Ryan FowlerUnite has condemned bin lorry manufacturer Terberg after reports emerged that the company has been charging councils thousands of pounds for a safety upgrade it had initially promised to provide for free.
The upgrade was mandated following the death of David Carpenter, a 60-year-old refuse worker and Unite member, who was tragically crushed by a bin lorry in January 2023 while working for Coventry city council.
After a coroner’s order to enhance safety on thousands of lorries nationwide, Terberg developed a software upgrade intended to improve safeguards. However, according to a BBC investigation, the company has been demanding significant payments from councils and refuse companies for the replacement of parts before fitting the software, despite claims from waste firms and an HGV technician that the parts do not require swapping.
Clare Keogh, Unite’s national officer for local authorities, criticised the company’s approach, stating: “Unite is clear councils and refuse companies should be putting the safety of workers above all else, including costs. However, Terberg’s extra charges are causing unnecessary delays that are putting lives at risk. Frankly, this seems like the worst kind of opportunism from Terberg.”
Keogh further added, “Unite has been campaigning for local authorities across the country to fit safety upgrades as quickly as possible. Terberg’s totally unacceptable response to a tragedy is preventing this – it must deliver free safety upgrades with no strings attached immediately.”
The call for urgent action follows growing frustration among councils and waste management firms, who fear that delays in implementing the upgrades could lead to further tragic incidents.
