Industry Expert Calls For Reversing Radar On All Waste And Recycling Collection Vehicles

Online, May 3, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently announced its decision to prosecute a waste company following a fatal accident involving a member of the public in Brighton whilst a refuse vehicle was reversing. The vehicle's reversing alarm was turned off and its CCTV system was defective; the vehicle was not fitted with reversing radar.

Jonathan Thomas, Director, ISS, began his career in the waste management sector as a Demonstration Driver and understands the difficulties in driving refuse vehicles in residential environments:

"A waste collection vehicle can spend up to 20% of the day reversing and every measure needs to be taken to mitigate the dangers. This means a combination of stringent health and safety best practice, crew training and, in my view, a compulsory requirement for Reversing Radar. Radars can detect any objects, moving or stationery, from up to 10 metres away and, crucially, they alert the driver."

Jonathan continues: "Any reversing aids or safety technology needs to be ultra-reliable and rugged to withstand the harsh and demanding environments that these vehicles work in. Drivers need equipment they can rely on."

Although refuse vehicles are fitted with reversing alarms as standard equipment, such devices do not detect if a person or object is behind the vehicle. They only serve to alert pedestrians and traffic that a reversing manoeuvre is being performed.

Reversing Radars use a combination of visual and audio signals to warn the driver if a person or object is behind the vehicle and at what distance. And the closer the person or object the more prominent and persistent the warning signals become.

ENDS. May 2011

Media contact:Clare Summers tel:01242 698102 email:[email protected]

Notes to Editors

About ISS

Innovative Safety Systems Ltd was established to provide a one-stop shop for vehicle safety equipment supply, maintenance and service. ISS operates in a wide range of sectors including waste management, passenger transport, haulage and emergency services.

With over 30 years combined experience in the waste management, recycling and CCTV sectors, the team at ISS are experts in all areas of vehicle safety technology. ISS supplies the highest quality, most robust products available in the market place, and offers a nationwide repair and maintenance service including a two-hour call-out option.
For more information about ISS visit www.iss-international.co.uk or tel: 01455 55 72 74