The Role of Sanitation Workers on COVID-19 Front Lines

  

In December 2019, just a month before the first COVID-19 case had been reported in the US, sanitation work was reported to be the 5th most dangerous job in the country. However, with the start of the pandemic in the US, this risk factor has risen significantly.

 


The pressure for public spaces to remain clean and sanitized has never been this intense. With the CDC urging people to practice physical distancing and cleanliness, the duties of a sanitation worker have become more critical than ever.  

Residential Waste

With nationwide lockdowns and nearly 42% of the US workforce now working from home, residential waste has also significantly increased. There has been a nearly 40% spike in waste disposed of in residential areas since the start of the pandemic.

With more waste comes more responsibilities. Sanitation workers are tasked with proper waste collection and disposal from residential areas. To minimize the chances of contracting the virus, sanitation workers are layering up with PPE to protect themselves.

Wearing thin latex gloves over regular gloves is just one such precautionary measure to ensure that garbage collected won’t infect them.

Equipment Disinfection 

Alongside wearing extra protective clothing, sanitation workers are also tasked with regularly disinfecting their trucks and equipment for public safety.



Cleaning schedules have multiplied for sanitation workers. Equipment and facilities are cleaned between each shift to ensure safety procedures are being followed. Processing centers also have plastic barriers in place between employees to promote social distancing.

How Can You Help?  

To help streamline the waste disposal process, homeowners can dispose of their garbage responsibly. By concealing trash in closed containers and bags, you’re helping essential workers not be directly exposed to discarded tissues and other materials which could pass on the virus to them. Additionally, disinfecting the garbage containers yourself could help keep things clean for you and the sanitation worker. Lastly, make sure to distance yourself from workers on duty when they come to collect your waste products.

Sanitation workers may have hard work ahead of them until the pandemic subsides, but they are also fairly compensated for their hard work. With a starting salary of up to $89,000 and health insurance benefits, a job in the sanitation department is highly sought after by citizens in NYC. With the upcoming sanitation exam, many applicants are hoping to achieve high scores and get an interview call from the Sanitation Department.

With Civil Service Success, you can get professional classes from industry professionals who have successfully attempted the NYC Sanitation Exam. Register with the institution today to score high in the upcoming NYC civil service examinations

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