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

Brief Summary

HSE prosecuted a waste and recycling employer after finding multiple health and safety failures at a site in south east London, including skips stockpiled up to three high in areas accessed by workers and no effective segregation between vehicles and pedestrians. The employer was also found to have an out of date traffic plan and to have previously been subject to enforcement action for similar risks.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit on 11 August 2022, inspectors observed tipper lorries and loading shovels being driven around the site, with a pedestrian entrance that was chained and padlocked. Pedestrians were forced to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles, with no effective segregation through 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed since it was created, including failure to address pedestrian access routes such as to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed skips increasing instability, stacks reaching three high in places, and skips placed in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or by vehicle, creating a high risk of falling or collapse.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) and was fined £167,000. It was also ordered to pay £16,195 in costs. HSE had served improvement notices requiring action within a specified timescale, and HSE also noted the employer had previously received prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Prevent collapse risks from unstable skip stacking. If skips are stockpiled, control the stacking arrangement and condition of skips to reduce instability, and avoid locations where people are routinely present or near stack faces.

Ensure vehicles and pedestrians are effectively segregated. Organise site circulation so pedestrians can travel using designated routes and crossing points separate from vehicle movements, especially where large vehicles operate and reversing may be required.

Keep traffic management plans current and visible. A traffic plan must reflect current site layout and key pedestrian movements, and staff and visitors must be able to see and use it when planning movement around the yard.

Use enforcement actions to drive sustained improvement. When improvement notices or earlier enforcement action has already identified similar risks, treat it as a clear signal that previous controls were not enough and do not rely on plans that do not address new or changed site conditions.

Recognise the seriousness of hazardous materials transport activities. Where heavy equipment and large loads are involved, the potential consequences of unsafe arrangements can be severe, so review control measures across vehicles, pedestrians, and storage or stockpiling areas together.

HSE Prosecution Link