by Keith Hunt

A waste management company has gone on trial over the death of a young road cleaner in an accident in East Peckham more than two years ago.

Damian Griffiths was picking up litter from a grass verge on the busy dual carriageway on the A228 at Hale Street when the tragedy happened.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 20-year-old, of Northview, Swanley, was an agency worker for Veolia Environmental Services UK Ltd.

Deean Heer, prosecuting, said the large national corporation, which employed 12,500 people and had a turnover of £1.3 billion in 2008, had been contracted to collect domestic waste and provide street cleaning services by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council since March 2005.

The company had received a default notice by the council, complaining litter picking had not been carried out properly on the stretch of the A228.

As a consequence, Veolia sent Mr Griffiths and Barry Seymour to pick up the litter there. The pair had carried out the task together twice before.

They arrived at the East Peckham roundabout on the morning of March 2 2007 in a Ford transit van with a cage on the back.

The van was fitted with orange flashing lights at the front and rear and had two rotating orange beacons on the roof.

Mr Seymour switched on the lights. He and Mr Griffiths were wearing high visibility vests.

Mr Griffiths collected litter on foot, using a stick, while Mr Seymour followed in the van on the grass verge about six feet behind his colleague.

As the van reached a “dolly” post, Mr Seymour was forced to drive onto the carriageway. Because his flashing lights were on, he was unable to indicate his intention to do so.

The van was struck from behind by a Volvo lorry and ended up at the foot of a steep bank by the side of the carriageway.

Mr Seymour managed to get out of the van but found Mr Griffiths lying unconscious nearby.

“It was apparent he had been struck by the Ford Transit as it careered down the bank after being struck by the lorry,” said Miss Heer.

“The emergency services were called but, very sadly, Mr Griffiths died of his injuries.”

Veolia, of Pentonville Road, Islington, North London, deny failing to ensure the health and safety and welfare of employees and causing another risk of health and safety.
The trial continues.