SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5566

               As Passed Senate, March 15, 1997

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

Brief Description:  Collecting solid waste or recyclables.

Sponsors:  Senators Sheldon, Oke and Prince.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/27/97, 3/5/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/15/97, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prince, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Goings, Haugen, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Morton, Oke, Patterson and Rasmussen.

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 a garbage truck will reduce the number of ankle injuries incurred from jumping up and down from the cab, and reduce the time it takes to complete the route.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Sheldon, prime sponsor; John Paul Jones, WA Refuse & Recycling Association.