Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Vehicle Pedestrian Controls

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including dangerously stockpiled skips, inadequate segregation of pedestrians and vehicles, and a traffic plan that was not visible and had become out of date. After improvement notices and further investigation, the employer pleaded guilty and was fined with costs.

What Was The Incident?

HSE visited the site in August 2022 and observed vehicles and other plant being driven around the site while there was no effective segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. The pedestrian entrance was secured and people were forced to use the same route used by lorries and other vehicles. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and did not reflect changes to site layout, including pedestrian movements such as access to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed and piled up to three high in places. The stacking height and instability increased the risk of collapse and falling. The skips were placed in an area regularly accessed by workers both on foot and in vehicles, increasing the risk to people on site.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined £167,000, with £16,195 ordered in costs. HSE had previously served prohibition notices in 2019 related to skip stockpiling and risks of collapse, and improvement notices were served after the August 2022 findings requiring action within specified timescales.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate people from vehicles using effective site routes. Plan and control pedestrian movement so pedestrians and vehicles circulate safely, with designated pedestrian routes and crossing points where needed.

Control reversal and vehicle movement with additional precautions. Where large vehicles may need to reverse or circulate through shared areas, assess the risks and implement extra measures to protect those working nearby.

Keep traffic management information visible and current. A traffic plan is not enough if staff and visitors cannot see it and it does not match current site layout and the actual pedestrian movements around the yard.

Prevent skip collapse by controlling stacking height and condition. Set stacking arrangements that account for skip size and weight, the condition of the skips, and the consequences of collapse or falling objects.

Address known failures and act promptly on enforcement action. If enforcement action has previously identified legal duties, implement improvements without delay and ensure changes are sustained across the whole site.

HSE Prosecution Link