Glasgow bin collectors claim filthy streets causing them injuries

Glasgow bin collectors are claiming filthy back courts and cutbacks to staffing are putting their health and safety at risk.

Robert Gillies has been emptying bins for 36 years and works 12 hour shifts.

He claims that he has had a hernia and his doctor is recommending knee surgery.

He told Clyde 1: "Many of my colleagues have had skeletal injuries, muscular injuries and I've got a knee issues.

"I have already had one operation and my doctor is talking about another one.

"I am 52 years old and many people working in this industry at my age are all walking with a limp.

"The nature of the job means that it is hard to remain in post until retirement."

Chris Mitchell is from GMB Scotland - the union representing refuse collectors and claims there is rubbish building up in back courts and bin areas in blocks of flats in the city.

He said: "A number of years ago we had dedicated back court teams that would come in and clear the grass area to make it more durable for people to enjoy.

"There are scene of old furniture and food waste piling up in Kinning Park, Cessnock and Govanhill."

Chris added: "People are living in squalor and nobody wants to take responsibility for safety.

"I find it completely unacceptable that our members have to look at this every day when coming to work."

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “The health and safety of our staff is absolutely central to everything we do.

“A wide range of measures are in place to minimise the risk of injury to our staff in the course of their duties.

“No staff member is expected to work in unsafe or unsanitary conditions.

“We have clear health and safety procedures to cover a range of issues that can affect the working environment.

“Staff are always encouraged to report issues can affect their working environment so these issues can be dealt with.

“These issues include a lack of bin containment or waste not contained in bins, discarded needles, significant rodent activity and other environmental issues.

“If issues are reported then further risks assessments will be undertaken that lead to alternative measures being put in place that are designed to protect staff.

“This can often mean that bins are moved out of back courts and into public places where the bins are far more accessible for our staff.

“Such a measure also means that staff no longer have to move bins along unsafe back lanes or up and down hazardous stairwells.

“The replacement of old-fashioned metal bins with wheelie bins has significantly reduced the manual labour involved in refuse collection over the past 10 to 15 years.

“Working arrangements also mean that staff now have more time to empty the broadly the same amount of bins as before.

“We have also just completed a very successful recruitment drive for 40 permanent staff for our refuse collection team.”

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