Waste Company Fined After Dangerous Skips and Weak Vehicle Pedestrian Controls

Brief Summary

HSE identified multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including unsafe skip stacking and inadequate arrangements for pedestrians and vehicles to move safely. The risk of skip collapse was described as potentially catastrophic, and the site had already been subject to earlier enforcement for similar issues. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit on 11 August 2022, inspectors observed tipper lorries and loading shovels being driven around the site with ineffective pedestrian arrangements. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, so pedestrians had to use the same route used by vehicles, with no effective segregation using designated routes or crossing points. Although a traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to the site layout, including failure to address pedestrian movement to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, including some that were deformed. In places the stack was three high, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling. The skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, meaning people were at risk if skips fell.

What Was The Outcome?

After improvement notices were served and a further visit took place, HSE found the employer had previously received enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33(1)(a). The company was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Control traffic and protect pedestrians. Make sure pedestrians and vehicles can circulate safely, with effective segregation through designated routes and crossing arrangements rather than sharing vehicle routes.

Keep traffic plans visible and current. A traffic management plan is only useful if people can access it when on site and it reflects current site layouts, including key pedestrian movements such as access to welfare facilities.

Prevent collapse by managing skip stacking. Review how skips are stacked, address any deformation or instability, and reduce the risk of collapse or falling, especially where stacks are positioned near areas used by workers.

Treat high consequence risks as a priority. Where heavy items could collapse, the potential severity must drive stronger control measures rather than relying on luck.

Act on earlier enforcement and improvement requirements. If the business has already been warned or prohibited for similar issues, improvements must be implemented within required timescales and verified as effective on the ground.

HSE Prosecution Link