Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling And Poor Vehicle Pedestrian Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked up to three high in areas used regularly by people on foot and in vehicles, and poor segregation between vehicles and pedestrians. The employer had improvement notices following enforcement concerns, including earlier prohibition notices for similar issues, yet serious risk controls were not effectively implemented.

What Was The Incident?

Inspectors visited the site and observed vehicles such as tipper lorries and loading shovels being driven around the yard, while pedestrians were forced to use routes shared with vehicles because the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked. There were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. Although a traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to site layout, so it did not reflect key pedestrian movements. Inspectors also found skips piled three high in places, some deformed and therefore less stable, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling. The skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers either on foot or in vehicles.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined £167,000, with costs of £16,195 ordered. HSE also issued improvement notices requiring corrective action within a specified timescale following the initial inspection and subsequent concerns. The case also noted that the employer had been subject to prior enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse.

Key Points To Consider

Provide real separation between vehicles and pedestrians. Do not rely on informal arrangements where pedestrian access shares movement with lorries and other vehicles; use clear designated pedestrian routes and crossing points where needed.

Keep traffic arrangements visible, current, and effective. A traffic plan only helps if staff and visitors can see and understand it, and if it is updated when the site layout or vehicle movements change.

Control the risk of falling and collapse from stockpiled materials. Where items have weight and stability risks, ensure storage and stacking heights are managed and unsuitable condition items, such as deformed skips, are not used in unsafe arrangements.

Avoid placing hazards in routes regularly used by people. Do not locate high risk stockpiles in areas people must access routinely on foot or in vehicles, because this increases exposure to falling objects and loss of stability.

Use previous enforcement as a prompt to improve, not repeat. If earlier prohibition or improvement action has identified similar legal duties, make sure corrective measures are delivered and verified rather than assuming compliance will follow.

HSE Prosecution Link