Public Meeting Follow-up

Last night’s meeting was more like an exercise in ‘How to Avoid Questions’ than a public meeting. I never heard a full nor a straight answer to a single point that was raised. For 5 years I have been asking North Lanarkshire Council about how they will operate their wheelie bin service in Westfield and how they can ensure that it will consider the specific needs of the area. Their response has always been the same – “Recycling for Good” – misdirection. Then last night when the people of Westfield asked the same questions, NLC representatives still failed to answer them. Last nigh a question was asked of Mr Ken Wilson –”What is more important Recycling for Good as it is implemented in Westfield and Eastfield or Health and Safety for the residents.” This was a straight and simple question that Mr Ken Wilson again failed to answer. Then later on he mentioned that he was faced with the responsibility to his employees for their health and safety and that bagged waste had proven to be a particular problem with stabbing and other puncture related hazards. Unfortunately the Chair, in my opinion, was stifling communications by taking triple questions and allowing Mr Ken Wilson to continue his usual avoidance tactics. If we had been allowed to interact properly with Mr Ken Wilson I would have brought up the unsafe and foul practice I witnessed yesterday afternoon. A neighbour of mine, who already possesses a wheeled bin, requested a smaller version. The delivery operative from cleansing arrived and hand emptied her existing flimsy bin liner bagged waste with his bare hands. If Mr Ken Wilson is so strong on health and safety then why did his employee consider that handling unknown waste with his bare hands then driving off with contaminated hands think that that was a safe practice?

Following yesterday’s meeting I decided to observe the practices of the cleansing operatives. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a grip with the bin men but I am concerned if they are working in an unsafe manner. Especially when that unsafe manner is seemingly condoned by the very management that tell the good people of Westfield that they are looking after his employees health and safety.

This morning saw a grey bin being emptied by hand, see comments, and I watched as the Blue Bins were collected. None of the guys were wearing gloves, none of the guys were wearing HSE recommended work wear and none of the guys stood far enough away from the operating mechanism at the rear of the vehicle. All this was watched by their supervisor. These are basic infringements of health and safety legislation and made worse by the fact that the supervisor was complicit.

This is apparently Mr Ken Wilson’s attempt at looking after his employees health and safety. If he was at all interested in health and safety then he would have read the HSE report into Refuse collection where they are perfectly clear that in areas that are unsuitable for wheeled bins then bagged waste collection is safer.

The Health and Safety Executive report [http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2002/hsl02-21.pdf ] stated:

Where use of wheelie bins is impractical, collection of bags is likely to continue unless bulk collection facilities can be implemented. In these circumstances recycling should be encouraged by the provision of green bins and bags. {Bold mine}

 

The same report goes on:

When moving any size of bin the refuse collectors should:

1. Ensure there is sufficient space to manoeuvre the bin by moving surrounding obstacles, opening doors, etc.
   
2. Try to avoid pushing or pulling the bin across obstacles such as steps and kerbs.
   
3. Seek assistance when having trouble moving a bin – particularly if moving it up or down a slope or kerb or step.

    

Refuse collectors should be provided with effective PPE for their hands and legs.

This would not only help reduce the risk of lacerations, infections and disease but it may also enable refuse collectors to grip, hold and carry refuse in optimal ways, i.e., held in a balanced way and not held so far away from the legs.

We all recognise that there are hazards in both methods of service. However, if Mr Wilson or his colleagues had carried out a ‘Suitable and Sufficient’ risk assessment of the Westfield and Eastfield areas, or even read their own 1998 report, then they would realise that the area is still unsuitable for wheeled bins.

Their blanket solution is not the answer and health and safety is not an excuse for failing to address the problems.

Now we come to the matter of the facts as they were portrayed by Mr Ken Wilson at last night’s meeting.

Mr Wilson stated that if a resident had their bin stolen then it would be replaced free of charge by NLC. Then why does NLC’s own website charge a fee? Are we talking about his lack of knowledge of his service provision or is this another example where the true facts have yet again been skewed to fit a speech? Below is an extract from NLC’s website.

www.northlan.gov.uk Cleansing Services

Once supplied the wheeled bins become the property of the occupier of the property with the responsibility for its replacement in the event of theft or acts of vandalism etc being that of the owner or occupier of the property. For rented properties the responsibility may rest with the Landlord, confirmation of arrangements in such cases should be checked prior to any requests being made to us.

140 litre	new	£33.13	second hand	£24.85
240 litre	new	£38.85	second hand	£29.14
360 litre	new	£57.28	second hand	£42.95
660 litre	new	£268.76	second hand	£201.57
1100 litre	new	£267.54	second hand	£200.66

Note: Second hand bins not always available

Trade-in allowance - dependant on condition of bin – 50%

So what next? Well having looked at the statistics that NLC have produced to back their case I am concerned at either their incompetence or their attempt to mislead the people and our elected official. Therefore we will be seeking a public enquiry into what appears to be the disrespect, lies and thug tactics employed by NLC management and their employees.

If it is found that anyone in NLC has lied or is complicit in their purposeful attempt at duping the public then the least we can expect is an immediate termination of their employment. Everyone within NLC who is guilty of such cross misconduct perpetrated to meet their collective agenda should be sacked, irrespective of their position.

On a different note: It was great to hear that Councillor Chadha is on our side, considering that he is part of the same labour group, as is Councillor McCulloch, who voted unanimously for the introduction of a wheeled bin service in Westfield and Eastfield. Oh well as Councillor Chadha says, I don’t understand how the politics work. Perhaps not but I do understand how the introduction of a wheeled bin service affects the people of Westfield, which is more than NLC or the Labour Group do.