Prioritizing Safety in Sanitation: Why Training and Equipment Matter
For general managers and supervisors overseeing sanitation, waste management, and recycling teams, safety isn't just a priority—it's a necessity. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, waste collection is consistently one of the most dangerous jobs in America, with a fatal injury rate of 35 per 100,000 workers in 2020. This places it higher than industries like construction and law enforcement. For companies operating in landfills or residential garbage disposal, proper safety training and equipment are critical to reducing these risks and avoiding costly accidents.
Temporary workers in sanitation, especially those hired through staffing agencies or temp agencies in the waste management industry, face even higher safety risks. These workers may receive less comprehensive training and inconsistent access to personal protective equipment (PPE), increasing their chances of injury. OSHA reports that temp workers in high-risk fields like sanitation are more likely to be injured on the job due to insufficient training and oversight. Staffing companies need to ensure that workers are equipped with the necessary safety gear and knowledge to protect themselves and others.
Temp workers may also be assigned more hazardous tasks, such as handling dangerous materials or working with unsafe machinery, without adequate supervision. Studies show that sanitation workers hired through staffing agencies are more likely to face these risks than full-time employees. This highlights the importance of staffing companies and employers working together to provide proper safety protocols in industries like waste management, landfills, and recycling. By addressing these safety gaps, companies can lower injury rates and foster a safer workplace environment.
Equipping workers with the right safety gear and ongoing training can reduce injury rates by up to 25%, according to a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. At Augment HR, we understand the unique safety challenges in waste management and offer industry-leading programs to keep workers protected.
Keeping Safety Simple and Effective with Augment’s 6 Components of Safety
At Augment, we know that keeping your team safe and prepared is the top priority. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing everything needed to create a secure and efficient work environment.
Here’s how we support your sites and keep workers safe in six simple but extremely effective ways:
Pre Employment Training: We conduct pre employment sanitation specific safety training ensuring all temps show up to your site safety trained and ready to work.
Site Specific PPE: We provide all site specific PPE and ensure regular PPE shipments are on schedule and delivered.
Weekly Safety Training: We conduct weekly mandatory sanitation specific safety training for all temps.
Sanitation Specific Safety Catalog: Our sanitation specific safety training catalog contains 50+ topics distributed to all temps every week of the year and is also accessible through the Augment Contractor App, email and text.
Custom Safety Content on Request: We create specialized safety content on request. If your site has a special circumstance or event that you want your temps and internal employees to be trained on, we can create it.
Safety Documentation Storage: All completed and signed safety trainings are stored in Augment’s database and accessible on request.
We believe that when your team is well-equipped and well-trained, everything runs smoother. It’s not just about providing staff—it’s about partnering with you to build a safer, more productive workplace.
Have questions or want to learn more about how we can support your sites? We’re here to help!
