Cultivating a strong safety culture

With a fleet of slightly fewer than 2,000 commercial vehicles and approximately 2,000 drivers, hauler safety is at the forefront of Cincinnati-based Rumpke Waste & Recycling’s operations. Given the dangers commonly associated with waste collection, the company has gone to great lengths to implement safety protocols to better equip drivers for the risks of the road.

“One of our biggest [safety issues] is distracted driving, and that generally leads to everything else. More specifically, assured clear distance accidents where we rear-end someone, [which] cause whiplash injuries and a lot of vehicle damage,” says Dan Katt, corporate loss control manager for Rumpke.

Another common safety concern is noncollision crashes where trucks slip off the paved portion of the highway, and the soft turf pulls the vehicle off the road, leading to rollovers, he adds.

To mitigate these types of accidents, Katt says Rumpke hosts monthly service training sessions to review recent accidents and near misses.

For nine months of the year, Rumpke branches also will set aside 45-60 minutes each morning before drivers start their routes for safety-related toolbox talk sessions.

“There are traditional things that we cover [during these meetings], such as, in the fall or winter, we’ll talk about winter driving conditions and other challenges on the roadway weatherwise,” Katt says. “We also get into the specific topics, like usual policies about using electronics in the cab. We’re strict about that; that helps cut down on distracted driving.”

“Safety is our goal, our priority. Our drivers are overseen, coached and counseled from day one, and that is very comforting for folks that know there’s boundaries, there’s guidelines, and this helps them find the way to safety and success.” – Dan Katt, corporate loss control manager, Rumpke WAste & Recycling

Staying on track

In addition to organized discussions of best safety practices, Rumpke also educates drivers using the Smith System—a method for safe driving that consists of both video and hands-on training. According to Katt, this educational course also is used for corrective actions and coaching. These different forms of training are led by district driver trainers.

As for the adoption of new technologies to encourage better driving habits, Rumpke has started investing in more cameras and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

“We had basic back-hopper cameras and side cameras that came with some of the packer bodies, but we’re now installing them in the cab facing outwards,” Katt says. “We can refer back to that video when an incident occurs—it helps us in litigation. It also helps us in training and retaining our drivers and sharing these tips and pointers for correction.”

With the recent addition of driver assist systems, Rumpke drivers now have lane departure warnings, as well as automatic braking. As the systems are applied to vehicles companywide, Katt says some training will be needed to help drivers understand how the technology works.

“[The ADAS] will require some training so the drivers understand why the truck is slowing down … but it will greatly reduce our rear-end collision crashes,” he says.

Rumpke will take advantage of these new additions in conjunction with its current use of Geotab, a fleet tracking and management software suite from Canada-based Geotab Inc.

“[Geotab] is a diagnostic tool that looks at everything in the truck, including braking, oil pressure, hydraulics. … It’s also got a world-class GPS system in it. So, in addition to showing us if we had hard breaking, hard steering and other things like that, it’ll indicate speed, direction and routing, what path we’re on; that gets called up a lot in litigations and, just about every single time, it has helped us tremendously.”

Leading by example

While accidents aren’t completely avoidable, Rumpke and its operators have been rewarded for their attention to safety. The company has had 18 drivers receive the annual Driver of the Year Award from the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), Arlington, Virginia, during the last 10 years.

The National Driver of the Year Awards, which were presented again at WasteExpo this year in Las Vegas, honor NWRA member company drivers who operate their trucks in a safe and responsible manner, have outstanding performance records and whose contributions have enhanced the overall safety and image of the solid waste industry.

“I look at things from the PIP (people, information and property) process. Those are the priorities when I go to do a risk assessment for a site, for instance, and people are always at the top,” says Katt, who has handled Rumpke’s Driver of the Year submissions for roughly two decades. “Our employees are our most important asset.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-22 winning drivers were recognized this year at WasteExpo, including Rumpke drivers Duane Sandlin (2020), John Weiss (2021), Howard “Bret” Kattine (2022) and Willard Wells (2022).

Katt says he is proud of the drivers who have garnered these awards over the years.

“We say you don’t need a college education to work here, just a constant and consistent dedication to safety,” he adds. “You can be just as productive as the next driver, but not endanger your health, the health of others or the vehicles that you’re driving.”

Serving as role models for newer or less-experienced drivers, Katt says Driver of the Year Award winners often share their driving philosophy and approach during in-service meetings, covering topics such as how they tackle problems, frustrations and events that break their routines.

Sticking to their roots

Leaning on a strong safety culture also has helped make training new hires less difficult, especially during the ongoing, industrywide labor crisis, Katt says.

“Our safety culture is taught and led by example from day one,” he says. “Safety is our goal, our priority. Our drivers are overseen, coached and counseled from day one, and that is very comforting for folks that know there [are] boundaries, there [are] guidelines, and this helps them find the way to safety and success.

“We say if you can show up on time and do your job, you can have a job for the next 30 or 40 years. It’s as simple as that.”

As Rumpke continues to grow, Katt says the company will continue to maintain a culture that is focused on safety.

“One of the biggest goals is to get [new team members] acclimated to our culture and to fit in with the safety program,” Katt says.

The author is associate editor of Waste Today and can be reached at hrischar@gie.net.