Waste Company Fined After Dangerous Skip Stockpiling and Poor Vehicle Pedestrian Control

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in places and inadequate separation between pedestrians and vehicles. The employer had also been subject to earlier enforcement action and ultimately pleaded guilty to two offences.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit to the site in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles being driven around the yard without effective pedestrian and vehicle segregation. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, and pedestrians were directed to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles. The traffic arrangements included a visual traffic plan, but it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to the site layout, including movements to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked in an unsafe manner, including some deformed skips and stacks that were three high in places. The skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, increasing the risk of falls and collapse.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE also served improvement notices requiring action within a specified timescale, and it noted the employer had previously received prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and the risk of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Provide effective pedestrian and vehicle segregation. Do not rely on chained entrances or shared routes; use designated pedestrian routes and crossing points so pedestrians are not forced to use vehicle areas.

Keep traffic management arrangements visible and current. If a visual traffic plan exists, ensure it is visible to staff and visitors and updated when the yard layout changes, including routes to facilities such as toilets.

Control risks from reversing and vehicle movements. Where large vehicles must reverse or operate close to people, identify additional precautions and implement them to protect workers and others nearby.

Stop unsafe skip stacking and manage structural instability. Do not stack skips in a way that creates instability, including heights that raise collapse risk or using deformed skips, particularly in areas people frequently access.

Use enforcement history to drive immediate improvement. If previous enforcement action has already highlighted legal duties, treat that as a clear warning and ensure changes are implemented effectively rather than repeating the same failures.

HSE Prosecution Link