Does anybody think that this is worthwhile?
Dear Mr.Ms. (H+S Director)
You may have read about the tragic death of Catriona Patel. Catriona was killed by a truck owned by Thames Materials which turned left across her. The driver, Dennis Putz, had been drinking, and he was on his mobile phone when he ran over Catriona. Putz is now starting a seven year jail sentence.
None of this needed to happen. Thames Materials employed Putz despite his appalling record. He had twice been jailed for driving offences. He’d been caught driving while disqualified sixteen times. Either Thames Materials didn’t check, or they didn’t care.
We’re pretty sure that you care. Main Contractors have invested endless hours and millions of pounds in Health and Safety on site, and with commendable results. For this we’re all grateful, but we would like you to go one step further. Construction vehicles wreak a terrible cost in lives across London. You can make a difference.
We’re asking Main Contractors to commit to the following
- To gain a commitment from all subcontractors and suppliers that they will not send people with driving convictions to your sites.
- To gain a commitment from all subcontractors and suppliers that they will ensure that by December 31[sup]st[/sup] 2011 all HGV drivers in their employ, whether salaried or not, will be required to undertake training courses sanctioned by the London Cycling Campaign within a month of starting in their employ.
- To gain a commitment from all subcontractors and suppliers that they will ensure that passenger side mirrors on all their commercial vehicles will allow drivers to see cyclists and pedestrians on their left hand side.
We don’t suggest for a second that cyclists should not do their best to keep out of harm’s way, but Catriona didn’t have that option - she was run over from behind by a man who just didn’t care enough to stay sober and refrain from making a telephone call, a man whose record was so appalling that he should never have been let anywhere near the cab of an HGV
We’re looking for a Main Contractor to set a standard that others will follow. Will that be you?