Waste Company Fined for Dangerous Skip Stockpiling and Poor Site Traffic Controls

Brief Summary

HSE prosecuted an employer in South East London after inspectors found serious shortcomings in traffic management and skip storage arrangements that put pedestrians and workers at risk. The employer had previously faced enforcement over similar collapse risks. The court imposed a fine and costs following guilty pleas.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit in August 2022, inspectors observed multiple vehicles including tipper lorries and loading shovels moving freely around the yard. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the route normally used by vehicles. There were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points, despite the need for safe circulation of people and vehicles. The employer relied on a visual traffic plan, but it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to the site layout. HSE also identified skips unsafely stacked, with some deformed and stacked three high in places, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falls. The stacking took place in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, leaving people at risk of being struck by falling skips. A further HSE visit took place 11 days later after improvement notices were served requiring action within a set timescale, and HSE found the employer had previously been subject to prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and collapse risks.

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. The court fined the company £167,000 and ordered £16,195 costs at Southwark Crown Court on 5 May 2026.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles with clear, effective routes. Do not rely on ad hoc movement around the yard. Provide designated pedestrian routes and crossing points that work in practice, especially where large vehicles operate and reversing is required.

Keep traffic plans visible and current. A traffic plan must be visible to staff and visitors and updated when site arrangements change, so it reflects key pedestrian movements such as access to welfare facilities.

Control skip stacking to prevent collapse. Ensure skips are stacked in a stable way, taking account of their weight and size. Identify and prevent unsafe stacking features such as deformation and excessive height that increase collapse risk.

Do not place stored items in areas people regularly access. Review where skips are positioned across the site. Keep them out of routes regularly used on foot or by vehicles so the risk of falling material is reduced where people spend time.

Use prior enforcement as a trigger for stronger management controls. If enforcement action has previously identified similar risks, treat it as evidence that existing controls are not working and strengthen systems to ensure duties under health and safety law are met.

HSE Prosecution Link