Clearaway Recycling Limited failed to properly manage the movement of pedestrians and vehicles at its site in Basildon
\nA 22-year-old woman suffered life-changing crush injuries after being struck by a mobile shredder
\nHSE statistics show that fatal incidents in the waste and recycling sector are ten times more likely than the all-industry average<\/p>\n
An Essex-based waste and recycling company has been fined \u00a3400,000 after an employee was seriously injured after being struck by a mobile shredder at its site in Basildon.<\/p>\n
Clearaway Recycling Limited, based at Archers Fields, was sentenced after a 22-year-old site operative was crushed by the moving vehicle while accessing the tipping yard on 28 October 2023. She suffered life-threatening injuries when she was trapped between a gate post and the shredder itself. She has been left with life-changing injuries as a result of the incident.<\/p>\n
The woman was crushed between this mobile shredder machine and a gate post<\/p>\n
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had not managed the movement of pedestrians and vehicles at the site. This allowed it to become custom and practice for pedestrians to walk in areas close to moving vehicles, including the shredder, as well as close to lorries and forklift trucks.<\/p>\n
The waste and recycling industry saw 24 workers killed during 2025\/26<\/a> \u2013 which when compared over a five-year period, means fatalities are ten times as likely compared to the all-industry average.<\/p>\n Clearaway Recycling Limited of Archers Fields, Basildon, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined \u00a3400,000 and ordered to pay costs of \u00a310,259 at Chelmsford Magistrates\u2019 Court on 13 August 2026.<\/p>\n HSE inspector Joanne Williams said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe waste and recycling sector continues to be one of the leading industries for workplace injuries and fatalities.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the reasons is the risks from vehicle and pedestrian collisions are well known, yet serious incidents continue to occur.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this case, a young woman was left with significant and life-changing injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere pedestrians require access to working areas, safeguards must be in place to protect them, including providing adequate segregation or separation distances between pedestrians and vehicles in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n The case was taken by HSE enforcement lawyer Andrew Siddall, supported by paralegal officer Thomas Smith.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Further information:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Health and Safety Executive<\/a>\u00a0(HSE) is Britain\u2019s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives. Clearaway Recycling Limited failed to properly manage the movement of pedestrians and vehicles at its site in Basildon A 22-year-old woman suffered life-changing crush injuries after being struck by a mobile shredder HSE statistics show that fatal incidents in the waste and recycling sector are ten times more likely than the all-industry average An Essex-based…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2375"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2375"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2375\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nMore information about the\u00a0legislation<\/a>\u00a0referred to in this case is available.
\nFurther details on the latest\u00a0HSE news releases<\/a>\u00a0is available.
\nGuidance is available here \u2013 https:\/\/www.hse.gov.uk\/pubns\/indg199.htm<\/a>, https:\/\/www.wishforum.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/WASTE-09-.pdf<\/a> and https:\/\/www.hse.gov.uk\/roadsafety\/worker\/index.htm.<\/a>
\nHSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.\u00a0 The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences in England<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"