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

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in areas accessed by workers and a lack of effective segregation between vehicles and pedestrians. The case shows how quickly conditions on a busy yard can create potentially catastrophic risks, particularly where previous enforcement action has already highlighted legal duties.

What Was The Incident?

HSE inspection identified traffic and movement management failures. Vehicles including tipper lorries and loading shovels were driven around the site, while the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the vehicle entrance route. There were 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because site configuration had changed, so it did not cover key pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets. HSE also found skips unsafely stacked, with some deformed and stacked three high in places, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling. The skips were placed in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, creating a high risk of skips falling onto people.

What Was The Outcome?

The waste and recycling company pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. It was fined 167,000 and ordered to pay 16,195 in costs. HSE also noted the company had previously received enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 concerning stockpiling and risks of collapse, and improvement notices were served after the inspection.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Plan and implement clear pedestrian routes and crossings so people do not have to use vehicle routes, and ensure segregation is effective across the whole yard.

null. null

null. null

null. null

null. null

HSE Prosecution Link