HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1593

             As Reported By House Committee On:

               Transportation Policy & Budget

Title:  An act relating to solid waste route collection vehicles.

Brief Description:  Collecting solid waste or recyclables.

Sponsors:  Representatives Scott, Zellinsky and Sheldon.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation Policy & Budget:  2/10/97, 2/11/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION POLICY & BUDGET

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Hankins, Vice Chairman; Mielke, Vice Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; Fisher, Ranking Minority Member; Blalock, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Buck; Cairnes; Chandler; Constantine; DeBolt; Hatfield; Johnson; O'Brien; Radcliff; Robertson; Romero; Scott; Skinner; Sterk; Wood and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Cooper, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:  Current law prohibits the transportation of persons on the running board, fenders, hood or other outside parts of a motor vehicle; the exception is an authorized emergency vehicle, such as a fire truck.  It is a common practice in many parts of the state, in both public and private garbage and trash collection, to have a "swamper" ride on the rear platform of the truck while the vehicle is proceeding down the street collecting trash.  This practice usually occurs when the truck is on route collecting trash from homes and businesses and while traveling at speeds of less than 20 miles per hour (mph).  The swamper rides inside the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling to or from the operations base, a landfill or transfer station.

Most rear-loading garbage trucks are high entry; that is, the employee must climb up to access the cab.  This makes collection more laborious as it places a greater physical strain on the swamper and increases the amount of time required to finish a route.

Summary of Bill:  Garbage trucks collecting garbage or recyclables on route at speeds of 20 mph or less may legally transport the swamper on the outside of the vehicle.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Allowing swampers to ride on the rear platform of the truck will reduce the number of ankle injuries incurred by jumping up and down from the cab, and will reduce the amount of time on the collection route.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  John Paul Jones III, Washington Refuse and Recycling Association; and Craig Olson, Association of Washington Cities.