Safety Signs News

Woman killed by waste collection vehicle without safety precautions

27th April 2011 | Health and Safety Signs

Posted by Ben Alexander

Safety signs and procedures are an important part of keeping anyone exposed to dangerous machinery out of harm.

A waste company has been fined £250,000 by Lewes Crown Court after a bin lorry struck a member of the public, killing the 61-year-old woman.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection found that the driver had reversed the refuse collection vehicle without a banksman (also known as a reversing assistant), as well as having defective CCTV at the rear and the audible reversing siren turned off.

But without these safety measures, the driver struck an elderly lady, but did not realise he had hit her until her body lay about three metres in front of the vehicle.

Sharon Humphrey, a HSE inspector, said: "Waste collection on public streets can be a high-risk activity if not properly planned. The law requires employers to assess the risks to its employees and members of the public.

"This incident could have been prevented had simple, low cost and readily available precautions been put in place."

HSE figures show that the main cause of injury with regards to waste management and recycling include manual handling injuries, slips and trips and people being struck by objects. ADNFCR-2754-ID-800512745-ADNFCR