Army truck crash prompts call for safety review
Calls were made today for a health and safety review of Army trucks after 14 soldiers and a lorry driver were injured in a road crash in Co Longford.
PDFORRA, the Defence Forces representative association for enlisted personnel, wants the Health and Safety Authority to scrutinise passenger safety measures in army vehicles following the collision near Granard yesterday afternoon.
Gardaí and the Defence Forces have already begun two separate investigations into the crash.
“The Defence Forces has a duty of care to its members and it needs to ensure that its Army trucks are designed and equipped to maximise passenger safety - and also to ensure that they are used in appropriate circumstances,” said General Secretary, Gerry Rooney.
“PDFORRA believes the Health and Safety Authority needs to take a close look at all these factors and ensure that the safety of members of the Defence Forces travelling in Army trucks is maximised.”
Mr Rooney said in recent years the association has been campaigning for the introduction of seat belts in trucks, for limitations on their use, and other safety measures.
In response, the Defence Forces issued new rules in 2005 which restricted the carriage of troops in Army trucks to those occasions when they were necessary for training and operational activities. It also provided that troops and cargo should not be mixed in vehicles.
PDFORRA (Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association) said, if investigated by the HSA, important lessons could be learned from the accident, with changes introduced which would enhance passenger safety.
The collision happened at 3.45pm as the troops were returning to their base in Cavan after a training exercise at a firing range in Athlone.
Ten of the soldiers were taken to Cavan General Hospital, and four to Mullingar General Hospital – however none of the soldiers suffered serious injuries with the majority already released from hospital.
The lorry driver was also taken to Cavan General Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.
