Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stacking and Poor Site Traffic Control

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failings at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in areas regularly used by workers and a traffic system that did not effectively segregate pedestrians and vehicles. The company had previously received enforcement action for similar risks, and it pleaded guilty to offences related to exposing people to risk of death or serious injury.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE inspection on 11 August 2022, site conditions showed vehicles and plant being driven around without effective pedestrian segregation. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles. There was no clear designated pedestrian routing or crossing points. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date following changes to site layout, including access routes across the yard to toilets. HSE also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed and with stacking heights of three high in places. The location of the stacks was an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, increasing the risk of skips falling or causing collapse. The potential consequences of a collapse were described as potentially catastrophic.

What Was The Outcome?

After improvement notices were served requiring corrective action, HSE carried out a further investigation on 11 days later and found the company had previously been subject to enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse. The company pleaded guilty to two offences. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Ensure real pedestrian vehicle separation across the whole site. Pedestrians and vehicles must circulate safely, with clear designated routes and crossing points rather than sharing vehicle routes, especially where reversing or vehicle movement creates additional risk.

Keep traffic management information visible and current. Traffic plans must be available and understandable to staff and visitors and must be updated when site configuration changes so that pedestrian movements are addressed correctly.

Control stockpiling hazards for heavy items that can collapse. Where items such as skips can deform or become unstable, stacking height and condition must be managed to prevent collapse and falling, particularly in areas regularly used by people.

Use enforcement warnings to drive genuine improvement. Previous enforcement action did not prevent further breaches, showing that improvement notices and past prohibitions must be translated into sustained site control rather than treated as a short term fix.

Plan for site layout changes and their effect on pedestrian access. Changes to access points and movement around the yard can create new interaction points, so risk assessments and traffic arrangements should reflect current routes, including access to toilets and other facilities.

HSE Prosecution Link