NYC Sanitation Worker key terms

A competitive, merit-based hiring test required for most New York City government jobs, including Sanitation Worker, scored against other candidates rather than against a fixed pass mark.

A ranked roster of candidates who passed a civil service examination, ordered by final score and used to fill vacancies as they open.

The formal referral of a set number of names from an eligible list to a hiring agency so it can select candidates for specific vacancies.

The official act of placing a selected candidate into a permanent or provisional City position, starting the probationary period and payroll record.

A trial span at the start of employment during which a new hire's performance and conduct are evaluated before permanent status is granted.

A rule that a City employee must live within a specified area, such as New York City or an adjoining county, to hold or keep the job.

A state-issued license with the proper class and endorsements that legally allows a worker to operate heavy trucks and other large Sanitation vehicles on public roads.

A systematic check of tires, lights, brakes, fluids, mirrors, and safety equipment performed before driving, to catch defects that could cause a breakdown or crash.

The end-of-shift walk-around and function check of a vehicle, recorded so that any new damage or mechanical problem is documented before the next operator uses it.

A written record listing mechanical or safety problems found on a vehicle, submitted to maintenance so repairs are tracked and the unit is not used unsafely.

The status of a vehicle or driver barred from operating because of a serious safety defect, impairment, or hours-of-service violation until the problem is corrected.

An added qualification on a commercial license showing the driver has passed knowledge and skills testing to operate vehicles equipped with air-actuated braking systems.

Federal and state limits on how long a commercial driver may stay on duty and drive before taking required rest breaks, designed to prevent fatigue-related crashes.

An area around a truck that the driver cannot see directly or through mirrors, especially close alongside and directly behind the vehicle.

A hazard in which a large vehicle turning right swings wide and can trap a cyclist or pedestrian between the truck and the curb; drivers must check mirrors and turn slowly.

A second worker who stands where the driver can see them and uses hand signals to guide a truck safely during reversing or other tight maneuvers.

Discarded material that is not liquid or gas, such as household trash, yard debris, and bulky items, collected and managed under sanitation rules.

Trash that rots and produces odors or pests, mainly food scraps and soiled paper, which requires prompt collection and special handling.

Separating recoverable materials such as metal, glass, paper, and certain plastics from trash so they can be processed into new products instead of landfilled.

The practice of sorting recyclables, organics, and refuse into separate containers where the material is generated, rather than sorting mixed waste later.

Material placed in the wrong recycling or organics stream, such as plastic bags in paper or food in metal cans, which lowers the value of the load.

The share of collected waste kept out of landfills and combustion through recycling, composting, or reuse, usually expressed as a percentage of total tonnage.

Controlled biological decomposition of organic material such as food scraps and leaves into a soil-like product used to enrich land.

Liquid that has seeped through waste and picked up dissolved or suspended contaminants, requiring collection and treatment so it does not pollute groundwater.

An engineered disposal site where waste is buried in lined cells, compacted, and covered daily to control odor, pests, and water pollution.

A facility where collection trucks unload waste so it can be compacted and loaded onto larger vehicles for economical transport to disposal sites.

The charge paid per ton to dump waste at a landfill, transfer station, or combustion facility; a major cost driver in collection budgeting.

The weight of material collected or disposed of, measured in tons, used to track route productivity, contract compliance, and facility capacity.

The daily document listing the streets, stops, and special pickups a collection crew must service, along with space to record completion and exceptions.

A planned sequence of streets and addresses assigned to a crew and truck for a shift, designed to balance workload and minimize travel distance.

Pickup of waste or recyclables set out at the curb in approved containers on the scheduled day, as opposed to drop-off at a facility.

The earliest hour residents may place containers at the curb, and the latest hour they must be removed, set by local rules to keep streets clean.

A large discarded object, such as a mattress, sofa, or appliance, that does not fit in a standard container and needs a scheduled or separate pickup.

Gear such as gloves, safety vests, boots, hearing protection, and eye protection worn to reduce injury from sharp objects, traffic, and airborne hazards.

A brightly colored, reflective garment worn so that drivers and equipment operators can see a worker, especially at night or in poor weather.

An accidental puncture by a discarded syringe or sharp, a serious exposure risk that must be reported immediately for medical evaluation and testing.

A rigid, puncture-resistant, clearly labeled box used to hold discarded needles and other sharp medical waste until it can be safely disposed of.

A safety procedure that isolates energy sources and attaches warning tags so machinery cannot start while a worker is repairing or clearing it.

The danger of being hit by a moving vehicle, falling object, or swinging equipment; a leading cause of injury for workers near traffic and hoists.

An enclosed area with limited entry and poor ventilation, such as a tank or pit, where hazardous air or engulfment can occur and entry requires precautions.