Waste Company Fined After Unsafely Stockpiling Skips and Poor Traffic Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple workplace safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips piled up to three high in areas used by workers and a lack of effective segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. The company had previously received enforcement action about similar stockpiling risks, making the breaches more serious.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit on 11 August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles and loading equipment moving freely around the site. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles. There were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points to segregate people on foot from moving vehicles. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, including deformed skips and stacks up to three high in places, which increased the likelihood of collapse or falling. The unsafe stacking occurred in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, increasing the risk of people being struck by falling skips.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to two offences. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. Improvement notices were served following the initial concerns, and a further investigation was carried out after the notices were issued. HSE also noted that the business had previously been subject to prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and collapse risks.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate pedestrians from vehicle movements. Provide effective pedestrian routes and crossing points so people on foot are not forced to share the same routes as lorries and other vehicles, especially where vehicle movements are frequent.

Keep traffic arrangements visible and current. A traffic plan only helps if people can see and use it, and it must be updated to reflect changes to the site layout and pedestrian movement patterns such as access to welfare facilities.

Control risks from stacking heavy waste containers. Manage the instability risk from skip stacking by considering the effects of height, condition of skips and nearby activity, particularly where workers can be struck if skips fall or collapse.

Do not stockpile unsafe items in places people regularly access. Keep unsafe or potentially unstable stacks away from areas that workers use on foot or by vehicle, because proximity increases the likelihood of serious harm from falling loads.

Act on enforcement history and improvement notices. If enforcement action has already been taken for similar risks, ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained within required timescales, rather than relying on outdated or ineffective arrangements.

HSE Prosecution Link