Biffa Waste Services Ltd has been fined almost £2.5 million following the death of a worker who was struck by a reversing lorry at its Bradford waste transfer site.
The fatal incident occurred on 10 August 2023 at the firm’s Peace Street facility, where 57-year-old sort line operative James Tabiri was hit and killed while walking through the site.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that Biffa Waste Services failed to properly review and monitor measures intended to protect pedestrians and separate them from vehicle movements.
The company, based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, admitted breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. It was fined £2.48 million and ordered to pay additional costs of £5,768 during a hearing at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
According to the HSE, CCTV footage from the week before the tragedy showed it was “common practice” for workers to bypass designated pedestrian routes. Several employees were seen climbing over safety barriers designed to keep them away from moving vehicles.
Mr Tabiri’s inquest heard that he had left the canteen and was wearing an orange high-visibility jacket when he was struck by a reversing lorry. In July, a jury concluded that his death was accidental.
Elliot Archer, an HSE inspector, described the incident as “easily avoidable” and criticised the company for failing to enforce its own safety procedures.
“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,” Archer said.
He added that investigators found “a casual attitude to health and safety, with workers treating a high hazard site like a playground.”
The HSE emphasised that employers are legally required to manage risks where pedestrians and vehicles operate in the same area, ensuring clear segregation and adequate supervision.
The substantial fine reflects the seriousness of the company’s failings and the preventable nature of the incident.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of lapses in workplace safety, particularly in high-risk environments like waste management facilities, where strict enforcement of safety rules is crucial to protecting lives.
