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

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including dangerously stockpiled skips and a lack of effective traffic management for pedestrians. The employer was previously subject to enforcement action relating to skip stockpiling and collapse risks, making the repeated failures especially serious.

What Was The Incident?

HSE visited the site on 11 August 2022 and observed tipper lorries and loading shovels being driven around the yard. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route used by lorries and other vehicles. There was no effective segregation using 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed, so it did not cover key pedestrian movements such as access to toilets across the yard. HSE also found skips stacked in an unsafe way, with some skips deformed and a stack height of three high in places. The stack was in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, increasing the risk of skips falling or collapsing.

What Was The Outcome?

Following the initial findings, improvement notices were served requiring the employer to take action within a set timescale. HSE found the employer had previously been subject to enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and collapse risks. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences. The court fined the company £167,000 and ordered it to pay costs of £16,195.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Do not rely on blocked or informal routes that force pedestrians into vehicle circulation areas, and ensure there are clear designated pedestrian routes and crossing points where needed.

Keep traffic plans current and accessible. A traffic plan must be visible to staff and visitors and reflect the actual site configuration, including how pedestrians move around the yard to key facilities.

Control reversing and vehicle movements with added precautions. Where large vehicles reverse or share space with people, apply additional precautions to protect those nearby and implement them where risks make this necessary.

Prevent unsafe stacking of heavy items. Review storage arrangements for stability and condition, including whether items are deformed and what stack heights and locations increase the chance of collapse or falling.

Use prior enforcement as a prompt to improve for real. If enforcement action has already been taken, ensure changes are sustained and site practices are brought into line with legal duties rather than repeating known failures.

HSE Prosecution Link