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

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including lack of effective segregation between vehicles and pedestrians and skips stockpiled three high, with some deformed. The company had previously faced enforcement action for similar issues, and was fined for failing to protect workers and other people from risks of death or serious injury.

What Was The Incident?

On an HSE visit in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles and loading equipment being driven around the site, while the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked. Pedestrians were directed to use the same route used by lorries and other vehicles, with no effective segregation through designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. Although the company had a visual traffic plan, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date due to changes in site configuration, including access routes to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some skips deformed and stacks up to three high in places, including in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to two offences for failing to meet duties to protect people on site from risks of death or serious personal injury. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE had previously served prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse, and improvement notices were served after a further visit 11 days later.

Key Points To Consider

Separate vehicles and pedestrians effectively. Plan and maintain clear pedestrian routes and crossing points so people do not have to share vehicle routes, especially where vehicles move and reversing may be required.

Keep traffic management information current and usable. A traffic plan is not enough if it is not visible and does not reflect current site layouts and pedestrian movements, including access to key facilities such as toilets.

Control skip storage to prevent collapse and falling. Ensure skips are stacked in a stable way, taking account of their size and weight, any deformation of skips, and the risk of collapse or falling from excessive stacking heights.

Manage hazards where people regularly pass or work. Do not place potentially unstable stored items in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, and consider the realistic movement patterns across the yard.

Act on prior enforcement and repeat failures. If enforcement action has already identified legal duties and weaknesses, ensure corrective actions are implemented effectively rather than assuming the same issues will not recur.

HSE Prosecution Link