Bin men, also known as bin workers, refuse collectors or waste operatives, take household and commercial waste away for disposal or recycling. Daily work tasks may include collecting rubbish, using a lift mechanism, operating a waste compactor that crushes loads and unloading the waste at a landfill or recycling facility. If their employer fails to take reasonable steps to ensure their safety, this could result in workplace accidents leading to bin man injury claims. Compensation from successful accident at work claims can cover both physical and mental injuries, as well as any out-of-pocket expenses.
If, unfortunately, you have been injured in an accident whilst working as a refuse collector, you might have the grounds to make a claim with us at Legal Expert. The advisory team is available 24/7 to answer your questions about claiming for an accident at work. As part of your free, no-obligation consultation, an advisor will assess your eligiblity to seek compensation. If you meet the criteria and would like to proceed with our services, you can be connected to one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.
4.8 (466 reviews) Key Takeaways
- As displayed by the Labour Force Survey and published in the Health and Safety Executive’s waste statistics, it was found that 4,000 refuse collectors suffered a non-fatal injury in an accident at work between 2017 and 2024.
- This statistic averages roughly 571 individuals annually sustaining an injury in the waste management industry, which can range from less serious injuries to those with life-changing impacts.
- Refuse collectors don’t just need to work well with others, they are also expected to have knowledge of public safety and be capable of operating and controlling specialised equipment.
- 191.2 million tonnes of waste were generated in the UK in 2020, according to statistics collected by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, last updated on 23rd July 2025.
- Bin workers may work in the community, at a recycling site or at a landfill and may need to wear personal protective equipment (PPE); accidents could occur at any of these sites.
Can I Claim If I Was Injured Working As A Bin Man?
Yes, you would be eligible to make a bin man injury claim if you were injured as a result of your employer’s actions or inactions during the course of your employment as a refuse collector. We can prove this by determining 3 factors:
- You were owed a duty of care
- This duty was breached
- The breach led to your injuries
These three elements amount to negligence, which forms the basis of all personal injury claims, including those for accidents at work.
With this in mind, we can look to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, which places a legal obligation on your employer to take all reasonable steps to ensure your safety whilst working (this is their duty of care). They can do this by adhering to the regulations outlined in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and the Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice.
Moreover, employers must ensure to provide adequate training and appropriate personal protective equipment where necessary. If your employer fails to do any of the above, and this results in your injuries, you could be eligible to make a claim.
If you have any questions about the eligiblity criteria for bin man injury claims, speak to one of our advisors. They can also assess the incident that caused your workplace injuries and advise on whether you could be eligible to seek compensation.
Common Causes Of Injuries To Refuse Collectors
Below, we discuss the most common causes of non-fatal injuries to refuse collectors:
- Slips, trips and falls: 32% of all injuries between 2017 and 2024 were caused by a slip, trip or fall. Working in difficult weather conditions can increase the risk of bin men being injured in a fall.
- Struck by moving vehicles or objects: 12% of accidents over the same time period were sustained in accidents where the refuse collector was hit by a moving object, such as vehicle components of the bin lorry or another vehicle, such as a car.
- Exposure to hazardous substances: Often, a refuse collector is unaware of the contents of the bins they empty; this can pose a risk of exposure to dangerous chemicals. Additionally, the risk of fires can be prevalent due to batteries being disposed of incorrectly.
- Mechanical failure or defective machinery: bin lorries are designed with safety devices as a preventative measure; however, if these measures fail for whatever reason, a waste collector could be crushed, hit by a moving bin, or even become trapped in the vehicle.
- Needlestick injuries: these types of injuries can occur if the skin is pierced with a sharp object protruding from the bin bag. This can cause a risk of infections such as HIV or hepatitis.
If you’ve sustained similar injuries whilst working as a waste collector, contact our advisors today. They can provide you with a complimentary initial consultation to explore the options available to you and address any questions you may have about bin man injury claims.
Negligence That Could Result In Injuries To Refuse Collectors?
As discussed above, your employer’s negligence must have led to your accident and injury. Some ways that negligence can result in injuries are if, for example, your employer:
- Fails to provide adequate training: Your employer must ensure that you are trained adequately for your role. This can include manual handling training, health and safety training, and refreshment training if new processes are implemented.
- Irregular risk assessments or failure to repair machinery: Working on bin lorries can be dangerous, particularly due to the vehicles themselves. If your employer fails to fix defective machinery or equipment, and this leads to injury, you could make a claim.
- Failure to supply adequate personal protective equipment (PPE): Your employer should ensure that you are provided with PPE, such as high-visibility clothing, puncture-resistant gloves, protective footwear, and, in some cases, chemical-resistant equipment if handling hazardous waste.
These aren’t the only ways in which your employer’s negligence could result in injuries, but they are some common examples. If you’d like to learn more about how to start your own bin man injury claim, contact us today.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded For Bin Man Injury Claims?
The amount of compensation you might receive in a succesful bin man injury claim can be made up of two different heads of claim. These are referred to as general and special damages, which serve distinct purposes.
General damages are compensation for the physical, mental and day-to-day impact of your injuries. This head of loss can consider the pain and suffering caused by your injury, as well as any effect on your ability to engage in hobbies.
Special damages, which we explore in further depth below, aim to reimburse you for the financial losses incurred from your accident.
With this said, general damages are calculated differently from special damages. In essence, when valuing general damages, professionals can refer to frameworks such as the Judicial College Guidelines, which provide brackets of compensation and categorise injuries.
The table below provides a few figures from the JCG that could apply to bin man injury claims, except for the top row. However, the table is just for illustrative purposes and should only be used as guidance. The best way to get an accurate estimate of how much compensation your refuse collector injury claim could be worth is to speak to one of our advisors.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries + Special Damages | A number of severe injuries and special damages such as childcare costs. | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis | Tetraplegia (also known as Quadriplegia) | £396,140 - £493,000 |
| Paraplegia | £267,340 - £346,890 | |
| Brain or Head Injury | Very Severe | £344,150 - £493,000 |
| Moderately Severe | £267,340 - £344,150 | |
| Moderate (i) | £183,190 - £267,340 | |
| Back Injury | Severe (i) | £111,150 - £196,450 |
| Severe (ii) | £90,510 - £107,910 | |
| Neck Injury | Severe (ii) | £80,240 - £159,770 |
| Severe (iii) | £55,500 - £68,330 |
What Other Damages Can Bin Man Injury Claims Payout For?
As briefly explored above, you could also claim special damages within your claim. This is a head of claim with the purpose of putting you in a financial position that you would’ve been in, but for the negligence of your employer.
It can consider any financial costs that have been incurred as a result of your accident, including:
- Loss of earnings: current or future, as well as loss of earning potential, can be considered here. If you’ve lost out on pension contributions or bonuses, this might also form part of special damages.
- Costs of care: these may include childcare costs, professional care expenses or gratuitous care payments, if a family member has had to take time off work to care for you.
- Medical expenses: this can include prescription costs, reconstructive surgeries or private medical costs.
- Mobility aids: if you now require hoists, wheelchairs or ramps, these expenses could also be factored into.
It’s important to be aware here that in order for these damages to be claimed, you must hold evidence which proves these financial losses. This may include payslips, bank statements, or receipts to verify expenses. We could help gather this supporting evidence and help create a strong evidential base to strengthen your claim.
Contact our advisors today to discuss how to initiate your own bin man injury claim.
What Is Needed When Claiming For A Bin Collector Accident At Work?
When making a bin man injury claim, you need evidence that displays negligence occurred. These might be documents such as:
- A copy of your workplace accident report book, which should outline details of the incident
- Medical evidence, including your GP record, copies of any scans or X-rays and a copy of your prescriptions
- CCTV footage of the incident, if it was caught on camera
- Copies of your work training records
- Details of anyone who might have witnessed the accident so that we can gather a witness statement later.
- Photographs or a personal diary of your symptoms
By working with one of our solicitors, you can expect assistance in gathering this supporting evidence. As well as ensuring that you hold evidence, you must start your claim within the time limits.
As stipulated in the Limitation Act 1980, most personal injury compensation claims are subject to a 3 year time limit, running from the date of the accident. There are, however, exceptions to this rule, and you can read more about whether these could apply to you by visiting our dedicated time limits guide.
If you’d like to discuss what evidence might be useful or whether your claim would still be within the limitation period, contact us today.
No Win No Fee Bin Man Injury Claims
Our solicitors at Legal Expert work on a No Win No Fee basis, which can offer several benefits to claimants. Firstly, you’d have no upfront solicitor fees to pay for them to begin working on your claim, nor would you need to pay any solicitor’s fees towards the progression of your case. Crucially, solicitors’ fees do not become payable if your case were to fail for any reason.
Rather, in successful bin man injury claims, a small fee is deducted from your compensation at the end of your claim. This success fee is a limited percentage in accordance with the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, to ensure that claimants receive the bulk of their compensation.
As well as working on a No Win No Fee basis, some of the benefits that come with instructing a solicitor from Legal Expert include:
- Explaining complex legal terminology and processes
- Support, guidance and free legal advice
- A free initial consultation to discuss the validity of your claim
- Help with gathering evidence
- Communicating on your behalf with the courts and other parties
- Ensuring that your claim is started within the time limit
This isn’t all that our solicitors could help you with; they have decades of combined experience in advocating for claimants with valid accident at work claims. If you’d like to learn how to get started today, contact us using the details below.
Our advisors have a friendly approach, and can connect you with one of our expert solicitors.
Contact Legal Expert’s No Win No Fee Solicitors
To reach our advisory team, please contact us by either:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Filling out our online contact us form
- Using our live chat
More Information
Read our other guides about:
External Resources
- When to report a workplace accident
- The governmental overview on Statutory Sick Pay
- How to manage a return to work after sickness
Thank you for reading our bin man injury claims guide.
