A man who was sheltering inside a bin was tipped into a Bristol Waste refuse collection lorry on Monday morning, with the vehicle's compacting machinery still running. Workers at Bristol Waste have been praised for their quick actions in immediately stopping the machinery, which prevented what could have been a fatal incident.
The incident occurred in the St Pauls area of Bristol. Emergency services were called to the scene, and the man was safely assisted from the lorry. He appeared to have sustained no obvious injuries and declined an offer of medical assessment from the ambulance service.
Immediate Response and Investigation
Bristol Waste confirmed that during the collection process, the crew became aware of a person inside a waste container and immediately stopped the machinery inside the truck. The company stated it is treating the incident with the utmost seriousness and has launched a full investigation to understand exactly how it occurred.
“Our crew became aware of a person who had been inside a waste container, and immediately stopped the machinery inside the truck,” a spokesperson for Bristol Waste said. “Emergency services were contacted, and the individual was safely assisted from the vehicle. The individual did not appear to have sustained any obvious injuries at the scene and declined medical assessment from the ambulance service.”
Warning to Public
Bristol Waste has issued a warning urging people not to seek shelter in bins, emphasizing the extreme danger posed by refuse collection machinery. The company is reaching out to relevant organisations in the city to help disseminate this safety message.
“It is imperative that people do not seek shelter in bins, and we will be reaching out to relevant organisations in the city to help get this message out,” the spokesperson added.
Crew Praised for Training and Procedures
Ricky Gayfer, director of operations at Bristol Waste, praised the crew's quick actions, attributing their response to rigorous training and established safety procedures. He noted that the incident could have ended in tragedy if not for their swift intervention.
“Health and safety is of utmost importance to Bristol Waste and all our people,” Gayfer said. “The crews followed their training and procedures and acted quickly – it is thanks to them that this did not end in tragedy.”
Bristol Waste has stated that it will take any necessary action following the outcome of the investigation, with the safety of the public and its crews remaining the top priority.
