Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Weak Traffic Management

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in areas used by workers and inadequate segregation of pedestrians from vehicles. The case matters because traffic management and safe storage of heavy items must be designed and maintained so risks such as vehicle pedestrian conflict and stack collapse are prevented.

What Was The Incident?

On inspection, HSE observed vehicles and loading equipment moving around the site with no effective separation between people and vehicles. The pedestrian entrance was secured, forcing pedestrians to use the same access route used by lorries and other vehicles, with no designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. While a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after site layout changes, including missing key pedestrian movements such as access to toilets. HSE also found skips unsafely stacked, some deformed, making the stacks unstable. In places the stacks were three high, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling. The skips were positioned in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot and in vehicles, creating risk of people being struck or injured by falling skips.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33 1 a of the Act. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE also described previous enforcement action in 2019, when prohibition notices had been served about stockpiling and collapse risk, and it issued improvement notices requiring action within set timescales after the 2022 inspection.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Do not rely on informal routes. Provide clearly designated pedestrian routes and crossing arrangements so people are not forced to use vehicle areas, especially where large vehicles operate.

Keep traffic plans visible and up to date. A traffic plan must be easy for staff and visitors to use. If the site layout changes, update the plan and ensure it covers the real pedestrian and access movements across the yard.

Control risks from reversing and vehicle movements. Where large vehicles reverse or move close to people, plan and implement additional precautions. Base control measures on the specific movements in the workplace, not just general site rules.

Stack heavy waste items safely and avoid unstable arrangements. Prevent stack collapse by using safe stacking arrangements and addressing defects such as deformation. Reduce height and instability where needed and remove unsafe storage layouts.

Act on previous enforcement and improvement notices. If enforcement action has already identified weaknesses in stockpiling and collapse risk, ensure learning is implemented promptly and fully. Treat improvement notices as a clear requirement to remedy breaches within the specified timescales.

HSE Prosecution Link