Chelmsford City Council has been fined £80,000 after one of its staff was killed when he was run over by a bin lorry. Steve Bishop passed away after being hit by the rear and underside of the HGV that was reversing down a road in Chelmsford on 8 December 2017.
It was accepted that the council’s failings did not lead to the death of the loader operative, but the incident prompted a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation and it found that Chelmsford City Council failed to effectively manage the risks presented by moving refuse vehicles, and to provide training and instruction for agency workers on safe procedures for reversing and the use of hand signals.
It also failed to effectively monitor its employees’ working practices. The council pleaded guilty to breaching sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act and the local authority was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £61,065 in costs at Chelmsford Crown Court on 16 June.
HSE inspector Saffron Turnell said: “Several health and safety management failings were identified by this public organisation which led to inconsistent systems of work and provision of training in the high-risk activity of waste collection. Local authorities and companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to hold to account those that fall below the required standards.”
