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Waste Management's leaders create an environment where safety is the number one priority for all of our employees, from day one.
As part of employee orientation, instructions and videos are given about Waste Management's many safety programs, and employees are regularly trained on and reminded about important safety techniques. The company funds, develops and implements ongoing safety and health policies, programs, procedures and processes for all of its sites in North America.
But our focus on safety is not just about enforcing rules and best practices – it is also about celebrating our employees’ outstanding safety milestones.
Jose F. "Paco" Gonzalez, Roll-off Driver - South Orange County
Paco has been a professional driver for Waste Management for more than 31 years – achieving this tenure accident-free.
In a job as demanding as being a professional driver for the solid waste industry, which requires much attention to detail while loading and unloading large containers and also maneuvering through Southern California traffic, this is an impressive accomplishment.
“Paco serves as a wonderful example for both our new and experienced drivers about how utilizing your training, experience and careful actions can result in a safe driving record,” said Tom Koutroulis, District Manager in Santa Ana. “There aren’t too many people who can tout a clean driving record in their personal vehicle, not to mention a multi-ton collection truck. We’re very proud to have Paco as a member of our team.”
Congratulations to Paco for being a model driver and Waste Management employee!
Orange County Transfer Station
Waste Management of Orange County’s Orange Transfer Station recently celebrated the achievement of 1,000 days without a lost-time injury, meaning its 15 full-time employees and three temporary employees have worked safely for more than 8,500 total hours without any injuries that prevent employees from returning to work for at least one full shift.
Nov. 22 marked the 1,000th day, and on Friday, Jan. 6, the company’s local managers celebrated the employees’ accomplishment with a special luncheon for them. The facility’s previous long-term period without a lost-time injury lasted two years.
“Going 1,000 days and counting without a lost-time injury is a testament to our employees’ careful actions and commitment to safety in performing their jobs,” said Alberto Guardado, District Manager in Irvine. “Everyone benefits from our safe work environment – the employees, their co-workers, their families, our customers and the community.”
The Orange Transfer Station has a number of company-developed safety programs in place, which provide training and incentives to encourage safe behavior. Chief among these programs is the Waste Management Operations and Safety Rules Book, which trains all employees who come in contact with the company’s trucks or work at a disposal site – including drivers and other equipment operators, helpers, mechanics and sorters – in how to work safely, the “Life Critical Rules,” which are the top 10 safety mandates of the company, and the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) program, which provides appropriate safety gear like reflective vests, boots and gloves, for employees in different roles. Additional training is also administered when potential problems are detected and sometimes involves instruction by third-party medical or safety specialists.
Incentive programs include the safety bingo game, which allows employees to collect numbers on a bingo card based on the number of days the facility goes without a lost-time injury – providing cash prizes to the winners – carne asada cookouts when safety milestones are achieved, and drawings for prizes like sports or amusement park tickets or home entertainment items for employees who exhibit safe behavior.
“The employees at the Orange Transfer Station encounter a number of variables in their jobs – whether dealing with moving equipment, directing large trucks or other vehicles through the facility, sorting through waste and recyclables processed at the facility or maintaining our trucks and equipment – so achieving this milestone is a great accomplishment,” said Steve Lopez, Safety Manager for Waste Management’s San Diego/Orange County Market Area. “We look forward to reaching even greater goals with regard to employee safety.”
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