Waste Company Fined for Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Traffic Segregation

Brief Summary

The Health and Safety Executive found multiple failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips being dangerously stockpiled and a lack of effective segregation between vehicles and pedestrians. The business had enforcement history for similar risks, making the case particularly serious.

What Was The Incident?

At the site visit on 11 August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles and loading equipment being driven around the yard, while the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked. Pedestrians were forced to use the vehicle route, 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, including some that were deformed. In places the stack was three high, increasing the chance of collapse or falling. The skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers either on foot or in vehicles, which increased the risk of people being struck or harmed if skips fell.

What Was The Outcome?

The business was prosecuted for failing to fulfil duties under Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by putting employees, agency workers and other persons at risk of death and or serious personal injury. It pleaded guilty to two offences under Section 33(1)(a). It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. Improvement notices were served and a further HSE visit took place 11 days later after the initial notices, and the investigation found the business had previously been subject to prohibition notices in 2019 for similar stockpiling and collapse risks.

Key Points To Consider

Control traffic and separate vehicles from pedestrians. Have clear, effective pedestrian routes and crossing points so that people can move around the site safely, rather than being directed to use vehicle routes.

Keep traffic management plans visible and current. If site configurations change, review and update traffic arrangements so they reflect current pedestrian movements and vehicle movements, and ensure staff and visitors can actually see and use the plan.

Prevent unstable stacking of heavy waste containers. Do not allow skips to be stacked in ways that create instability, including avoiding damaged or deformed containers and limiting height where collapse or falling could occur.

Reduce the consequences of collapse where reversing or complex movements occur. Where large vehicles reverse or vehicles and pedestrians must operate in the same general area, employers must consider additional precautions and put them in place to protect those working nearby.

Act promptly on enforcement history and improvement notices. When previous enforcement has already highlighted legal duties, continued non compliance shows poor risk management and can lead to significant fines and costs if breaches are not remedied within required timescales.

HSE Prosecution Link