Keeping people safe from vehicle movements

Those questions sat at the centre of the recent “ESA and Pinsent Masons Health & Safety Conference – Vehicle-pedestrian segregation: Keeping people safe from vehicle movements’, a conference that brought together experts, including operators, safety leads and regulators, operators, from the waste and resource management industry. The goal? To examine the familiar but persistent challenge of reducing harm where movement, visibility and human behaviour intersect.

This was brought into sharper focus in the keynote address by Executive Vice President UK, SUEZ and Environmental Services Association (ESA) Chair John Scanlon when he stressed the importance of “making sure everybody comes home safely at the end of the day”. It’s that chronic unease knowing that we are only ever a moment away from a really serious incident that we should all be mindful about.

It's not about alarm but about maintaining attention, consistently at that. A recognition that risk does not disappear once controls are introduced. Later discussions returned to this from another angle. One speaker described how unsafe shortcuts can become routine, or the so-called normalisation of deviance, unless they are recognised and addressed early.

The connection between the two is straightforward. Familiarity can reduce vigilance. And when vigilance drops, systems begin to drift.

When systems meet the site

That drift is often most visible in the gap between defined systems and day-to-day operations.

Several speakers pointed to the challenge of maintaining consistency across different sites, layouts and teams. Controls may be in place, but their effectiveness depends on how they are applied in practice.

There was also caution against a ‘tick-box’ approach, where the presence of measures can be mistaken for assurance.

SUEZ’s Director of Health & Safety and ESA H&S SG Chair Paul Marsden highlighted the need for coordination, which brings together communication, data and people so that safety is managed as a connected system rather than a set of separate activities.

In that sense, the issue is less about introducing new controls and more about ensuring that existing ones hold under real conditions.

Designing risk out

The hierarchy of control, where risk is eliminated where possible by using a standardised, step-by-step system to eliminate or reduce workplace hazards, was referenced repeatedly. SUEZ Divisional H&S Manager – Logistics Joe Robery outlined common risks such as reversing movements, pedestrian exposure, miscommunication and dynamic working environments.

Several speakers pointed to design responses that are well established but not always consistently applied. These include avoiding reversing where possible, physically separating vehicles and pedestrians, and creating routes that reduce ambiguity.

Where design leave gaps, people tend to adapt. Over time, those adaptations can become embedded, even if they introduce new risks.

Supervision and everyday behaviour

Design alone does not determine outcomes.

Speakers emphasised the role of supervision and visible leadership in maintaining standards. Managers and supervisors being present on site, which reinforces expectations and responding to issues, was described as an important part of keeping systems effective.

Reporting also featured in the discussion. Making it easier for people to raise concerns, whether described as near misses, hazards or ‘close calls’, helps maintain a clearer understanding of how work is actually being carried out.

The emphasis here was creating a habit of encouraging regular observation and feedback before issues escalate.

Where technology fits

Technology was discussed as part of this wider system rather than a standalone solution.

Tools such as geofencing, proximity sensors and vehicle-based detection systems can help strengthen controls and improve awareness of risk. AI, in particular, is being explored as a way to support earlier identification of unsafe conditions or behaviours.

At the same time, speakers noted that these tools depend on how they are integrated into site operations. Traditional CCTV, for example, is often reactive and newer systems still require effective supervision and clear processes to be useful.

Speakers also recognised that technology could influence behaviour, which needs to be considered alongside its intended benefits.

Rachael Cowsill, SUEZ Health and Safety Advisor, focused on how risk is communicated on site and emphasised that “clarity reduces risk”.

Her emphasis on visual management connected closely with earlier points on design and behaviour. Clear ground markings, defined routes and well-placed signage help people make safer decisions more easily.

That clarity, however, depends on balance. Too much information can overwhelm; too little can leave room for uncertainty. The aim is to provide clear, consistent cues at the points where decisions are made.

Judgement and responsibility

The legal framework reinforced these practical considerations.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA 1974), organisations are required to ensure safety so far as is reasonably practicable. That standard depends on context and requires informed judgement.

One speaker described risk assessment as a starting point, which is a structured way of understanding tasks, identifying hazards and defining how work should be carried out safely.

They also emphasised the need for competence, supervision and critical review of systems, rather than assuming that controls remain effective over time.

The closing reflections returned to lessons learned from incidents across the sector and the importance of sharing those lessons to support continuous improvement.

Overall, the discussions point to a set of connected priorities rather than a single solution. Design reduces exposure. Supervision helps maintain standards. Culture supports awareness. Technology can strengthen controls when applied carefully. Risk assessment provides a framework for judgement.

Each of these elements depends on the others. Maintaining that connection and checking how it performs in practice remain central to keeping people safe from vehicle movements.

Learn more and understand SUEZ in the UK’s commitment to Health & Safety.