A Netherlands-based firm has been slammed for ‘trying to make millions’ out of the tragic death of a bin worker from Coventry. David Carpenter was killed after becoming trapped inside a lorry on Guild Road in Foleshill.
Manufacturer Terberg was ordered to improve thousands of bin lorries at an inquest into the death of Mr Carpenter, who worked for Coventry City Council. He died after activating a sensor when he was at the back of a Dennis Eagle truck in January 2023.
His coat became entangled in a bin lift and the 60-year-old was dropped into the back of the vehicle before an automatic compaction cycle started. Terberg developed a free safety update for its well-known Dennis Eagle trucks to reduce the likelihood of anyone else being killed or seriously injured.
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But councils across the UK are reportedly being asked to pay tens of thousands of pounds to have parts swapped out before they receive the safety upgrade, the BBC reported. It is believed there are between 8,000 and 10,000 vehicles in the UK similar to the one in which Mr Carpenter died.
Two established firms said the parts are ‘identical’ and do not need to be swapped in order for the safey upgrade to be applied. Terberg told the BBC that allegations it was trying to make money out of the death of Mr Carpenter were ‘unfounded.’
The firm said while its parts looked the same as third party parts it was unable to confirm the provenance of those parts. A spokesperson for the firm told the BBC: “This is a matter of safety and Terberg rejects all claims and statements that suggest the BCCU is anything other than a safety-related initiative.”
Union Unite, which Mr Carpenter had joined before his death, slammed Terberg in a statement issued yesterday (January 9). Claire Keogh said delaying the safety upgrades would ‘put lives at risk.’
National Officer for Local Authorities, Ms Keogh, said: “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.
“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.”
In a statement to CoventryLive, Karl De-Loyde, who is representing the family of Mr Carpenter, added: “It is deeply concerning to hear of any barriers that may delay or prevent the rollout of vital safety upgrades. Decisions have real-life consequences, and it is crucial to place the health and safety of workers at the heart of every action taken.”
Terberg has been contacted by CoventryLive.
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