Waste Company Fined After Dangerous Skip Stockpiling and Poor Vehicle Pedestrian Control

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety management failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stockpiled up to three high in areas used by workers and poor segregation of pedestrians from vehicles. The employer was fined after pleading guilty to offences.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles including tipper lorries and loading shovels being driven around the site. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route as vehicles. There was no effective segregation using designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after site layout changes, so it did not cover key pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed and therefore more unstable. Stacks were up to three high in places, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling, and they were located in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or by vehicle.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to fulfil duties to put employees, agency workers and other persons at the site at risk of death or serious personal injury. The company was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 costs. HSE had previously served prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse, and improvement notices were issued following the 2022 inspection with required actions within a specified timescale.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Ensure people on foot have safe routes and crossing points, rather than being pushed to use vehicle routes, and review arrangements where site access is restricted.

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