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

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in places, poor vehicle and pedestrian segregation, and a traffic plan that was not visible or up to date. The employer pleaded guilty to offences and was fined.

What Was The Incident?

Inspectors visited the site and observed vehicles and machinery moving around freely while pedestrian routes were not safely separated. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles. There were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points, despite the need for additional precautions where large vehicles reverse. The company had a visual traffic plan, but it was not visible to staff or visitors and did not cover key pedestrian movements after the site layout changed. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed skips and stacks up to three high in places. This increased the likelihood of collapse or falling, and the stacks were located in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or by vehicles, putting people at risk of death or serious personal injury.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33 1 a of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing in duties to put employees, agency workers and other persons on site at risk. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Physically separate pedestrians and vehicles. Ensure pedestrians have designated routes and crossing points where vehicles operate, rather than forcing them to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles.

Control reversing and vehicle movements with extra precautions. Where large vehicles must reverse, identify the risks and implement additional measures to protect people working nearby, not just rely on general site traffic arrangements.

Keep site traffic plans visible and current. A traffic plan is only useful if staff and visitors can see it and it reflects the current site layout, including pedestrian movements such as access to welfare facilities.

Prevent skip instability and avoid placing hazards in walkways. Do not stockpile skips in ways that increase the likelihood of collapse, and avoid locating stacked items in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles.

Learn from past enforcement and act before risks escalate. This case followed earlier enforcement activity about stockpiling and collapse risks, showing the need to correct known legal duties promptly and effectively rather than waiting for further notices.

HSE Prosecution Link