» Back to listing Spate of deaths prompts HSE warning to waste sector

The HSE has cautioned the waste and recycling industry to redouble its efforts on health and safety, following nine deaths in separate incidents over the summer.

Nine lives were lost in separate incidents in just 12 weeks between June 2012 and September 2012, with several occurring in skip-hire and waste-transfer premises. Two of the incidents occurred on 17 August, one involving an employee being run over by a wheeled loading shovel at a waste-transfer site in Watford; the other saw an employee trapped in a waste compactor at a recycling plant in Batley, Leeds. In the latter incident, the worker died on 19 August.

Heather Bryant, HSE operations director and lead for waste and recycling strategy, said: “These fatal accidents should be a stark reminder for all employers in this sector to check their controls on use of vehicles and equipment, and to make sure that staff are properly trained and supervised.

“We will not hesitate to take action if we find evidence that lives are being put at risk. There is no room for complacency in this sector – close attention must be given to equipment like compactors and skip vehicles.”