“LIKE any other employer, Scottish Borders Council must rely on its staff to act appropriately – and we cannot guarantee this will always happen.” So said council leader David Parker after being asked what steps were in place to address the potential health problems of operators of SBC’s large fleet of vehicles and heavy plant.

Conservative councillor Keith Cockburn (Tweeddale West) sought reassurance on Thursday in the wake of the tragedy last Christmas when six people were killed after a 26-tonne refuse truck ploughed into pedestrians in Glasgow city centre.

A six-week Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI), which ended on Friday, heard that driver Harry Clarke, 58, who had fallen unconscious at the wheel, had a history of fainting and light-headedness which he had failed to disclose to his employers, doctors and the DVLA.

Councillor Parker said his council had “longstanding processes and procedures” in place to meet its obligations to monitor the health of its fleet drivers.

These included pre-employment health checks and statutory five-year medical assessments of drivers beyond the age of 45.

“We have attendance management policies with follow-up actions which provide the opportunity for drivers’ health issues to be recorded and monitored by management and the council’s occupational health provider,” said Mr Parker.

“Also built into this process are a series of checks and balances that enable managers to monitor performance, compliance with legislative obligations and have reassurance that health conditions likely to impact on an employee’s ability to drive are regularly assessed by the medical profession, via GPs and the occupational health service.

“All staff members are also made aware of their obligations to keep us informed of any event or issue which may affect their employment and this is not limited to health issues.” After stressing the council’s reliance on staff to act “appropriately”, Mr Parker said the council would monitor the recommendations of the FAI and, where required, “adjust our processes and procedures accordingly”.

In his closing address to the inquiry, Sheriff John Beckett issued a plea to drivers to inform the DVLA of any health problems.

“By identifying a relevant medical condition and taking the appropriate steps, a driver may save his or her own life and the lives of others,”said the sheriff.

Councillor Cockburn told the Border Telegraph: “I’m satisfied the council is doing all it can to mitigate against and prevent such a tragic incident from happening in the Borders.”