Albania
Fatal explosion at munitions disposal plant
A worker died and 3 others were injured yesterday when a shell
accidentally exploded at a military munitions disposal plant in Bigaz,
100 miles south of Tirana.
29th April 2011
|
Spain
Train collision in Barcelona tunnel
The Ferrocat accident plan was deployed yesterday when 18 people were
injured as 2 trains collided in a tunnel on the Cercanias(Rodalies)
Barcelona commuter network 50 metres from El Clot station.
A regional train (Molins de Rei-Mataro) ran into a stationary Talgo
which had no passengers, one carriage derailed.
Renfe(Red Nacional de Ferrocarrilas Espanoles) and Adif(Administrator
de Infrastrestructuras Ferroviarias) are jointly investigating the
accident, the 4th occasion in which a derailment has occurred on a
Cercanias line in just over a month.
29th April 2011
|
India
3 killed in Gujarat confined space accident
The Ahmedabad Fire & Emergency Service recovered the bodies of 3
workers who died in a confined space accident in a chamber near the
Usmanpura pumping station at the Sabarmati Riverfront Project. One of
the victims was a contractor, he and 2 labourers had entered the
17-metre deep chamber, possibly to recover tools they had previously
been using. 28th
April 2011
|
UAE
2 youths drown in flooded quarry
Two youths aged 14 and 15 drowned in a flooded quarry pit at Basira al
Jabaliya near the Fujairah mountains. Apart from the hazard of
rainwater accumulation in the quarried pits, fine tilth sand poses a
subsidence risk for locals venturing into the quarry area.
28th April 2011
|
Slovakia
Schoolboy dies under insecure goal frame
A 7-year old boy has died from head injuries when a goal frame came
down on him during football at a school in Vranov nad Toplou, it is
thought that he had swung on the crossbar prior to the fall of the
insecure goal frame.
27th April 2011
|
Spain
Three injured at Malaga metro site
Three construction workers were injured yesterday when a steel
framework fell on them in a tunnel site of the Malaga metro, the
accident occurred near the convergence of lines 1 and 2. One of the
workers was trapped under the framework and a crane was required to
free him. 27th
April 2011
|
China
2 killed in hot metal work accident at steel plant
An explosion during hot metal work has killed 2 workers at the Yuanyi
Steel Company plant in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. A worker was filling an oil
tank while another was welding in close proximity when sparks led to
the tank exploding. 26th April 2011
|
USA
Fatal accident at Missouri limestone mine
An employee of East Fairfield Coal Company has been killed after being
struck on the head by falling rock at the Subtropolis Limestone Mine
in Springfield. 26th April 2011
|
Bangladesh
Dozens drown as ferry hits sunken trawler
Twenty seven people drowned and dozens are missing in the Meghna River
in east Bangladesh when a ferry sailing to Jamalganj from Bhairab
struck the hull of a trawler which sank earlier in the week and was
posing a hazard to shipping.
22nd April 2011
|
USA
Welding explosion at Colorado recycling plant
A 30-year old Mexican contract worker has died in an explosion during
hot metal work at Western Metals Recycling on the premises of Evraz
Rocky Mountain Steel Mill, Pueblo, Colorado. Welders were working on a
tank when the explosion occurred.
22nd April 2011
|
Czech Republic
4 workers missing in nitroglycerine explosion
Four workers are missing and 9 were injured in a nitroglycerine
explosion at the Explosia AS plant in Pardubice, 65 miles east of
Prague.
By early evening no sign was found of the missing workers and fears
were expressed for their survival.
21st April 2011
|
Canada
Fatal accident at Labrador ore mine
A contract worker died in an accident at the Rio Tinto Iron Ore
Company site in Labrador City. The accident is under investigation,
special equipment was deployed to recover the worker's body at height.
He was working on a power line and
it may have been an electrocution accident.
21st April 2011
|
Australia
Worker's arm severed
On Tuesday an industrial accident took place at Brindley Park Feedlot
in Euthulla, Queensland, in which a worker's arm was amputated at the
shoulder after becoming caught in a grain auger.
20th April 2011
|
China
Workers hospitalised after severe toxic exposure
Four contract workers of the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department
were hospitalised in Hong Kong, one listed in critical condition after
exposure to a mixture of bleach and caustic soda while cleaning up
near a restaurant off Jaffe Road in Wan Chai.
It is believed that the inhalation of gases rather than burns caused
the hospitalisation, although the mixture of concentrated sodium
hydroxide in the bleach and the caustic soda would produce enough heat
for an explosion and fire.
20th April 2011
|
Japan
6 primary children killed in crane accident
Six primary school children were killed yesterday when they were
struck by a mobile crane as they walked to Kitaoshihara Elementary
School in Kanuma, Tochigi. They were walking in single file when the
crane operator lost control of his vehicle which crossed the
carriageway, the 26-year old driver later tested negative in a
blood/alcohol test.
19th April 2011
|
South Africa
Free State worker suffocated in grain silo
A grain silo accident has claimed the life of a worker in Nussey in
the Free State. He was directing the flow of a mass of maize into a
feeder channel at the bottom of the silo when he lost his balance and
fell into the feeder.
19th April 2011
|
South Korea
Two workers killed at 4-river site
Two construction workers died on Saturday when a roof collapsed under
them at a site on the Aakdong River in Euiseong, North Gyeongsang.
The site is part of the 4-river project, a concrete pour had taken
place on Friday night and had allegedly failed to set. Only last week
a separate fatality occurred at another 4-river site in Changnyeong
where subsidence occurred and an excavator driver drowned as his
vehicle slid into the river. 18th April 2011
|
Spain
2 killed in Madrid scaffold collapse
A scaffold collapsed at a building site on Juan Ramon Jimenez Street
in the Retamas barrio of Alcorcon, Madrid, a 40-year old Peruvian and
a 36-year old Ecuadorian worker were killed in a 20-metre fall.
Six workplace deaths have now occurred in Madrid in April, and 26 in
the capital in 2011. 18th April 2011
|
USA
Fall fatality at Michigan plant
A worker died yesterday in a 10-metre fall from a catwalk at the Dow
Chemical plant in Midland, Michigan.
15th April 2011
|
USA
Yale student's hair caught in lab lathe
A female Yale University student died in an asphyxiation accident at
the Sterling Chemistry lab in New Haven, Connecticut, when her hair
caught in a lathe while undertaking project work in the basement lab.
15th April 2011
|
Spain
Girl drowns in swimming lesson
A 13-year old girl of IES Institut drowned during a swimming lesson in
the municipal pool in Balaguer, Catalonia. Classmates alerted
attendants when the girl apparently reported feeling unwell and got
into difficulties in the water but resuscitation proved unsuccessful.
14th April 2011
|
China
Macau construction site transport accident
A worker directing traffic in an unloading area behind Gate 6 at the
Galaxy Macau construction site in Cotai has died from crush injuries
when he was pinned between a reversing and stationary lorry.
14th April 2011
|
Canada
Toronto worker killed in pasta machine
A 26-year old worker died in a fall into a pasta production machine at
Pasta Quistini Inc in west Toronto, initial speculation suggests his
clothing snagged and drew him into the machine. 13th
April 2011
|
New Zealand
Loose lorry wheel killed bus tourist
At Pukehohe District Court, Counties Automotive Diesel Repairs Ltd was
fined $5K(£2,409) plus $68,582(£33,041) compensation over a breach of
Section 15 of the Health & Safety in Employment Act 1992. A wheel came
off a vehicle serviced by the company and burst through the window of
a bus on the Auckland motorway, killing a Vietnamese tourist.
Department of Labour investigation found that an employee with no
formal motor engineering qualifications had removed the wheels while
fixing a guard prior to the accident and had failed to tighten the
wheels nuts properly.
The judge deemed the accident "preventable and unnecessary."13th
April 2011
|
Belarus
Minsk underground rail station explosion leaves 11 dead
A major explosion in Oktyabrskaya underground railway station in
central Minsk on Monday evening left 11 people dead and more than 100
injured, many were injured when a stairway collapsed in the explosion.
The authorities cordoned off approaches to Oktyabrskaya and
Kupalovskaya stations but could not confirm the cause of the
explosion.12th
April 2011
|
China
Bodies recovered from Gansu mine
On Monday the bodies of 6 miners were recovered at the Hetaoyu Coal
Mine under construction in Zhengning County, Gansu.
A large container laden with 6 tonnes of rock fell 500 metres down a
shaft on top of them when a cable failed, one worker survived the
accident. It has taken several days to pump water from the shaft and
complete the recovery.
12th April 2011
|
India
Fatal explosion at Orissa gas filling plant
Two workers died and another is missing after an explosion at the
Asiatic Gas plant of Aditya Jalan in Vedvyas, the plant refills
oxygen, nitrogen and industrial gas cylinders.
It is believed that back firing occurred as a worker was charging
carbide and fire spread to acetylene cylinders. 11th April 2011
|
USA
Workers drowned as water tank bursts
At the former Georgia Pacific Plant in Lake Placid, New York, a 300K-gallon water
tank owned by the United Fire Protection burst, flooding an adjacent
concrete building where 2 workers conducting maintenance work on a
pump were drowned. 11th April 2011
|
Brazil
Gunman kills 12 Rio school children
Thirteen pupils were killed yesterday by a gunman at Tasso da Silveira
school in Realengo, west Rio. Most of the shootings took place in a
ground floor classroom, a policeman managed to incapacitate the gunman
with a shot in the leg before the latter shot himself.
8th April 2011
|
China
Fatal accident at Hong Kong road site
A construction worker died and a crane operator is listed in critical
condition following an accident when a metal plate fell at the Gammon
Hong Kong road-widening site on Tuen Mun Road, Tsuen Wan. The 47-year
old crane operator of Kanson Crane Service may have been trying to
lift a 3x1.5-metre metal plate which gave way under him and caused him
to fall 8 metres. He was impaled on a metal rod from his waist to
collar bone and remains in critical condition following surgery. The
worker who died was struck on the head by the falling plate, another
worker sustained shoulder injuries.
8th April 2011
|
Spain
3rd Madrid workplace death in 5 days
The third workplace death in 5 days in Madrid occurred on Wednesday
when a 47-year old worker died in an unstable excavation during the
installation of water pipes in San Martin de la Vega. Elsewhere in the
city a window cleaner was critically injured in a fall from height in
Barcelo Street, just days after a window cleaner died in a 5-metre
fall at Las Rozas.
Already this year 24 workplace deaths have occurred in Madrid.
7th April 2011
|
Belgium
Perchloroethylene escape at Brussels hotel
A lorry driver and 2 paramedics were badly injured on Wednesday
when an escape of perchloroethylene occurred in an accident involving
a vehicle at the Meridien Hotel near the Central Station in Brussels,
3 hotels in all were evacuated during the incident.
7th April 2011
|
USA
Reversing wagon kills Mississippi bin man
A refuse collector of Recycling Foundation of Baton Rouge was killed
on Tuesday morning during his round in Rosemount Drive, Baton Rouge,
where he was struck by a reversing bin van.
6th April 2011
|
Germany
Worker severs fingers with band
saw
A 46-year old worker severed all the fingers of his left hand while
cutting timber with a band saw at Gars-Bahnhof, Bavaria. The saw was
found to be in fine working condition with its guard in place.
Surgical re-attachment of the fingers is being attempted.
6th April 2011
|
Dem Rep of Congo
UN plane crashes at Kinshasa
Only 1 person of 33 on board survived a United Nations Fokker 100
aircraft crash at Kinshasa Airport on arrival from Goma via Kisangani,
the crash occurred during landing in torrential rain.
5th April 2011
|
Russia
Tank driver dies in off-road accident
A 26-year old tank driver of the Khabarovsk Military garrison has died
in an accident when his T-80 tank sank through ice and rolled down
into a ravine, other soldiers survived the accident.
The tank had deviated from the approved route, it is speculated that
it was circumnavigating an obstacle on its route.
5th April 2011
|
Belgium
Child almost dies in playground sand pit
A 10-year old child was hospitalised in intensive care following an
accident on Saturday in the sand pit of a playground in
Coremansstraat, Berchem. He was digging a large hole in the sand pit
with his brother but it collapsed on top of him. Cries for help were
answered by a passer-by who applied successful mouth-to mouth and
chest resuscitation to the child who had stopped breathing.
4th April 2011
|
UAE
Sharjah chemical factory fire
An investigation is underway into a major fire at the weekend at the
Sharjah Gulf Petro Chemical Company factory in the Sharjah Free Zone.
The blaze was intensified by the storage of flammable substances. No
injuries were reported as damping down continued on Sunday. 4th April 2011
|
Germany
Romanian killed in factory crush accident
A 24-year old Romanian worker died in a crush accident, becoming
trapped between machinery and a steel sheet at the premises of
Wiesenhof in Lohne, Shleswig-Holstein, initial investigation by police
alleges the worker's own negligence.
1st April 2011
|
USA
Wisconsin worker cut into power line
On Thursday a 20-year old worker of Faith Technologies sustained burns
when he cut into a power line during work at a car dealership on North
Victory Lane, Grande Chute, Wisconsin, his condition in hospital is
listed as stable.
1st April 2011
|
|
Canada
Lift mechanic's head trapped between doors
A worker sustained life-threatening injuries yesterday when his head
became trapped between the doors of a lift he was servicing on
Richmond Street West, Toronto. Prompt action by a security guard and 2
other workers prised open the doors to release the worker.
29th April 2011
|
Australia
Queensland painter electrocuted on scaffold
A 53-year old painter was electrocuted yesterday when electricity from
a 10Kv Ergon Energy power line arced to the aluminium handle of his
paint roller as he worked on a scaffold at the site of the new Mitre
10 store in Hervey Bay, Queensland.
29th April 2011
|
USA
Tractor rollover accident in Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvanian poultry farmer died in a tractor rollover accident on
Moonstown Lane, Heidelberg, southwest Pittsburgh, where he was loading
mulch. 28th April
2011
|
Canada
Fatal accident at PEI substation
A subcontractor has died while working at the Victoria Cross
substation of Maritime Electric in Montague, Prince Edward Island. He
was working on a building at the property but this does not appear to
be an electrical accident.
28th April 2011
|
China
Miners recovered from flooded pit
On Tuesday afternoon the bodies of 8 miners were recovered from the
flooded pit of the Xiao'aozi Coal Mine in Liupanshui, Panxian County,
Guizhou.
Thirty seven miners managed to escape to safety from the accident 2
days ago, the cause of which remains under investigation.
27th April 2011
|
Germany
Rail worker contacted power line
A worker of DBAG was hospitalised in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein,
with burns injuries to his thighs following an accident yesterday
afternoon when he contacted a high power source while working on the
line at Jubek. 27th
April 2011
|
USA
Plumber injured at Ohio university site
An Ohio plumber was badly injured on Monday morning when he was struck
in the face by pipe work when a sprinkler system he was working on
burst at the new lab site in Ebaugh Hall, Denison University,
Granville. 26th April 2011
|
France
2 killed in WW2 Yak-52 plane crash
The pilot and passenger of a single-propeller WW2 Russian Yakovlev-52
trainer aircraft died when it came down near the Fontenay-Tresigny
airfield south of Paris. Initial speculation is of possible pilot
error during the display flight, banking sharply after a steep climb
at speed.
26th April 2011
|
Germany
Scaffold accident in Baden Wurttemburg
A 29-year old worker was hospitalised in Tubingen yesterday with back
and arm injuries after falling 3 metres from a scaffold in Graben
Street, Mossingen.
Police are preparing charges against the owner of the scaffold of
causing injury by negligence after a board on the structure was found
to have been inadequately secured.
22nd April
2011
|
Canada
Manitoba worker killed during dismantling work
A 65-year old worker of Lafarge Canada Inc sustained fatal head injuries after being struck
by a metal crossbar during the dismantling of a large shed at
Wuskwatim Dam, 25 miles north of Thompson, Manitoba. It is thought
that the accident occurred as a cover was being removed from the
structure.
22nd April
2011
|
Australia
European tourist drowns on Great Barrier Reef diving course
A female European tourist has died while taking a diving course in the
Whitsundays Islands off North Queensland. She was on the 2nd day of
the 3-day course and was diving from the Summertime boat of
Whitsundays Sailing Adventures when she failed to re-surface during a
dive at Langford Island. She was found on the seabed in 11 metres
of water.
21st April 2011
|
Belgium
Ostend forklift accident
A 43-year old worker sustained serious leg injuries when material fell
from a forklift truck at the De Lijn premises in Ostend.
21st April 2011
|
Indonesia
Roof collapse at Papua mineral mine
The Energy and Mineral resources Ministry is investigating an accident
at the PT Freeport Indonesia copper and gold mine in Papua where a
miner died and another is missing following a roof collapse, an
accident which may have been linked to blasting operations.
20th April 2011
|
Australia
Unstable structure crushes worker at Queensland airport
A 23-year old Queensland worker was crushed in an accident at
Bundaberg Regional Airport when he became trapped under a structure
being moved for the Bundaberg Aero Club.
20th April 2011
|
The Netherlands
Pedestrian dies in fall into loading bay
An investigation is ongoing into an accident yesterday at a building
company on the Veersedijk in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, southeast of
Rotterdam, where a pedestrian died in a fall into a loading bay for
lorries. 19th April
2011
|
USA
Burlington Northern Santa Fe goods train collision
A coal-laden goods train from Wyoming ran into the rear of another
goods train at McPherson, southwest Iowa, the driver and conductor of
the coal train died in the collision.
This was the first fatal accident involving a railway worker in Iowa
for 2 years. 19th
April 2011
|
USA
Worker missing in Idaho mine tunnel
A tunnel collapse a mile underground at the Lucky Friday Mine in
Mullan, Idaho, left a worker missing, the company deployed a
remote-control digger at the weekend as part of the search and rescue
effort. 18th April 2011
|
USA
Falling material kills Louisiana crane operator
An autopsy takes place today in Westwego, Louisiana, following a fatal
accident on Saturday close to the Lapalco Boulevard bridge in the
Bayou Segnette State Park where equipment fell on a crane operator
during lifting operations. 18th April 2011
|
Kuwait
Exploding tyre kills fitter
A 28-year old tyre fitter was killed at a depot in Kuwait City when a
lorry tyre exploded as he was undertaking a puncture repair.
15th April 2011
|
Austria
Salzburg forestry worker killed in felling accident
A 21-year old forestry worker was killed yesterday when a large heavy
bough split and came down on him during tree felling in Graukogel,
Gastein. 15th April
2011
|
Argentina
Wall collapse on Buenos Aires site
Three construction workers were undergoing scans last night at
Fernandez Hospital in Buenos Aires following an accident at a newbuild
site on Lafinur in the Palermo barrio where a wall collapsed on them.
14th April 2011
|
New Zealand
Company fined over logger's amputation
At Napier District Court A1
Contractors were fined $30K(£14,541) and instructed to pay $30K
(£14,541) compensation over an accident in which a tree feller was
injured and had a section of leg amputated when a cut log fell on his
leg. Department of Labour investigation of the accident at Patoka,
Hawke's Bay, found that there was a lack of an adequate health and
safety system for the extraction of felled logs.
14th April 2011
|
USA
Underground transport fatality at water treatment plant
A worker died in a transport accident 16 storeys underground at the
site of the new East Side Water Supply treatment plant of the Monroe
County Water Authority under Lake Ontario. The worker fell from a
locomotive drawing rubble from the boring site and was run over. 13th April
2011
|
France
Breton worker killed by falling material
A 54-year old construction worker died on Tuesday during refurbishment
work on the former town hall in La Bouexiere, 12 miles from Rennes,
when around 50 metal sheets being raised by crane fell on him.
13th April
2011
|
Germany
Worker killed in fall from MEWP on Rhine bridge
A worker engaged in maintenance work died in a fall from a MEWP(mobile
elevating work platform) on Monday on the Mulheim bridge spanning the
Rhine in Cologne. He was struck by a car when he fell on to the
highway. 12th April
2011
|
Serbia
4 killed in aircraft crash
The Civil Aviation Directorate Accident Investigation branch is
studying the circumstances of the crash of a light aircraft in
Mrcajevci, Krnjina, in which 4 people died.
12th April 2011
|
USA
5 killed in explosion at Hawaiian fireworks bunker
Five employees of Donaldson Enterprises, an unexploded ordnance
disposal company, were killed when an explosion
occurred in an underground fireworks storage bunker in Waikele, Honolulu. 11th April 2011
|
Belgium
Flemish utility worker critically injured
A worker of Welec was admitted to hospital in critical condition after
contacting a live power source while working on lighting in the Grote
Markt in Turnhout on the Dutch border.11th April 2011
|
Germany
Track worker killed by train
A rail track worker has been killed by a regional train on the
Berlin-Munich line between Uhlstadt and Zeutsch. The train driver
applied emergency barking but the worker had failed to respond to the
automatic alarm warning of an approaching train.
8th April 2011
|
USA
Wisconsin utility worker electrocuted
A 39-year old employee of a private utility company was electrocuted
upon contacting a power line in Mifflin, Wisconsin.
8th April 2011
|
Australia
Falling ceiling ice kills freezer worker
A fall of ice built up on the ceiling of a 5-metre high blast freezer
for snap-freezing produce has killed a worker at Primo Smallgoods in
Scone, New South Wales.
7th April 2011
|
USA
Excavator worker killed
A fatal accident occurred on US Highway 17 near Askins, Pennsylvania,
on Wednesday when a contract worker died, trapped in an excavator at
an excavation. 7th
April 2011
|
USA
Stokes Basket rescue at Arizona stadium
A Stokes Basket rescue was used to bring a worker down from a height
of 5 metres after his leg was crushed in an accident as he worked on
top of a crane at the Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Posts
were being installed when a support leg for the crane swung out and
crushed his leg.
6th April 2011
|
West Bank
Teenage quarry worker killed
An 18-year old quarry worker died in Al-Ahli Hospital, Hebron, after
being struck by falling rock at a stone quarry in Beit Fajjar, 5 miles
south of Bethlehem.
6th April 2011
|
Spain
Wall collapse kills construction worker
A construction worker died on Monday afternoon when a section of
wall collapsed on him at a 3-storey site on Celindas Street, Ciudad
Lineal. 5th April
2011
|
Tonga
MD jailed for 5 years over ferry sinking
In court in Nuku'alofa the former managing director of the Shipping
Corporation of Polynesia has received a 5-year prison sentence over
manslaughter by negligence charges in respect of the sinking of the
badly corroded Princess Ashika ferry in which 74 people died. He and 3
others were convicted over the death of a 22-year old, one of only 2
bodies recovered from the accident. He also received concurrent
sentences of 4 years for sending an un-seaworthy ship to sea and 6
months for forgery and dealing with a forged document.
Another director received a 3-year suspended prison sentence, the
captain and first mate received 18 and 6-month prison sentences. SCP
was also fined 2m Tongan pa'anga(£593,047). The trial was switched to
the parliament building, reflecting public interest in the case. In
his summary the Supreme Court judge called the company "a shambles of
an
organisation."
5th April 2011
|
England
Norfolk food company fined over forklift accident
At Colchester Magistrates' Court Surya Rice Ltd, trading as Surya
Foods, was fined £9K plus £3,214 in costs over an accident in which a
worker's leg was broken when he was struck from behind by a loaded
forklift truck at its premises on Harwich Industrial Estate on 14th
July 2010.
HSE investigation found that there was unnecessary movement of loaded
pallets in a heavily congested work area, with drivers having reduced
vision, and no adequately segregated routes separating pedestrians and
vehicles. The company pleaded guilty to a breach of S.2(1) of the
Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. 4th April 2011
|
Canada
Explosion at Alberta gas well site
A 38-year old worker was hospitalised in Edmonton with serious
injuries following an explosion and fire at the Perpetual Energy gas
well, 45 miles southeast of Edson. Two employees were in the building
at the time, it is not thought to have been a sour gas accident. 4th April 2011
|
USA
New York worker killed in conveyor belt
A 44-year old worker has died in a conveyor belt accident at Emjay
Environmental Recycling in Brentwood, New York, he was under the
conveyor belt which grades debris when his arm became trapped in the
belt roller. 1st
April 2011
|
Canada
Unstable load kills worker at waste site
An unstable load fell and killed an employee of a private refuse
company who was depositing construction debris at a waste site in
Laval, Montreal. He was standing behind his vehicle preparing to
unload when the container on the vehicle platform became unstable.
1st April 2011
|
|
England
Tyre depot fined over fall accident
Carlisle magistrates have fined Gates Tyres, owned by Phoenix
(Cumbria) Ltd, £5K over a breach of S.2 of the Health & Safety at Work
etc Act 1974.
On 21st November 2009, a worker injured his ankle in a 5-metre
fall while stacking tyres at premises in Kingstown Industrial Estate,
Carlisle. The magistrate cited a lack of a written safe system of work
meaning that workers were not properly trained in the safe use of the
mezzanine loading bay.
29th April 2011
|
Russia
Emergency landing after bird strike
An Aeroflot Aerobus-319 had to make an emergency landing at
Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow, on Thursday when a bird became caught in
its right-side engine. The problem was detected at 900 metres as the
flight had taken off for Perm and it was decided to land immediately.
No injuries were reported.
29th April 2011
|
Austria
Apprentice falls 8 metres through open gap
An 18-year old apprentice worker is in hospital with severe back
injuries after falling 8 metres yesterday through an uncovered opening
into the basement of a property at a site in Andelsbuch.
28th April 2011
|
Estonia
Russian bus runs off highway
Emergency services had to use cutting gear to free 2 children trapped
in a Russian bus which ran off the road into a ditch in southern
Estonia.
The bus, carrying 8 adults and 38 children from Tartu back to St
Petersburg, was prevented from overturning by the trees lining the
ditch. Five people were hospitalised, with none in life-threatening
condition. 28th
April 2011
|
Zambia
Copper mine transport accident
A contract worker of Avantech has died in an accident at the Lumwana
copper mine of Equinox Minerals, 40 miles west of Solwezi, where he
was struck by an item of plant.
27th April 2011
|
UAE
Worker died in fall from building roof
Police in Ajman arrested management for questioning following the
death this week of a 27-year old unsecured worker who died on Monday
in a fall from the roof of a building under construction in Ajman.
27th April 2011
|
Wales
Boy dies in fall from ride at Gwynedd adventure park
An 11-year old boy died in a fall from The Swamp Flyer zipwire ride at
Greenwood Forest park in Y Felinheli, Gwynedd. The ride, which was
opened last Monday, runs 145 metres and reaches a height of 9 metres. 26th April 2011
|
England
Cumbrian farmers died in stock accidents
The HSE has been advised of a fatal accident at Howgill Farm in
Walton, Brampton, where a 77-year old farmer was involved with
calving. He was transferred to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle where
he died. This was the 2nd Cumbrian farm death in the last week, a West
Cumbrian farmer died of a heart attack after being kicked by a cow. 26th April 2011
|
England
Mesothelioma recorded against woman's death
At Flax Bourton Coroner's Court, Somerset, a verdict of industrial disease was
recorded in respect of the death of
a 73-year old woman on 10th February.
She had been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in October 2008.
Her varied working career began as a machinist in a fabric factory in
Carlisle and included a period with the MOD at RAF Innsworth.
A post-mortem found no asbestos fibres in her lungs but she had
experienced working environments exposed to dust from asbestos fibres.
22nd April
2011
|
Canada
Worker's thumb was severed during laundry work
G & K Services Inc were fined $60K(£38,116) at court in Windsor over an
accident in which a worker's thumb was amputated during laundry work.
During the process clothing is put in a bag with a bottom drawstring.
On this occasion the drawstring was loose and as he attempted to tie
it as it moved along the conveyor the bag passed the sensor and was
lifted. His thumb was caught and immediately severed. Ministry of
Labour investigation found that the emergency stop button on the bag
hoist was out of reach, the company pleaded guilty to a failure to
ensure that the stop button was positioned in easy reach of the
machine operator.
22nd April
2011
|
Canada
Quebec roads worker struck by car in work zone
A roads worker directing
traffic in a work zone was struck by a car in snowy conditions
yesterday on highway 175 in the Laurentides(Laurentians) north of
Stoneham, his injuries are not life-threatening.
21st April
2011
|
England
Oven safety mechanism was by-passed
At Burton-On-Trent Magistrates' Court Enviro-Strip (UK) Ltd was fined
£20K plus £6,491 in costs over an accident in which a worker was
burned on the face, neck and arms when he opened an industrial oven
and steam issued at 400ºC.
HSE investigation found that a safety mechanism preventing the door
opening at 260ºC had been by-passed. The company pleaded guilty to a
breach of S.2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act and a breach
of r.5(1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres
Regulations 2002.
21st April 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Asbestosis stalked long-retired woodworker
A coroner in south Mayo has returned a verdict of death from
industrial disease, asbestosis, in respect of the death of a 79-year
old woodworker who died in Castlebar, Mayo, last November.
A consultant told the inquest that the worker had possibly been
exposed to asbestos between the ages of 25 and 60 during years worked
in the UK and that he suffered from an asbestos-related condition,
with the resultant development of mesothelioma being the cause of
death. 20th April
2011
|
USA
Worker dies in fall from
offshore gas platform
A worker of Alliance Oilfield Services died in a fall through an
opening in the deck of the Hillcorp Energy natural gas platform,
standing in 125 metres of water in the Gulf of Mexico, 130 miles off
Louisiana. Wells were in the process of being sealed at the
time.
20th April 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Galway boy critical after swimming accident
A 4-year old boy was listed in critical condition in University
Hospital Galway after being rescued from the main Leisureland swimming
pool at Salthill where he had got into difficulties.
19th April 2011
|
Austria
Hot granulate scalds worker
A 36-year old factory worker in Waizenkirchen was hospitalised
yesterday with 1st and 2nd degree burns to his hands and forearms
after being sprayed with burning granulate.
19th April 2011
|
Germany
Saxony paper works accident
A young worker was badly injured on Sunday afternoon when he fell into
machinery at the Grunpergo paper manufacturing plant in Grunhainichen,
Saxony. 18th April 2011
|
Italy
Severe sentences over Turin steel plant fire
A Chief Executive of ThyssenKrupp in Turin received a 16½ year prison
sentence for death by negligence over an industrial accident in
December 2007 in which 7 workers died in a fire at the steelworks in
Turin. Four other managers were given 13½ year prison sentences, and a
fifth 10 years and 10 months. The company also paid €21m in
compensation and legal costs.
The prosecution argued that the managers deliberately sacrificed
safety for cost-saving prior to the plant's closure, in the knowledge
that an accident was possible. The company plans to appeal the
sentences. 18th April 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Worker crushed at Mayo bus depot
The HSA was advised of a fatal accident yesterday at the Bus Eireann
depot in Ballina where a fuel tank being unloaded from a lorry became
unstable and a worker was pinned under it.
15th April 2011
|
England
Liverpool crane exceeded lifting capacity
At Liverpool Crown Court Bryn Thomas Crane Hire Ltd of Flint was fined
£4,500 over an accident on March 29th 2007 when a 46-year old worker
died when a 50-tonne crane toppled over during the movement of a steel
column at the Wavertree Business Park, Liverpool.
The court heard that the crane external alarm was inaudible to workers
and override switches were faulty, including the switch preventing the
crane exceeding its lifting capacity.
The crane operator, described as incompetent, was fined £2,500 and his
employer Siteweld Construction Ltd pleaded guilty to breaches of the
Lifting
Operations and Lifting Equipment
Regulations 1998 and will receive sentence on June 10th.
15th April 2011
|
UAE
Plant operator killed in fall
A plant operator has died in a fall from heavy equipment he was
operating to pump sand on to the top of a newbuild site in the Al
Rashidiyah district of Umm Al Quwain.
14th April 2011
|
Bulgaria
Sappers detonate WW2 naval mine
Marine sappers conducted a controlled explosion of a German WW2 mine
which was discovered during excavation work on a beach at the
international children's camp, Kranevo.
14th April 2011
|
Malta
Major fire at chemicals factory
On Tuesday evening fire crews had controlled a major fire at Drop
Chemicals in Mriehel, premises adjacent to the factory which produces
industrial and domestic detergents were evacuated on safety grounds.
Explosions were heard in the building whose structural integrity posed
a hazard for firemen. 13th April
2011
|
Belgium
Worker falls through roof at Brabant site
A construction worker sustained severe back injuries on Tuesday when
he fell through the roof of a building on Rechtstraat,
Tielt-Winge. Fire crews deployed a Stokes Basket rescue to bring him
down, his injuries were reported as non-life-threatening later in the
evening. 13th April
2011
|
Saudi Arabia
Worker killed by exploding giant tyre
A worker was killed when a giant commercial tyre exploded as he was
completing maintenance work on it at a depot in Taif. The force of the
blast lifted him a metre off the ground, he died from his injuries on
the way to hospital.12th
April 2011
|
Swaziland
Military band in bus crash
Thirty nine soldiers of a military band had a fortunate escape when
the driver of their bus lost control of his vehicle on Malagwane hill
and it overturned, almost all the band members were able to leave
hospital after treatment.
12th April 2011
|
Canada
Montreal worker killed in scaffold collapse
A construction worker died and 3 others were injured with limb
fractures when a scaffold collapsed at a 3-storey building in
the Plateau district of Montreal, it remains unclear whether an
overloading of bricks on
the scaffold contributed to the
accident. 11th April 2011
|
Russia
Leningrad fishermen rescued from ice floe
Several dozen fishermen had to be rescued yesterday from a large ice
floe which detached from the shore off Yelizavetinka in the Vyborg
district of Leningrad.
11th April 2011
|
South Africa
Process worker killed at poultry plant
A process worker has been killed at the Rainbow Chicken plant in
Hammarsdale, Durban. Live poultry is moved on crates along a
conveyor belt and it is believed that when some poultry escaped, the
worker was attempting to clear a blockage when Hymolift hydraulic
scissor lifting machinery came down on his neck.
8th April 2011
|
South Africa
2 gold miners killed in seismic event
A seismic event measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale has killed 2 miners
2,600 metres underground at the Masakhane shaft of the Gold Fields KDC
mine near Carletonville.
8th April 2011
|
England
Pub fined over decarboniser burns
At Exeter Magistrates' Court pub chain JD Wotherspoon was fined £27K
plus £6,323 in costs after pleading guilty to 3 charges in respect of
a burns accident at the Chevalier pub in Exeter.
A worker sustained burns when steam and water issued from a
decarboniser he had opened in the kitchen. He was wearing gloves but
neither goggles nor a full-length apron, and had not received training
for work with the decarboniser.
7th April 2011
|
Scotland
Child electrocuted by exposed wires
A fatal accident inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how a 21-month
old child took a cable with exposed wires into his room and was
subsequently electrocuted when he plugged it into a socket. Workmen
had been installing a cooker at a house in Hillington and material had
been left accessible to the child. The sheriff commented that
"reasonable precautions" by the workers, such as keeping the cables
and plugs inaccessible during the work could have prevented the
accident. l7th
April 2011
|
England
Company pleads guilty over tractor event accident
Cumbrian agricultural machine hire company AW Blake has pleaded guilty
at Preston Crown Court to a breach of health and safety legislation
over a fatal accident involving the death of a participant in an
international tractor pulling event when the weight box on the Mighty
Challenger sled struck another tractor.
The company's managing director was cleared of personal blame,
sentencing will take place on 6th June, account will be taken of the
company's ability to meet a fine and compensation.
6th April 2011
|
USA
Worker stuck overnight in meat machine
A Pennsylvania factory cleaner was stuck overnight in machinery he was
cleaning at K & K Gourmet Meats Inc in Washington Street,
Leetsdale, where his foot became trapped in a meat processor he was
cleaning.
His 8-hour ordeal ended when day shift workers appeared on Tuesday
morning. Normally he works in a 2-man team but his colleague had
called off from work on Monday.
6th April 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Search for Skerries lobstermen
Naval divers and coast guard continued their search yesterday for 2
lobster fishermen missing and feared drowned in the Irish Sea. Their
boat, the Lady Linda, was found overturned 5 miles southeast of
Clogherhead but it is thought that it may have capsized off Colt
island in high winds and heavy swell.
5th April 2011
|
Germany
Worker run down by lorry in motorway service area
A 53-year old worker was run over and killed by a lorry yesterday
while undertaking maintenance work on the roadway in the Langwedel
motorway services area, 20 miles southeast of Bremen.
5th April 2011
|
USA
Boy,3, dies in fall from Chicago roller coaster
A 3-year old boy has died in a 3-metre fall from a moving roller
coaster at the Go Bananas amusement park in Chicago. He was riding on
the Python Pit roller coaster and somehow got free from the safety bar
and stood up, then fell backwards and sustained fatal head injuries. 4th April 2011
|
England
Man's arm crushed at Cumbrian egg farm
A 53-year old man was admitted to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, with
a serious arm injury after becoming pinned between a lorry and wall at
the Free Range Egg Company in Stainton. 4th April 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Bus company fined over driver's stair fall
A 52-year old female ex-driver of Dublin Bus was awarded
€553K(£486,239) at Dublin High Court over a fall accident on a
stairwell at the Donnybrook bus depot in Dublin.
On December 29th 2003, she fell down 8/10 steps and landed upside
down, liquid was found on a landing and the court found that an unsafe
practice was allowed of carrying liquid from the canteen to the steps
over a slippery vinyl surface.
Dublin Bus was ruled to have failed to provide a safe place of work
and the court was satisfied that there was no contributory negligence
on the employee's part. Although she was using a mobile phone at the
time of the accident this was not found to be contributory negligence. 4th April 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Toolmaker settles over lost fingers accident
A 58-year old Filipino toolmaker has settled his damages at the High
Court over an accident at Nypro Ltd, Bray, County Wicklow, in which he
lost
2 fingers in a crush accident when an
800Kg load fell on his hand as it was being unhooked from a crane.
1st April 2011
|
USA
Maryland forklift accident
A forklift truck driver inadvertently ran over a colleague's foot at
Viskon-Aire Corporation in Northwood Industrial Park, Salisbury,
Maryland, the injuries are not of a life-threatening nature.
1st April 2011
|
|
England
Fairground worker dies in accident
A 45-year old worker died on Wednesday evening as he positioned a ride
at Bassetts Park in Wellingborough, Northampton. One account states he
was crushed under the wheels of a reversing vehicle.
29th April 2011
|
England
Roofer's multiple injuries in 5-metre
fall
A 57-year old workman has sustained serious multiple injuries
including a fractured skull and legs in a fall through an opening on a
roof of a building at the Kiln Acre Business Park in Fareham,
Hampshire. 29th
April 2011
|
England
Investigation of Manchester accident
HSE is investigating the industrial accident which occurred at Old
Trafford Cricket Ground on Tuesday in which part of an existing
structure collapsed on a man operating an item of plant. The worker
sustained major but not life-threatening injuries.
28th April 2011
|
England
Fire at primary school
Pupils and staff at Harborne Primary School in Birmingham were
required to evacuate the building when a roof fire broke out at around
1pm yesterday.
West Midlands Fire Service described the fire in the roof space as
severe. 28th April
2011
|
Rep Ireland
Trawlerman's body recovered
The body of a fisherman missing from the trawler Patrick C was
recovered yesterday close to the harbour in Castletownbere.
The trawler, which fishes out of Clogherhead, Louth, had put into the
port the previous evening for supplies and the crew had shore leave
for the night. The missing fisherman had failed to return to the boat
and the coast guard and divers were alerted.
27th April 2011
|
England
Team Waste (Southern) Ltd fined
£250,000
Team Waste (Southern) Ltd of Turners Hill, Sussex, has been prosecuted
at Lewes Crown Court in connection with an accident on the 5th March
2007 in which a 61-year old woman was struck by a refuse vehicle as it
reversed up Cranbourne Street in Brighton city centre.
She succumbed shortly later to her injuries.
The driver had reversed the vehicle without a reversing assistant,
contrary to his employer's operating policy. Examination of the
vehicle found it had defective CCTV at the rear and its reversing
siren was turned off, the driver thought alarms were prohibited before
7.00am. Team Waste (Southern) Ltd was found guilty of breaching S.3(1)
of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined a total of
£250,000 plus costs of £50,000.
27th April 2011
|
England
Construction death in Essex
It is reported that a workman died following an industrial accident on
Saturday as he worked at the DP World London Gateway port construction site in
Thurrock.
26th April 2011
|
England
Woodworker's unguarded saw
A woodworker and his employee used a circular saw without a crown
guard at premises in Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury, after receiving 2 HSE
Prohibition Notices.
The worker admitted breaching r.11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998, having failed to adequately guard the
dangerous part of the machine and was fined £4,000 plus costs of
£1,305.
26th April 2011
|
England
Incident at Merseyside container
port
A worker in his 20's was injured on Wednesday morning in an incident
involving a container straddle carrier at the Royal Seaforth Container
Terminal.
On release from the cab he was occupying, he was taken to hospital
with serious injuries.
22nd April
2011
|
England
Labourer fell from barn roof
A labourer employed by IFT Services Ltd of Shirebrook fractured his
skull and broke 5 vertebrae when he fell from a barn roof on to a
grain bucket at Cavendish Lodge in Mansfield. He had been working from
a cage attached to a telehandler replacing cement roof sheets and had
climbed out onto a scaffold board to continue removing nails from old
panels, doing so without fall prevention equipment.
IFT admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
1974 and was fined £4,000 plus costs of £2,000.
22nd April
2011
|
England
Fatal farming accident in
Gloucestershire
A farmer in his 40's has died in an accident reportedly involving a
telehandler.
The accident occurred on Tuesday at Elmore Back.
21st April 2011
|
England
Nestle Purina fined £50,000
Five men working on the
maintenance of a high-pressure food-processing machine were exposed to
an uncontrolled release of steam and boiling water at Nestle Purina’s
plant on Cromwell Road, Wisbech, on 4th August 2006. The release
inflicted severe burns to their faces and hands.
Investigation found the equipment's control systems had been replaced
prior to the maintenance work but no proper assessment of the risks
associated with these modifications was undertaken.
Nestle Purina Petcare (UK) Limited
of Croydon, Surrey, admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety
at Work Etc. Act 1974, and r.13 of the Pressure Systems Safety
Regulations 2000, having failed to ensure the steam pressure system
its employees were working on was safe. It was fined £50,000 with
£22,634 costs. 21st
April 2011
|
England
No fall prevention or safe system for
workers
The proprietor of Blackmoor Roofing of Liss, Hampshire, has been fined
£10,000 plus £6,497 costs after admitting a breach of r.25(1) of the
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 in connection
with work involving the removal of roof tiles from a house in Esher,
Surrey, in February last year.
At that time a concerned member of the public reported that one man
was standing on the wet roof with no safety barriers or scaffolding,
another was in the raised bucket of a digger taking tiles from the
roof, and a third was on top of a long ladder throwing tiles on to the
ground. 20th April
2011
|
England
Hydraulic failure led to fatal crush
An employee of Hydraline Engineering Ltd of Cannock, Staffordshire,
died in an industrial accident as he worked on a wheeled loader at
premises in Wells Farm in March 2008. As he worked under the vehicle’s
arms its hydraulic system lost pressure, allowing the loading arm to
fall, fatally crushing him against the vehicle frame.
Investigation established that the deceased's employer had failed to
carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and had trained
him insufficiently for this work.
An HSE inspector explained how a suitable load tested support device,
in conjunction with a safe system of work, would have prevented the
tragedy.
Hydraline was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 costs by
Stafford Crown Court.
20th April 2011
|
England
Industrial death in Cheshire accident
It is reported that a man has died following an incident yesterday in
the Astmoor Industrial Estate in Runcorn. One account states the
incident involved an HGV and a forklift truck.
19th April 2011
|
Wales
Cryptosporidium cases in Wales
It is reported that the health authorities are investigating a number
of cases of cryptosporidium believed to have been contracted by the
public after recently visiting Erddig Hall, the National Trust
property in northeast Wales. One possible source of infection is a
tenant farm on the property where the public had access to sheep.
A spokesman for Public Health Wales said of farm visiting events: "We
are encouraging everyone to follow good hygiene advice to limit the
transmission and spread of infectious diseases. Although the number of
people seriously affected by contact with farm animals is low, it is
important that everyone, especially parents of younger children and
pregnant women, is aware of the potential risks. Pregnant women or
those with an underlying health condition are also advised not to help
lamb or milk ewes."
19th April 2011
|
England
Tree surgeon injured
It is reported that a tree surgeon working in Guyhirn, Cambridgeshire,
was critically injured on Thursday afternoon in an incident involving
a chainsaw. Accounts state he underwent surgery on his neck.
18th April 2011
|
Northern Ireland
16-year old's amputation
James Glennon Packaging Ltd has been fined £12,000 plus £1,194 costs
after admitting breaches of health and safety legislation.
On 8th January 2010, at premises in Dunmurry a new employee, aged 16,
was placing polypropylene bags into a printing machine, a task that
permitted access to a rotating print drum. As he attempted to remove a
bag his arm became trapped in the print drum area, and he sustained an
injury, as a result of which he required to have his right hand amputated.
Investigation revealed that the company had not identified the
hazards, implemented control measures and failed to take account of
the inexperience of young workers.
18th April 2011
|
Northern Ireland
Falsework failed causing 180
tonnes of material to fall
Approximately 150 tonnes of concrete, 25 tonnes of steel
reinforcement, fell in the collapse of a falsework structure erected
at the Law Society Building in Victoria Street, Belfast, on 10th March
2008. Six workers were injured, HSENI investigation established that a
legal duty to ensure that falsework is properly designed and erected
had not been met.
J H Turkington & Sons Ltd of Portadown, the project Principal
Contractor, was fined £50,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of
Article 4(2)(a) and Article 5(1) of the Health and Safety at Work
(Northern Ireland) 1978 and r.23(2) of the Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.
Ripley Developments Ltd of Omagh, a sub-contractor responsible for the
erection of the cast in-situ concrete building, was fined £11,000
after pleading guilty to breaches of Article 4(2)(a) and Article 5(1)
of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) 1978 and r.3(1)(a)
and r.3(1)(b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.
15th April 2011
|
England
HSE investigate airport fatality
It is reported that the Cotswold Airport Fire services manager died in
an industrial accident last Friday afternoon. Accounts state that the
incident involved an exploding gas cylinder.
15th April 2011
|
England
Inexpensive measures would have
prevented steel mill accident
Spartan UK Ltd of Gateshead has been fined a total of £40,000 plus
£9,758 in costs after admitting 3 breaches of the Provision and Use of
Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and a breach of the Management of
Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
The prosecution arose from an industrial accident as an employee stood
with his feet in between several hot conveyor rollers in order to
attach a hydraulic ram to aid the removal of the rollers. He was
seriously injured when a co-worker in the control room activated
hydraulic side arms used to position steel plates through the mill
rollers. The accident victim suffered crushed feet and burns to his
forearms, his leg required to be amputated below the knee.
14th April 2011
|
England
Roofers put shoppers at risk
A failure to utilise safety equipment while working on the roof of
Cooperative Travel at the Lakeside Centre, Balderton, Nottinghamshire,
on 16th June 2010 resulted in a court appearance for Graham Nicholson
Roofing Ltd of Lincoln.
CCTV pictures recorded the operatives undertaking repairs to the roof
immediately above the public entrance, no safety equipment, edge
protection or harnesses were used, placing the workers and the public
at unacceptable risk from falling material.
The company admitted breaching r.4(1) of the Work at Height
Regulations 2005 and was fined £2,000 with costs of £1,500.
14th April 2011
|
England
No safe system for work at
height
A worker on a house roof in Leeds installing a flue liner down the
inside of the chimney put up a roof ladder and had just stepped onto it when it
gave way. He fell 7 metres to the ground below, breaking his back,
investigation established that he did not know there was a dormer
extension on the other side of the roof and that the roof ladder had
failed to hook over and engage the ridge properly.
The company failed to assess the risks properly and failed to find out
there was a dormer window on the rear of the roof, meaning workers
were not provided with the correct equipment.
His then employer, Fluetech Ltd of Halifax, admitted 3 breaches of
safety law and was fined a total of £13,500 plus costs of £3,873. 13th April
2011
|
Scotland
Contractors never agreed
procedures
During April 2007, a labourer working on the 3rd level of a loading
tower of scaffolding erected as part of construction work taking place
at Glasgow Academy fell to the ground from the scaffold loading tower
platform, eventually succumbing to his injuries.
Investigators found a
single guard rail on the ground close to where the deceased man fell
indicating that the loading tower did not have sufficient guard rails
and toe boards The tower and access scaffolding had not been properly
inspected on a regular basis and no safe system of work was used for
loading materials onto the loading tower.
The deceased was employed by Stirling Stone Ltd, which was contracted
as stonemasons to Robertson Construction Central Ltd.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Robertson Construction Central Ltd of Elgin,
Moray, was fined £200,000 for breaching S.3(1) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc 1974 Act, Stirling Stone Ltd was fined £200,000 for
breaching S.2(1) of the same Act.
An HSE inspector commented: "There is no excuse for the contractors
not to have agreed procedures as to how this work was to be done and
ensured that this routine work was carried out safely." 13th April
2011
|
England
Serious injury at Sussex waste
management premises
It is reported that 2 men were injured in an industrial accident on
Saturday morning at the premises of Rabbit Skips in Lancing.
One is reported as critically injured, his colleague escaped with
minor injuries reportedly when they were struck by falling timber.
12th April 2011
|
England
Carbon monoxide hazard for asbestos
workers
Three asbestos removal workers were
exposed to carbon monoxide gas as they progressed through a 3-stage
decontamination unit on a project in Huddersfield. The first 2 workers
passed through seemingly unaffected but their 3 colleagues were nearly
overcome by dizziness and nausea, tests confirming they had suffered
carbon monoxide poisoning.
Investigation found a gas boiler providing hot water for the
shower, but poor maintenance caused it to be pumping out high levels
of carbon monoxide. Additionally, a door seal and lock between the
boiler compartment and ‘clean’ sections of the unit were damaged,
permitting poisonous gases to enter the clean end.
Newlincs Services Ltd of Grimsby, the owner of the decontamination
unit, admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act
1974 and was fined £5,000 plus £3,580 in costs.
An HSE inspector commented: "Even
though these 3 men spent a relatively short time in the affected part
of the decontamination unit, they were left seriously nauseous and
dizzy. The consequences of longer exposure could have been fatal. A
carbon monoxide alarm is effective as a last line of defence but is
not a substitute for proper maintenance."
12th April 2011
|
England
Fatal accident on Scilly
A man has died on St Mary's island following an incident involving a
farm tractor. 11th
April 2011
|
England
MOD crown censure over school
safety failures
The Ministry of Defence has been censured for safety failings at The
Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, Suffolk, which were brought to light
following a climbing incident at the school on 3rd March 2009.
During a PE class a 15-year old girl fell 6 metres from the top of a
climbing wall on to a wooden gymnasium floor, fracturing her spine.
The school, owned by the Royal Navy's charity, The Greenwich Hospital,
recorded the admission that: "at the time of the accident the risk
assessment, written operating procedure, written procedures or records
for examination, inspection and maintenance regime relating to
climbing activities/climbing wall and related equipment were not
suitable or sufficient so as to ensure that risks were reduced to the
lowest level reasonable practicable."
11th April 2011
|
England
Excavation collapse in Kent kills
worker
A workman in his 20's has died in an
excavation collapse at Bridgefield Road in Whitstable.
The accident occurred yesterday afternoon, one account states that a
man has been arrested by police in connection with the incident.
8th April 2011
|
England
Hydraulic press amputated operator's
hand
A worker lost his hand when the top pressing tool of a hydraulic press
brake he was operating came down on his wrist at RDB Fabrication and
Engineering Ltd'S premises in Bradford. An electronic motion guard,
designed to stop the machine moving if a part of a person entered the
danger zone, failed to operate and stop the movement of the tool. The
company had failed to ensure the guarding was effective, and it
admitted breaching r.11(b) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998. It was fined £12,000 plus £2,000 costs.
8th April 2011
|
England
Head injury resulted in blindness
A self-employed builder and fitter using a tower scaffold erected on
top of a freight container fell to the ground while ascending from it.
Employed on the project to refurbish an agricultural building in
Newgate Street, Hertfordshire, he suffered a head injury which has
blinded him in one eye.
Contractors Balsham (Buildings) Ltd
of High Street, Balsham, Cambridge admitted breaching S.3(1) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and r.4(1) of the Work at
Height Regulations 2005 for which it was fined £7,000 plus £8832 costs
at Watford Magistrates’ Court.
7th April 2011
|
England
Company ignored safety consultant's
advice
Coventry Construction Ltd has been prosecuted for failing to respond
to the advice given by visiting HSE officials and its own health and
safety consultants. It admitted breaching S.2 of the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £6,000 plus £8,000 costs.
During November 2009, HSE inspectors took issue with the condition of
the company's workplace at Torrington Avenue in respect of inadequate
guarding of drills and guillotines, poor control measures when
spraying and storing flammable paint causing potential fire and
explosion risks, and inadequate storage of oxygen and acetylene
cylinders.
One of the inspectors commented: "This company repeatedly ignored
advice and information we issued to them which demonstrated a blatant
disregard for the welfare of its workforce. The company had hired
consultants to advise them on health and safety matters but failed to
heed the advice given them in relation to machinery guarding."
7th April 2011
|
England
Herefordshire farm death
A farm worker in his 30's died in an accident at a farm near Burghill
early yesterday. One account states a machine fell on him.
6th April 2011
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England
Director defied HSE order
A director of an Edgware garage company, Scuff Plus Ltd, has been
prosecuted and fined for ignoring an Improvement Notice requiring a
statutory examination be carried out on the pressure system compressor
being used at his garage.
Following a visit by an HSE inspector during which he was unable to
produce an examination, in line with a Written Scheme of Examination
for the pressure system compressor, he failed to reply to
correspondence on the matter and an Improvement Notice was served on
the 14th October 2009.
In January 2010, he told the inspector the pressure vessel would not
be used until it had been examined by a competent person, however a
follow up visit a month later found the compressor was still in use.
The director, of no fixed abode, admitted breaching r.9(1) of the
Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000, and was given a 12 month
conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £500.
6th April 2011
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England
Fire at steel foundry
As many as 20 persons required to be taken to hospital following
yesterday's outbreak of fire at Sheffield Forgemasters in the city.
Those most affected had been exposed to a mixture of chemicals
released during fire-fighting and this had resulted in respiratory
problems but reports suggest none were seriously affected.
5th April 2011
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England
Farm worker unlawfully killed in
accident
An inquest jury has determined a verdict of unlawful killing after
considering the circumstances of the death of a 33-year old farm
worker in July 2009 at a farm in Scales, Lancs.
The deceased had alighted from a tractor and trailer at a fuel tank
when the vehicle moved and pinned him under a wheel, inflicting fatal
asphyxiating pressure.
The jury had heard evidence about the poor standard of maintenance of
the tractor and concluded that the handbrake had been defective.
5th April 2011
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England
Fatal consequences of Lancs accident
It is reported that a man in his 50's has succumbed to injuries one
week after he sustained them in an industrial accident on 12th March
at the premises of Assystem UK Ltd in Bamber Bridge.
4th April 2011
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England
Performer has serious injuries
The 22-year old stunt performer who sustained head and back injuries
in a fall while rehearsing for a performance at Legoland Windsor on
Monday has undergone further surgery for serious spinal injuries. One
account states the event is organised by SGA Productions.
4th April 2011
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Scotland
Dundee hotel legionella
speculation
A man is being treated in hospital after contracting Legionnaires'
disease. He attended a leisure club at a hotel in Dundee where, it is
reported by health officials, more than 100 other members of the
public and hotel employees have contracted a similar illness which may
be the less severe form called Pontiac fever. The club was closed on
17th March. 1st
April 2011
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England
Worker fell into machine
On 14th August 2008, an employee of Imerys Minerals Ltd at its
European Milling Centre at Par Docks, near St Austell, was loading
bags of china clay onto a conveyor belt when he was drawn into a gap
of approx 150mm between the conveyor and another belt mounted above,
which was designed to flatten bags of china clay. He sustained
multiple injuries which prevented him working for a year.
The company was fined £30,000 plus £45,124 costs, an HSE inspector
commented that the accident could easily have been avoided had it
carried out an assessment and looked at the risks being taken by
employees at the site.
1st April 2011
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