Olympic training lift for binmen

Olympic weightlifter Dave Snowdon teaches people how to lift correctly

The expertise of an Olympic weightlifter will be used to show binmen how to lift rubbish safely.

Denbighshire Council is spending nearly £2,000 on employing Pristine Condition, a company owned by former world record holder David Snowdon.

Irate calls were made to the local authority on Thursday by people claiming it was a waste of money.

However, council bosses said they had a legal responsibility to safeguard the health of their staff.

Forty three binmen will receive the on-the-job training in April at a cost of £575 per day.

We've had a few irate callers who've been misled but they've been fine when we've explained Steve Parker, Denbighshire Council

Steve Parker, head of environmental services at Denbighshire County Council said it is money well spent.

"We've got a legal duty to protect our staff, it's the law basically," he said.

"The only choice for the council is who is going to do it."

Mr Parker said the council wanted to cut down on the "compensation culture".

"Last year Denbighshire successfully defended a claim that would've cost the authority over £100,000 and it was in this area of work," he said.

"The potential cost of claims is far larger than the cost of the training."

Mr Snowdon is the managing director of health and safety consultants Pristine Condition, based in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

He was employed following a Health and Safety Executive conference for the district councils of Wales in Llandrindodd Wells last autumn.

Mr Snowdon's company website describes him as a former Olympic weightlifter and world record holder.

Forty three binmen will receive the training to help them lift

He was unavailable for comment on Thursday but Mr Parker said he does not expect to see Mr Snowdon personally at the training.

However, Jackie Peacock from Pristine Condition said it is "hands on training rather than in a classroom environment".

Instructor Colin Preece will go out with refuse workers on their rounds to advise them how to lift and carry.

According to Denbighshire Council over the past three years, 10 workers have had accidents, five had to have time off and there were four claims for compensation.

Mr Parker said residents had initially complained about the training scheme.

"We've had a few irate callers who've been misled but they've been fine when we've explained," he said.