Safety reminder for operators of shared waste sites

LondonWaste and ICSL Accord a subsidiary of Enterprise were prosecuted in December 2012 following an incident in which a lorry driver sustained life-changing injuries.

The firms were found to have breached health and safety legislation at a hearing on December 19 at the Old Bailey. The court was told the agency worker, then 49, was employed by ICSL Accord as a skip lorry driver. He was tipping rubbish into a deep waste chute at Hornsey Street Waste and Recycling Centre in Islington, which is operated by LondonWaste, on December 3 2007 when he fell ten metres from the rear of the vehicle down the chute.

The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which prosecuted the companies for serious safety failings. LondonWaste Ltd of Advent Way, Edmonton was fined 40,000 and ordered to pay 34,265 in costs. ICSL Accord of Albany Way, Welwyn Garden City which pleaded guilty – was fined 24,000 and ordered to pay 11,241 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Neil Fry said: This was a life-changing incident with devastating consequences for the agency worker. It is also one that could have been prevented had both firms ensured that adequate safety measures were in place, which are so important in the waste and recycling sector.

Companies must manage risks through training, instruction, supervision and monitoring, and adopting safe working practices. When companies like London Waste Ltd and ICSL Accord Ltd share sites, it is essential they cooperate and coordinate the management of health and safety with one another.

Incident

The court heard that the worker, from Islington, who does not want to be named, sustained life threatening injuries in the incident. He was treated at the Whittington Hospital for fractures to two vertebrae and was in a spine brace for nine months, unable to work.

The HSE said an independent medical report suggested the man would never be able to return to his career as a HGV driver. He now walks with a limp and is limited in the range of activities he can undertake.

The HSE told the court that in 2006 LondonWaste sites, including Hornsey Street, were inspected and audited. HSE inspectors recommended the company reassessed its tipping arrangements and avoided work at height by directing drivers to tip their loads into flat bays.

The incident could have been prevented had that procedure been in place, according to the HSE, which noted that the firm has since made improvements to ensure this.

It also found that ICSL Accord failed to give some employees sufficient training in how to safely tip rubbish at the site and that London Waste failed to monitor non-compliance of site safety rules, and both companies failed to cooperate and coordinate site activities.

Vigilant

ICSL Accord Ltd was acquired by Enterprise in September 2007. Following the prosecution, Enterprise said it will make every effort to ensure the safety of its employees.

Speaking to letsrecycle.com today (January 8) a spokesperson for Enterprise said: We have every sympathy with the individual concerned but it is not appropriate to offer comment on the specifics of this particular case. However, as a responsible business, safety at work is of paramount importance to us. We make every effort to ensure we adhere to all safe working practices at our sites as advocated by the HSE and legislation and we will remain vigilant to secure the safety of our operatives and colleagues.

A spokeswoman for LondonWaste said the company did not wish to comment.