Paul Coulson was crushed by a three-tonne pallet after another worker operated a conveyor not knowing he was inside
\nDangerous working practices had previously been captured on CCTV, but
\nCompany only made changes after Mr Coulson\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
One of the country\u2019s largest building merchants has been fined more than \u00a32 million after one of its workers was crushed to death by a pallet of timber that weighed around three tonnes.<\/p>\n
Paul Coulson, 56, died after a colleague started a conveyor not realising Mr Coulson had climbed inside it \u2013 resulting in the fatal crush.<\/p>\n
Mr Coulson was crushed by a pallet of timber that weighed around three tonnes<\/p>\n
The incident happened on 22 May 2024 at Herringswell Sawmills, a site in Bury St Edmonds in Suffolk operated by Huws Gray Limited. Mr. Coulson, a labourer, had been tasked with removing plastic packaging from pallets of timber before they could be processed at the mill.<\/p>\n
The 56-year had climbed within the framework of the conveyor to access some of the packaging. However, another operative, who could not see Mr Coulson from his location, started the conveyor. This resulted in the pack of timber moving forwards and colliding with him. The operative, who could see that the pack of timber was not moving along the conveyor as it should, reversed it before changing its direction. This resulted in the pack of timber moving forwards again \u2013 colliding with Mr Coulson for a second time. The crush injuries sustained were so significant that he died at the scene.<\/p>\n
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company \u2013 which provides supplies to the building trade from hundreds of sites across Great Britain \u2013 had previously identified that employees were accessing the danger zone within the conveyor and placed signage asking employees not to do so. However, CCTV analysis revealed that between 14 April and 23 May 2024, operatives entered within the framework of the conveyor on 19 different occasions.<\/p>\n
The company did places stickers on the conveyor before the incident happened<\/p>\n
Although the company had placed stickers on the conveyor in a bid to tackle the working practice, no further action was taken to prevent access until after the tragedy.<\/p>\n
The measures subsequently introduced to reduce the risk included guarding the conveyor to prevent access, changing the system of work so that the pallets were unwrapped before being placed on the conveyor, as well as more CCTV being installed to allow all angles to be seen by those operating it.<\/p>\n
Although standards of health and safety are much improved over recent years, sawmilling remains a high-risk industry. HSE guidance clearly identifies the risks. Health and safety in sawmilling \u2013 HSE<\/a>.<\/p>\n Accidents can happen when people enter dangerous parts of the machinery to carry out adjustments, clear blockages, or replenish consumables. Companies need to prevent access to the reciprocating carriage and associated machinery during normal operation.\u00a0 This can be achieved by having in place:<\/p>\n fixed-distance guarding on the sides of the machinery; Huws Gray Limited based in Llangefni, Anglesey, Wales, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Section 2(1).\u00a0 The company was fined \u00a32.2 million and ordered to pay full costs at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on the 26 March 2026.<\/p>\n HSE inspector Joanne Williams said<\/strong>:<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a staggering failure that has cost a man his life and robbed a family of their loved one, and the scale of the fine handed down reflects the gravity of this case.<\/p>\n \u201cAll companies, regardless of their size, must\u00a0 follow the hierarchy of control for guarding dangerous parts within work equipment.<\/p>\n \u201cOur investigation revealed that in this case, Huws Gray Ltd chose to control a serious risk through instruction alone \u2013 instead of putting proper safeguarding measures in place<\/p>\n \u201cThis meant employees were able to access a danger area, with tragic consequences.<\/p>\n \u201cHad Huws Gray Ltd taken robust action when they became aware of the problem, Paul Coulson would be alive today.<\/p>\n \u201cOur thoughts will always remain with his family and friends for the loss they have suffered.\u201d<\/p>\n The case was taken by HSE Lawyer Edward Parton supported by paralegal, Mariea Slater.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Further information:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Health and Safety Executive<\/a> (HSE) is Britain\u2019s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.<\/p>\n More information about the legislation<\/a> referred to in this case is available. \u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Paul Coulson was crushed by a three-tonne pallet after another worker operated a conveyor not knowing he was inside Dangerous working practices had previously been captured on CCTV, but Company only made changes after Mr Coulson\u2019s death. One of the country\u2019s largest building merchants has been fined more than \u00a32 million after one of its…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nclose guarding designed to meet the necessary reach distances;
\na combination of these or other suitable measures.<\/p>\n
\nFurther details on the latest HSE news releases<\/a> is available.
\nRelevant HSE guidance can be found here:
\nHSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.\u00a0 The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n