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

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stockpiled three high, pedestrians routed through the same area as lorries and other vehicles, and a traffic plan that was not visible and did not reflect the current site layout. The company had previously faced enforcement action relating to stockpiling and collapse risks. It pleaded guilty to offences and was fined with costs ordered.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE inspection, inspectors observed vehicles and loading equipment being driven around the site with no effective segregation of pedestrian routes or crossing points. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the vehicle entrance route used by tipper lorries and other vehicles. The company had a visual traffic plan, but it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date due to changes in site configuration, including how people needed to access the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips unsafely stacked, with some deformed and stacked up to three high in places. This increased the risk of instability, collapse, or falling skips, and the stacking was in an area regularly accessed by workers.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE had previously served improvement notices after a further visit within 11 days, requiring action within a set timescale. HSE also noted prior enforcement in 2019, when prohibition notices were served relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Provide effective separation between pedestrians and vehicles. Make sure people on site can circulate using designated pedestrian routes and crossing points, so they are not forced to use vehicle routes shared with lorries and other plant.

Keep traffic management plans visible and current. A traffic plan must be clearly available to staff and visitors and updated when the site layout or access routes change, including pedestrian routes to facilities such as toilets.

Control storage of heavy items to prevent collapse. Where large and heavy skips are stockpiled, manage height and stacking stability, and address damaged or deformed units to reduce the risk of collapse and falling materials.

Avoid placing hazardous storage in frequently used areas. Do not stack skips in locations regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, because falls or collapse can place people at risk of serious harm.

Use previous enforcement as a trigger to improve systems. If enforcement action has already been taken for stockpiling and collapse risks, treat it as confirmation of legal expectations and ensure sustained changes are made across site practices and control measures.

HSE Prosecution Link