Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stacking and Poor Vehicle Pedestrian Controls

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety management failures at a waste and recycling site, including lack of effective segregation between vehicles and pedestrians and skips stacked three high in areas workers regularly accessed. The employer had previously faced enforcement action related to similar skip stockpiling and collapse risks. The company pleaded guilty to offences and was fined with costs.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit on 11 August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles, including tipper lorries and loading shovels, moving freely around the site. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the vehicle route. There were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points, despite requirements to organise workplaces so pedestrians and vehicles can circulate safely. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to the site layout, so it did not address key pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets.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 risk of collapse or falling, and skips were positioned in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles.

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 company was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs on 5 May 2026. HSE had also previously served prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and the risk of skips collapsing or falling.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Ensure pedestrians have safe routes and crossing points that are properly designated and used, rather than being forced onto vehicle circulation areas.

Keep traffic plans visible and up to date. A traffic plan must be accessible to staff and visitors and reflect current site layout and pedestrian movements, not a document that has become outdated.

Control reversing and mixed traffic risks. Where large vehicles need to reverse or move around areas where people are present, apply additional precautions appropriate to the risk to protect those nearby.

Avoid unstable skip stockpiling and consider consequences. Check skip stacking arrangements for stability, including deformation and height, and assess the likelihood and severity of any collapse where people access the area.

Act promptly after enforcement and address repeat failings. If improvement or prohibition notices have already highlighted similar hazards, demonstrate effective change within the required timescales and ensure risk controls are implemented on site.

HSE Prosecution Link