Waste Company Fined After Skips Stockpiled and Pedestrians Put at Risk

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in places, some deformed and unstable, and inadequate segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. The employer had been subject to prior enforcement for similar risks, and was fined following guilty pleas.

What Was The Incident?

On an HSE visit on 11 August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles including tipper lorries and loading shovels moving around the site, with pedestrians required to use the vehicle route. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, and there were 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after site layout changes, including changes that affected access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed, making them unstable. The stack height was three high in places, and the skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers either on foot or in vehicles, creating a risk of collapse or falling.

What Was The Outcome?

The company was ordered to pay a fine of £167,000 and £16,195 in costs after pleading guilty to two offences. HSE reported that the failures involved duties to protect employees, agency workers and others on site from risk of death or serious personal injury. HSE had previously served prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse, and improvement notices were served following the 2022 findings with required action within a specified timescale.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Ensure there are designated pedestrian routes and safe crossing arrangements so people are not forced to share the same circulation routes as vehicles.

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