Waste Company Fined After Skips Stockpiled And Pedestrian Vehicle Segregation Failed

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips piled three high in places, inadequate segregation between pedestrians and vehicles, and a traffic plan that was not visible and did not reflect changes to the site layout. The company had already previously faced enforcement action over stockpiling and collapse risks.

What Was The Incident?

On an inspection in August 2022, HSE observed vehicles and loading equipment being driven around the site, with the pedestrian entrance chained and padlocked. People on foot were effectively routed to use the same entrance and route used by lorries and other vehicles, with no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site configuration had changed, including routes to key welfare facilities such as toilets. HSE also found skips stacked unsafely, with some skips deformed, increasing instability. In places the stack was three high, raising the likelihood of a fall or collapse. Skips were stacked in an area regularly accessed by workers both on foot and by vehicle.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to two offences. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE said the prosecution related to failures to manage risk to workers and other people on site, and noted previous enforcement action in 2019 including prohibition notices about stockpiling and collapse risks.

Key Points To Consider

Stop unsafe stockpiling of heavy materials. Where items such as skips are large and heavy, ensure stacking arrangements prevent collapse or falling, and address instability such as deformation and excessive stack height.

Provide effective segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. Organise site transport so pedestrians can move safely, using clear routes and crossing arrangements rather than forcing foot traffic to share vehicle routes and entrances.

Keep traffic management plans current and usable. A traffic plan must be visible to those who need it and updated when the site layout changes, including key pedestrian movements such as access to welfare facilities.

Use enforcement learnings to drive improvement. If previous enforcement action has highlighted legal duties on stockpiling and collapse risks, treat that as a trigger for sustained risk control rather than a one off response.

Recognise and plan for the consequences of failure. When the potential outcome could be serious injury or death, such as collapse of stacked skips, risk assessment and control measures must be robust enough to prevent the harm even if conditions change across the site.

HSE Prosecution Link