Woman who lost husband after a bin lorry reversed over him says she’ll ‘never’ get over tragedy as council fined £80,000
- Steve Bishop died after being hit by a bin lorry reversing on a Chelmsford road
- His wife says she and sons will ‘never’ get over the 37-year-olds death in 2017
- Chelmsford City Council were handed a £80,000 fine over the tragedy in court
The wife of a man who was struck and killed by a bin lorry has said she and their three sons will ‘never’ get over his death as the local council was fined £80,000 over the tragedy.
Steve Bishop died after he was hit by the rear and underside of a bin lorry as it reversed down Osea Way in Chelmsford on December 8, 2017.
The 37-year-old was working as a loader operative for Chelmsford City Council at the time of the incident.
Mr Bishop’s partner, Nickie, has said she and her sons will never be able to move on after his passing.
‘I would like to reiterate the pain this has caused me and my boys’, she said. ‘My boys’ dad will never be brought back from this tragic incident. Me and my sons shall never get over this.
‘I hope more than anything that no other family ever has to go through this heartbreak, to have a knock on the door to say their partner who is hard at work and been run over.
Steve Bishop died after he was hit by the rear and underside of a bin lorry as it reversed
The tragic incident happened as the lorry reserved down Osea Way in Chelmsford on December 8, 2017
‘For me now, as my 11-year-old and nine-year-old bring up fond memories of their dad and family moments, I am having the difficult subject of my youngest son, who is five, asking about his dad, and why he is in the sky.’
The incident sparked a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation, which found that the local authority had failed to effectively manage the risks presented by moving refuse vehicles, provide training and instruction for agency workers on safe procedures for reversing and the use of hand signals.
The HSE also found that the authority failed to effectively monitor its employees’ working practices.
The council admitted to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and was fined £80,000, and ordered to pay £61,065 in costs at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Both the HSE and the court accepted that the council did not cause Mr Bishop’s death.
HSE inspector Saffron Turnell said: ‘Several health and safety management failings were identified by this public organisation which led to inconsistent systems of work and provision of training in the high-risk activity of waste collection.
Mr Bishop, 37, was working as a loader operative for Chelmsford City Council at the time of the incident
The council was fined £80,000, and ordered to pay £61,065 in costs at Chelmsford Crown Court (pictured)
‘Nickie’s words make clear the impact Steve’s passing has had on the family and our thoughts remain with them.
‘Local authorities and companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to hold to account those that fall below the required standards.’
A spokesperson for Chelmsford City Council added: ‘During the hearing, the HSE and the court accepted that Chelmsford City Council was not responsible for the death of Mr Bishop in 2017, but the City Council has accepted that a breach of health and safety legislation occurred due to inconsistencies in the way that recycling collection services were operated at the time.
‘The council conducted a review immediately after the accident and improvements to working practices were implemented in 2018.
‘In determining the level of fine, the court did take into account and comment upon the council’s good health and safety record.’
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