Garbage, recycling truck drivers talk safety for children at play in L.A. Metro neighborhoods

School’s out for summer which means more children will be at home on weekdays when Waste Management of Southern California delivery or service vehicles come through local neighborhoods. Local Waste Management drivers are encouraging parents to talk with their children about being safe while playing outside and to ensure they watch for the company's waste and recycling trucks from a safe distance.

“We are part of the community fabric in neighborhoods we serve and ensuring the safety of residents, and the safety of fellow drivers, is a top priority for drivers like me,” said Manuel Barrera driver of Waste Management of Southern California in L.A. Metro. “Children can be especially curious about our trucks and are always tempted to take a closer look when the trucks are stopped. But, the trucks have many moving parts that could begin moving again at any moment so we encourage everyone to watch from a distance.”

Barrera and his colleagues at Waste Management recommend a number of ways to be safe around service vehicles:
• Learn the schedule of when service vehicles are in the area. Garbage trucks, recycling vehicles, postal vehicles and other package delivery services keep regular schedules within each neighborhood.
• It takes service vehicles about three times as long to stop as a passenger car, so never cut in front of or stop suddenly in front of one. Always keep a safe distance from a truck.
• Vehicles like Waste Management trucks make frequent stops and often back up, so don’t follow the truck closely on a bike, skateboard, rollerskates or rollerblades.
• Every Waste Management truck is equipped with a back-up alarm. Whether you are walking or driving near one of our trucks, if you hear this sound or see the white back-up lights, be sure to move out of the way of the truck.
• Keep children and pets at a safe distance from the truck. Never get near or climb on the truck. Always keep portable basketball hoops away from trash bins or carts, and never on the street. Do not play or stand in or around trash bins or carts, since you may not know when the truck is coming to empty them.
• There are numerous areas where the visibility is restricted for your Driver. If you can’t see him/her in the eyes, they most likely cannot see you.
• Do not attempt or allow children to help with loading any garbage into the truck. In addition to moving truck parts, debris can fall out of the truck when its contents are being compressed.

“We thank you for sharing in our safety culture as we traverse throughout your neighborhood keeping it clean and green.”

ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.