Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stacking And Poor Traffic Segregation

Brief Summary

The Health and Safety Executive found multiple site safety failures at a waste and recycling business, including skips stacked three high and poor segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. Despite having a traffic plan, it was not visible, was out of date, and did not reflect the site layout or key pedestrian routes. Enforcement action had previously been taken for similar risks.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles and loading equipment being driven around the site with no effective segregation from pedestrians. A pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing people to use the vehicle route used by lorries and other vehicles. The traffic arrangements relied on a visual traffic plan, but it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after the site configuration changed. Inspectors also found skips that were unsafely stacked, with some deformed and piled up to three high in places. The stacking height and the instability increased the likelihood of collapse or items falling. Skips were placed in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, increasing the risk of skips falling onto people nearby.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to two offences. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. Further enforcement action followed improvement notices requiring corrective measures, and the later investigation found earlier enforcement history including prohibition notices served in 2019 related to stockpiling and collapse risks.

Key Points To Consider

Provide real segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. Ensure pedestrians have designated safe routes and crossing points, rather than being funnelled onto vehicle paths, and keep segregation effective across the whole site as used in practice.

Make traffic controls visible and current. A traffic plan is not enough on paper. Check that staff and visitors can actually see it, and review and update it when the site layout changes so it reflects key pedestrian movements.

Control reversal and vehicle movement risks. Where large vehicles must reverse or move close to people, consider additional precautions and implement them to protect workers and others who may be in the same circulation areas.

Manage stockpiling height and stability risks. Avoid dangerous stacking of heavy equipment and materials. Consider instability, deformation of units, and the effect of stacking height on the likelihood of collapse or falling objects.

Use prior enforcement findings to drive sustained improvement. If enforcement action has already identified similar risks, act decisively to close the gaps. Repeated failures can lead to much stronger enforcement outcomes and higher penalties.

HSE Prosecution Link