Greece
Firefighting plane crashes off
Kefalonia
A pilot engaged in firefighting died when his Polish manufactured
PZL(M-18) Dromader crashed into the Ionian Sea near Kefalonia on
Thursday, the aircraft did not feature an ejector seat; a soldier died
when a tank he was driving overturned near Protoklissi in Evro, while
returning to base following a military exercise, 3 colleagues survived
uninjured. 28th
August 2009.
|
Uganda
Engineer crushed in dam turbines
A 41-year old Eskom engineer has died in a fatal crush accident in
power turbines in Unit 5 at the Owen Falls Dam/Nalubaale in Jinja.
28th August 2009.
|
The Netherlands
Fifth Q-koorts death recorded
The RIVM (Rijkinstituut voor Volksgezondheit en Milieu) has reported
that a 5th person has now died from Q-koorts (zoonose) infection, with
2,085 cases having been found, mostly in sheep. The figure for humans
infected this year now stands at 24, double last year's figure, with
80% of these recorded in the Den Bosch area. 27th August 2009.
|
USA
Falling tree kills ground
maintenance worker
A 60-year old Alabama worker has been killed by a falling tree while
performing ground maintenance work on land adjacent to the former
Scottsboro Aluminium plant on Goose Pond Island, he was found dead in
his tractor and it is believed he was working for North Island
Investors who own the feu for the plant and adjacent ground. 27th August 2009.
|
Romania
Fatal steel works
explosion
An explosion on Tuesday morning at the
Otelul Rosu steel works in southwest Caras Severin in the Banat region killed 1 worker and
left 2 others injured, the cause of the accident remains unclear. 26th August 2009.
|
Ukraine
8 miners killed in methane
explosion
An investigation has been ongoing into
a methane gas explosion at the Kirov mine in Makeyevka, Donetsk,
which killed 8 and injured 5 of the 141 miners underground at the time. 26th August 2009.
|
Canada
Roads worker killed by falling
machine in central Newfoundland
A worker died in a crush accident on Monday morning at a construction
site on the eastbound lane of the Trans-Canada Highway 2 miles east of
the Notre Dame Junction in central Newfoundland where he was pinned
under an unstable milling machine.
25th August 2009.
|
USA
Wisconsin woman's hand caught in
rollers
A 33-year old female worker was hospitalised in Neenah, Wisconsin, on
Monday morning following an accident at the Sohn Manufacturing Inc
label manufacturing plant in Elkhart Lake where her hand became caught
between 2 rollers in machinery. 25th August 2009.
|
Tanzania
12 girls die in school dormitory
fire
It is speculated that candles may have caused the fire in a dormitory
of the Ilodi Secondary School for girls, 300 miles southwest of Dar es
Salaam, which killed 12 girls and injured 20 others at the weekend.
24th August 2009.
|
USA
Heavy overhead door kills Utah
brick worker
A worker died after being struck by a 1.5-tonne overhead door to a
kiln at the Interstate Brick company in West Jordan, Utah. 24th August 2009.
|
Atlantic
British ocean rower rescued
British ocean rower Peter Bray was rescued from his 3-metre long boat,
the Black Knight, by research vessel James Cook in rough seas in
mid-Atlantic, the decision to abort the attempt to beat the record
solo crossing of 64 days from Newfoundland to the Bishop‘s Rock
lighthouse was taken in the light of the imminent development of
Hurricane Bill.
He had completed 43 days at sea and was raising funds for British
charity Help For Heroes. His decision may also have been influenced by
his experience of being caught up in Hurricane Alex 5 years ago during
the Pink Lady Challenge when he was awarded a medal by the Royal
Humane Society for saving a colleague’s life.
Also at sea in the north Atlantic are a team of French women crossing
on paddleboards, they have already ridden out 1 bad storm by
sheltering on a support vessel. They are currently 620 miles from the
French coast. 21st
August 2009.
|
Northern Ireland
Worker’s hand badly injured in
recycling machinery
A 35-year old Polish worker was badly injured in an accident at RecyCo
on Killyclogher Road, Omagh, where his hand became trapped in baling
machinery. His hand was released after 3 hours using hydraulic rams
and spreaders and he was initially treated at Altnagelvin Hospital,
Londonderry, prior to transfer for further surgery in Dundonald.
21st August 2009.
|
USA
Texas construction worker drowns
in flooded pipe tunnel
A construction worker of Boring & Tunnelling Company of America
drowned in a flooded tunnel during works south of highway 105 in
Conroe, Texas, 2 colleagues managed to escape. The workers had entered
the pipe some 3 metres underground to retrieve a drill bit which had
become stuck. However, a torrential downpour saw substantial water
ingress in less than 10 minutes, the public works department deployed
a remote control camera to locate the victim's body 17 metres along
the 1-metre wide pipe.
20th August 2009.
|
USA
Mississippi shipyard fatality
A 46-year old Mississippi shipyard worker sustained fatal head
injuries after being struck by a crane while working on a boat under
construction at Trinity Yachts Inc in Gulfport.
20th August 2009.
|
Austria
Maintenance worker killed in
ski-lift
A Carinthian maintenance worker died in an accident on Tuesday morning
while working on the ski-lift at Bad Kleinkircheim in Spittal,
becoming trapped in the gearing mechanism which inflicted fatal crush
injuries.19th
August 2009.
|
Australia
Worker survives being run over
by grader
A soil tester is listed as in serious but comfortable condition in
hospital in Cairns after being run over by the rear wheels of a
20-tonne grader at Purcells Straight, 3 miles east of Atherton. He was
unsighted in an excavation when the vehicle reversed, its rear wheels
running over his hips before he managed to roll away. Roadworks are
being carried out locally on Atherton Tableland by Downer EDi, the
victim and the driver are both contract workers.
19th August 2009.
|
Russia
10 killed, scores missing after
transformer explosion
At least 10 workers died and as many as 65 were feared missing
following a transformer explosion during maintenance in an engine room
of turbines at the Sayano-Shushenskaya plant in southern Siberia. A
power surge in the water pipes led to flooding with some personnel
drowning.
The dam on the adjacent Yenesei River appears to be undamaged, but 2
of the 10 turbines were destroyed, another was badly damaged.
18th August 2009.
|
Belgium
Cycle club member killed in
tractor accident
A cyclist participating on a club outing was killed after being struck
by a tractor which was harvesting potatoes and moving between fields,
the accident occurred on a bend of Kwaplasstraat in Torhout, West
Flanders.
18th August 2009.
|
Kuwait
Tent regulations to be tightened
after wedding fire
In the wake of the weekend accident in which 41 people died in a tent
fire during a wedding reception in al-Jahra, west of Kuwait City, a
tightening of regulations is expected with tents to be erected only
with written permission.
It remains unclear whether an electrical fault with the lighting or
cooking equipment was to blame, or candles. Dozens of people were also
injured in the ensuing panic.
17th August 2009.
|
Ukraine
Donetsk pyrotechnics warehouse
explosion
A major fire occurred following an explosion on Sunday at a warehouse
holding pyrotechnic products in the village of Yakovlevka, northeast
of Donetsk, the cause was not immediately known nor were there details
of any injuries.
17th August 2009.
|
Russia
Footballer killed by lightning during training
A lightning strike during a thunderstorm has killed a 16-year old
youth footballer during a training session in the Lenin Stadium of
SKA-Energia Khabarovsk in Khabarovsk, 2 other players were
hospitalised for scans.
14th August 2009.
|
Australia
Finger amputation after accident
during police firearms training
A Northern Territory police officer has had a section of finger
amputated following an accident during firearms training at the
Mickett Creek shooting range in Berrimah. He was holding a Glock
self-loading pistol which either discharged as he was carrying it or
during practice on the range.
14th August 2009.
|
Malaysia
Bee swarm leads to death of
worker in fall from platform
A building maintenance worker died
and a colleague was badly injured in an 8-storey fall from a work
platform after being attacked by a swarm of bees whose hive they had
encountered under the eaves of the Bangunan Persekutuan(Federal
Government) building on Anson Road, Penang, a 3rd worker was rescued
from the platform after sustaining 100 stings.
13th August 2009.
|
Canada
Supermarket lacked written
safety information for lifting device
At the Ontario Court of Justice,
Old City Hall, Toronto, Tuong Phat Supermarket was fined $90K(£50,071)
after pleading guilty to a breach of Section 25(2)(a) of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act in respect of a failure to ensure
that a worker was given information and instruction regarding the safe
use of a lifting truck.
On December 27th 2007, a worker at the Finch Avenue West store was
using a lifting device to move a trolley from the main floor to the
basement when its forks tipped back, causing the machine to fall and
crush the worker.
Ministry of Labour investigation found that no written instruction for
the safe operation of the lifting device had been given and verbal
instruction did not cover all elements of a comprehensive safety
programme. 13th
August 2009.
|
Slovakia
Grim task to recover 20 miners
after Handlova explosion
On Tuesday rescuers recovered 16 of the bodies of 20 miners killed in
an underground explosion in the Eastern Shaft at the Hornonitrianske
Banke Prievidze lignite/brown coal mine in Handlova, 90 miles
northeast of Bratislava. The miners were in the process of
extinguishing a fire 330 metres underground in an old tunnel when the
explosion occurred, the worst accident in Slovakian mining history.
12th August 2009.
|
USA
Detaching HGV tyre kills Texas
roads worker
A 52-year old contract roads worker has died after being struck by a
detached giant tyre from a passing Safety Kleen tanker lorry which was
crossing a bridge spanning Lewisville Lake, north of Dallas, Texas,
another detaching tyre struck vehicles.12th
August 2009.
|
France
Handicapped girl died in adapted
hospital bed
A case of involuntary homicide by negligence is being considered in
the case of the death of a 5-year old handicapped girl who died in an
adapted bed in hospital in Mulhouse.
An adult bed was adapted as no suitable bed was available for the
child who could neither walk nor speak. She was found unconscious with
her head trapped between bars fitted to the bed and its mattress,
dying 4 days later despite intensive care treatment.
11th August 2009.
|
Malta
Electric shock leads to fall
from scaffold
An 18-year old worker was badly injured in a fall from scaffolding
erected in front of Zabbar church on Monday, it is thought that an
electric shock caused him to fall, but initial diagnosis indicates his
life is not in danger.
11th August 2009.
|
Australia
Heavy machinery accident at
Brisbane site
A worker has died in a site accident in Pinkenba, north Brisbane,
after being struck by a counter-weight on heavy machinery at the site
on Main Beach Road.
11th August 2009.
|
Germany
Fatal accident at Karlsruhe
international Go-Kart race
A 19-year old Dutch Go-Kart driver was killed in a DKM (Deutsch Kart
Meisterschaft) race on Sunday afternoon at the Kart-Motodrom in
Liedolsheim, Karlsruhe, colliding with a 17-year old Italian's Go-Kart
on the right-hand bend shortly after the start of the 1,060-metre
long, 7-metre wide circuit. He was pitched out of his Go-Kart upon
impact and died from multiple injuries. 10th August 2009.
|
France
Nonagenarian swimmer rescued by
Breton lifeguards
Life guards at Saint-Quay-Portrieux, Brittany, have reported the
rescue of an 89-year old woman from the sea off Comtesse plage on
Sunday, the oldest swimmer ever rescued there. She was close to
drowning when rescued and is listed as gravely ill in hospital in
Brieuc. 10th August 2009.
|
Tonga
30 ferry passengers missing off
north Tonga
At least 30 women and children passengers of the ferry Princess Ashika
have drowned after the boat sank in heavy seas 55 miles northeast of
the capital Nuku'alofa. The 40-year old ferry was carrying 90
passengers and crew of whom 50 survived by clinging to wreckage, those
who drowned were sleeping below deck.
7th August 2009.
|
Germany
Hessen roofer killed in fall; 2
killed during Berlin church building refurbishment
Amt fur Arebeitschutz (the department for workplace safety) is
investigating an accident in which a 32-year old roofer died in an
8-metre fall through weak timber in a roof being renovated in Bad
Hersfeld.
A clergyman and a worker were killed when a section of wall collapsed
on them as they were engaged in its removal on Romanian Orthodox
Church property on Heerstrasse, Berlin.
7th August 2009.
|
South Africa
Fatal accident at vanadium mine
A ramp collapsed on Wednesday at the Vametco vanadium mine near Brits,
killing 1 miner and injuring 5 others. There were miners on and under
the ramp when the accident occurred at the mine owned by American
company Strategic Minerals Corporation in North West Province.
6th August 2009.
|
UAE
Cable engineer electrocuted in
Dubai manhole
An engineer of Etisalat has been electrocuted during cable maintenance
in a manhole on Al Nahda Road in Dubai. He had completed his task and
was leaving the manhole when he touched a live metal board and was
thrown back into the manhole by the shock.
6th August 2009.
|
France
Light aircraft crashes in sea
near Perpignan
A search and rescue effort was ongoing through Tuesday evening for 2
persons on board a Piper PA-38 light aircraft which crashed into the
sea 4 miles off Canet-en-Rousillon beach, the flight had taken off
from Perpignan airport which received a distress call from the plane
shortly after take-off.
Late in the afternoon a helicopter spotted debris in the sea, local
fire crews were still speaking hopefully of locating survivors.
Last November an Air New Zealand flight came down there in the sea
after leaving Perpignan. 5th August 2009.
|
Thailand
Pilot killed in landing skid
The pilot of a Thailand Airways ATR-72 twin-turboprop aircraft died
when it skidded off the runaway and struck a former control tower on
Koh Samui island as it landed from Krab, 7 other people of the 72 on
board were injured, most with fractures.5th August 2009.
|
Greece
Worker killed in molten ore
wagon derailment
A wagon laden with molten ore derailed at the Larco factory in Larymna, leading to the death of a 36-year old worker and serious burns
injuries to 3 others from the 3,000ºC ore being moved to a cooling
unit. 4th August
2009.
|
Spain
Investigation of northeast Madrid lift
shaft death
Technical investigation of a lift is underway at a residential
building in the Hortaleza district of Madrid where a 54-year old man's
body was recovered from the bottom of the lift shaft.
The lift was found stopped between 2 floors, initial speculation
suggests that the victim had attempted to jump down 7 metres from the
suspended lift to the lift opening on the lower floor.
4th August 2009.
|
Norway
Langeland located on sea bed, 6
crew feared drowned
On Sunday robotic equipment located the sunken Norwegian cargo ship
Langeland in 108 metres of water south of the Koster Islands, having
sunk in stormy conditions in the North Sea, all 6 Russian and
Ukrainian crew men are missing, feared drowned.
In Telemark the Chinese freighter Full City ran aground near
Langesund, 100 miles southwest of Oslo, 23 crew members of the
Panama-registered ship, owned by Hong Kong company Cosco, were
rescued, 7 other members stayed on board to help as the ship began to
loose oil. 3rd
August 2009.
|
Canada
Storm gusts lead to death at
music festival
A stage collapse at the Big Valley Jamboree music festival at the
weekend at Camrose, Alberta, left 1 person dead and 75 others injured.
Gusts exceeding 60mph occurred in a weather front preceding a tornado,
sending debris flying around the site.
3rd August 2009.
|
|
India
Double fatality at West Bengal
mine
Two miners were killed in a coal fall on Thursday at the Satgram
colliery of Eastern Coalfields Ltd in Ranigunj, West Bengal.
28th August 2009.
|
Greece
Worker killed in molten ore
spillage
An explosion at the Larco mining and metallurgy plant in Larymna, 75
miles northeast of Athens, has killed a worker when a vessel emptying
molten ore fractured during the operation, 2 other workers are
critically ill, 1 with burns over 60% of his body. Police have made 7
arrests in connection with the accident.
Earlier this month a worker was burned to death when a wagon carrying
molten ore derailed at the plant.
28th August 2009.
|
Canada
Worker killed in chute fall at
rock salt mine
A worker at the Sifto Salt mine in Goderich, Ontario, has died after
falling into a chute leading to a trench conveyor system for the rock
salt. 27th August 2009.
|
Germany
Welding fire destroys factory
during refurbishment
A major fire engulfed a factory in
Hochstadt, Baden Wurttemberg, on Wednesday during hot metal work on
the heating system, the premises are undergoing refurbishment and were
virtually empty at the time. 27th August 2009.
|
Belgium
Falling plaques kill
Brussels pedestrian
A 28-year old woman was killed by the
fall of decorative plaques from a building occupied by Setca on rue
des Alexiens in Brussels, another pedestrian was struck on the ankle.
26th August 2009.
|
Austria
Heavy hay bale rolls over
Karnten farmer
A 24-year old farm worker was
hospitalised with serious injuries after being struck by a 400Kg
rolling hay bale which became unstable and came down a gradient in a field at Liebenfels
in Karnten. 26th
August 2009.
|
Greece
Boiler explosion kills painter
A 30-year old Albanian worker was killed in an explosion while
painting a boiler at a boiler manufacturing factory in Karditsa,
western Thessaly. 25th August 2009.
|
USA
Connecticut worker burned in
acid spill
In an accident on Monday at American Electro Products Inc in
Waterbury, Connecticut, a worker was burned by sulphuric acid and was
admitted to Waterbury Hospital for treatment. 25th August 2009.
|
EU
Light aircraft accidents in
Germany, France and Spain kill 13
Thirteen people died over the weekend in a variety of light aircraft
accidents.
In Germany a pilot and 3 passengers in a helicopter died after a
collision with a Cessna aircraft near the Ellwanger-Erpfental airfield
in Baden-Wurttemburg, the pilot of the plane survived with serious
injuries. The plane had been carrying a parachutist, the airfield was
holding a gala day and not specifically an air show.
On Saturday 2 passengers drowned when a light aircraft on a
sightseeing tour crashed in Hamburg port, the pilot survived the
accident. A light aircraft crashed following engine problems in
Draguignan, Provence, leading to 5 deaths; and on Sunday 2 people died
when a light aircraft crashed in a built-up area in Pilar de la
Horada, south Alicante.
24th August 2009.
|
Russia
Tankers without pilots ground in
tricky estuary
Failure to use a local pilot has led to the second grounding this
month of an oil tanker in the Kukhtui River estuary, draining into the
Okhotsk Sea near Okhotsk, the
grounding of a tanker on Sunday with 200 tonnes of oil did not appear
to produce any leakage in a waterway difficult to negotiate without
local navigational knowledge.
24th August 2009.
|
USA
Transport fatality on Virginia
roads site
A construction worker of E W Muller Contractors was killed on Thursday
after being hit by a bulldozer at a new road site on Eastwood Drive,
Newport News, Virginia.
21st August 2009.
|
USA
Worker survived 25 metre fall
through roof
A 47-year old steelworker is listed as critically injured after
falling more than 25 metres through a roof at the Empire Generating
site on Riverside Drive, Port of Rensselaer, New York, a fragile roof
panel failed as he walked across the roof, he struck a crane and steel
beams in his fall.
21st August 2009.
|
Canada
Montreal window cleaner killed
in 18-storey fall
A window cleaner has died in an 18-storey fall from the top of the
Blue Cross building in Montreal when his work platform failed, 2
colleagues required hospital treatment for shock. This was the 4th
fatal accident involving a window cleaner in the city this decade.
20th August 2009.
|
Australia
Worker's inadequate instruction
of gantry crane led to death
Roller door manufacturer B & D
Australia has been fined $300K(£150,385) over the death of a worker 3
years ago in an accident at its Kilsyth factory.
On November 28th 2006, the worker was attempting to move a 350Kg steel
drum using an overhead gantry crane when the 7-metre long drum fell,
inflicting fatal crush injuries. Although the worker had been trained
he had received inadequate instruction for the safe operation of the
overhead crane.
20th August 2009.
|
USA
Disney stuntman killed during
show rehearsals
During rehearsals for the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at the
Disney World Hollywood theme park in Orlando, Florida, a stuntman was
killed while practicing a tumbling roll stunt.
19th August 2009.
|
Sweden
Fire incident on berthed ferry
A fire broke out on Tuesday on the 208-metre long ferry Zenith which
was docked in the Frihamnen wharf in Stockholm, 2 people were
hospitalised with smoke inhalation as hundreds of others were
evacuated, the locus is thought to have been Deck 3.
19th August 2009.
|
Turkey
Ordnance accident kills 4
soldiers; lab explosion in fireworks factory
A hand grenade being carried by soldiers on patrol on Monday in
Karakocan in Elazig, eastern Turkey, exploded unexpectedly, killing 4
of the soldiers.
An explosion in the laboratory of a fireworks factory in Hendek in the
Marmara region killed a lab worker on Monday, the ensuing fire in the
factory was later controlled but a partial collapse of the premises
occurred.18th August 2009.
|
Russia
Air acrobatics pilot killed in
mid-air collision
A pilot of the Russkije Witjasi (Russian Knights) was killed on Sunday
in the collision of 2 Sukhoi Su-27 aircraft during rehearsals for air
acrobatics at this week's MAKS 2009 air show at Zhukovski airfield.
Both pilots ejected but only 1 survived, 5 people on the ground were
injured by falling debris over Belozerikha village.
Elsewhere, in Kaluga in central Russia a pilot and instructor died
when a YAK-52 turboprop aircraft crashed during a training flight on
Sunday.
17th August 2009.
|
USA
Crush accident kills Kansas City
parks worker
A Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department worker was killed in a
crush accident at the weekend, becoming pinned between a large mower
and a tree in the city's Jerry Smith Park.
17th August 2009.
|
USA
Maryland grounds worker killed
in rollover accident
A Maryland grounds maintenance worker of Premier Lawn Service has died
in a motorised mower rollover accident on Junction Drive, Annapolis
Junction, where he lost control of his machinery which rolled down a
4-metre embankment, pinning him underneath.
14th August 2009.
|
Canada
Company fined over collapsing
folding table accident
At Ontario Court of Justice pallet manufacturer CHEP Canada Inc has
been fined $75K(£41,641) after pleading guilty to a breach of
Occupational Health and Safety Act Section 25(2)(a).
On February 22nd 2008, a worker sustained wrist injuries when a
bi-fold table with which he was working at the Brampton premises
collapsed on him during maintenance work. Ministry of Labour
investigation found that locking pins to support its upright position
had been removed prior to the end of the repair.
The company pleaded guilty to failing as an employer to provide
information, instruction and supervision on lockout procedures for
bi-folding tables to all workers using or repairing them.
14th August 2009.
|
USA
Falling heavy plate accident on
New Jersey bridge site
A 26-year old employee of Lucas
Construction Group has died after being struck on the head by a steel
plate weighing 625Kg which fell 2 metres during lowering by chain on
the new bridge construction site on Blair Road, Woodbridge, New
Jersey.
13th August 2009.
|
South Africa
Transport fatality at gold mine
A worker died in a transport accident on Tuesday at AngloGold
Ashanti's Mponeng mine near Carletonville where he was struck by
a locomotive at 83 level 2,500m underground, South Africa's 109th
mining fatality this year.
12th August 2009.
|
Sweden
Skane farm worker gored by bull
A farm worker was gored to death by a bull on Tuesday at a farm near
Bastad, Skane, southwest Sweden.
12th August 2009.
|
USA
Track worker killed by ballast
spreader
A Washington Metro employee engaged in track maintenance was killed by
a manned ballast regulator riding the rails near Vienna station,
Fairfax, Virginia, he was replacing crossties on the track when the
accident occurred.
11th August 2009.
|
The Netherlands
Tram/bus collision leaves driver
badly injured
A collision between a tram and a bus at the junction of Treubstraat
and Volmerlaan in Rijkswijk on Monday has left 4 people badly injured,
including 1 of the drivers whose cabin was crushed against a lamp
standard. 11th
August 2009.
|
Guyana
Missing huntsman found alive
A young member of a hunting club was found alive and well on Sunday 2
days after becoming separated from the main party of huntsmen in
dense tropical forest near Roura, 25 miles east of Cayenne. 10th August 2009.
|
Paraguay
Life in baby given up for dead
A baby boy born prematurely and weighing 500g has been revived and
returned to the intensive care unit of the IPS clinic in Asuncion
after being declared dead and given to the parents for his funeral.
When noise was detected from the container, it was opened and the baby
was breathing, an investigation into the failure by medics to detect
his vital signs is underway. The baby is the 24-year old mother's
second son. 10th August 2009.
|
Belgium
9 killed in Flanders care home
fire
A major fire on Thursday evening at the Kanunnik-Triest care home for
the elderly in Melle, east Flanders, has killed 9 of the 92
patients. The premises have 3 units for residents, De Zwaanhoek
for dementia, and De Varens and Ter Linden for general care, with day
patients attending De Bueren unit.
7th August 2009.
|
Germany
Boy injured in fall from
unsecured steps during plane boarding
A 10-year old boy was injured in a 4.5-metre fall when portable steps
moved from their anchorage during passenger boarding of an Air Canada
Boeing 777 at Frankfurt Airport, the steps being owned and operated by
Frankfurt Airport Authorities.
7th August 2009.
|
Canada
2 killed in media helicopter
crash
A helicopter crashed during media coverage of the aftermath of stormy
weather in Mont-Laurier, killing both the pilot and a cameraman of CTV
Montreal, the craft came down near highway 117, northwest of Montreal.
6th August 2009.
|
Bahrain
Falling material kills oil site
worker
Falling material has killed a construction worker during the lifting
of a cabin by crane at new residential quarters for workers at the
site of the Bahrain Petroleum Company's Lube Base Oil project south of
Ma'ameer. The deceased worker sustained multiple fractures, 4 others
workers were also injured.
6th August 2009.
|
Malaysia
Docker killed; MLNG gas
inspectors overcome by leakage
In North Port, Port Klang, a Nepalese docker was killed by a container
being lifted by crane during unloading of a ship on Tuesday at Wharf
20.
At the Malaysian Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Tanjung Kidurong,
Sarawak, 3 workers were overcome by gas while inspecting a large gas
pipeline there, 1 of them has died, the condition of the other 2 in
hospital remains unknown.
5th August 2009.
|
Ukraine
Gas incident at Kiev works
The Emergencies Department in Kiev has indicated that a gas leak at
Natalka Trading House Ltd in the Darnytsia district of Kiev saw 15
workers injured, 6 required hospitalisation. 5th August 2009.
|
Indonesia
Quadruple fatality in sugar
works machine accident
Machinery was unwittingly activated during cleaning work at PT
Dharmapala Usaha Sikses sugar works in Cilacap, central Java, which
caused 4 fatalities to workers who were removing residual sugar from a
process cylinder when the turbine activated.
4th August 2009.
|
USA
Fatal crush accident involving
HGV in Alabama
A fatal accident was reported on Hardiman Road in Madison, Alabama, on
Monday morning where 2 men were working on a lorry experiencing
hydraulic problems, 1 of them died when the lorry's raised bed fell
down on to the chassis.
4th August 2009.
|
Indonesia
Twin Otter with 16 on board
missing in Papua
A Twin Otter aircraft of Merpati Nusantara airlines, flying from
Sentani airport near Jayapura to Oksibil, is missing in a remote area
close to the Papua New Guinea border, contact with the flight carrying
3 crew and 13 passengers was lost as the flight was within 10 minutes
of its destination.
3rd August 2009.
|
Pakistan
24 dead in Karachi building
collapse
The collapse of the 5-storey Khadija Manzil building in the Mithadar
area of Karachi has killed 24 people, an adjacent building deemed to
be unstable was subsequently evacuated.
The collapsed property featured warehouses on the lower floors, with 4
families residing in the upper floors.
3rd August 2009.
|
|
Rep Ireland
Irish Rail viaduct collapse
investigation
An initial investigation by Iarnrod Eireann(Irish Rail) into the
collapse of the Broadmeadow Estuary Rail viaduct suggests that seabed
erosion caused by low tides and heavy rains may have created a small
breach in a causeway plateau of the seabed, producing a change to
water flow and increasing pressure.
A 20-metre section collapsed into the sea last week, around 90 trains
cross the bridge daily. An underwater structural inspection takes
place every 6 years, the upper structure was scheduled for its
biennial inspection in 6 weeks.
28th August 2009.
|
China
Hope fades for 5 missing in
flooded mine
A search was ongoing through Thursday for 5 workers missing in the
flooded Hutangchong Coal Mine in Shangli County, Jiangxi. The mine has
been undergoing renovation and extension, 8 workers were underground,
2 were found dead, 1 managed to escape the flooding.
28th August 2009.
|
Sweden
Ovary of appendectomy patient
removed in error
The Swedish Medical Disciplinary Board (Halso-och Sjukvardens
Ansvarsnamnd) has been investigating an accident in which a woman
admitted to hospital in Blekinge with severe stomach pains and
was prepared for an appendectomy had her ovary removed in error. 27th August 2009.
|
USA
Electrician killed by
swinging boom on Queens/Bronx bridge
A New York electrical worker died in an
accident on the north side of the city's Throgs Neck Bridge on Tuesday
morning upon being struck by the boom of an articulated lorry, the
accident was initially attributed to a fall but the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority confirmed that a sub-contract worker had died
after being struck by plant.
26th August 2009.
|
Switzerland
4 survive Thurgau light
aircraft crash
A single-engine light aircraft crashed
shortly after take-off from Lommis airfield on Tuesday, coming down in
a maize field 500 metres from the runway, all 4 occupants survived, 2
of them have serious head injuries.
26th August 2009.
|
Russia
Lightning sparked oil depot fire
A lightning strike is stated as the cause of the major fire at the
Kandi linear booster pipeline pumping station of Sibnefteprovod 12
miles from Urai in Khany-Mansiisk region where 2 rescue workers died
and another is missing, 5 others were injured tackling a blaze which
has spread over 200Km², 3 reservoirs each containing 20Km³ of oil are
involved, with a mixture of water and sand being deployed to
extinguish the blaze.
25th August 2009.
|
Vietnam
Fire destroys 2 factories in Ho
Chi Minh City
An electrical malfunction is speculated as the cause of a fire
yesterday at Hiep Luc Absorbent Cotton production in the Tan Phu
district of Ho Chi Minh City where 1 worker died and others were
injured, the victim was believed to have been sleeping when the
accident occurred.
The fire gutted the factory and also destroyed the adjacent Dieu Van
Produce fan manufacturers.
25th August 2009.
|
England
Lift shaft plunge; wall falls on
workmen
A workman has broken his leg in a 6-metre fall down a lift shaft
on Friday at the Buckinghamshire New University building in
High Wycombe.
Yesterday 2 workers were
injured as a wall collapsed at a building site in Chirton, Wiltshire, one
required to be rescued by emergency services.
25th August 2009.
|
France
Worker killed in meat grinding
machine
A 28-year old temporary factory worker died on Saturday after falling
into a veal grinding machine at Tendriade in Saulce-sur-Rhone, Drome, investigation is focussing on the machinery's failure to
deactivate as soon as he fell in.
24th August 2009.
|
Australia
NT zinc mine death investigation
Northern Territory WorkSafe inspectors are studying a fatal accident involving
a 20-year old worker at the MacArthur River zinc mine of Xstrata, 560
miles southeast of Darwin, the circumstances remain unknown.
24th August 2009.
|
Austria
Double fatality on castle
renovation project
Two workers have died in a 10-metre fall while setting up a crane
during renovation work at Arenberg Palace, Salzburg.
21st August 2009.
|
Malta
Sharp fall in reported accidents
A total of 858 workplace accidents were reported in the 2nd
quarter of this year, a fall of 29% against the commensurate period in
2008, 25% were recorded in manufacturing, 18% in construction and 11%
in the retail sector.
21st August 2009.
|
France
Nantes retirement home resident
dies in fire
A 68-year old resident of a retirement home on rue Recollets, Nantes,
died in a fire this morning in his room, 29 other residents have
required counselling for shock.
20th August 2009.
|
Germany
4 killed in Calw homeless unit
fire
A fire which broke out in the attic area of an Erlacher Hohe unit for
homeless people in Calw, Baden-Wurttemberg, killed 4 residents aged
36-50 on Wednesday, 2 others jumped from windows and fell 8 metres,
sustaining serious back injuries. The home had 12 residents, the other
6 managed to escape uninjured, roused by the smoke detector at 4am.
20th August 2009.
|
The Netherlands
Bolting carriage horse injures
Dordrecht pedestrians
A horse drawing a carriage with tourists bolted for some reason and
injured 2 pedestrians in Wijnstraat, central Dordrecht, yesterday,
both people were hospitalised, neither the driver nor passengers in
the carriage were injured.
19th August 2009.
|
Belgium
Hospital intruder posed as
doctor
An investigation was underway yesterday into how an intruder could
have entered the Konigin Fabiola hospital in Blankenberge late in the
evening and, posing as a doctor, enter virtually every patient's room.
19th August 2009.
|
Rep Ireland
Light aircraft crash in Limerick
The Air Accident Investigation Unit is studying the circumstances of a
light aircraft crash in a field near Coonagh Airfield in Limerick on
Monday afternoon, the pilot was the only occupant and is believed to
have escaped the accident without serious injury.
18th August 2009.
|
South Africa
Machine fatality at KZN tanning
factory
A 38-year old factory worker has died after becoming trapped in a
leather dyeing machine at a works in Edenvale, Pietermaritzburg. He
had moved inside the machine to remove newly dyed leather when it
reactivated, colleagues deactivated it and began to strip it down to
effect his release but he succumbed to the severity of his injuries.
17th August 2009.
|
France
Normandy farmer run over by
tractor
A 75-year old Normandy farmer was found dead under his tractor at Le
Pont, Feings, in the Orne department of Normandy, it is believed that
he was run over by his vehicle after alighting on uneven ground.
17th August 2009.
|
Scotland
Second guardrail could have
saved a life
A fatal accident inquiry at Cupar Sheriff Court has determined that a
lorry driver who fell to his death from the top of a tanker vehicle on
a farm near Leuchars in February 2007 may have been prevented from
falling had he had the benefit of another guardrail fitted to it.
The vehicle had one guardrail on the other side but this had not been
deployed by the deceased because it was on the other side from which
he was working.
The man's employer, Carntyne Transport Ltd, was earlier fined for not
having afforded him a safe workplace.
14th August 2009.
|
Austria
Farmer badly injured after
disturbing wasp bike
A 53-year old female farm worker was admitted to Hall hospital in
Tyrol on Thursday afternoon after being found unconscious after being
stung by wasps whose earth bike was disturbed during harvesting in a
field in Sellrain.
14th August 2009.
|
England
Hotel fined over lack of
cleaning risk assessment
The owners of the Aviator Hotel at
Sywell Aerodrome were fined £5,688 including costs at Wellingborough
Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to breaching the Management
of Health and Safety at Work Regulations in respect of a lack of a
risk assessment of beer line cleaning procedures at the hotel.
The matter arose after a customer complained of illness after drinking
beer there in June. Although the hotel was cleared of charges relating
to this illness, investigation by Wellingborough Council found an
absence of the necessary beer line cleaning risk assessment. It was
explained to the court that this work had been contracted to a
contractor who is no longer retained.
The interim health protection manager at the council said: "Where a
significant failure is identified which places a member of the public
at risk, as was the case at the Aviator Hotel, we will take formal
action.
This incident is an example of what can happen when the processes
involved for the management of health and safety are not addressed and
fails to recognise the possible dangers involved".
13th August 2009.
|
China
Electric apparatus fire kills
Macau electrician
A worker has died from burns when an electric box he was maintaining
ignited at the Wynn Macau 2nd phase hotel construction site in Macau.
12th August 2009.
|
Italy
Competition glider missing in
Abruzzo
A major search and rescue operation was ongoing through Monday evening
for an Austrian glider pilot taking part in a competition who went
missing while flying over the Velino-Sirente national park in Abruzzo.
The search was being concentrated in the area between Aquila and
Rieta, from where he departed. Weather conditions were good and he is
an inveterate glider pilot.
11th August 2009.
|
England
Damages awarded against warehouse
company
Damages have been awarded against Clipper Group after a 45-year old
employee was struck by a forklift truck in an industrial accident.
The accident occurred at the Group's Ollerton distribution centre
where the female employee has been unable to return to work following
surgery for leg injuries.
11th August 2009.
|
Canada
Worker killed at Niagara Falls
recycling facility
The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating a fatal accident at
the Niagara Recycling facility in Niagara Falls where the body of a
young worker was discovered after he was reported missing.
The facility is a not-for-profit premises and provides employment for
some workers with learning difficulties. 10th August 2009.
|
Russia
Moscow observation wheel breaks
down
A technical failure caused the 73-metre high observation wheel at the
Russian Exhibition Centre in Moscow to break down on Sunday evening,
57 people were evacuated from the 12-year old wheel, which completes a
7-minute cycle, but no injuries occurred.
10th August 2009.
|
Russia
Gas cylinder explosion at
Ingushetia market
The authorities in Ingushetia have reported that the explosion and
fire in a central marketplace yesterday which killed 1 person and
injured another was the result of safety violations while handling a
gas cylinder, and not a terrorist incident.
7th August 2009.
|
Wales
Nursing homes "badly let down"
over legionella assessment
At Abertillery Magistrates' Court DEBA UK Ltd of Unit 15, the Metro
Centre, Wokingham, has pleaded guilty to 3 charges under Section 3(1)
of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and been fined £24K plus
£17,276 in costs.
During 2007, the company was commissioned to conduct legionella risk
assessment at nursing homes of Craegmoor Healthcare in Tredegar and
Llangattack and rated the risks low; subsequent checks found this not
to be the case. There was no evidence of any outbreak of the disease
as a result of these incidents but a prosecuting HSE inspector
described the nursing homes as having been " badly let down."
7th August 2009.
|
USA
Boy badly injured at Ohio works
An Ohio boy is being treated for serious injuries in Cincinnati
Children's Hospital following an accident at Triple Q Foundations in
Harmon Avenue, Lebanon, when a container of metal concrete moulds
became unstable during unloading from a flat-bed lorry, pinning the
boy below the waist. Workers manually removed the moulds to secure his
release, it is speculated that he was visiting his father at work.
6th August 2009.
|
Canada
Customer dies replacing
restaurant neon sign
Quebec's Workplace Health and Safety Board is investigating a fatal
accident at the Saigon Bangkok restaurant where a customer died in
a fall from a ladder while replacing a florescent fitting outside the
restaurant.
The customer had volunteered to replace the fitting and was replacing
the cover at the end of the job when an apparent electric shock caused
him to fall from the ladder and fracture his skull, he died later in
hospital. 6th
August 2009.
|
Malta
Equestrian fatality
A 50-year old equestrian sportswoman was killed in a fall from a horse
during a training session in Maghtab on Tuesday. 5th August 2009.
|
France
Breton farmer
injured in fall under tractor wheels
A 66-year old farmer has been hospitalised with serious injuries after
falling under the wheels of his tractor on Tuesday on his land at La
Gugandais, Sainte-Anne-sur-Vilaine. 5th August 2009.
|
Belgium
Worker critically injured during
machine maintenance
A 25-year old worker is listed in critical but stable condition
in Gasthuisberg hospital on
Monday evening following an accident earlier in the day at the Remy
Industrial plant in the Wijgmaal district of Leuven(Louvain) when his arm became
caught in machinery during cleaning and maintenance, inflicting
fractures and burns.
4th August 2009.
|
France
Girl drowns on high-speed river
excursion
An investigation has been launched into the weekend drowning of an
11-year old girl who was riding on a hydrospeed on the river Durance
on a holiday camp excursion organised by the municipality of Etampes.
Police are questioning 2 men with a view to charges of involuntary
manslaughter, a 19-year old operator would normally have been
accompanied by a supervising superior, and the excursion capacity
would be limited to 8 when a minor was on board, on this occasion 11
were participating.
3rd August 2009.
|
Argentina
U-21's banned from tanning
salons
The Ministry of Health for Buenos Aires has issued ministerial
resolution 3066/09 banning under-21's from using tanning salons, with
the exception of those with medically certified conditions requiring
UV ray treatment.
Tanning salons will also be required to display notices warning of the
increased risk of skin cancer from exposure to UV rays (ABC).
3rd August 2009.
|
|
United Kingdom
Inflatables warning
The HSE is warning those who hire out inflatable leisure equipment
that they must observe legal requirements relating to training and
anchoring of the equipment.
In a recent prosecution an operator was given a 12-month conditional
discharge but with £500 costs at Oswestry Magistrates' Court.
The case was brought after a bungee run lifted from the ground in
windy conditions and moved about 5 metres, knocking into several
bystanders, some of whom may have suffered injuries as a result. The
operator failed to warn hirers that the equipment should not be used
in windy conditions, and to provide sufficient anchorage to stop it
moving. 28th August
2009.
|
Scotland
Death fall at Scottish site
It is reported that a 57-year old man died from head injuries after
falling from height on a project at College Bounds, Fraserburgh. The
accident occurred on the 21st of August on the site of the former Hall
& Robertson builders yard where a bakery is being constructed.
27th August 2009.
|
England
Man sustains chemical burns at
Derbyshire factory
A worker is being treated for chemical burns following an incident at
the Measham, Swadlincote, premises of industrial cleaning chemical
manufacturer Assured Solutions Ltd. The incident occurred last week,
another colleague sustained minor burns.
27th August 2009.
|
Wales
Patient suicide put health
authority in breach of safety law
Powys Local Health Board has admitted breaching the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974 in relation to the death by suicide of a patient
under its care at its Bronllys Hospital in 2004.
The 26-year old female patient used a nightgown cord to hang herself
from a curtain rail. The dangers were known following a risk
assessment some years earlier but were not acted upon, sentencing will
take place next month at Merthyr Crown Court. 26th August 2009.
|
England
Skipper of grounded vessel
arrested
The 52-year old skipper of the Peterhead-registered fishing vessel Honeybourne III which grounded on rocks just north of Filey,
Yorkshire, on Sunday has been arrested after failing a breath test.
The skipper and 6 crew were taken from the 30-metre long grounded boat
by a passing fishing vessel and landed at Scarborough harbour where it
was suspected he was under the influence of alcohol.
25th August 2009.
|
Scotland
Boy killed by passing train
A 14-year old boy fell from an overhead pipe above the permanent way
at Hillington Station, Glasgow, on Sunday and was struck and killed by
a passing train.
25th August 2009.
|
England
Shop conditions too much for council
The proprietor of a shop in Newbold, Chesterfield, has been fined
£1,320 plus £609 costs after permitting it to fall into an
unacceptable condition.
Chesterfield Council brought a prosecution against the man after he
failed to act on warnings concerning the condition of the flooring and
staff welfare facilities which put him in breach of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
24th August 2009.
|
England
Surveyor impaled
A surveyor impaled his leg on a steel bar last week while working on a
demolition site in Oakum, Rutland. He had walked into the steel which
protruded from the ground, firefighters were required to cut the bar
to release him.
24th August 2009.
|
England
5 injured as mini railway train
derails
Five passengers on the Trago Mills miniature railway at Newton Abbot,
Devon, received minor injuries on Wednesday afternoon when a
derailment occurred, causing several carriages to overturn.
Three of the passengers who attended hospital were later released.
21st August 2009.
|
England
Glass sheet kills worker in
Derby
A man has died after an industrial accident at the Build Center
premises in Derby. The accident occurred on Tuesday when, reportedly,
a sheet of glass fell on the employee.
20th August 2009.
|
England
Builder ignored prohibition notice
JAS. Truscott & Son Ltd of Tunbridge Wells has been fined £8,500 plus
costs of £9,526 for breaching a prohibition notice and failing to
protect against falls into, and the potential collapse of,
excavations at a project at a house in Belgravia, London, in June last
year.
An HSE Inspector warned: “Basement
conversions are significant civil engineering projects. They are not
akin to normal extension work. If insufficient methods are used
to support underpin excavations, then people's lives can be put in
jeopardy." 20th
August 2009.
|
England
Boy contacts overhead cables
A teenager is being treated in a Birmingham hospital for serious burns
after contacting overhead power cables while fishing yesterday at a
former industrial site at Brindley Ford, Stoke-on-Trent.
19th August 2009.
|
England
Employee fell through roof
A farmer has been prosecuted and fined after one of his employees fell
4.5 metres through the fragile roof of a building whilst undertaking
its repair in May last year.
The employee fell as he stepped from a ladder onto the roof, he
suffered serious injuries, no suitable precautions had been taken to
prevent a fall, the employer was fined £8,000 with £1,858 costs at
Hull and Holderness Magistrates' Court.
19th August 2009.
|
United Kingdom
Deficient ships detained
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency reports that it was necessary to
detain 4 of the 191 ships subjected to Port State Control inspections
in July.
The vessels were registered under the flags of Russia, the Cook
Islands, and Panama. Corrosion problems prevailed in these vessels, as
did oil/hydraulic leaks and faults, with numerous other essential
items of equipment found to be defective.
18th August 2009.
|
England
Parachutist survives fall
It is reported that the 40-year old parachutist who fell thousands of
feet without his main chute opening on Friday has been stabilised in
hospital.
He landed on the roof of a warehouse in Whitchurch, Shropshire, after
his reserve chute did not function fully, he is described as stable
but poorly.
18th August 2009.
|
Scotland
Child critical after window fall
A boy, said to be almost 2-years old, remains in a critical condition
after falling from the window of a flatted property in Roselea Drive,
Dennistoun, in Glasgow's east end, on Friday.
Update - it is reported that the child has died.
17th August 2009.
|
England
Potato harvester accident
A farm worker in his 20's sustained crush injuries to his leg after it
became trapped in a potato harvesting machine last week.
The accident occurred at Montford Bridge, west of Shrewsbury, from
where he was air lifted to hospital.
17th August 2009.
|
England
Farmer critically ill
A farmer in his 70's has been trampled by his herd of cattle at
Burtle, Somerset, and is in a critical condition.
The incident occurred on Tuesday as he was herding the animals along a
road between a field and his farm. Update - it is reported that the
farmer has died.
14th August 2009.
|
England
Roof fall death in Sussex
HSE is investigating the death of a 31-year old workman, believed to
be a scaffolder, who died this week of head injuries sustained in a
fall from the roof of a property in Washington Avenue, Hastings.
14th August 2009.
|
England
More than 20 injured in ride accident
It is speculated that Tuesday's incident at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
was caused by one of the carriages jamming on the rails and being
struck by another. Only one of the injured remains in hospital pending
possible surgery. The Big Dipper was constructed from timber in 1923.
13th August 2009.
|
Northern Ireland
County Down fatal accident
A worker died on Monday following an industrial accident at the
Engineering and Construction Group's premises in Kilkeel.
One account states that the deceased was crushed beneath a steel
structure. 12th
August 2009.
|
Wales
Asbestos failures company fined
Vale Inco Europe Ltd, having
earlier pleaded guilty to 4 charges under the Control of Asbestos
Regulations 2006 in relation to refurbishment work being carried by a
contractor, A-Weld, on a furnace at the company’s premises in Clydach,
has been fined £12,000 with £28,000 costs.
Asbestos insulation material within the furnace was disturbed and
broken, giving rise to powder and fibres.
Although the company had carried out asbestos surveys on the buildings
on their site it had not surveyed the interior of plant and equipment.
12th August 2009.
|
England
Legionnaires' disease death
Of the 3 patients recently treated
at East Kent Hospitals University Trust hospitals for Legionnaires'
disease one has now died. One of the patients is believed to have
contracted the disease while at the Trust's William Harvey hospital in
Ashford, both are seriously ill.
In Lancashire, a guest during July at the Pontin's holiday camp in
Blackpool has been diagnosed as suffering from Legionnaires' Disease.
The woman is seriously ill in a Birmingham hospital.
11th August 2009.
|
England
Lift shaft death at flats
A 50-year old visitor to Redbridge Council's flats in Woodford Green
has died in an incident involving the lifts there. One account states
she became trapped between the lift carriage and the door on the 8th
floor.
11th August 2009.
|
England
Ladder fall death
An inquest jury in Leicester has determined accidental death after
listening to the circumstances of the death of a 49-year old man who
fell 3 metres from a ladder as he assisted friends with a building
project at commercial premises on the Faircharm Industrial Estate in
the city. The deceased had been helping fix boarding when he sustained
head injuries in the fall.
10th August 2009.
|
Scotland
Level crossing incidents
A teenage woman has died after being struck by a train on a level
crossing at Springfield, Fife. The incident occurred at around 11pm on
Saturday evening, one report states she was in the company of others
at the time.
On Friday a train struck a refuse collection vehicle on a level
crossing at Dalchalm, Sutherland, at around 1pm, no serious injuries
are reported. 10th
August 2009.
|
England
Man injured by shredder
A 25-year old grounds worker has
been seriously injured by a wood shredding machine in Spennymoor,
County Durham. The man is an employee of Durham County Council, the
incident occurred on Tuesday morning.
In another grounds maintenance incident, this time in Bolsover on
Wednesday afternoon, a 44-year old worker was seriously injured when a
ride-on mower toppled down a slope and landed on its operator,
inflicting multiple injuries.
7th August 2009.
|
Wales
Soldier hurt in explosion
A Territorial Army soldier sustained serious injuries on Wednesday
when he was caught in an explosion while undergoing training at
Sennybridge in Powys, The Ministry of Defence is investigating.
7th August 2009.
|
Wales
Fatal industrial accident in Gwent
The body of a man aged 60 has been recovered from the premises of the
Moulded Paper Company at the Newbridge Road Industrial Estate in
Pontllanfraith, north of Caerphilly. Reports state he sustained crush
injuries, possibly from a forklift truck, before being discovered on
Tuesday. 6th August
2009.
|
United Kingdom
Offshore statistics point to better
safety performance
Latest figures published by HSE show no workers were killed while
working offshore during 2008/09 – the second consecutive year with no
fatalities.
A sizable reduction in major injuries was recorded at 30, down 14
compared with 2007/08 figures.
The combined fatal and major injury rate reduced to 106 per 100,000
workers in 2008/09 compared with 156 in 2007/08 and 146 in 2006/07.
Head of HSE’s Offshore Division commented: "Although I welcome the
reduction in major and significant hydrocarbon releases the challenge
is to secure sustained improvement. Carrying forward last year’s
success will require continued industry focus on integrity management,
safe systems of work, supervision, risk assessment and competence.
Worryingly, early indicators for 2009/10 suggest last year’s improved
performance is currently not being delivered."
6th August 2009.
|
England
Tower crane deaths company fined
WD Bennett’s Plant & Services Ltd has been fined £125,000 with costs
of £264,299, having been convicted earlier at Chichester Crown Court of
two health and safety breaches that led to the death of two workers
and injury to a third on a construction site in Durrington, Worthing,
on 11th February 2005.
The deceased men had been working on the jib of a crane as a third man
worked on its mast. He was instructed to begin de-torquing the crane’s
mast bolts and should have done so one-by-one, and then re-tightened
each bolt in turn. However, he was not trained in this job and he
failed to re-tighten the bolts, leaving them partly undone which caused
the crane to collapse as it was turned, throwing the men from the
crane. 5th August
2009.
|
England
Boy injured at Herts fairground
A 14-year old boy has sustained life- threatening injuries after
reportedly falling from a fairground ride at the Sonisphere music
festival at Knebworth Park on Saturday afternoon.
He is currently described as stable in a
Stevenage hospital.
4th August 2009.
|
England
Worker injured by unguarded
machine
Calder Industrial Metals Ltd of Chester has been fined over an
industrial accident in which an employee gained access to dangerous
machinery in February 2008, sustaining crush injuries as he tried to
clear debris from a conveyor.
Calder was fined £4,500 with costs of £1,050, an HSE inspector
commented: "Fixed guards and a padlocked gate should have prevented
the accident victim from entering the machine and accessing the
underside of a tipping table, which is used to tip debris onto a
conveyor belt. But the guards and gate were not installed until after
the incident." 4th
August 2009.
|
Wales
Spectator dead after Powys rally
crash
A spectator at the Harry Flatters Rally 09 at Sennybridge, west of
Brecon, has died of his injuries after he was struck by a competitor's
vehicle that left the road on Sunday morning.
3rd August 2009.
|
England
Roadworks death in Cumbria
A workman has died after being struck by a roadsweeping vehicle at
roadworks on the A66 near Embleton, west of Cockermouth, on Friday
evening. 3rd August
2009.
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