A recycling company has been fined £40,000 following a tragic incident where an employee was fatally crushed in a bin lorry.
Bin Busy Recycling admitted to violating the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations as well as the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 9.
The court was informed that Henry Chambers, a 65-year-old worker, was unloading glass bottles from the refuse truck at an aggregates site in Charlton, operated by another company, when the accident happened in July 2019. Chambers became trapped between the vehicle’s tailgate and hopper, resulting in severe injuries. Despite efforts, he succumbed to his injuries in the hospital four days later.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed several issues with the refuse vehicle’s lifting equipment, including excessive wear and missing parts. The equipment had not been adequately examined by a qualified person after Bin Busy purchased the vehicle in April 2017.
Although Bin Busy had maintenance arrangements for the vehicle’s roadworthiness, these did not encompass inspection and maintenance of its lifting equipment, as highlighted by HSE inspector Gordon Carson. Carson emphasized the crucial importance of regular proactive maintenance and inspection to prevent equipment deterioration that could endanger people’s lives.
