Waste Company Fined After Dangerous Skip Stockpiling and Poor Site Traffic Control

Brief Summary

HSE found multiple serious health and safety failings at a waste and recycling site, including skips piled up to three high and no effective segregation between vehicles and pedestrians. Despite having a traffic plan, it was not visible, was out of date, and did not cover key pedestrian movements. The company had also previously been subject to prohibition notices about stockpiling risks.

What Was The Incident?

On the site visit in August 2022, HSE observed that tipper lorries and loading shovels were driven around an active yard and pedestrians were forced to use the vehicle route because the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked. There were no designated pedestrian routes or crossing points that effectively separated people on foot from vehicles. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and it was out of date after changes to the site layout, meaning it did not address important pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets. HSE also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed, and in places the stack height was three high. The stacking increased instability and the risk of collapse or falling, particularly because skips were placed in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles.

What Was The Outcome?

After improvement notices were served and a further visit took place, HSE investigation found the company had previously received enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and collapse risks. The company pleaded guilty to two offences for failing to fulfil its duties to protect people on site from risk of death or serious personal injury. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Do not rely on a traffic plan that staff cannot see. Where traffic arrangements are required, ensure plans are readily visible to staff and visitors and are actually usable for day to day movements on site.

Provide real segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. If vehicles and large vehicles operate around people, set up safe routes and crossing points and prevent pedestrians from being forced to use vehicle routes.

Keep traffic control arrangements up to date with site changes. If the site layout changes, review and update traffic management so it covers key pedestrian movements such as access to welfare facilities.

Control skip stability and stacking height. Treat skip stockpiling as a major collapse risk by managing how skips are stacked, accounting for size and weight, and addressing deformation that indicates instability.

Act quickly after enforcement and use it to improve systems, not just comply. Improvement notices and prior enforcement history should trigger a structured review of hazards and controls, particularly where previous prohibition action already identified similar risks.

HSE Prosecution Link