Highland Council urged by GMB Scotland to act on wheelie bin danger from bungee cords
Bin crews in the Highlands are being put at risk because of delays in implementing safety measures for wheelie bins, according to union leaders.
GMB Scotland is urging Highland Council to warn householders their bins will no longer be emptied if lids are secured by bungee cords amid escalating safety fears.
The union accuses the council of dragging its feet since promising action after a bin worker in the Borders was hurt after being snagged by a cord and caught in a lorry’s lifting mechanism in May.
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Following the incident, councils, including local authorities in Orkney and Western Isles, warned householders that all cords and ropes must be removed before bins would be emptied.
GMB Scotland said that Highland Council agreed last month that bins with cords should be rejected for uplift and stickers attached to explain the risks but the union maintained nothing has been done so far.
Carol Anne Stewart, GMB branch secretary at Highland Council, said the delay in issuing the safety warnings left bin crews at serious but needless risk.
“The council accepts these cords are a proven and ongoing danger to our members but does nothing to ease that danger,” she said.
“Only action not promises of action will keep them safe.
“We are told the delay is because of challenging workloads but our members’ workload is just as challenging and still includes risks that could and should have been removed as a priority weeks ago.
“Highland weather means it is likely more people will secure their bins with cords or ropes than elsewhere in the country meaning our members are at more risk than elsewhere and making this delay even more disappointing.
“Other councils have shown swift, effective action is possible so why is Highland dragging its feet?
“Every day without action is another day when a worker could be injured or worse.
“They deserve far better.”
The union is urging the council to issue immediate guidance to all waste crews and householders on the dangers.
Workers also warn the cords can cause injury by snapping back into their faces while they have also been blamed for damaging trucks after getting into the mechanism causing breakdowns and delays.
Disentangling ropes and cords also takes time for crews on scheduled routes and can lead to late or missed collections for other homes.
Councils already refusing to empty bins secured with cords have suggested lids can be secured by small stones, no bigger than a brick, a small piece of electrical tape or clips or straps specifically designed for bins.
Highland Council has been approached for comment.