Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
Pick up the overweight garbage
An overweight garbage bag has set a resident in an angry spin. As a garbage
collector for the City, you have been instructed to tag any garbage bags weighing
over 50 pounds and not pick them up. You've discovered a bag with a car engine
in it that is clearly too heavy. As you are tagging it as "overweight," the
resident comes out to the street and verbally attacks you. He demands that
you pick it up or he will get you fired.
You decide to put an end to his complaint by picking up the bag, contrary
to the City's policy. You squat down carefully and use your legs while lifting
the bag up. But when you get to the truck, you must heave the bag to toss
it into the bin. While you are doing this you get a hot feeling running up
your back.
You're nearly at the end of your route for the day and you are able to
finish work. But when you wake up the next morning you can barely sit up in
bed. You are not able to go in to work and go to the doctor instead. He tells
you that you have injured your back and you must not do any physical work
for at least six weeks. That means you are unable to work.
Tagging systems for overweight bags are meant to protect garbage collectors
from injury. But the rules aren't always popular with the public. That makes
it hard for garbage collectors.
"They're out there picking up garbage -- they don't need to deal with complaints,
too," says Jay Rockey. He is a City public works supervisor. His city uses
a tagging system for garbage bags that weigh over 50 pounds.