Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stockpiling and Poor Traffic Management

Brief Summary

The HSE found multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including ineffective separation between pedestrians and vehicles and skips stacked in a way that increased the risk of collapse. The company had previously faced enforcement action for similar issues but did not achieve sustained improvement.

What Was The Incident?

On an inspection in August 2022, HSE observed vehicles including tipper lorries and loading shovels being driven around the site without effective segregation from pedestrians. The pedestrian entrance was chained and padlocked, forcing pedestrians to use the vehicle route, and there were no effective designated pedestrian routes or crossing points. Although a traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date because the site layout had changed. Inspectors also found skips unsafely stacked, including some that were deformed, stacked up to three high in places. The risk was increased by the stack height and by locating the stacked skips in areas regularly accessed by workers on foot or by vehicle, creating a risk that skips could fall.

What Was The Outcome?

Following the inspection, improvement notices were served requiring action within a specified timescale. HSE carried out a further investigation and found the company had previously been subject to prohibition notices in 2019 relating to stockpiling and the risk of collapse. The company pleaded guilty to two offences under s33(1)(a) of the Act. It was fined £167,000 and ordered to pay £16,195 in costs.

Key Points To Consider

Provide effective pedestrian and vehicle segregation. Organise site circulation so pedestrians and vehicles can move safely, with clear designated pedestrian routes and crossing points where needed.

Keep traffic plans current and usable. A traffic plan must reflect the current site layout and must be visible and understood by staff and visitors, especially where pedestrian movements matter.

Control reversing and vehicle movements with extra precautions. Where large vehicles must reverse, review the risks and implement additional precautions to protect those working nearby and anyone affected by site movements.

Prevent collapse by managing stockpiling arrangements. Do not allow hazardous stacking. Consider the stability of loads, any deformation of skips, and the height and placement of stacks, particularly where people access the area.

Sustain improvements after enforcement action. If enforcement notices have already been issued, ensure changes are embedded and maintained, not treated as short term fixes.

HSE Prosecution Link