Inquiry into overturning of Greyhound refuse truck

Two investigations are under way into an incident in which a Greyhound Recycling rubbish truck overturned, injuring three agency workers, one seriously.

The truck overturned on a slip road from the M1 on to the M50 southbound, near the Port Tunnel, at about 3pm last Thursday. The investigations will focus partly on the question of whether the truck may have been overloaded with rubbish.

Three workers were on board. One suffered bruising, another sustained cracked ribs, while the third suffered a broken pelvis. Two were taken to Beaumont Hospital and the third to the Mater. It is understood all have been released and are recovering well.

Collision

A spokesman said the Health and

Safety Authority

was aware of the incident and would be meeting the company on Monday as it begins its investigation.

Gardaí in Santry confirmed they were investigating a "single vehicle collision at junction 3" of the M50 last Thursday, while Dublin Fire Brigade confirmed it attended a "very serious" incident in the area.

The section of road was fenced off by the fire brigade to prevent further incidents as paramedics tended to the men. AA Roadwatch said the incident had caused serious disruption for three hours.

Greyhound confirmed the incident had been serious but said it could not comment as it was under investigation by State authorities. A spokesman said the company did not know whether the truck had been overloaded.

An industrial dispute at the firm is entering its 10th week. It centres on the refusal by 78 Siptu members to accept a 35 per cent pay cut.

Pay cuts

The company says it needs the pay cuts to remain viable. The Siptu workers have been picketing the company’s two plants in Clondalkin, west Dublin, while the company employs agency workers to continue collecting rubbish.

In a recent interview with The Irish Times, Greyhound's chief executive Michael Buckley said productivity had increased since the dispute began and agency workers had been taken on.

The company this week obtained injunctions against a number of politicians and members of the public who had joined the picketing Siptu members at the plants.

Despite the injunctions there were further protests outside the plants yesterday morning and the company spokesman called on the Garda to enforce the injunctions.

Separately, Martin Meere, divisional organiser with Siptu, called on Dublin City Council to intervene in the dispute.