Waste Company Fined for Dangerous Skip Stockpiling and Poor Site Traffic Management

Brief Summary

The Health and Safety Executive found multiple failures at a waste and recycling site, including inadequate segregation of vehicles and pedestrians and skips stockpiled three high in areas regularly accessed by workers. Following enforcement action and improvement notices, the company was prosecuted, pleaded guilty, and was fined.

What Was The Incident?

On an inspection visit in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles and loading equipment moving around the site without effective segregation from people. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, so pedestrians had to use a route used by lorries and other vehicles. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed, creating instability. In places the stack height was three high, increasing the likelihood of collapse or a skip falling. Skips were stored in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, putting people at serious risk.

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 had previously served prohibition notices in 2019 related to stockpiling and collapse risk, and improvement notices were served requiring action within a specified timescale before the investigation concluded.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Make sure pedestrian routes and crossing points are clearly designated and used, rather than forcing people to share routes with lorries and other vehicles.

Keep traffic plans current and visible. A traffic plan is not enough if it is out of date or not visible to staff and visitors, especially when the site layout or pedestrian movements change.

Control risks from stockpiling heavy items. Where heavy skips are stored, assess stability and stacking height, and treat signs of deformation as a reason to prevent further unsafe stacking.

Avoid placing stored materials where people will pass. Do not store potentially unstable skips in areas that workers access regularly on foot or by vehicle, because a fall or collapse could be catastrophic.

Act quickly on enforcement and prior warnings. If enforcement notices or earlier prohibitions have already identified serious legal duties, use that information to correct the underlying risks rather than relying on temporary measures.

HSE Prosecution Link