Waste Company Fined for Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Vehicle Pedestrian Control

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked up to three high, poor vehicle and pedestrian segregation, and an out of date traffic plan that did not reflect how people moved around the yard. The employer previously faced prohibition notices for similar risks, yet these issues persisted. The company pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined and ordered to pay costs.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles such as tipper lorries and loading shovels being driven around the site, with pedestrians forced to use the vehicle route because the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked. There were no effective pedestrian routes or crossing points to segregate pedestrians from reversing and moving vehicles. Although a traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date following changes to the site layout, including access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed skips that increased instability. The stack height was up to three high in places, which increased the likelihood of collapse or a skip falling. These skips were positioned in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or by vehicle.

What Was The Outcome?

Following the initial visit, improvement notices were served with action required within specified timescales. A further HSE investigation in late August 2022 found the employer had previously been subject to enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and collapse risks. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33(1)(a). The company was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Provide effective segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. Ensure pedestrians do not have to rely on the same routes as lorries and other site vehicles, and use designated routes and crossing points where appropriate.

Keep traffic arrangements current and accessible. A traffic plan must reflect the actual site layout and key pedestrian movements, and it must be visible to staff and visitors so people can follow it.

Control reversing and vehicle movements with suitable precautions. Where large vehicles must reverse or operate near people, plan additional precautions to protect those working nearby and implement them in practice.

Do not stockpile skips in unstable or high stacks. Account for skip weight and size, avoid stacking that could lead to collapse, and treat deformed or damaged skips as a sign the arrangement is unsafe.

Act on previous enforcement and close known compliance gaps. If enforcement action has already identified similar risks, use that information to correct the underlying causes and verify that improvements remain effective after site changes.

HSE Prosecution Link