Waste Company Fined for Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Weak Traffic Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety management failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in areas workers regularly accessed and unsafe vehicle and pedestrian arrangements. The employer was previously subject to prohibition notices about similar skip stockpiling risks, yet further enforcement was needed.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit to a waste and recycling site, inspectors saw vehicles and loading equipment moving freely around the yard without effective separation from pedestrians. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing people to use the vehicle route used by lorries and other vehicles. 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after site configuration changes, including movements to access toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed and stacked in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles. The stack height was three high in places, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling. HSE served improvement notices requiring action, and a further visit took place after 11 days to check compliance.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE noted the employer had previously been subject to enforcement action, with prohibition notices served in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Provide designated pedestrian routes and crossing arrangements so people are not forced to use vehicle routes, and ensure segregation is actually effective in practice.

Keep traffic planning current and visible. A traffic plan needs to be visible to staff and visitors and updated when the site layout changes, including routes for key destinations such as welfare facilities.

Control the risk from unstable stockpiled items. Manage stacking risks for heavy items like skips, including the effects of deformation and increased stack heights that make collapse or falling more likely.

Avoid unsafe storage in high exposure areas. Do not place potentially unstable loads in areas that workers regularly access on foot or in vehicles unless the risk is controlled to a level that prevents people being harmed by falls or collapse.

Learn from prior enforcement and act promptly. Where enforcement action has already identified similar risks, review arrangements thoroughly and implement compliant controls within required timescales rather than relying on outdated or ineffective measures.

HSE Prosecution Link