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

Brief Summary

The HSE found multiple site management failures at a waste and recycling operation, including a lack of effective vehicle pedestrian segregation and skips piled three high in areas regularly accessed by workers. The company had previous enforcement history relating to skip stockpiling and collapse risk, and it pleaded guilty to offences concerning putting people at risk of death or serious injury.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE inspection on 11 August 2022, vehicles were observed moving around the site, but pedestrian access was not segregated from traffic. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route used by lorries and other vehicles. There were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. The company also had traffic arrangements based on a visual traffic plan, but inspectors found the plan was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date due to changes in site configuration. It did not address key pedestrian movements, including access across the yard to toilets. In addition, inspectors found skips unsafely stacked, with some skips deformed and stacks piled up to three high in places. This increased the likelihood of collapse or falling, especially because the skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers both on foot and in vehicles.

What Was The Outcome?

Following improvement notices requiring action within a specified timescale, HSE enforcement findings included confirmation that the employer had previously been subject to enforcement action in 2019, when prohibition notices were served relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, relating to failing duties under sections 2 and 3 by exposing employees, agency workers and other persons to risk of death and serious personal injury. The court fined the company £167,000 and ordered it to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Provide effective segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. Do not rely on general site layouts or informal practices when vehicle movements are ongoing; ensure there are clear, controlled pedestrian routes and crossing points so people are not forced to use vehicle routes.

Keep traffic management information current and visible. If you use plans or visual controls, check they are visible to staff and visitors and updated when the site changes, including routes people need to use for access such as toilet facilities.

Control collapse hazards from stockpiled skips. Assess stacking arrangements carefully, particularly where skips are heavy and where deformation or excessive stacking height could make collapse or falling more likely.

Do not place collapse risk in areas people regularly access. Avoid locating waste containers in areas routinely used by workers on foot or by vehicles unless the layout and controls reduce the risk of falling or movement to an acceptable level.

Treat previous enforcement as a warning to strengthen systems. Where you have already received enforcement action about the same type of hazard, you should review and improve your site control measures rather than assume earlier warnings will be sufficient.

HSE Prosecution Link