A former council grasscutter says he has been left seriously ill from all the "wee and dog poo" he came into contact with on the job.
Albert Hitch, known as Ozzy, claims he developed a lung condition while on the job and did not wear a mask. Albert, 63, now uses a mobility scooter to get around because he finds breathing so difficult.
He retired from his grass cutting job a few years back and was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To make matters worse, the Seacroft resident claims he is struggling with bills and has to pick up food from the local foodbank. He does not want to cook, at fear of running down the gas and electric meter.
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Ozzy was not officially employed by Leeds City Council but says the local authority subcontracted the work to the company he worked for, which he says is no longer operating. The a grandfather-of-five said: “I’ve got COPD so I can’t walk far, problems with my breathing.
"I don’t do nowt now, I used to cut grass for the council. I don’t do it anymore because of my breathing [problems]. I got it from all the stuff in the grass like wee, dog poo, all the stuff that’s in the grass, you breathe it all in.
“I’ve been out of breath a lot these last few years. I’ve put a lot of weight on, I had a size 26” waist and I think I’ve gone up to 34.”
“I wish I’d worn a mask, well I do now,” he said. Ozzy lives alone after his two daughters, aged 32 and 35, flew the nest a long time ago. He spoke about how “stressful” it was to keep up with the bills even though he only has himself to provide for.
He said: “I go to the food bank a lot here. I lives on my own and pay my bills and I get stuff for sandwiches because it costs too much to cook it.
“It’s been stressful, you’re looking at your meter all the time thinking that you’re going to run out of gas or electric.”
A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said: “Leeds City Council works to maintain the highest safety standards for all our staff. Any claims made regarding working conditions for those employed by a third party should be addressed to the employer and it would not be appropriate for us to comment."
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