Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Traffic Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE inspected a waste and recycling site and found multiple health and safety failures, including skips stockpiled three high, inadequate pedestrian routes, and traffic arrangements that did not protect people near vehicles. The employer was sentenced after pleading guilty to offences linked to putting people at risk of death or serious injury.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit, inspectors observed vehicles moving freely around the site, including tipper lorries and loading shovels. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, so pedestrians were forced to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles. There were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points to separate people on foot from vehicle movements. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed, so it did not address key pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed. The height reached three high in places, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling. The skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or by vehicle, increasing the risk of a falling stack in routine movements.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to fulfil duties under sections 2 and 3 by putting people on site at risk of death and or serious personal injury. The company was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE had also previously issued prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse, and served improvement notices requiring action within specified timescales after the 2022 inspection.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles in a way people can actually use. Make sure pedestrians have designated routes and crossing points, and do not route people through areas where vehicles operate without effective protection.

Keep traffic plans visible and current. A visual traffic plan must be visible to staff and visitors and updated when site layouts change, including movements to facilities such as toilets.

Control risks from stack stability and falling objects. Where storage involves large heavy items, assess and manage collapse and falling object risks, especially if stacks are deformed or built to heights that increase instability.

Avoid placing hazards in areas regularly used by people. Do not store or stack items in locations routinely accessed by workers on foot or by vehicle, because this increases the chance of people being in the fall zone.

Prior enforcement should drive faster improvement. If enforcement notices have already highlighted weaknesses, treat this as a clear warning to address underlying risks promptly and effectively rather than making incremental changes.

HSE Prosecution Link