Waste Company Fined After Skips Stockpiled and Pedestrians Not Protected

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple failures at a waste and recycling site, including unsafe skip stockpiling and poor arrangements for vehicle and pedestrian movement. The prosecution highlights the need for effective traffic management, reliable segregation, and competent planning that reflects the actual site layout.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE inspection at a waste and recycling site in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles, including tipper lorries and loading shovels, moving freely around the site. There was no effective segregation between pedestrians and vehicles because the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked and pedestrians had to use the same route as vehicles, including lorries. Although the employer had a visual traffic plan, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to the site layout, so it did not address key pedestrian routes such as access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips unsafely stacked, with some skips deformed, increasing instability. In places the stack height was three high, which increased the likelihood of collapse or falling. The skips were stored in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot and in vehicles, creating a significant risk of skips falling onto people.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. The investigation followed improvement notices served after a further visit, and HSE found the employer had previously been subject to enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Provide real separation between vehicles and pedestrians. Ensure pedestrians can move on designated routes with suitable crossing arrangements so they do not have to share vehicle routes used by lorries and other large plant.

Keep traffic plans visible and current. A plan is not enough if staff and visitors cannot see it or if it does not reflect the current site layout and real pedestrian movements.

Control reversing and movement of large vehicles. Where reversing is required, assess the additional risks and put in place extra precautions to protect people working nearby.

Prevent unstable stockpiling and falling objects. Do not stack skips in a way that increases collapse risk, especially where deformation is present, and avoid storing them in areas people regularly access.

Use previous enforcement as a trigger for improvement. If enforcement action has already been taken for similar issues, review and strengthen the controls promptly rather than treating notices as a one off compliance task.

HSE Prosecution Link