Waste Company Fined for Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Vehicle Pedestrian Control

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failings at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high with instability concerns and poor segregation between pedestrians and vehicle movements. Despite improvement notices and previous enforcement related to skip stockpiling, the employer pleaded guilty to offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act and was fined.

What Was The Incident?

HSE visited a waste and recycling site and observed vehicles and loading equipment being driven around the yard, while pedestrian access was constrained. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, so pedestrians were forced to use the vehicle entrance route. There was no effective segregation using designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not available to staff or visitors and had become out of date after changes to the site layout, including pedestrian movements to toilets. HSE also found skips unsafely stacked, with some deformed, creating instability. In places the stack was three high, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling. The skips were located in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot and by vehicles, increasing the risk to people if skips fell.

What Was The Outcome?

HSE served improvement notices and later investigated further, finding the employer had previously been subject to enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 related to stockpiling and risks of collapse. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined £167,000, with £16,195 costs ordered.

Key Points To Consider

Use effective segregation for pedestrians and vehicles. Plan and implement clear pedestrian routes and crossing points so people are not channelled onto vehicle paths, especially where vehicles move frequently around the site.

Keep traffic management plans current and visible. A traffic plan must be available to staff and visitors and updated when the site configuration changes, including routes people need to access facilities such as toilets.

Control skip storage to prevent collapse and falling. Ensure skips are stacked safely, taking account of size and weight, condition of the skips, and the height of stacking, particularly where collapse could have catastrophic consequences.

Remove hazards from areas people regularly access. Avoid placing stored waste containers in locations regularly used by workers on foot or by vehicles, unless risks are controlled to prevent people being struck or harmed by falling items.

Act on enforcement and previous notices. If prior enforcement has highlighted failures, demonstrate that corrective actions have been implemented and sustained, rather than relying on plans that are outdated or not working in practice.

HSE Prosecution Link