Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stacking And Poor Traffic Management

Brief Summary

HSE fined a waste and recycling employer after it found multiple serious health and safety failures during a site inspection. The workplace had poor traffic management, ineffective segregation of pedestrians and vehicles, and skips stacked in a way that increased the risk of collapse or falling, including in areas regularly accessed by workers. The employer previously faced enforcement related to stockpiling and collapse risks, but similar concerns were found again, leading to prosecution and conviction.

What Was The Incident?

On 11 August 2022, HSE inspectors visited a waste and recycling site and observed vehicles moving freely around the yard, including tipper lorries and loading shovels. Pedestrian arrangements were unsafe because the pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the same route as vehicles. There were no effective 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed, so it did not address important pedestrian movements such as access across the yard to toilets. Inspectors also found skips stacked unsafely, with some deformed skips and stacks reaching three high in places. The stack height and deformity increased instability and the likelihood of collapse or falling. Skips were located in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles, increasing the risk to people if skips fell.

What Was The Outcome?

Following the initial inspection, improvement notices were served requiring action within specified timescales, and HSE carried out a further visit 11 days later. The investigation found the employer had previously been subject to enforcement action, including prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse. The employer pleaded guilty to two offences under section 33 1 a. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs on 5 May 2026.

Key Points To Consider

Separate pedestrians and vehicles effectively. Design and operate clear pedestrian routes and crossing points so people do not have to use vehicle routes, and ensure segregation is effective in practice.

Keep traffic plans current and usable. Traffic management arrangements must be visible to staff and visitors and updated when the site layout or movement patterns change, including routes to facilities such as toilets.

Control skip stacking risks to prevent collapse. Stacking should account for the size and weight of skips and be planned to avoid instability, including preventing deformed skips and limiting stack height where necessary to reduce collapse or falling risks.

Do not locate hazardous stockpiles where people must pass. Keep skips and other stored items out of areas that workers regularly access on foot or by vehicle, so people are not exposed if items fall.

Previous enforcement should trigger immediate improvement. If you have previously received enforcement for stockpiling or collapse hazards, you must review and improve control measures promptly and ensure they are implemented across the site.

HSE Prosecution Link