It’s common knowledge that working with garbage is difficult and smelly. But a new report reveals that commercial waste work is among New York City’s most dangerous jobs. Learn more by clicking here.

The report, “Dirty and Dangerous” by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), found that nonunion commercial waste companies routinely violate legal requirements with high rates of preventable injuries and fatalities.

According to NYCOSH, sanitation works are 10 times more likely to be killed on the job than the average worker. The report features eight case studies of recent worker fatalities, chemical exposures, and amputations in the commercial waste industry. In each case, the report found that the employer failed to eliminate or reduce the hazardous conditions that caused the death or injury. Based on interviews with workers, surveys, and a review of government statistics and media reports, NYCOSH discovered a pattern of unsafe workplaces and inadequate oversight.

The NYCOSH report lists six types of hazards faced by commercial waste workers: biological, chemical, ergonomic, physical, safety (struck-by and caught-in injuries), and stress (such as lack of access to toilet facilities). It lists several actions the city can take to make the jobs safer and protect workers.