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

Brief Summary

HSE identified multiple site management failures at a waste and recycling operation, including skips piled up to three high in areas accessed by workers and lack of effective segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. Following improvement notices and a history of enforcement action relating to similar risks, the employer pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined.

What Was The Incident?

On 11 August 2022, HSE inspectors visited a waste and recycling site and observed vehicles and loading equipment moving around the yard. The pedestrian entrance was secured, and pedestrians had to use the vehicle entrance route. There was no effective segregation through designated pedestrian routes or crossing points, despite vehicles circulating freely and large vehicles needing to reverse. The employer had a visual traffic plan but it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed. It did not reflect key pedestrian movements, including access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed and therefore more unstable. In places the stacking height was three high, increasing the risk of collapse or falling. The skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or by vehicle, creating a risk of serious injury if a skip fell.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined £167,000, with costs of £16,195 ordered. HSE enforcement action included improvement notices served after the initial concerns, and the HSE investigation found the employer had previously been subject to prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles effectively across the whole yard. Use designated pedestrian routes and crossing arrangements so people are not forced onto vehicle routes, especially where vehicles move around freely and reversing may be required.

Keep traffic plans visible and current. A visual traffic plan is not enough if it is not accessible to staff and visitors and does not match the current site layout and pedestrian movements.

Control skip stacking to prevent collapse. Avoid stacking that increases instability, including excessive stacking height and placement where deformed skips and falling risks could affect workers and others on foot or in vehicles.

Remove pedestrians from areas where falling objects could occur. Do not stockpile unstable items in areas regularly accessed by workers, and ensure the site layout and arrangements prevent people being struck if collapse or falling occurs.

Act decisively when previous enforcement shows the issue is known. Where enforcement has already highlighted duties and risks, treat it as a warning to correct the underlying management failures rather than relying on temporary measures.

HSE Prosecution Link