Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Vehicle Pedestrian Setup And Skip Stockpiling

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple failures at a waste and recycling site, including lack of effective segregation between vehicles and pedestrians and skips stacked up to three high in areas accessed by workers. The enforcement action followed earlier prohibition notices in 2019 and led to a prosecution, fine, and costs.

What Was The Incident?

HSE inspected the site and observed vehicles including tipper lorries and loading shovels being driven around the yard, with the pedestrian entrance chained and padlocked. Pedestrians were forced to use the same route as vehicles because there were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. The company had a visual traffic plan, but it was not visible to staff and visitors and was out of date after changes to the site layout, including pedestrian access across the yard to toilets. HSE also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed, increasing instability. In places the stacks were three high and were located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, creating a serious risk of skips falling or the stack collapsing.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs at a hearing on 5 May 2026. HSE had previously served prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and the risk of collapse, and improvement notices were served after the 2022 findings with required actions within specified timescales.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles properly. Ensure pedestrians have designated routes and crossing points so they do not need to share vehicle routes, and make sure the arrangement is effective across the whole site.

Keep traffic planning current and visible. A traffic plan must be readily visible to staff and visitors and updated when the site layout changes so it reflects key pedestrian movements and circulation routes.

Control reversing and manoeuvring risks. Where large vehicles reverse or manoeuvre in shared areas, you must identify the specific risks and implement additional precautions to protect people who are nearby.

Prevent unsafe stockpiling and instability. Do not stack large skips in a way that increases the likelihood of collapse, especially where some skips are deformed, and take account of the consequences of any failure given their size and weight.

Act promptly on enforcement findings and repeats. If you have previously received enforcement action, treat subsequent findings as a serious warning that systems are not working and ensure improvements are completed within required timescales.

HSE Prosecution Link