Safety document resolve to cut waste collection fatalities

The guidance has been produced by the Health and Safety Executive, working with industry and council partners, and was launched at an event in Northampton yesterday.

” There is a tragic history of pedestrians – and particularly children and old people – being run over by refuse collection vehicles. “
– Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, Association of Chief Police Officers
With six people killed by reversing waste or recycling collection vehicles since last December, the new guidance contains detailed information on the reversing of vehicles.

It recommends the use of reversing aids and trained assistants to make sure pedestrians do not enter areas surrounding reversing vehicles.

The guidance, entitled Waste and Recycling Vehicles in Street Collection, also includes information on vehicle safety checks, driver assessment, personal protective equipment, supervision and monitoring and the responsibilities of individuals.

Partnerships
Unveiling the guidance yesterday, the chair of the Health and Safety Commission Bill Callaghan paid tribute to the partnership of local authorities, the Health and Safety Executive and the waste and recycling industry for producing the guidance.

Mr Callaghan said: “We want to encourage these partnerships, using the skills and experience of key workers at grass roots level to develop solutions that will work for them. The challenge now is for the industry to implement the controls and ensure that tragic incidents are prevented in the future.”

Systems suggested within the guidance were developed by the cross-sector Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) and the Northamptonshire Local Authority Safety Advisors Group.

Police
They have also received the blessing of the Police, who have commended the attempts to reduce the risk of injuries to pedestrians.

Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, head of the Association of Chief Police Officers Road Pricing Policy, said: “There is a tragic history of pedestrians – and particularly children and old people – being run over by refuse collection vehicles.

“We welcome the systems of work set out in this guidance as they can greatly reduce the risk of pedestrians entering the reversing area whilst the vehicle is moving,” he added.