Waste Company Fined for Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Traffic Control

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in areas used by people and vehicles, with pedestrians forced to share routes used by lorries. The company was previously subject to enforcement action related to stockpiling and collapse risks and pleaded guilty to two offences. It was fined and ordered to pay costs.

What Was The Incident?

On the day of the visit, inspectors observed vehicles and loading equipment being driven around the site, while the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked. People were required to use the vehicle entrance route used by lorries and other vehicles. There was no effective segregation, designated pedestrian routes, or crossing points. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and had become out of date due to changes in site configuration, including access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some skips deformed and stacks three high in places. The height and deformation increased instability and the likelihood of collapse or items falling. Skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, further increasing the risk of a fall.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE also previously served prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse, and improvement notices required action within specified timescales after the 2022 visit.

Key Points To Consider

Ensure safe separation of people and vehicles. Pedestrian routes should be clearly designated and protected, so people are not forced to use vehicle routes, particularly where lorries and other large vehicles operate.

Keep traffic management plans current and usable. A traffic plan is not enough if it is not visible or does not reflect the current site layout, including key walking routes such as access across the yard to welfare facilities.

Control skip storage to prevent collapse and falling loads. Skips should be stacked in a stable way and kept away from areas regularly accessed by workers, taking account of weight, size, and the condition of the skips.

Treat stockpiling hazards as potentially catastrophic. Where collapse could result in death or serious injury, employers must actively manage the risk rather than relying on luck, especially in environments where people circulate frequently.

Use prior enforcement as a trigger for prompt improvement. If the business has already been warned about stockpiling and collapse risks, it should review and implement robust controls quickly to meet legal duties and prevent repeat failures.

HSE Prosecution Link