PURBECK residents have been warned to close bin lids properly or their rubbish will not be collected by the council.

The stark warning comes in the wake of an accident that killed a bin man in Gloucestershire.

Council built environment spokesman Martyn Colvey said: “Although it has always been the council’s policy that lids must be firmly shut, sometimes bins have been collected with their lids ajar.

“Purbeck District Council takes the safety of staff working for them extremely seriously. Consequently, with immediate effect, bins will not be collected if their lids are not completely closed.”

The move follows a tragic accident, in February, which claimed the life of a 52-year-old Gloucestershire Sita waste collector who was crushed by his own bin lorry.

This incident is still being investigated by the Health and safety Executive.

A council spokesman said: “The employee was killed after becoming caught in the bin lifting mechanism on a refuse collection vehicle.

“Overfilled bins reduce the collector’s ability to ensure that the containers are correctly mounted on the bin lifting mechanisms.”

At that time Sita released a statement saying: “At this difficult time our thoughts are obviously with his family and work colleagues. All those involved in the incident have been offered counselling.

“Sita takes its health and safety obligations very seriously. The events leading up to the incident are now a matter for investigation by ourselves, the police and the Health and Safety Executive.”