Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stacking and Poor Traffic Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failings at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high, unstable and deformed stacks, and inadequate control of pedestrian routes and vehicle movements. The employer was previously subject to enforcement over similar skip stockpiling risks.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles moving around the site including tipper lorries and loading shovels, while pedestrian access was chained and padlocked. Pedestrians were forced to use the same route as vehicles, with no effective segregation through designated pedestrian 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 Although a traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to the site layout, including access routes across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some skips deformed, stacked three high in places, and located in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, increasing the risk of collapse or falling.

What Was The Outcome?

Following improvement notices requiring actions within set timescales, HSE carried out further investigation and found the employer had previously faced enforcement, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing duties under sections 2 and 3 by exposing people on site to risk of death and serious personal injury. The court fined the company £167,000 and ordered £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Ensure effective segregation of pedestrians and vehicles. Where pedestrians must move around a vehicle operating area, use designated pedestrian routes and crossing points so they are not routinely forced to share vehicle routes.

Keep site traffic controls current and visible. A traffic plan is not enough if it is out of date or not communicated, particularly after site layout changes such as new access routes to welfare facilities.

Prevent collapse risks from skip stockpiling. Do not stack skips in a way that increases instability, including controlling stacking height and the placement of skips in areas workers regularly access.

Address damaged equipment that increases instability. Deformed skips add to instability, so management systems must identify unsuitable items and prevent them being stacked or used in ways that create falling or collapse risks.

Take past enforcement seriously and close out recurring issues. Where the business has previously received enforcement action for stockpiling and collapse risks, it must demonstrate sustained corrective action rather than repeating the same unsafe practices.

HSE Prosecution Link