The Safety Ambassador program through the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Silver Spring, Maryland, has been recognized as the Safety Initiative of the Year by Waste Dive, an industry news publisher. The news outlet presented for the first time its 2016 Dive Awards Nov. 29, which identify the industry’s top disruptors and innovators, from Company of the Year to Technology of the Year.

Across the waste and recycling industry, Waste Dive says several initiatives were put forward in efforts to improve the safety of workers, but few were as comprehensive and effective as the SWANA Safety Ambassador program.

Waste Dive Editor Kristin Musulin says, “We selected SWANA’s Safety Ambassador initiative as Safety Program of the Year due to SWANA’s efforts to promote safety at each of its individual chapters across the nation. SWANA has made very clear strides in promoting safety throughout 2016 and the ambassador program has certainly propelled those efforts forward.”

SWANA Executive Director David Biderman says, “SWANA is very proud to receive this award. The Safety Ambassador initiative has been our most successful new safety activity, and many chapters in both the United States and Canada have embraced this new program.”

He continues, “This initiative, together with other SWANA safety programs, is helping to change the safety culture of the industry. We urge the entire industry—and in particular, small haulers—to take advantage of these programs, and help SWANA get the industry off the list of 10 most dangerous jobs in the United States. Nothing we do is more important.”

Chad Grecsek, SWANA’s Florida Sunshine Chapter Safety Ambassador, adds, “SWANA has taken on the challenge of improving industry safety through a variety of ways. As the newly appointed Safety Ambassador for Florida, I am proud to service in this function to improve safety locally through the implementation of proven best management practices and lessons learned throughout the country.”

With the help of a panel of industry insiders, winners of the 2016 Dive Awards were chosen by the editors of the publication based on resonance and industry impact.