Forestry tragedy: Coroner's findings on safety failures

A coroner's report has detailed how a forestry worker fled from the safety of his excavator cabin to avoid one falling tree, but was then crushed to death by a second tree dislodged by the first.

Raymond Ross Penney, 64, died during an attempt to fell a 68-metre old-growth tree at a Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) worksite four years ago.

The coroner's report into his death, released on September 12, found that major failures in safety procedures contributed to the incident in August 2021.

The tragedy happened near Geeveston when the target old-growth tree fell in an unexpected direction, bringing down a second, smaller tree.

Both trees fell towards Mr Penney, who was sitting in his excavator at the time.

In her report, Coroner Leigh Mackey wrote that Mr Penney exited the protective