Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Traffic Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple serious failures at a waste and recycling site, including poor segregation of pedestrians from vehicles and skips stockpiled in a way that created an increased risk of collapse or falling. The company had improvement notices served and was found to have previously been subject to enforcement for related issues. It pleaded guilty and received a significant fine and costs.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit on 11 August 2022, inspectors observed 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 designated pedestrian routes or crossing points, and vehicle and pedestrian movements were not segregated. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because site layout changes were not reflected, including pedestrian access to toilets. Inspectors also found skips unsafely stacked, with some deformed and stacked up to three high in places, including in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles. This combination increased the likelihood of collapse and the risk of anyone being struck by falling skips.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to two offences. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE enforcement action included improvement notices requiring remedial steps within set timescales, and the investigation also noted earlier prohibition notices served in 2019 relating to stockpiling and the risk of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Ensure real vehicle pedestrian segregation. Pedestrians must have safe routes separated from vehicle movements, with clear designated paths and crossing arrangements so people are not forced onto vehicle routes.

Keep traffic management information current and usable. A traffic plan is not enough if it is not visible to staff and visitors or does not reflect changes to the site layout and pedestrian movement needs.

Control the stacking of heavy materials to prevent collapse. Where skips are stacked, assess stability including weight and condition and ensure stacking arrangements do not create an increased risk of collapse or falling.

Reduce exposure by keeping high risk items away from busy access areas. High risk storage must not be placed in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles unless adequate safeguards are in place to prevent persons being hit by falling items.

Act promptly on enforcement and previous warnings. Earlier enforcement for related failures should trigger urgent review and corrective action, and improvement notices must be treated as a priority to remedy serious health and safety breaches within the required timescales.

HSE Prosecution Link