Waste Company Fined After Dangerous Skip Stockpiling and Poor Site Traffic Control

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste site, including skips stacked three high, deformed skips, and lack of effective segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. The employer had previously faced enforcement for similar risks, yet improvement notices were still required. The company pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined.

What Was The Incident?

At a waste and recycling site, HSE observed vehicles and machinery being driven around the yard without effective segregation for people on foot. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the vehicle route. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff and visitors and was out of date after site changes, so it did not account for key pedestrian movements, including access across the yard to toilets. HSE also found skips unsafely stacked, with some deformed, a three high stack in places, and skips placed in an area regularly accessed by workers. HSE described the risk of collapse as potentially catastrophic.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined 167000 with 16195 ordered for costs. HSE had previously served prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse, and later served improvement notices following the 2022 inspection.

Key Points To Consider

Keep vehicles and pedestrians properly separated. Ensure the site layout and route planning provide clear designated pedestrian routes or crossing points so people do not need to use vehicle routes, especially where vehicle movement is frequent or involves reversing.

Maintain traffic management that staff can actually use. A traffic plan is not enough if it is not visible and current. Review arrangements when the site changes so pedestrian movements and key access points are covered and followed.

Control skip storage to prevent collapse and falling. Do not stockpile skips in a way that creates instability. Take account of size and weight, condition of skips including deformation, and stacking height, and do not place stored skips where people regularly pass on foot or in vehicles.

Act on enforcement history and previous warnings. If earlier enforcement identified stockpiling and collapse risks, treat it as a clear signal to reassess and improve control measures rather than relying on existing arrangements.

Use proportional precautions for high consequence risks. Where heavy items could collapse with severe consequences, ensure the workplace organisation, planning and safety controls are robust enough to protect everyone on site, including those beyond the main workforce.

HSE Prosecution Link