Council fined following death of waste collector

Date:

15 April 2009

Release No:

COI/SCO/089

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned employers of waste collectors to ensure their kerbside workers are fully trained to safely assist their drivers to reverse and avoid collision with pedestrians.

The warning follows the death of 35-year-old Stephen Welsh, an East Dunbartonshire Council employee, who was struck and fatally injured by a reversing waste recycling lorry. The accident happened on January 23, 2007 in Smeaton Terrace, Torrance.

East Dunbartonshire Council was fined £13,500 at Glasgow Sheriff Court today (Wednesday 15 April, 2009) after pleading guilty to a charge under Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work (etc) Act.

The accident happened as the employee, who was working as a waste recycling collector, was run over by the council’s waste recycling lorry during a reversing manoeuvre. The accident happened on a dull and frosty morning about 8.45 am in a cul-de-sac. 

HSE Inspector Jean Edgar commented after the case:

"Employers of waste collectors should ensure that their kerbside workers are fully trained to safely assist their drivers to reverse and avoid collision with pedestrians. A safe system of work should be drawn up setting out how communication and control between kerbside collectors and the driver can be reliably achieved. I cannot stress enough, how challenging a work environment the streets of our towns and cities are for this important group of workers and how a simple mistake can have tragic consequences."

Notes to news editors

1. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states:
   
   "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably
   practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

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