Waste Company Fined for Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Site Traffic Management

Brief Summary

An employer in the waste and recycling sector was prosecuted by the workplace regulator following enforcement findings at a site visit in 2022. Failures included lack of effective separation between pedestrians and vehicles, traffic controls that were not usable in practice, and skips stacked three high in areas accessed by workers, creating a risk of collapse with potentially catastrophic consequences.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit on 11 August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles and loading equipment driven around the site with no effective segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, and people had to use the vehicle route used by lorries and other vehicles. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date due to changes to the site layout, including missing key pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips unsafely stacked, with some deformed, and stacked three high in places. The stacking increased the likelihood of collapse or falling, particularly because skips were located in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE enforcement action had already been taken previously, with prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse. After improvement notices were served, HSE carried out a further visit 11 days later to check compliance.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrian and vehicle routes effectively. Organise the workplace so pedestrians and vehicles can move safely, with designated pedestrian routes and crossing arrangements rather than forcing people to use vehicle routes.

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HSE Prosecution Link