A metal recycling firm has been fined £650,000 for failing to protect workers from moving vehicles.
ASM Metal Recycling Ltd did not segregate HGVs from pedestrians at its Griffin Lane premises in Aylesbury, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.
Emma Page, an inspector from the workplace regulator, observed ‘dangerous practices’ at the firm, whose registered office is in Beaconsfield.
During a visit to its Aylesbury premises last year, she videoed workers sorting waste in the yard near grab excavators.
In the footage, a skip lorry can be seen reversing towards the workers, who have their backs to the vehicle.
The HSE said the video showed there were no measures, such as barriers, to prevent the vehicle hitting and injuring staff.
The watchdog previously served several enforcement notices on ASM and accused it of breaking its obligations to workplace safety.
ASM Metal Recycling Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act and was fined £650,000 and ordered to pay £5,885 costs at Oxford Magistrates Court on October 22.
Following the hearing, Ms Page claimed the company has ‘not acted upon’ the areas of concern previously raised by the HSE.
She said: “The most serious risk associated with manually sorting waste is a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian.”
There are roughly five fatalities a year in the waste industry, with around half relating to collisions with a moving vehicle.”
ASM has been approached for comment.
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