Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Site Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE investigated a South East London waste site after finding failures that put people at risk, including poor segregation of pedestrians and vehicles and skips stacked three high, some deformed and located in regularly accessed areas. The company had enforcement history relating to stockpiling and collapse risks, and was prosecuted for offences connected to putting people at risk of death or serious injury.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE inspection on 11 August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles such as tipper lorries and loading shovels being driven around the site. Pedestrian access was not properly separated, with the pedestrian entrance chained and padlocked so people had to use a route also used by lorries and other vehicles. There were no effective 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because site configuration had changed, so it did not reflect important pedestrian movements, including access across the yard to toilets. HSE also found skips unsafely stacked, with some deformed. Skips were stacked up to three high in places, increasing the risk of collapse or falling, and they were located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles.

What Was The Outcome?

After a further visit 11 days later, improvement notices were served requiring remedial action within a specified timescale. The company previously received prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse. The company pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Segregate pedestrians and vehicles in the yard. Ensure designated pedestrian routes and crossing points are in place and effective, so people do not have to share the same route as reversing or manoeuvring vehicles.

Keep traffic management information current and visible. A visual traffic plan must be visible to staff and visitors and kept up to date when the site configuration changes, including routes for access to facilities.

Control skip storage to prevent collapse risk. Where skips are large and heavy, manage their stacking arrangements so instability and collapse are prevented, and account for any deformation of skips.

Remove high risk items from areas people regularly access. Avoid placing unstable stockpiles in areas that are regularly used by workers on foot or in vehicles, because a fall could have severe consequences.

Act on enforcement history and improvement notices. If enforcement notices and earlier prohibitions identify the same legal failings, ensure corrective actions are implemented within the required timescales and are effective, not just planned.

HSE Prosecution Link