Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Site Traffic Controls

Brief Summary

HSE identified multiple site safety failures at a waste and recycling business, including skips stacked three high in areas accessed by people and poor segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. The employer had previously faced enforcement relating to stockpiling risks, yet repeated failures led to prosecution and a fine.

What Was The Incident?

During an HSE visit in August 2022, inspectors observed vehicles circulating freely on a site where pedestrians had no effective route separated from lorry and loading movements. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the vehicle entrance route. There were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. The employer had a visual traffic plan, but it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to the site layout, so it did not cover key pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some skips deformed and stacked three high in places. The height and condition of the stacks increased the risk of instability, collapse, or falling. Skips were placed in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, creating a high risk of people being struck if a skip fell. After improvement notices were served requiring remedial action, a follow up investigation found previous enforcement in 2019, when prohibition notices were served relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) and was fined £167,000, with £16,195 ordered in costs. HSE enforcement action included improvement notices and the company was previously subject to prohibition notices in 2019 about similar stockpiling risks.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles with real, usable routes. Plan and implement pedestrian routes and crossing points so people do not have to share the same circulation space with lorries and loading equipment.

null. null

null. null

null. null

null. null

HSE Prosecution Link