Waste Company Fined After Dangerous Skip Stacking and Poor Pedestrian Vehicle Segregation

Brief Summary

The Health and Safety Executive found multiple failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips stacked three high in areas regularly accessed by workers and a lack of effective pedestrian vehicle segregation. The employer was fined for offences relating to putting people on site at risk of death or serious personal injury.

What Was The Incident?

On 11 August 2022, HSE inspectors visited a waste and recycling site where vehicles such as tipper lorries and loading shovels circulated around the yard. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, meaning pedestrians had to use the same route as lorries and other vehicles. Inspectors found no effective segregation through 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because site arrangements had changed. It did not address key pedestrian movements, including access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips that were unsafely stacked, with some deformed and therefore less stable. In places the skips were stacked three high, increasing the likelihood of collapse or a falling skip. The skips were located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, placing people at significant risk of being struck or injured if the stack failed.

What Was The Outcome?

Following the findings, improvement notices were served requiring action within specified timescales. HSE investigation also identified that the employer had been subject to prior enforcement, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Provide effective pedestrian vehicle segregation. Do not rely on barriers being in place or informal routing. Ensure designated pedestrian routes and crossing arrangements are actively managed so pedestrians are not forced to use vehicle routes.

Keep traffic management information current and usable. A traffic plan must be visible to staff and visitors and reflect current site layout and pedestrian movements. Review and update it when the configuration or operations change.

Control stockpiling to prevent collapses. Where items such as skips are heavy and can collapse, apply safe stacking arrangements and take account of instability, including visible deformation and factors that increase height and risk.

Reduce exposure by managing where stacks are placed. Do not store stacked skips in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles. Maintain separation so that, if a stack fails, people are not within the danger zone.

Act on enforcement history and legal duties. If previous prohibition or other enforcement has been issued, use that as a clear signal to address root causes rather than waiting for further inspections, with effective controls implemented and sustained.

HSE Prosecution Link