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PHW · Manufacturing and engineering · 2026-09-28

Gill Aggregates Limited fined £24,000 after a worker was drawn into a compression conveyor through a gap in the guarding at an aggregate depot and died from crush injuries

Dagenham · Snaresbrook Crown Court

What happened

On 24 June 2020 a production operative was using a bag flattening conveyor, part of a larger machine, at the company's aggregate depot on Halyard Street, Dagenham. The operative was drawn into the compression conveyor through an opening in the guarding. Colleagues stopped the machine and the guarding had to be dismantled to free the operative.

Injuries: The operative suffered fatal crush injuries and died in hospital a few days later.

The breach

Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

The sentence

  • Fine: £24,000
  • Costs: £43,000
  • Other sentence: Pleaded guilty. HSE found a fixed guard around the compression conveyors had an opening of about 600mm by 335mm. Further guarding was installed after the incident. The company's address on the release is in Northfleet, Kent (not the incident location).
HSE inspector

“The risks associated with dangerous moving machinery are well known.”

What would have prevented it

Check that fixed guards on conveyors leave no opening big enough for a person to reach dangerous moving parts, and fix any gap before the machine is used.

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Source: HSE press release, Aggregates company fined after worker killed in conveyor crush