prioritizes safety, and holding employees accountable for unsafe behaviors will help get the industry off BLS’s “top 10 list.”
Progress requires commitment, collaboration, and continuous operational improvement. At RouteSmart, we remain committed to partnering with haulers and local governments to design safer routes, reduce unnecessary risk, and help make every collection day a safer one.
