WSA Member Update 7.15.25

July 15, 2025 Dear WSA Member, Note that I am sending this a couple days early since I am flying to Los Angeles for the sweeper testing on the 13th of July.  This FREE downloadable ‘Safety Solutions Guide’ provides excellent information for anyone with a fleet of vehicles on the road. From ‘five ways safe fleets engage drivers’ to ‘building a safety culture’ and lots in between, the easy to read and understand guide provides guidance on getting more safe and staying that way. Here’s the link. While we’re on the topic of safety… When a driver reports being in an “accident,” it implies that no one is at fault. And if no one is at fault, it can’t be prevented. But the truth is that specific driver actions or behaviors cause most crashes.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that human error is involved in 94% of all motor vehicle crashes. While that may seem like a staggering percentage, it should give fleets hope that many crashes can be prevented. These seven strategies can reduce preventable crashes and their related financial and human costs. I thought it also made sense to re-send you  this link to the info card on what your employee should do when in a crash. Note that info, as well as a host of other forms for WSA members, is located in our Forms category. Our long awaited and discussed street sweeper testing started on the 14th of July. I am in Van Nuys, CA, conducting the testing process with Roger Sutherland and a variety of interested parties. However, as I write this on July 8th we have finalized only 5 of the 7 street sweeper makes/models we have room for. Why, you might ask?: Most of the sweeper manufacturers have refused to participate.  I can only surmise that they don’t want to see the results we’ll get from their sweepers. The only companies with enough confidence in their machines to participate directly are Sweeprite and Fayat (RAVO and Dulevo). However, Stewart-Amos and Curbtender indicated they’d like to test later at an independent testing lab but can’t get machines to Los Angeles for the test. Inexplicably and FYI, Bucher, Elgin, Global, ODRA, Schwarze and TYMCO have all chosen not to ‘get involved.’ However, the test will include sweepers from some of those manufacturers though we’ve had to rent them from contractors, cities, etc. I find this to be amazing since this test, which is sponsored by Sea Grant/NOAA/City of Santa Barbara and more, with interest by the National Municipal Stormwater Association, is a rare opportunity to show how capable street sweepers can be in picking up small-micron and microplastics material.  The results – especially if we were provided with newish sweepers by the manufacturing community – should enable an expansion of street sweeping as THE top environmental BMP for pavement-based pollutant removal. Since we’re forced to test with some older sweepers only time will tell the outcome. If you want to know more, here is info about the test. This month our Safety First! post focuses on heat and how to best cope with it throughout your work team’s different activities. July’s Safety First! message discusses the following: • Change routine in extreme heat • Extreme heat relief mechanisms • More heat cautions and relief methods • Defensive driving in heat • Ergonomic effects of high heat • Heat illness progression warning signs As always, if there are any specific topics you’d like covered, or if you have questions or comments about this WSA Member Update or anything else to do with the World Sweeping Association or power sweeping in general, please let me know. Good Sweeping, Ranger Kidwell-Ross, Executive Director World Sweeping Association