The incident took place on 10 August 2023, when 57-year-old James Tabiri, who worked as a Sort Line Operative at the site, was making his way to the site office across the weighbridge.
As Tabiri walked behind a skip wagon, the vehicle began reversing and struck him from behind.
Despite emergence assistance, Tabiri sustained fatal injuries from the wagon’s rear wheels and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gary Carvell, Health and Safety Director at Biffa, commented: “On behalf of the company, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Tabiri.
“The health and safety of our staff, contractors, visitors and members of the public is our overriding priority.
“We recognise in this case that the arrangements in place to ensure the safe separation of pedestrians and vehicles were not effective and we accept full responsibility for the breaches accepted in court.”
‘Easily avoidable’ incident
An investigation by the Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Biffa had failed to effectively review and monitor the control measures in place to separate pedestrians from vehicles on site.
According to HSE, CCTV footage from the week before the incident revealed that it was common practice for workers to bypass designated pedestrian walkways, with some seen climbing over safety barriers designed to keep them apart from vehicle movements.
Carvell added: “Immediately following the incident, we carried out a comprehensive health and safety review of the site and made several changes to reduce the likelihood of further harm. We are committed to workplace safety across all our UK sites.”
Under health and safety law, employers must ensure that traffic routes are designed and maintained so that they can be used without putting workers at risk.
Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Elliot Archer said: “This incident was easily avoidable. Control measures were in place to allow pedestrians and vehicles to move safely, but a lack of monitoring and supervision allowed poor working practices to develop between the workers on site.
“Our investigation found a casual attitude to health and safety with workers treating a high hazard site like a playground.”
Biffa fined £2.5 million
Biffa pleaded guilty to breaching the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
At Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 15 October 2025, the company was fined £2.48 million and ordered to pay £5,768.06 in costs.
The prosecution was brought by HSE Enforcement Lawyer Arfaq Nabi and Paralegal Officer Melissa Wardle.
Archer continued: “Nearly a quarter of all deaths involving workplace transport occur during reversing manoeuvres.
“This tragic incident should be a reminder to the waste industry not to become complacent with the risks workplace transport poses, and that even where control measures are in place to segregate pedestrians and vehicles, robust monitoring and supervision of their correct usage need to be in place.”
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