Phillips asks County Ombudsman to investigate complaint about unsafe trucks

May 1, 2009

Summary

County truck drivers complain they are hauling overweight loads to Cedar Hills Landfill

Story

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Phillips today asked the King County Ombudsman to investigate the complaints of several county truck drivers who haul solid waste between King County’s transfer stations and the Cedar Hills Landfill. The drivers, whose complaints were brought to Phillips’ attention by a news report, say they are occasionally hauling loads that exceed legal weight limits, which they believe are putting their safety and the public’s safety at risk.

“When employees raise a concern, it’s important to conduct a thorough investigation, especially when it’s a question of safety for employees or the public,” said Phillips. “The Solid Waste Division has a good safety record to-date, and we need to make sure that continues to be the case.”

The Solid Waste Division’s accident database, dating back to 1992, indicates there has been no record of any incident where trailer weight was a factor. Truck drivers perform a rigorous safety check before getting on the road, and are instructed to park the vehicle immediately if they feel in any way unsafe

King County is in the process of upgrading the loading equipment at transfer stations with a system that makes it easier to ensure loads meet legal weight requirements. Improvements are already in place in King County’s newly redeveloped Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station, and renovation of the Bow Lake Transfer Station, which handles more than a third of King County's solid waste, is currently under way. Replacements or upgrades at the rest of the county’s transfer stations will be coming soon.

The King County Ombudsman’s Office manages citizen complaints concerning King County government agencies and investigates allegations regarding reports of improper governmental action.