Bin men told to check inside bins for people

The Health and Safety Executive has given guidance to refuse collectors to ensure that nobody is in the bins they collect.

It comes amid concern that bins have been used as shelter for tramps or drunks and comes after a man was found dead at a refuse site in Sussex after taking refuge in a wheelie bin while a man narrowly escaped being crushed to death after falling asleep in a recycling bin in Manchester.

Now the HSE says that a simple procedure would ensure that there were no further accidents. On its website it says: “Any manual check should comprise banging on the sides, lifting the lid, taking care to ensure that the person undertaking the check does not put themselves at risk. Rummaging around is not recommended although a tool such as a robust stick could be used to prod the contents.”

Is this health and safety going too far again or should people feel they can sleep safely in bins in the knowledge that a friendly bin man will wake them if he wants to empty it.