Health and safety considerations mean workers are no longer allowed to use steps on the backs of moving lorries. For years the sight of bin men riding on the back of refuse trucks, a practice which sped up house-to-house collections, was common across Northern Ireland. However the obvious risks of a worker falling from a vehicle means the practice has been banned.
Commenting on the ban, a Moyle Council report said, "A letter has been received from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) recommending that all councils consider the removal of steps at the rear of council bin lorries. It has been decided that for health and safety reasons all steps will be removed from our lorries."
The scheme came into force on 12 January 2009 and Moyle Council official Aidan McPeake said the HSE NI made the move in response to several accidents across the country in recent years as a result of the "ride-on" practice. Mr McPeake said, "When they give that type of advice we have to take action." He went on to say, the cabs of the bin lorries have room for the driver and two operatives.
Councillors however have heard the new practices could impact on the amount of time taken to empty bins. Councillor Cathal Newcombe said, "We have budgeted for an amount of time and we will have to monitor it to see. We have moved the lorries to low-entry cabs but it is true with the rural routes, it will have a knock-on effect on timing."
