Waste Company Fined After Skips Were Stockpiled Unsafely

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in areas accessed by workers and a lack of effective separation between vehicles and pedestrians. Enforcement action had previously been taken over similar risks, making the continued breaches a key factor in the outcome.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE site visit, inspectors observed that vehicles and loading equipment were driven around the yard with no effective arrangements to separate pedestrian routes from vehicle movements. Pedestrian access was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route as lorries and other 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed.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 unsafely stacked, including some that were deformed, increasing instability. In places the stacks were three high, and the location used regularly by workers on foot and in vehicles increased the risk that skips could fall or collapse.

What Was The Outcome?

Following a further visit, improvement notices were served requiring action within a specified timescale. The company had previously been subject to enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 about stockpiling and the risk of collapse. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles with effective controls. Have clearly designated pedestrian routes and crossing points, and ensure pedestrians are not forced to use the same paths as lorries and other plant where separation is not adequate.

Keep traffic management information current and usable. A traffic plan must be visible and up to date, and it must reflect the current site layout and how people move around the yard, including routes such as access across the yard to welfare areas.

Manage the stability risks of stored skips. Control stacking arrangements so that skips are not deformed and so that the stack height does not increase collapse or falling risk, especially where people routinely work nearby.

Treat falling or collapse hazards as potentially severe. Where heavy items could fall or collapse, design the system so that people are kept away from the hazard area and ensure precautions are proportionate to the consequences.

Respond decisively to enforcement history. If previous enforcement action and notices have already highlighted the same legal duties, ensure changes are implemented and verified, rather than relying on outdated plans or ineffective arrangements.

HSE Prosecution Link