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PHW · Waste and recycling · 2026-03-16

Woodhorn Group Limited fined £14,000 after a worker fell clearing a blocked compost screening machine

Oving, Chichester, West Sussex · Brighton Magistrates' Court

What happened

A worker fell from a compost screening machine while clearing a blockage from the fan housing at the company's green waste recycling site. The company had not assessed the fall risk, provided no guardrails around the fan housing, and allowed employees to bypass safety interlocks during cleaning.

Injuries: A broken leg requiring surgery to insert a metal plate and screws, with a significant impact on mobility.

The breach

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

The sentence

  • Fine: £14,000
  • Costs: £6,500
HSE inspector

“This was an entirely preventable incident that has had a significant impact on his mobility and quality of life.”

What would have prevented it

Safety interlocks on processing machinery must never be bypassed for cleaning, and fall risks around access points need guardrails.

How PHW helps

The machines, packs and quizzes that fit this kind of site.

Sector

Training and evidence for waste and recycling sites

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Safety pack

Working at height

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Quiz

Could you show, in writing, that every excavator or loading shovel operator is authorised for that machine?

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Source: HSE press release, Waste management company fined after employee falls from height