An inquest at Enniskillen has heard details of how a refuse collector riding on the back of a bin lorry died when it was involved in a collision with an articulated lorry. The coroner at the inquest found that the 64 year old man died from multiple injuries he sustained as the result of the collision in August 2001. He also went on to warn district councils about the risks of continuing to use foot-stands on the back of bin lorries.
The tragic accident occurred at the Enniskillen to Belleek road close to the Erneside Autofill Texaco filling station. The worker who was situated at the rear off-side foot-stand, died when the bin lorry turned right and collided with an articulated lorry that was overtaking. The inquest also heard from Dr Brian Monson, deputy chief executive at the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI), who disclosed that a meeting had taken place with councils and letters sent out urging them to review the practice of using man-riding steps, in the wake of the accident and a similar incident in Londonderry involving a reversing lorry. "Of all the councils in Great Britain only two were using vehicles that permitted man-riding. But the majority of councils in Northern Ireland, including Fermanagh, still use man-riding steps, a practice which should be discontinued."
It was also recommended that if this practice is to continue, then risk assessments must be carried out on all routes and these kept under constant review.
