Refuge collector suffered head injury from lorry bin lift

A Refuse Loader employed by South Hams District Council was hit on the head as the metal plate used to lift tip the rubbish into the lorry was lowered.

Dennis worked in a team of three, two loaders and a driver with a dust cart and collecting refuse from both domestic and trade properties. He went to collect the first wheelie bin and Dennis and his colleague pushed it together to the back of the lorry. When the bin was next to the rear of the dustcart Dennis' colleague operated the snib to lift the wheelie bin so that the locking device on the bin lift could engage on the bin.

His colleague then moved to the side of the lorry to turn the switch which raised the bin to tip the contents into the hopper. As the contents of the bin tipped into the hopper some of the rubbish started to spill out over the rear of the vehicle onto the ground. Normally there was a rubber skirt along the lip which prevented rubbish falling out, however on this particular dustcart the lip was missing.

Dennis decided to move to the rear of the lorry to push the refuse back in. As he was pushing the rubbish into the hopper his colleague dropped the bin down. It hit Dennis on the top of his head. He described it as feeling as if it was crushing his head down onto his neck and shoulders. His head was extremely painful, as was his neck and shoulders. He was semi-conscious and disorientated so was taken to hospital.

He was told that he had suffered a cut to the head and had trauma to the neck and shoulders.

Unfortunately Dennis' condition was ongoing and he could not return to work. His employer offered him early retirement due to ill health.

He still experiences pain in his neck and shoulders and attends a pain management clinic which he finds helps him to cope with the pain.

When Dennis approached Bond Pearce's accidents at work team he was very conscious that he would find gaining employment difficult in the future because of his age and the chronic pain that he was suffering.

The team were able to secure Dennis £65,000 in compensation to include for his future loss of earnings.

Dennis has since begun a back to work training programme and helps part time in a shop which has made him given him a more positive outlook and he is beginning to rebuild his life.

If you would like to seek expert legal advice relating to this case study or any other injury claim please complete the online enquiry form or call 0800 915 4650.

If you would like to seek expert legal advice relating to this case study or any other injury claim please complete the online enquiry form or call 0800 915 4650