Waste management and packing company Recycled Packaging Ltd was fined £20,000 after a worker was struck and trapped by a falling bale of compacted waste paper.
The circumstances were:
The HSE inspector said:
“In the waste and recycling sector the risks associated with falling objects are well known. This incident could easily have been avoided by providing a segregated workspace for operatives to clean bales before they are stacked and safe bale stacking procedures. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standard.”
- The method of storing bales in the warehouse was unsuitable.
- Bales were stacked in single columns up to five high with no support or ‘tying in’ to aid stability.
- There was a practice of removing contamination from bales by hand.
- This created voids in lower bales contributing to the risk of stack instability.
- On 13 December 2016 an employee was struck by a falling bale of paper which weighed approximately 500kg.
- He became trapped beneath it.
The HSE inspector said:
“In the waste and recycling sector the risks associated with falling objects are well known. This incident could easily have been avoided by providing a segregated workspace for operatives to clean bales before they are stacked and safe bale stacking procedures. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standard.”
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