Waste Employer Fined Over Unsafe Skip Stockpiling And Poor Traffic Management

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple workplace safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high with deformed skips, poor pedestrian and vehicle separation, and a traffic plan that was not visible or current. The employer had previously faced enforcement for similar risks, making the repeated failures significant.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE site visit, inspectors observed vehicles moving around the yard without effective separation from pedestrians. The pedestrian route was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route used by lorries and other vehicles. There were no designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and had become out of date because site layout and key pedestrian movements had changed. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some skips deformed and stacked three high in places. The risk was increased because the stacked skips were located in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or by vehicles, creating a serious risk of collapse or falling.

What Was The Outcome?

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

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Provide safe designated pedestrian routes and crossing points so people do not need to use vehicle routes, and ensure vehicle movements do not put pedestrians at risk.

Control reversing and vehicle movement risks. Where large vehicles must reverse or manoeuvre within workplaces, review the site layout and implement additional precautions to protect anyone working nearby or moving around the yard.

Keep traffic management information visible and current. A traffic plan only helps if it is visible to staff and visitors and updated when site configurations change, including changes to how people access key facilities such as toilets.

Prevent dangerous stockpiling and unstable stacks. Ensure skips and similar items are stacked safely using arrangements that prevent collapse, including taking account of condition and stability such as deformed skips.

Act on enforcement and repeat risks. Previous enforcement should trigger immediate review and sustained improvement, rather than repeated exposure to similar risks such as stockpiling and collapse hazards.

HSE Prosecution Link