RENFREWSHIRE Council has vowed to improve safety measures on bin lorries following the outcome of a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the Glasgow tragedy.

The neighbouring local authority has announced a "package of measures" including changes to the recruitment of drivers, the management of risk on collection routes, and altering collection times in busy Paisley town centre.

A report tabled at Renfrewshire Council’s leadership board yesterday laid out the moves which also include monitoring advances in vehicle safety technology.

The council says this is the latest stage in the council’s action plan to "coordinate its response to the FAI’s recommendations".

Sheriff John Beckett published a determination following the lengthy FAI into the Queen Street tragedy in which six people died and 17 were injured when driver Harry Clarke lost conciousness behind the wheel.

In this he made 19 recommendations and urged Glasgow City Council to make a number of changes including an "internal review of employment processes".

This should look at how to improve the checking of information on medical issues and sick-days provided by applicants, he said.

The council was told to train bin men on the steering and braking functions of a bin lorry after the inquiry heard that the two passengers in the runaway lorry had limited knowledge of how to stop it.

Glasgow City Council was also asked to look again at bin lorry routes through the city in a bid to minimise the risk to pedestrians after the FAI questioned whether it was appropriate to have a 26-tonne bin lorry driving through a busy Glasgow street.

Local authorities across Scotland were also urged, by the Sheriff, to purchase bin lorries and large goods vehicles that have advanced emergency braking system (AEBS) fitted.

The FAI heard there were a number of Scottish local authorities awaiting the outcome so that they could alter safety procedures accordingly.

Renfrewshire Council said it already takes up references for new drivers but additional questions on an applicant’s fitness to drive will be added to a pre-employment questionnaire.

And following a face to face medical, further health checks will be made with the applicant’s GP.

They will carry out annual medical inspections to ensure heavy vehicle drivers remain fit to carry out their duties during their period of employment, they say.

As part of increased safety training, awareness raising sessions will be carried out to ensure all waste collection employees are familiar with steering and braking systems in vehicles.

And Renfrewshire Council bosses are planning to introduce specific refuse collection time slots in Paisley town centre to avoid more crowded times.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "We have studied the FAI’s findings in detail and brought forward an approach which focuses on the main issues and recommendations.

"There are new approaches and improvements which can be introduced over the next few months and others which will be taken further as vehicle safety technology advances –including phasing in new vehicles with enhanced safety features as the safety technology develops for heavy vehicles as it has recently for cars.

"Specific changes are also being considered for waste collection times in Paisley town centre.

"Overall, we have taken a wide-ranging approach which we would stress will be part of a continuing programme to improve safety and minimise risk.

"Many of the measures build on our existing approach to vehicle and driver safety but we want to move forward with as comprehensive an approach as possible."

Erin McQuade, 18, her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, from Dumbarton, died in the Glasgow bin lorry crash on December 22 2014, along with Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh.