Grzegorz Mucha sustained serious injuries after being caught between a refuse collection vehicle (RCV) and a mini digger on 3 October 2017. The incident occurred after Mucha had reversed the RCV into the processing plant to prepare for unloading, which required him to operate controls located at the rear of the vehicle.
An HSENI investigation found the company had failed to implement a suitable management system for segregating pedestrians and vehicles onsite. Loading and unloading were "high-risk activities" that often required drivers to leave the safety of their vehicle cab, said HSENI principal inspector Kyle Carrick.
"Where drivers may need to leave their cabs to perform essential tasks -- such as opening container doors and operating discharge controls -- adequate safeguards should be in place to protect them."
ISL Waste Management pleaded guilty to a breach of Article 4(1) of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 at Laganside Crown Court.
