Product Safety Alert - Terberg OmniDEKA Hydraulic Bin Lift with Sonar N1 Sensor

Terberg OmniDEKA Hydraulic Bin Lift with Sonar N1 Sensor

Summary of Hazard for Terberg OmniDEKA Hydraulic Bin Lift with Sonar N1 Sensor

Product: Terberg OmniDEKA hydraulic bin lift equipped with a sonar N1 sensor.

Hazard: When the bin lift is assembled as intended on the rear of a refuse collection vehicle (RCV) and operated in automatic mode, there is a risk that operatives or members of the public could access hazardous moving parts of the lift mechanism when no bin is detected. This poses a significant safety concern during operation.

Corrective action: The product has been withdrawn from the market and replaced with a new version offered from December 2023.

Product information

Hazard Analysis

Hazard Description

When the refuse collection vehicle (RCV) is operating in automatic mode without a bin present, operatives or members of the public may inadvertently access the dangerous moving parts of the lifting machinery. This situation poses numerous risks, including unintentional activation of the lifting mechanism, leading to the potential for severe injuries.

Identified Risks

1. Risk of Entanglement:
   • Operatives or bystanders may get caught in the moving parts of the lifting machinery, leading to possible injuries such as lacerations, fractures, or bruising.
2. Risk of Being Lifted:
   • Individuals in proximity to the lifting mechanism may be unintentionally lifted by the machinery, which can result in being tipped into the vehicle hopper, causing serious injury or entrapment.
3. Risk of Crushing:
   • The automatic compaction mechanism may activate unexpectedly, posing a significant risk of crushing injuries to those who are nearby or within the operating area of the compaction system.

Corrective Action:

The product has been voluntarily recalled from the Irish market by the manufacturer, the model was replaced with a new version in December 2023.

The manufacturer is actively engaging with stakeholders and are working on designing a retrofit option to ensure the safety of existing machines delivered prior to December 2023.

Terberg Machines B.V. have initiated a communication campaign already underway in Ireland, with letters being sent to all Irish customers known to be affected by this Alert, highlighting the importance of (and encourage the uptake of) the additional safety features for product to be retrofitted free of charge to eliminate risk. 

The HSA strongly recommends that (if not already updated) owners of RCVs utilising this product contact their supplier for further information.