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Andy Snoddy Head of UNI Graphical & Packaging said following the verdict of Exeter Crown Court. “We have seen too many deaths in paper mills. We commemorate John Stoddart and all other colleagues who killed while they were working. Nothing can bring back John Stoddart who was killed at the young age of 42 in 2011 while he was trying to fix a machine. This verdict is a strong message to DS Smith and other companies to improve their Health and Safety systems. The only way to ensure this is first having a strong union presence and active Health & Safety bodies with workers involvement and training.

The investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)  found  that DS Smith Higher Kings Paper Mill in Devon failed to place adequate protection in this incident. The Court ruled that  DS Smith was guilty of violation of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined a total of £400,000. (please visit below pages for details :

http://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/ds-smith-paper-fined-400000-after-worker-death/

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/factory-manager-dragged-machine-killed-6234639