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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

Tangmere, 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”

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

Skip wagons reverse across the yard. Pickers are on foot. Could you show who is trained, on the day?

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Safety pack

Working at height

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Quiz

Who is allowed to run the plant on your site, and where is it written down?

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