Binmen told ‘too risky’ to move too many bins

The advice from the Health and Safety Executive has been branded “ridiculous” by a councillor at Skipton’s Craven Council.

Around 20 per cent of Craven households are considered to be difficult to reach and have their bins taken to wagons by waste crews.

Following a review, the HSE served two improvement notices on the council, one requiring an assessment of manual handling relating to collection points.

“The improvement notice means we have to take appropriate steps to reduce the risk of injury to employees,” said a council spokeswoman.

Council officers are currently reviewing the situation before putting a solution before councillors at a meeting next month.

Provision will be made to ensure elderly or vulnerable residents get help to move their bins to the kerbside.

The spokeswoman said that the safety problem was not individual bins but staff having to move many bins at properties with “long driveways”.

At present, no changes have been made while officers consider the authority’s next move.

Coun Paul English said it was “ridiculous” that it was considered too risky for binmen to
move bins but safe for “little old ladies”.