Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council fined £75,000 following the death of an employee

The local government authority was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Friday, June 14, for a health and safety offence, following the death of a 51-year-old employee in Limavady on 6 November 2018.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees and was fined £75,000.

The prosecution followed the death of John Winton who, on the 6 November 2018, was struck by a bin lorry as it was reversing in the Mount Eden area of Limavady. Mr Winton sustained fatal crush injuries and sadly died at the scene.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was sentenced today at Antrim Crown Court for a health and safety offence, following the death of a 51-year-old employee in Limavady on 6 November 2018. CREDIT GOOGLE

Speaking after the hearing, Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland Principal Inspector Anne Boylan said: “This tragic accident could have been avoided had the Council managed the risks associated with domestic bin collections.

“Comprehensive information and guidance, specific to the waste industry was readily available at the time of the incident. This guidance set out clearly the risks associated with bin collections along with reasonably practicable control measures for managing those risks.

“Tragically for the Winton family, the Council failed to implement the necessary control measures."

Anne Boylan continued: "Employers are reminded of their responsibility to manage the risks associated with waste collection activities. Suitable and sufficient risk assessments, safe systems of work, training, supervision, and monitoring are all essential controls to ensure that unsafe practices do not develop.

"Where the practice of “Task and Finish” is employed, a programme of monitoring should be in place to ensure that bin collection crews do not rush to complete the work and that safe systems of work are followed,” she concluded.

The Public Prosecution Service’s Senior Public Prosecutor Michael McDaid said: “Mr Winton tragically lost his life when he was struck by a bin lorry whilst working for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

“Prosecutors in the PPS’s Fraud & Departmental Section worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland to build a robust prosecution case. This resulted in the Council Chief Executive formally entering a guilty plea and accepting responsibility for the Council’s shortcomings in relation to refuse collection at the time of the incident,” continued Mr McDaid.

“PPS are committed to working with our enforcement partners to prosecute alleged health and safety offences, where the Test for Prosecution is met. The outcome of this case must serve as a stark warning to employers to implement comprehensive health and safety measures to prevent individuals from being endangered and avoid any further tragic loss of life,” he added.

“Mr Winton was a much-loved father who is sorely missed by his family and all those who knew him. This case demonstrates the devastating consequences that arise when the correct protocols are not in place,” concluded PPS Senior Public Prosecutor Michael McDaid.

Further information and guidance on health and safety in the waste industry can be found by logging onto: www.hseni.gov.uk/topic/wishni