Mr Carpenter, a 60-year-old refuse collector employed by Coventry city council, lost his life in a workplace accident on 19 January 2023. The investigation into his death concluded on 22 April 2024, revealing details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to Coroner Delroy Henry, Mr Carpenter was fatally injured while working with a Dennis Eagle bin lorry equipped with a Terberg ‘Omnideka’ automatic bin lift system.
The report outlines that Mr Carpenter’s coat became entangled in the lifting mechanism, tragically resulting in his death during the automatic compaction cycle.
Concerns
During the inquest, concerns were raised regarding the safety of such machinery, particularly in automatic mode, as well as the visibility and accessibility of emergency stop mechanisms. The report highlighted the foreseeable risk of workers and members of the public approaching the danger zone at the rear of the Rear Compaction Vehicle (RCV), especially given the common occurrence of debris on residential waste collection routes.
Furthermore, the report underscored the slow pace of implementing safety modifications in existing machinery and the continued use of suboptimal safety features, such as Perspex screens obstructing emergency stops. With thousands of such machines still in operation across the UK, the risk of future fatalities remains a significant concern.
The report calls for prompt action to address these safety issues and prevent future deaths. Dennis Eagle the manufacturer of the bin lorry involved in the incident, has been formally notified of the findings and is expected to respond within 56 days, outlining proposed actions and timelines.
In addition to Dennis Eagle copies of the report have been sent to Coventry city council, the Health and Safety Executive and the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum, among others.
The chief coroner of England and Wales has also been informed, with the possibility of publishing the report in full or in part for wider dissemination.
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