Waste Company Fined After Unsafely Stockpiling Skips and Poor Vehicle Pedestrian Separation

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips being stockpiled three high and pedestrians being directed through vehicle routes without effective segregation or suitable crossing arrangements. The employer had previously been subject to enforcement action relating to stockpiling and collapse risks.

What Was The Incident?

HSE inspected the site and observed vehicles and loading equipment moving around an area where pedestrian entry was chained and padlocked. Pedestrians were required to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles because there were no designated pedestrian routes or crossing points and there was no effective segregation. A traffic plan existed, but it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after site changes, including movements such as access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed and some stacks up to three high, increasing the risk of collapse or falling. The skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers, both on foot and in vehicles, exposing people to serious injury if a skip fell.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences for failing to fulfil duties under health and safety legislation by putting people on site at risk of death or serious personal injury. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs after prosecution at Southwark Crown Court on 5 May 2026. HSE had previously served improvement notices following concerns and noted that earlier prohibition notices had been served in 2019 regarding stockpiling and collapse risks.

Key Points To Consider

Provide effective separation between pedestrians and vehicles. Plan site circulation so pedestrians have designated routes and crossing arrangements rather than being directed into vehicle routes.

Keep traffic management arrangements current and visible. A visual traffic plan must be visible to staff and visitors and updated when site configuration changes, including key pedestrian movements such as access to welfare facilities.

Control risks from stockpiled skips, including stability. Ensure skips are stacked safely, taking account of size and weight and avoiding layouts that increase the chance of collapse or falling, especially where people regularly access the area.

Do not locate high risk materials where people pass. Keep stockpiles away from areas regularly used on foot or in vehicles, because falling or collapse risks become far more serious when the area is actively occupied.

Use enforcement history to drive improvement. Where the regulator has previously identified similar breaches and served prohibition notices, reassess controls and ensure legal duties are met rather than repeating known failures.

HSE Prosecution Link