Сбор и вывоз мусора: профессия и риски.

Person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and dispose of waste

A waste collector, also known as a garbage man, garbage collector, trashman (in the U. S), binman or dustman (in the UK), is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and dispose of municipal solid waste (refuse) and recyclables from residential, commercial, industrial or other collection sites for further processing and waste disposal. Specialised waste collection vehicles (also known as garbage trucks in the U. S., bin lorries in the UK) featuring an array of automated functions are often deployed to assist waste collectors in reducing collection and transport time and for protection from exposure. Waste and recycling pickup work is physically demanding and usually exposes workers to an occupational hazard. The first known waste collectors were said to come from Britain in the 1350s, coinciding with the Black Plague and were called "rakers." A related occupation is that of a sanitation worker who operates and maintains sanitation technology.

Statistics show that waste collection is one of the most dangerous jobs, at times more dangerous than police work, but consistently less dangerous than commercial fishing and ranch and farm work. On the job hazards include broken glass, medical waste such as syringes, caustic chemicals, objects falling out of overloaded containers, diseases that may accompany solid waste, asbestos, dog attacks and pests, inhaling dust, smoke and chemical fumes, severe weather, traffic accidents, and unpleasant smells that can make someone physically sick. Risks also exist from working in close proximity to traffic hazards, and in using the heavy machinery (such as container lifters and compactors) found on collection vehicles.

In most countries around the world, waste collectors operate moving vehicles to aid in gathering garbage. There are several types of waste collecting vehicles: front load trucks, rear load trucks, side load trucks, and roll on off trucks. Waste collecting trucks can be automatic or semi automatic, lessening the ergonomic challenges for workers. Lifting and loading waste bins remains the main ergonomic stressor associated with the waste collecting occupation. Collectors are at risk of developing work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). Risk for injury includes risk of falling off the truck while its moving, being run over by passing motor vehicles, being run over when waste collecting truck is reversing, slipping and falling off the refuse vehicle, and losing or otherwise injuring limbs due to getting caught in equipment. Waste collecting vehicles can expose workers to higher amounts of exhaust as many have exhaust pipes located on the back of the vehicle.

Waste collecting involves the collection of municipal waste and hazardous waste which can introduce exposure to biological, chemical, physical, and psychosocial hazards. In the U. S, hazardous waste collection is monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Alongside the EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) works closely to establish guidelines for hazardous waste disposal. Municipal waste collectors often are exposed to amounts of hazardous waste because a degree of hazardous waste is permissible in municipal waste; Physical hazards include ergonomic hazards such as development of WMSD such as sprains, strains, and tears. The job requires much repetitive lifting and pulling of waste material of varying weight, bending over, and movement in awkward positions. Despite assistance from refuse collection trucks, waste collectors often must haul garbage and recyclables to the truck and most still engage in a degree of lifting waste into the vehicle.

For the U. S, OSHA provides guidelines for PPE. Those disposing of waste, including hazardous waste, medical waste, municipal waste, and other waste from collection sites are encouraged to follow OSHA guidelines as necessary. Basic PPE includes wearing gloves, goggles or other eye protection equipment, coveralls, face shield and steel toed boots or shoes. Proper training is an essential part of protecting waste collectors from injury or illness. RCRA training is required of those who handle hazardous waste.

Derf Backderf worked as a garbageman after finishing high school and wrote a comic called Trashed based on his experiences. Georges St Pierremixed martial artist and UFC Welterweight Champion, (worked as a garbage man for 6 months).

The films Blood Feast, Scanners III: The Takeover and Child's Play 3 all feature minor characters being murdered with refuse trucks. Lala Hagoromo from the 2019 anime Star Twinkle PreCure collected trash for a living due to her poor skills assessment before becoming Cure Milky.