Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Pedestrian Control

Brief Summary

HSE identified multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling workplace, including skips stacked three high in places and poor segregation between pedestrians and vehicles. The enforcement followed improvement notices after an initial inspection and the company previously had related enforcement action, making the repeat nature of the risk a key concern.

What Was The Incident?

At the site, inspectors observed vehicles such as tipper lorries and loading shovels moving around freely. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the vehicle route. There were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points to separate people from vehicles. Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed, including not addressing key pedestrian movements to areas such as toilets.

What Was The Outcome?

The company pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £167,000, with £16,195 ordered in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Provide real pedestrian vehicle segregation. Pedestrians must be routed and protected so they can circulate safely, with designated routes and crossing arrangements that work in practice.

Keep traffic plans visible and current. A traffic plan is only useful if it is visible to those on site and updated when the site configuration changes, including routes to welfare facilities.

Control reversing and mixed traffic risks. Where large vehicles reverse or pedestrians share space with vehicles, employers must identify additional precautions and implement them to protect people working nearby.

Manage skip stacking to prevent collapse and falling. Skips must be stored in a stable way, avoiding unsafe stacking heights and deformed skips that increase instability and the risk of collapse or falling.

Treat repeat enforcement concerns seriously. If enforcement action and notices have previously been served, it is a clear warning that legal duties are not being met and corrective action must be effective and sustained.

HSE Prosecution Link