Waste Collection Route Safety: Reversing and Winter Risks

A waste collection route can look very different from one shift to the next.

Overnight rain may leave an unsealed access road unstable. Parked cars may block the normal stopping position. Roadworks may force a truck into a narrow street, while fog or reduced morning light makes pedestrians harder to see.

The truck, driver and run sheet may be the same, but the conditions are not.

Effective waste collection safety depends on treating the route as a changing workplace. The run sheet should identify the safest planned method, but drivers, runners and supervisors also need clear authority to change, delay or stop a collection when the conditions no longer match that plan.

The NSW Collection and Transport of Waste Code of Practice commenced on 27 March 2026. It calls for route planning to consider traffic, school zones, peak periods, restricted access, pedestrians, environmental conditions and other high-risk collection locations. It also recognises that road closures, collisions, flooding, fallen trees and similar events may require live monitoring and alternative routes.

Since 1 July 2026, NSW businesses must comply with applicable approved Codes of Practice or manage the identified risks in another way that provides an equivalent or higher standard of health and safety. That makes it important to compare the Code with what actually happens on the road, not only with what is written in a procedure.

Waste Collection Safety Starts With the Route

The truck is only one part of the collection system.

The route includes every road, driveway, laneway, collection point, stopping location and pedestrian area workers enter while completing the run. Conditions at each location can affect how safely the driver approaches, stops, collects the waste and leaves.

A waste collection risk assessment should consider features such as:

narrow streets, laneways and cul-de-sacs
one-way streets and restricted-access roads
school zones and childcare centres
high-pedestrian areas
peak traffic periods
parked vehicles that restrict sightlines
unsealed roads and unstable access points
collection points near moving traffic
locations where runners must work outside the vehicle
sites where there is no safe stopping position
overhead powerlines and other obstructions
environmental and weather conditions.

The appropriate controls will vary. A collection method that works in a metropolitan street may not suit an unsealed rural road, a regional industrial site or an alpine area affected by fog, ice or snow.

Route planning should therefore be based on the actual geographical location and the way the work is completed. The Waste Code specifically identifies traffic, school zones, peak periods, narrow streets, restricted access, other road users, environmental conditions and high-risk collection locations as matters to consider.

A useful starting point is to ask:

Where could the vehicle become trapped or need to reverse?
Where could a pedestrian unexpectedly enter the vehicle’s path?
When does traffic or pedestrian activity increase?
Where does the driver have limited visibility?
What conditions could make the normal collection method unsafe?

These questions are best answered with the drivers and runners who complete the route. They are often the first to notice changes in access, traffic, customer behaviour and local conditions.

What a Waste Collection Run Sheet Should Tell the Crew

A practical waste collection run sheet should do more than list addresses and expected collection times.

For routine, low-risk collections, brief instructions may be enough. Higher-risk locations need more detail so the crew understands the agreed collection method before arriving.

The run sheet should identify, where relevant:

the preferred direction of travel
the safest approach and departure direction
the collection side or access point
the safe stopping or parking location
whether reversing is expected, restricted or prohibited
whether a runner needs to leave the vehicle
the preferred collection time
known traffic and pedestrian hazards
site-contact or access requirements
an approved alternative method.

For example, a service near a school may need to be scheduled outside drop-off and pick-up periods. A narrow laneway may require entry from a particular direction to avoid reversing into a pedestrian area. A commercial collection may require the site contact to clear an access point before the vehicle arrives.

The Waste Code says route-planning considerations should inform the run sheet detailing how and when routes are completed. It also gives the example of scheduling manual bin handling outside peak periods where access creates additional risk.

A useful run-sheet format could include:

Run-sheet field	What to record	Trigger for review
Access direction	Safest approach and exit	Closure, obstruction or changed traffic flow
Reversing	Whether it is expected and how it is controlled	New pedestrians, poor visibility or failed safety device
Collection timing	Preferred low-risk collection period	School activity, traffic or local event
Stopping point	Agreed safe vehicle position	Parked vehicles, roadworks or unstable ground
Worker position	Where the runner should stand	Changed access or loss of separation
Alternative method	Approved alternative or escalation contact	Planned collection cannot be completed safely

The run sheet should also be updated when new information becomes available. This may include a near miss, customer complaint, driver hazard report, change to the collection point or recurring access issue.

Without that feedback loop, the document can continue directing workers into a situation that no longer reflects the route.

Reduce Reversing Before Adding Warning Devices

Reversing a large waste vehicle creates an obvious risk when pedestrians, runners, cyclists or other road users can enter the movement area.

The first response should not automatically be to fit another alarm or tell the driver to be more careful. The hierarchy of controls requires the business to first consider whether the reversing movement can be eliminated or reduced.

For businesses reviewing garbage truck reversing safety, practical questions include:

Can the route be changed so the vehicle continues forwards?
Can the collection point be relocated?
Can the truck approach from another direction?
Can the service be completed at a quieter time?
Can a smaller or more suitable vehicle be used?
Can the site temporarily restrict pedestrian or vehicle access?
Can the collection method be redesigned?

Not every reversing movement can be removed, but unnecessary reversing should not be accepted simply because it has always been part of the route.

Where reversing remains necessary, the business may need a combination of controls, including:

separation between the vehicle and pedestrians
a defined reversing area
improved mirrors and camera coverage
suitable vehicle and work lighting
proximity or reversing sensors
reversing alarms
flashing warning lights
an agreed method for directing vehicle movements
driver training and route-specific instruction.

The Waste Code identifies operational reversing sensors, flashing lights and reversing alarms as controls that can alert pedestrians and other road users. These devices support the driver, but they do not remove the need for safer route design and separation.

Audible alarms also have limitations. Where several vehicles use similar alarms, people may not know which vehicle is moving. Workers and members of the public may also become desensitised to a frequently repeated sound. SafeWork NSW recommends considering a combination of warning devices rather than relying on an alarm alone.

A practical control sequence is:

Avoid the reversing movement where possible.
Change the route, access point or collection method.
Separate people from the vehicle movement area.
Improve the driver’s visibility.
Add suitable detection and warning devices.
Verify that the combined controls work under actual route conditions.

A camera view that works well in clear daylight may become far less reliable when the lens is covered by rain, mud or condensation. Controls need to be checked in the conditions in which they will be used.

Keep Drivers, Runners and Pedestrians in the Same Control System

Drivers and runners do not always see the same hazard.

The driver may be watching traffic and mirrors while a runner is focused on bins, uneven ground or approaching pedestrians. A supervisor at the depot may receive live information about a road closure that the crew has not yet seen.

Communication arrangements should cover:

driver-to-runner communication
communication between crews and supervisors
escalation of unplanned hazards
contact with customers or site representatives
interaction with members of the public
what happens when radios or other devices fail.

Agreed hand signals or radio instructions should be simple and understood by everyone involved. Workers should know where runners are expected to stand while the vehicle is moving and what to do if visual contact is lost.

A practical operating rule is that when the driver loses sight of the runner, or the agreed communication method fails, vehicle movement stops until the runner’s position and intentions are confirmed.

This should be supported by training and supervision. It should not depend on an informal understanding between individual workers that changes from one crew to the next.

The Waste Code recommends established communication methods between depot workers, drivers and supervisors, including arrangements for workers who encounter unplanned risks or hazards.

Adjust the Route for Winter Conditions, Not Just Driving Speed

Winter route safety is not only a matter of driving more slowly.

Rain, fog, reduced daylight, mud and slippery access points can change whether a collection can be completed using the planned method.

Conditions to consider include:

wet roads and increased stopping distance
poor visibility caused by rain, fog or low light
water or condensation on mirrors and cameras
mud on unsealed roads
flooding or water across access points
unstable ground near bins or skip locations
slippery vehicle steps and handholds
pedestrians wearing dark or rainproof clothing
branches, debris or fallen trees
potholes or kerbs hidden by water
reduced grip when handling bins.

A slower vehicle may still be unsafe if the driver cannot see the collection area, the planned stopping point is flooded or a runner would need to enter uncontrolled traffic.

A wet weather driving procedure should therefore connect road conditions with route decisions. It should explain who checks weather and road information, how updates reach the crew and what conditions trigger a changed route or collection method.

The Waste Code recommends monitoring weather to determine whether work can be completed safely during conditions such as flooding, deluge, high winds and natural disasters. It also identifies wet-weather driving, safety and warning systems, incident reporting, vehicle inspection and communication as parts of the WHS management system.

Consider the worker as well as the road

Cold and wet conditions can also affect how safely a driver or runner performs the task.

Wet gloves may reduce grip. Cold hands can affect dexterity when operating controls or handling bins. Repeatedly entering and exiting a warm cab can leave clothing damp, while fatigue and reduced physical or mental coordination may increase the chance of a mistake.

SafeWork NSW does not prescribe one temperature at which outdoor work must stop. Cold exposure should be assessed by considering the environment, the individual worker, the task and the duration of exposure. Its guidance also identifies fatigue, difficulties with handling and gripping, reduced coordination, water-related slip hazards and the need for warm, waterproof clothing.

Depending on the route and conditions, winter worker safety controls may include:

waterproof, high-visibility clothing
slip-resistant, water-resistant footwear
gloves that preserve grip and dexterity
spare or dry PPE
heated vehicle cabins
suitable rest and recovery breaks
access to warm drinks and facilities
changed task timing or rotation
increased communication for isolated routes.

A universal temperature or rainfall cutoff is unlikely to reflect every NSW route. Decisions should be based on the location, task, vehicle, worker exposure and controls available.

Set Clear Triggers for Stopping or Changing a Collection

Workers should not have to invent a response while positioned in traffic, poor visibility or deteriorating weather.

Drivers and runners need clear instructions explaining when they are authorised to stop, contact the supervisor, use an approved alternative or skip the collection.

A collection should be reassessed when:

reversing is required where it was not planned
pedestrians cannot be kept clear of the vehicle
the agreed stopping position is obstructed
the driver cannot maintain adequate visibility
the surface is flooded, unstable or too slippery
roadworks have changed the safe direction of access
the available vehicle is unsuitable for the conditions
communication with the runner or supervisor fails
a camera, alarm, light or sensor is defective
the alternative route introduces another unassessed hazard
the crew believes the task cannot be completed safely.

The procedure should then explain the expected response:

Condition	Immediate response	Next decision
Access is blocked	Stop clear of the hazard	Approve another access method or skip
Unplanned reversing is needed	Do not begin the movement	Reassess the route and controls
Pedestrians cannot be separated	Pause the collection	Change the timing or method
Surface is flooded or unstable	Do not enter	Reroute, delay or reschedule
Visibility is inadequate	Stop in a safe position	Wait, reposition or use another method
Safety device has failed	Report the defect	Repair, replace the vehicle or apply an approved alternative

The aim is not to create a reason to abandon difficult collections. It is to make sure the decision is controlled, communicated and documented rather than left to production pressure or guesswork.

Reported conditions should also feed back into the route review. If the same access problem occurs repeatedly, the collection point, timing or method may need a permanent change.

Complete Pre-Start Checks Before the Vehicle Enters Service

Route controls depend on the vehicle and its safety systems being operational before the shift begins.

A waste vehicle pre-start inspection should cover the items relevant to the truck and its work, including:

tyres, wheels and windscreens
mirrors and external visibility
reversing cameras and sensors
alarms and flashing lights
vehicle and task lighting
lifting and bin-handling equipment
steps, handles and handholds
hydraulic leaks
seatbelts
GPS and live-traffic information
radios and communication devices
emergency and first-aid equipment
PPE
the planned route and current conditions.

The Waste Code’s example pre-start checklist includes external damage, tyres, mirrors, lifting equipment, cameras, warning devices, GPS, PPE, the planned route, live traffic and communication devices.

Finding a defect is only useful when the business has a working response.

The defect should be recorded and reported to the responsible person. The business then needs to determine whether the vehicle can remain in service, requires repair or should be replaced for the route.

Drivers should not be expected to use informal workarounds for failed cameras, alarms or lighting without an assessed and approved alternative. Repairs and recurring faults should also be tracked so maintenance decisions are based on evidence rather than isolated reports.

Route-Review Checklist: Does Today’s Run Sheet Still Work?

Use the following questions when reviewing a higher-risk route with the drivers and runners who complete it.

Route and collection method

Does the run sheet reflect the current access direction?
Is the safest stopping position identified?
Are school zones, peak periods and pedestrian areas recorded?
Can the vehicle complete the collection without unnecessary reversing?
Is an approved alternative available when normal access is blocked?

Vehicles and people

Are the driver’s sightlines adequate?
Are runners kept clear of vehicle movement areas?
Are communication methods understood and working?
Can pedestrians be separated from the collection activity?
Are cameras, sensors, alarms and warning lights operational?

Weather and changing conditions

Have live traffic, road and weather conditions been checked?
Has rain changed braking, stopping or access conditions?
Has fog or reduced daylight affected visibility?
Are steps, handholds, footwear and work areas providing enough grip?
Is flooding, mud, debris or unstable ground present?
Do workers have suitable dry and weather-appropriate PPE?

Decisions and reporting

Does the crew know when to stop or contact the supervisor?
Can the driver skip or delay a collection without unclear approval steps?
Are changed conditions and near misses recorded?
Are repeat problems added to the route risk assessment?
Are actions assigned to a responsible person and followed through?

The checklist should lead to action. Record the issue, the agreed control, who is responsible and when the run sheet or procedure will be updated.

A Safe Route Is a Current Route

A collection route is not safe simply because it was completed without incident last week.

Traffic patterns change. Vehicles block access. Collection points move. Winter weather reduces visibility and grip. A previously manageable reversing movement can become unsafe when pedestrians, roadworks or poor conditions are added.

Good waste collection route planning gives the crew a clear method before the shift starts and a clear response when reality no longer matches the plan.

Start by reviewing one higher-risk route with the drivers and runners who complete it. Identify where reversing, pedestrian movement or changing weather affects the collection. Then agree on the practical trigger for changing, delaying or stopping the work.

The Safety Dept. helps businesses keep WHS systems, route assessments, records and operational controls current as work conditions change.