Waste Company Fined for Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Site Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failings at a waste and recycling site, including skips stockpiled three high with deformed stacks and a lack of effective segregation between vehicles and pedestrians. The case shows how poor traffic management and unstable storage arrangements can create potentially catastrophic risks, particularly where enforcement action has previously been taken.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE inspection in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles and machinery being driven around the yard with no effective segregation. The pedestrian entrance was secured, forcing pedestrians to use the vehicle route, and there were no designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. A visual traffic plan existed but was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because site layout changes were not reflected in the plan. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed and piled three high in places, increasing the risk of collapse or falling. The skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers, whether on foot or in vehicles, putting people at serious risk.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE had issued multiple improvement notices requiring remedial action within set timescales and found the company had previously been subject to enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Ensure pedestrians and vehicles are truly separated. Organise site layouts and routes so people can move without sharing unsafe vehicle routes, including clear designated pedestrian routes and crossing points.

Keep traffic management information current and visible. A traffic plan is not enough if it is not accessible to those on site and does not reflect changes to layout or how people actually move around the yard.

Control storage arrangements for heavy and unstable items. Check that storage methods prevent collapse, particularly where items are heavy and can become unstable, including assessing deformation and stack height.

Stop high risk storage in routes that people access regularly. Do not place unstable stockpiles in areas regularly accessed by workers, whether they are walking past or working near vehicles.

Use prior enforcement as a trigger for sustained improvement. If the business has already received enforcement action on related issues, treat it as evidence of systemic weakness and ensure effective controls are implemented and maintained, not just addressed in the short term.

HSE Prosecution Link