Biffa has been fined £2.48 million after a 57-year-old man died while working at the company’s waste transfer station in Bradford.
On 10 August 2023, James Tabiri, 57, died from crush injuries after he was struck from behind by a reversing skip wagon.
Tabiri was working as a sort line operative at Biffa Waste Services Ltd’s waste transfer site in Bradford.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Biffa failed to effectively review and monitor the control measures in place to protect pedestrians and keep them separate from vehicle movements.
CCTV footage from the week before the incident showed that it was common practice for people on site to bypass segregated pedestrian routes, with some seen climbing over barriers that were intended to keep them safe.
At a three-day inquest in July, a jury ruled that Tabiri was killed by accident.
Biffa pleaded guilty to breaching the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations at Leeds Magistrates’ Court. The waste management company was fined £2.48 million and ordered to pay the full costs of £5,768.06.
Following the sentencing, HSE inspector Elliot Archer said the investigation found a ‘casual attitude’ to health and safety, with some staff members treating the high-risk site like a ‘playground’.
“This incident was easily avoidable,” Archer commented. “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.”
“This tragic incident should be a reminder to the waste industry not to become complacent with the risks workplace transport poses.”
In a statement, Gary Carvell, Biffa’s Health and Safety Director, said: “On behalf of the company, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Tabiri.”
Carvell said that Biffa accepted full responsibility for the breaches and recognised the arrangements in place to ensure the safe separation of pedestrians and vehicles were not effective.
“Immediately following the incident, we carried out a comprehensive health and safety review of the site and made several changes to reduce the likelihood of further harm. We are committed to workplace safety across all our UK sites,” Carvell said.