Waste Company Fined After Unsafe Skip Stacking And Poor Pedestrian Vehicle Segregation

Brief Summary

HSE served improvement notices after finding multiple health and safety failures at a waste and recycling site, including skips being dangerously stacked and pedestrian routes not being effectively segregated from vehicles. The employer had previously faced enforcement action for stockpiling and risks of collapse.

What Was The Incident?

HSE visited the site in August 2022 and observed vehicles including tipper lorries and loading shovels moving around the site. Pedestrian access was restricted by chaining and padlocking the pedestrian entrance, forcing pedestrians to use a route used by lorries and other 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 Although a visual traffic plan existed, it was not visible to staff or visitors and was out of date after changes to the site layout, including not addressing key pedestrian movements such as access to toilets. HSE also found skips unsafely stacked, with some deformed and piled three high in places, increasing the likelihood of collapse or falling. The stacks were located in an area regularly accessed by workers on foot or in vehicles.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined £167,000, with £16,195 ordered in costs. HSE enforcement action had also been taken previously, including prohibition notices served in 2019 relating to stockpiling and risks of collapse, and improvement notices were served in 2022 requiring actions within specified timescales.

Key Points To Consider

Keep vehicles and pedestrians properly segregated. Do not force pedestrians to use vehicle routes; use clear designated pedestrian routes and appropriate crossing points to manage movement of people and large vehicles safely.

Control yard risks when layout changes. Traffic plans need to be visible to those using the site and kept up to date when the site configuration changes, including covering pedestrian movements to essential facilities.

Prevent dangerous stockpiling and unstable stacking. Avoid stacking waste containers in a way that increases collapse risk, especially where items are deformed or stacked higher than safe practical limits.

Stop workers accessing hazardous storage areas. Keep storage areas away from places that staff regularly access on foot or by vehicle, so that falling objects have less opportunity to strike people.

Use previous enforcement findings to drive improvement. If enforcement action has already highlighted weaknesses in duties for safe stockpiling and collapse prevention, the response must address root causes rather than relying on existing arrangements.

HSE Prosecution Link