This type of fatality is especially awful because – unless the brakes on the sweeper are found to have suddenly stopped working – there's no reason for it. Sleepiness brings inattention brings accidents; the formula is as simple as that.

As you read this, I ask you to stop and ponder what instructions you have given to your sweeper operators. What have you told them to do when they find themselves sleepy and behind the wheel? Is this an area you have covered in a manner to maximize the probability your operator will feel justified in taking a nap; stopping for a coffee break or similar in order to wake back up? Have you discussed the importance of getting a good 'day's sleep' in order to make sure they're rarin' to go when they get to work in the evening?

And, sleepiness is only one of the many issues that need to be addressed during your safety meetings – you do have regular safety meetings, don't you? Although the answer would seem obvious, the unfortunate fact is that some companies simply don't conduct safety meetings. I was reminded of this firsthand recently when I signed on to be an expert witness in an accident that involved a serious injury to a motorcyclist.

The bike rider appears to have slowed to about 4mph after encountering a zero visibility dust cloud that was caused by a street sweeper. Sadly, he was rear-ended by a car that came in behind him. The dust cloud was allegedly so thick that the car didn't see the motorcycle in front of her until the accident occurred.

According to sworn testimony by the sweeper operator, he'd never had any safety training about when to use the sweeper's dust suppression system. He appeared only vaguely familiar with when to use or not use it for other reasons. Even more disturbing, he said he had never been shown a safety manual or operator's manual for the sweeper. Finally, he asserted that, even after the nearly fatal accident had taken place, safety meetings still did not become a regular part of that particular sweeping company's routine.

In this issue of our newsletter we offer an article on safety by John Meola, who has contributed articles to WorldSweeper, and elsewhere, for many years. Meola also provides members of the World Sweeping Association with a monthly safety bulletin, which WSA members are encouraged to utilize as one of their safety meeting topics for that month. I encourage you to read Meola's article; then, pass it around, and use it as both food for 'professional thought' and to provide you with ideas for how to beef up your own safety program.

Meola also offers this one-page safety reminder for the Memorial Day Holiday. I encourage you to download it, and then distribute it to all your employees as well as to whoever else you think might benefit from its reminders.

One of my friends in another industry had stickers like the one you see reproduced to the right designed and printed. Then, he hands them out to whoever wants them at the get-togethers we have in that industry.

These 'Safety Third' stickers are always a big hit for precisely one reason: The message is so absurd. However, if you are not holding regularly scheduled safety meetings; have a Safety Manual; provide your operators with the chassis and sweeper Operator's Manuals prior to them operating any sweeper; and, are doing everything else you can think of to emphasize safety in your organization, that's exactly the message you're sending to your employees.

Good Sweeping,

Editor, WorldSweeper.com
Executive Director, World Sweeping Association

PS If you haven't 'liked' our WorldSweeper Facebook page, what are you waiting for? That's where we offer industry previews and updates on an ongoing basis.

1. Isuzu Responds re: Sweeper Chassis DPF Issues
2. WorldSweeper Survey Seeks Info About Street Sweeping Vehicle Posting Criteria
3. Swedish Town Boasts Waterless/Dustless Sweeping
4. APWA Declares Public Works Week May 18th – 24th
5. Startup NewGen Sweepers Targets Market for Smaller Sweepers
6. MetroMile Now Offers Street Sweeping 'No Parking Alerts' in Chicago and San Francisco
7. Why a Lot of Safety Programs Fail to Deliver – And How to Make Sure YOURS WORKS!
8. Featured Contractor: Spezio Property Services
9. Not Exactly Sweeping: FREE Webinar Entitled 'Clean Diesel: The New "Alternative" Fuel'

The upshot of our conversation – since we were unaware that any data existed on the topic – is that we collaborated to design a survey that YOU could take to document what your city does in that regard. Whether you are a municipal street sweeping professional or a street sweeping contractor, please take the approximately 3 minutes needed to complete the survey, which is linked below.

In our next issue we'll let you know the results.

Take the Survey.

The increasing problems with maintaining water quality in the midst of burgeoning population growth and urbanization is a problem for most industrialized countries. Sweden is no exception. Here is an overview of the new sweeping technology to combat runoff pollution chosen by the City of Uppsala, Sweden's 4th largest city.

Since 2010 Uppsala and Stockholm have been doing serious tests in an attempt to come up with different solutions for sweeping and cleaning the street environment. One method that was initiated during 2010 was to utilize a sweeper made by Sweden's Disab Vacuum Technology, called a DISA-CLEAN sweeper. This is a model of road sweeper made in Sweden that boasts the ability to both brush and vacuum the street surface without the addition of water or chemicals for dust suppression or to aid in cleaning. You may be astonished at the results.

Read about it.

APWA Announces National Public Works Week May 18 – 24

The American Public Works Association (APWA), a nonprofit organization with more than 28,500-members, announced today the declaration of National Public Works Week, May 18-24, 2014, to honor public works professionals in the U.S. and Canada. The celebration of the week draws attention to the important contributions of public works professionals to citizens' daily lives, including the planning, building, managing and operating the heart of our local communities – its infrastructure.

Since 1960, APWA has celebrated National Public Works Week (NPWW) each May to raise awareness of these vitally important contributions of public works professionals and the crucial role that infrastructure, facilities and services play in the quality of life in our communities across North America. "Public works professionals are often unsung heroes of society, and this week honors those who serve the public good everyday with dedication," said APWA Executive Director, Peter B. King.

Read more.

Startup NewGen Sweepers Targets Market for Smaller Sweepers