Waste Company Fined After Dangerous Skip Stockpiling and Poor Site Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stockpiled up to three high and poor separation of pedestrians from vehicles. The enforcement also identified an out of date traffic plan that did not reflect key pedestrian movements, and previous enforcement history that should have driven better control of these risks.

What Was The Incident?

HSE inspectors visited the site in August 2022 and observed vehicles and shovels being driven around the yard with no effective segregation. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use a route intended for lorries and other vehicles. HSE also found that a visual traffic plan was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to site layout. Additionally, skips were stacked unsafely, with some deformed, stacked up to three high in places, and located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) and was fined £167,000, with £16,195 ordered in costs. HSE had previously served prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and the risk of collapse, and improvement notices were issued after the 2022 visit requiring remedial action within set timescales.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Ensure there are safe, designated pedestrian routes and crossing points, and do not force people to use vehicle routes due to blocked or inaccessible entrances.

Keep traffic management controls current and visible. A traffic plan must be accurate for the current site layout, address key pedestrian movements, and be readily visible to staff and visitors.

Control reversing and vehicle movement risks. Where large vehicles reverse or operate in shared areas, add suitable precautions to protect people working nearby, in line with the required approach to safe circulation.

Prevent collapse by managing stockpiled loads. Do not allow skips or similar items to be stacked in ways that increase instability, including excessive height, deformation, or placement in areas where workers can be struck if items fall.

Use prior enforcement as a trigger for improvement. If there has been previous enforcement relating to stockpiling and collapse risk, treat it as a clear prompt to review and strengthen controls rather than assume the issue will be resolved without further action.

HSE Prosecution Link