Veolia heavily fined for litter-picker's death
Waste and recycling contractor, Veolia ES (UK), is faced with a
fine of £225,000 for a workplace accident in which one of its
litter collectors was run down on the side of a busy road and
killed.
The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted the company over the
incident, which happened in March 2007 on a verge of the busy A228
in East Peckham, Kent.
The 20-year-old worker was collecting litter on the low grass
embankment with a colleague who was, at the time, inside a caged
vehicle alongside him, being used to carry the collected litter. A
heavy goods lorry collided with the caged vehicle, pushing it into
the worker on foot who died at the scene.
Veolia, which is headquartered on Pentonville Road, London, was
found guilty at Maidstone Crown Court of breaching sections 2(1)
and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. On top of the
fine, the company was ordered to pay £95,239 in costs.
HSE Inspector Caroline Penwill, said the accident came as a
result of poor and, consequently, unsafe planning.
“This has had devastating consequences for [the worker’s]
family,” she said. “Veolia was responsible for managing these
works, but in this case did not properly protect the roadside crew
from oncoming traffic.”
She said other road users had also been put at risk and that
Veolia was obliged to ensure that measures are taken to safeguard
workers and members of the public.