Waste Employer Fined After Unsafe Skip Stacking and Weak Traffic Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE found an employer failed to manage vehicle and pedestrian movements safely and also stored skips in a way that increased the risk of collapse in areas used by workers. The employer had enforcement history relating to stockpiling and collapse risk, yet improvements were not sufficient. The company pleaded guilty and was fined, with costs ordered.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit on 11 August 2022, vehicles and loading equipment were observed moving around the site without effective segregation from pedestrians. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles. A traffic plan existed but was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed, so it did not cover key pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets. HSE also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed and piled three high in places. The stacking was in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, creating a high risk of skips falling, and HSE described collapse consequences as potentially catastrophic.

What Was The Outcome?

After improvement notices were served, a further visit took place 11 days later to check compliance. The employer had previously been subject to prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to fulfil duties under s2 and s3 by exposing people on site, including employees and agency workers, to risk of death or serious personal injury. The company was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Do not rely on general site layouts or informal practice. Provide clear designated pedestrian routes or crossing points and ensure people are not pushed onto the same routes used by lorries and other vehicles.

Keep traffic arrangements current and visible. A traffic plan must reflect how the site is actually configured. Make sure it is accessible to staff and visitors and update it when layouts change so it covers key pedestrian movements.

Control reversing and vehicle movement risks near people. Where large vehicles operate and reversing is required, apply additional precautions as needed to protect those working nearby, based on the specific site risks and movement patterns.

Prevent unsafe stockpiling and collapse of stored items. Stacking must not create instability. Where items such as skips can be deformed or become unstable when piled high, you need a safe system that prevents collapse and falling in areas accessed by people.

Act decisively on enforcement history and improvement notices. If you have previously received enforcement action for the same type of failure, improvements must be timely and effective. Use improvement notices to drive real change rather than repeating inadequate arrangements.

HSE Prosecution Link