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

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple workplace safety failings at a South East London waste and recycling site, including skips piled three high in areas accessed by people and poor vehicle and pedestrian segregation. Enforcement action followed after improvement notices, and the employer had previously faced enforcement over skip stockpiling risks.

What Was The Incident?

Inspectors visited a waste and recycling site in August 2022 and observed vehicles being driven around the yard, while the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked. Pedestrians were forced to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles, with no effective 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to site layout, including failure to address pedestrian movements to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed. In places, skips were piled three high, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling, and the stacks were in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE had served improvement notices requiring action within specified timescales and noted that the company had previously been subject to enforcement, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Control traffic routes to protect pedestrians. Ensure pedestrians have safe routes and crossing arrangements so they are not forced to share vehicle routes, especially where vehicles circulate frequently.

Keep site traffic plans current and visible. A traffic plan is not enough if it is out of date or not communicated to staff and visitors, particularly when the site layout changes.

Manage reversing and vehicle movement risks. Where large vehicles must reverse or move around the yard, assess the specific risks and put additional precautions in place to protect people nearby.

Prevent collapse by controlling storage height and condition. Stacking skips safely means considering stability, avoiding unsafe heights, and taking account of any deformation that can add instability.

Act early after enforcement and address repeat risks. If enforcement notices or earlier prohibition action have already highlighted duties, use that warning to implement effective controls promptly rather than allowing similar hazards to recur.

HSE Prosecution Link