|
Russia
9 die in retirement home fire
Nine residents died and 1 is listed in critical condition following a
fire at a retirement home in Vyshny Volochek, Tver.
There have been allegations that the call to fire crews was tardy, it
is speculated that the incident may have been the result of a resident
setting himself on fire, given that a canister of flammable liquid was
found in the
room. 31st August 2010
|
USA
Boise paper mill accident
A contract worker engaged on maintenance work on a lime recovery kiln
died on Monday in an industrial accident at the Boise Cascade paper
mill in International Falls, Minnesota. 31st August 2010
|
The Netherlands
Ijssel barge collision kills skipper
A 60-year old bargee died on Thursday when 2 ships collided at
Leuvenheim on the Ijssel. The force of the impact saw the wheelhouse
collapse, but it is believed that the bargee died of a heart attack.
27th August 2010
|
USA
Second Californian logging fatality in a week
A 36-year old logger was killed when a large cut redwood section
slipped from a cable and rolled on to him at a site near Fortuna,
North California.
This was the second such logging accident in the county in a week,
following a fatal accident near Rio Dell.
27th August 2010
|
South Africa
School bus driver charged over level crossing accident
A case of culpable homicide is being considered against a school
minibus driver following a fatal accident at a level crossing between
Blackheath and Eersterevier near Cape Town where 9 children died and 4
others were injured when the bus collided with an oncoming train. The
Railway Safety Regulator has indicated that the crossing lights and
barriers are in full working order, the driver had allegedly driven
around the lowered
barriers.
26th August 2010
|
Australia
Lift gear accident on Brisbane tower site
A 25-year old sub-contract worker sustained life-threatening injuries
yesterday while operating lift equipment at the Laing O'Rourke
building site on Charlotte Street, Brisbane.
26th August 2010
|
Romania
Nurse charged with negligence over babies deaths in fire
A nurse at the Panait Sarbu Maternity Hospital is under investigation
on charges of involuntary manslaughter and grievous bodily harm over
the deaths of 5 babies in a fire in the intensive care unit, 6 other
babies are listed in critical condition.
It is alleged that the nurse had left her station for a period of 12
minutes during which fire broke out in a malfunctioning air
conditioning unit.
25th August 2010
|
China
43 killed in Yichun air crash
At least 43 people died on Tuesday when a Henan Airlines ERJ-190
aircraft flying from Harbin crashed at Lindu Airport, 5 miles from
Yichun. The Brazilian-manufactured Embraer aircraft was carrying 91
passengers and 5 crew, local weather conditions were foggy when the
aircraft apparently overshot the runway at the airport located in a
forested area. Henan Airlines is a small company operating under
Shenzhen Airlines. 25th August 2010
|
Australia
Falling car kills Queensland scrap worker
A worker was crushed to death by a falling car at the scrap yard of an
automotive parts dealer in Bluewater, Townsville, Workplace Health &
Safety is investigating the accident.
24th August 2010
|
Germany
Mosel care home fire
Initial speculation of yesterday's fire in a care home for the elderly
and handicapped in Dungenheim, west of Koblenz, suggests that a
television set in a room on an upper floor overheated, 10 people
required hospital treatment.
24th August 2010
|
Chile
Miners alive after 17 days underground
President Sebastian Pinera
announced yesterday that all 33 miners trapped 700 metres
underground for 17 days at the San Esteban gold mine near Copiapo (see
story 9th August) are alive after contact was made with them at the
weekend. Further equipment is being imported to drill a new rescue
tunnel but the rescue may yet take a couple of weeks. 23rd August 2010
|
France
Farmer's hand blown off in explosion
A 29-year old Breton farmer's hand was blown off by an explosive
device while he was clearing out a barn on a farm at Plaudren,
he is also being treated for a serious eye injury and burns.
The previous owner, some time deceased, was believed to have used such
devices as security measures on account of the farm's remote location. 23rd August 2010
|
South Africa
Fatal accident at Rowland mine
A Lonmin's female locomotive operator was found dead on Thursday under
a locomotive at the ventilation door on the Rowland mine near
Rustenburg, the cause of the accident was unknown.
20th August 2010
|
USA
Grounds worker drowns after mower overturns
A 64-year old worker drowned when he lost control of his motorised
mower and ran into a wastewater pond at the Tri-Community Sewer
Authority plant in Robinson, west Pennsylvania.
20th August 2010
|
Japan
Coast Guard helicopter hits power lines
A Bell 412 EP Coast Guard helicopter of the 6th Regional Coast Guard
HQ in Hiroshima crashed into high power lines on Sanagi Island
yesterday, killing 4 of the 5 crew members, the 5th man was listed
missing in the sea.
19th August 2010
|
Russia
Volga cruise ship and sand barge collision
The cruise ship Sergei Kirov with 91 crew and 202 passengers was holed
on its starboard side in a collision with a sand barge in the Rybinsk
reservoir on the upper Volga on Wednesday, no injuries were reported but
passengers were transferred to other craft and subsequently bussed to
Moscow. 19th August
2010
|
New Zealand
Bin man falls under vehicle wheels
A refuse collector was killed yesterday in a fall under the wheels of
a reversing bin wagon on Sutton Road, Brookby, southeast of Auckland,
it is thought he was riding on the rear of the vehicle and had
alighted to collect a bin. 18th August 2010
|
USA
Child killed in forklift accident
An 8-year old Californian boy died of compression asphyxia after being
struck by a passing forklift truck in the parking area of PT Welding,
his father's premises on Tanforan Avenue, Woodland. 18th August 2010
|
Italy
Falling masonry kills civic guest in Siena
The head of the Avignon municipal delegation attending the traditional
Il Palio horse race in Siena has been killed when falling masonry from a
balcony struck him as he was seated at a table in the town's Tolomei
Square. 17th August
2010
|
Colombia
Emergency landing on Caribbean island
One person died when a Boeing 737 of Aires had to make an emergency
landing in a thunderstorm at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla airport on San
Andres island
after apparently being struck by lightning. The aircraft, carrying 121 passengers and 6 crew from Bogotá, broke into three
sections on impact.The
fatality is believed to have been an
elderly passenger who suffered a heart attack. The crew were among 38
patients admitted to the Clinica
Villareal.
17th August 2010
|
South Africa
Workers severed hands reattached
Following 7 hours surgery a worker's hands were successfully
reattached after being severed in a guillotine at the Da Gamma paper
factory in Beaconville. 16th August 2010
|
USA
Exploding forklift kills Tennessee worker
A worker died when a forklift truck exploded at QuadGraphics in
Dickson, Tennessee, the cause is speculated to have been electrical
rather than a propane cylinder explosion. 16th August 2010
|
Dem Rep Congo
Lorry with 63 people falls in Lake Tanganyika
A lorry carrying 63 people and travelling from Uvira to Baraka came
off the road after hitting a rock and ran down into Lake Tanganyika,
at least 58 people are feared dead.
13th August 2010
|
Russia
Fire at Perm explosives plant
Fire broke out at a chemicals unit in Perm yesterday, the Emergencies
Ministry reported that production pipelines at the open trestle were
depressurised which caused inflammation of petroleum products
extending over an area of 300m², no injuries were reported.
13th August 2010
|
UAE
11 die in fire in improvised factory dormitory
Eleven workers have died in a fire at a perfumery company on the Al
Quoz Industrial Area 4 in Dubai. The premises comprise of office and
warehouse, with a partitioned area for guest workers to use as living
accommodation, the latter were overcome in their sleep.
The manager and 2 partners of the company have been arrested.
12th August 2010
|
Indonesia
Rubber farm worker killed by tiger
A teenage rubber farm worker was killed by a tiger on his farm in
Rimbo Melintang in Rokan Hilir, Sumatra.
12th August 2010
|
Argentina
2 still missing under collapsed
gym
Two people were still missing on Tuesday under the rubble of the
collapsed gymnasium at the junction of Mendoza y Triunvirato Streets
in the Villa Urquiza barrio of Buenos Aires.
A 37-year old employee died in the accident and 11 other people were
injured. 11th August 2010
|
USA
Indiana worker killed in forklift accident
A forklift truck overturned and killed a 49-year old worker during the
changing of a fuel tank at Bootz Industries in Evansville, Indiana.
11th August 2010
|
France
Worker dies of heart attack during armed robbery
A 54-year old female employee of the Leclerc supermarket in Chambly,
20 miles north of Paris, died of a heart attack on Monday morning during an armed raid on the
store.
Around 20 staff were rounded up and placed in a room by several armed
raiders, the woman suffered a heart attack and later died in
Beaumont-sur-Oise Hospital. Police recovered the robbers' van in a
nearby field and made an arrest of an individual who was on parole.
The other suspects were still at large.
10th August 2010
|
Mexico
Worker survives 8 days in flooded
mine
A worker has been rescued alive after being trapped for 8 days in the
flooded La Florida mine in Muzquiz, Coahuila. A colleague died in the
accident, both men had been engaged in maintenance work following
earlier flood damage.
10th August 2010
|
Chile
Rescuers strive to reach trapped miners
The rescue operation was ongoing through yesterday to reach 33 miners
trapped 400 metres underground for 3 days at the San Esteban copper
and gold mine near Copiapo, 500 miles north of Santiago.
The entrance to the mine collapsed and attempts to reach the trapped
workers through a ventilation shaft was abandoned when it collapsed at
the weekend. There is a refuge with limited supplies of oxygen and
nourishment but no contact had been established with the trapped men
to know if they could reach it. 9th August 2010
|
India
Bakery worker killed in collapsed lift
A 27-year old worker has been crushed to death when a lift
malfunctioned on Saturday at a bakery building in Mangalore. Although
the building is new the lift was of an older design with collapsible
side doors, the accident occurred between floors. 9th August 2010
|
Scotland
Fisherman lost following collision between ferry and prawner
On Friday the search was abandoned for the missing 16-year old
fisherman lost in the North Sea following the collision between the
prawn fishing boat Homeland and the Scottish Viking car ferry of
Norfokline(DFDS), chartered from Visentini, as the ferry sailed from
Rosyth to Zeebrugge.
Another crewman from the fishing boat was rescued from the water,
lifejackets were reported to have been seen in the flotsam.
7th August 2010
|
USA
Drill accident at Colorado excavation
In Avon, Colorado, on Thursday
a construction worker died in an accident in an excavation
working on the Community Heat Recovery Project when he was pinned by a
large drill. 6th August 2010
|
Australia
Worker falls down gold mine shaft
The Department of Mines and Petroleum is investigating a fatal
accident at a Western Australia gold mine in Norseman where a worker
has died in a 15-metre fall down an emergency shaft. 6th August 2010
|
Spain
Andalusian refinery fire
Two workers have killed and 2
others were injured yesterday in a fire at the La Rabida de Cespa
refinery in Palos de la Frontera, Huelva.
One of the injured workers had critical 95% burns and was
transferred to the burns unit of the Virgen del Rocio Hospital,
Seville. 5th August
2010
|
France
Fishing boat net caught on propeller
Late on Tuesday night the fishing boat Anthineas issued a mayday when
its net became entwined around its propeller 20 miles south of Sables
d'Olonne, the rescue took all night and it was towed into port
yesterday morning by the SNSM(Societe Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer).
5th August 2010
|
China
21 dead, 12 trapped in mining accidents
In 2 separate accidents 21 miners have died and 12 were trapped
underground.
In Renhuai 12 miners died and 5 were trapped following a gas explosion
at the private Mingyang coal mine; at Sanyuandong coal mine in
Denfeng, Henan, a gas leakage has killed 9 and trapped 7 others, 127
miners were underground at the time. High gas levels are restricting
the rescue operation, meanwhile the colliery manager has been
dismissed and the chief engineer suspended. 4th August 2010
|
Botswana
Fall from height death
A fatal fall investigation has been ongoing at the University of
Botswana where a worker of China Engineering Construction (Botswana)
died in an accident at a new building site when he fell from the 3rd
storey during removal of framework. 4th August 2010
|
Russia
15 feared dead in AN-25 crash at northern airport
It is believed that all 15 people, 5 crew and 10 passengers, on
board an Antonov-25 flight from Krasnoyarsk to Igarka have died when
the aircraft crashed 700 metres from landing on Monday evening at the
airport, 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle. 3rd August
2010
|
Uganda
73 drown in overloaded boat accident
Seventy three people have drowned when an overloaded boat sank in
rough weather at Kakoma on Lake Albert, 17 are known to have survived.
A number of traders were undertaking the 8-hour sail from Hoima to
Nebbi but it is alleged that the boat, with a carrying capacity of 40
crew and 2 tonnes of fish, continued to accept passengers at other
landing points. The boat did not have a passenger licence nor life
jackets. 3rd August
2010
|
Australia
Crush accident at Adelaide trailer yard
A man has been killed in a crush accident involving a trailer at a
trailer company on Manthorpe Street, Dry Creek, the exact details of
the accident were unknown.
3rd August 2010
|
India
Workers splashed by molten metal
At least 17 workers were badly burnt and scalded when molten metal
fell from a cradle on Sunday at Amit Metaliks Ltd in Durgapur, 5 are
listed in critical condition.
The ladle containing molten metal from the induction furnace exploded
during transfer to the casting plant, there were allegations that some
senior officials immediately absconded from the premises on the
Raturia-Angadpur Industrial Estate.
2nd August 2010
|
France
Tractor overturned in steep field
A 64-year old farmer was found dead on Sunday under his overturned
tractor in a steeply inclining field on his farm at Menil-Froger, Orne.
2nd August 2010
Australia
Crush accident at Adelaide trailer yard
A man has been killed in a crush accident involving a trailer at a
trailer company on Manthorpe Street, Dry Creek, the exact details of
the accident were unknown.
3rd August 2010
|
India
Workers splashed by molten metal
At least 17 workers were badly burnt and scalded when molten metal
fell from a cradle on Sunday at Amit Metaliks Ltd in Durgapur, 5 are
listed in critical condition.
The ladle containing molten metal from the induction furnace exploded
during transfer to the casting plant, there were allegations that some
senior officials immediately absconded from the premises on the
Raturia-Angadpur Industrial Estate.
2nd August 2010
|
France
Tractor overturned in steep field
A 64-year old farmer was found dead on Sunday under his overturned
tractor in a steeply inclining field on his farm at Menil-Froger, Orne.
2nd August 2010
|
|
|
Turkey
Siblings suffocate in old freezer
Four siblings aged 4-11 have been found dead inside an old
fridge/freezer into which they apparently climbed in an unoccupied
house in Konya. 31st August 2010
|
The Netherlands
Utrecht plumber electrocuted
A 43-year old worker has been electrocuted in an accident while
undertaking plumbing work at a house in Oudewater, Utrecht. 31st August 2010
|
Canada
Worker on ladder killed in fall when pole snaps
A 58-year old electrical contractor died in an accident during the
unhooking of power lines from a pole at a construction site near
Carman, 50 miles southwest of Winnipeg. The pole against which his
ladder was propped snapped in two.
27th August 2010
|
France
Youth killed in fall through fragile roof
A 17-year old youth was killed in a fall through a fragile roof
surface at a tennis club in St-Jean-de-Monts, Vendee.
27th August 2010
|
Dem Rep Congo
Silair flight crashes in Bandundu
At least 19 people have died when a Let-410 Czech-manufactured twin
turboprop aircraft crashed in Bandundu on a domestic flight from
Kinshasa.
It is speculated that the aircraft of Congolese company Silair was low
on fuel at the time of the accident, no DRC airlines are allowed to
fly in European airspace.
26th August 2010
|
Austria
Girl,2, killed in tractor accident
A 2-year old girl was killed yesterday after being run over by a
tractor on the family farm in St Veit, Upper Austria.
26th August 2010
|
Nepal
Aircraft crash in Mt Everest area
A Dornier 228 twin turboprop aircraft of Agni Air with 3 crew and 11
passengers has crashed at Makawanpur, 50 miles south of Katmandhu. The
30-minute flight to Lukla was attempting to return to Katmandhu after
encountering bad weather and may have been making for Simra. It is
also speculated that electrical problems caused navigational
instrument failure.
25th August 2010
|
India
School wall collapse kills children
At least 7 children have died when heavy rain led to the collapse of a
boundary wall at the Guru Govind Singh Public School on the Bank
roundabout in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
25th August 2010
|
USA
Crane topples in Indianapolis
On Monday morning an RH Marlin crane mounted on a lorry collapsed in
the beer garden area of the Rathskeller restaurant during work on the
Athenaeum Building on East Michigan Street, Indianapolis, and struck
the roof, 3 people were injured.
24th August 2010
|
France
Fisherman missing after boat sinks
A fisherman is missing after the trawler Jericho sank off Le Havre, 2
other fishermen were rescued. Sea conditions were good at the time of
the accident but deteriorated during the search and rescue operation.
24th August 2010
|
Belgium
Parachute jump instructor killed in fall
A 56-year old parachute jump instructor died during a jump with a
39-year old trainee, the latter was badly injured but is not in
life-threatening condition. The trainee was accompanied by 2
instructors on his first jump at Paraclub Vlaanderen in Moorsele. The
jump took place from 14K metres and at 7K metres it seemed that a
collision occurred which left an instructor unable to control his
fall. 23rd August 2010
|
USA
Woman's arm severed in packing machine
A woman's arm was severed while she was operating a packing machine at
Brand Packaging Group's plant in Farningdale, New York.
Colleagues retrieved the arm and surgical re-attachment was being
attempted, the woman's hospital condition was stable. 23rd August 2010
|
USA
Child killed in farm irrigation equipment
A 3-year old child has died after being run over by the tyre of the
centre pivot of an irrigation system on the family farm a few miles
southeast of Quinter, Kansas.
20th August 2010
|
New Zealand
6 trawlermen drowned in Southern Ocean
The 82-metre long trawler Oyang 70 of the Korean Sajo Oyang
Corporation and chartered by Southern Storm Fishing of Lyttleton sank
500 miles southeast of Dunedin, 45 crew men were rescued, 3 are known
to have drowned and 3 are missing, presumed drowned.
Survivors arrived in Lyttleton
yesterday but the circumstances of the sinking are unclear. It is
believed to have sunk as nets were being hauled in during relatively
good weather conditions.
20th August 2010
|
Algeria
Contract helicopter hit power lines in Corso
A helicopter of Spanish company Hel-Technique, under contract to
Algerian utility company Sonelgaz, crashed into power lines at
Ben-Bekhta, 25 miles east of Algiers. The pilot and an engineer were
killed, a surviving co-pilot has been hospitalised in Thenia.
The Spanish company has been contracted to clean and maintain the
power lines and installations. 19th August 2010
|
Austria
7-hour rescue of injured pot-holer
A 31-year old pot-holer was hospitalised in Amstatten on Wednesday
after a 7-hour rescue from the Fledermausloch in Gusswerk, Salzburg, where he had
fallen an unspecified height and sustained fractures while operating
in a 6-man team investigating new galleries.
19th August 2010
|
Malta
Worker crushed by bulldozer
bucket
A worker died in a crush accident yesterday at the Swaey Brothers HGV
transport depot in Mosta where he was pinned under the descending
bucket of a bulldozer. 18th August 2010
|
USA
Roofer electrocuted in crane cradle
A 19-year old Nebraskan roofer was electrocuted when the cradle of a
crane in which he was being raised contacted overhead power lines in
Grand Island where Scarborough Roofing has been engaged on contract
work. 18th August 2010
|
Thailand
Structural collapse during concrete pour
At least 2 workers were killed when a building under construction
collapsed during a concrete pour on the 2nd floor at Burapha University
in Chonburi, 60 miles east of Bangkok.
There were 30 workers on site and it was feared that some were trapped
and injured under the
rubble.
17th August 2010
|
China
13 killed in fireworks plant explosion/11 killed in lift collapse
An explosion at a fireworks plant of Huali Industry Co Ltd in the
Wumahe district of Yichun, Heilongjiang, has killed
13 workers, with 148 others
injured.
At a hospital construction site in
Meihekou, Jilin, a lift collapsed, leaving 11 workers
dead. 17th August 2010
|
China
11 killed in derailment at Inner Mongolian work site
Eleven workers were killed when a train laden with aggregate derailed
at a construction site on the Baotou - Mandalt railway line. 16th August 2010
|
Canada
Transport accident on Newfoundland wharf
A Newfoundland and Labrador worker was hospitalised in St Johns
following a transport accident during the unloading of shellfish at a
wharf in Harbour Grace. 16th August 2010
|
Italy
4 killed in Sicilian helicopter crash
A Robinson helicopter crashed shortly after take-off from Giammoro in
Sicily on Thursday morning, all persons on board were feared dead. The
helicopter had taken off from Nuova Cometra but the Mayor of Pace del
Mela has alleged that the area was not authorised as a helicopter pad. 13th August 2010
|
Australia
Perth worker killed in boring machine accident
A worker has died in a crush accident at Comco in the Canning Vale
district of Perth where a section of a vertical boring machine he was
operating detached and fell on him.
13th August 2010
|
Canada
Montreal scaffold collapse
Four workers were hospitalised yesterday when a wall collapsed during
the erection of scaffold at Saint-Jean-de-Matha primary school in the
Ville Emard district of Montreal. One of the workers was in critical
condition with head and internal injuries.
12th August 2010
|
India
Flotsam sinks sand barge
A sand barge struck a floating container near Gharapuri Island off
Mumbai (Bombay) which saw 10 seamen thrown into the sea, their safe
rescue was effected by a boat of the Oil & Natural Gas Commission.
Around 400 containers came off the MSC Chitra in a weekend collision
with another vessel, the channel off Gharapuri has now been closed to
shipping until the hazard has been cleared.
12th August 2010
|
Canada
Falling steel killed Ontario site worker
The Ministry of Labour is investigating a fatal accident in which a
worker was killed by a falling steel section which fell at 4th floor
level during movement by crane at a new office building site on
Applewood Crescent, Vaughan.
11th August 2010
|
Greece
Tractor rollover death
A fatal accident investigation was launched following the death of a
farmer in Sparta in a tractor rollover accident.
11th August 2010
|
New Zealand
Northland quad bike rollover accident
A woman has been found dead in
a rollover accident on Monday on a farm near Kaikohe, Northland,
her quad bike was drawing a trailer of haylage when it overturned on a
steep gradient.
10th August 2010
|
Belarus
Helicopter crash during competition manoeuvre
It is speculated that pilot error caused the death of a 74-year old
German pilot whose MD-500 helicopter crashed during "death loop"
manoeuvres at Borovaja airfield near Minsk while taking part in a GUS
competition. 10th
August 2010
|
India
Girl killed by reversing school bus
A 5-year old girl was killed by a reversing school bus on Saturday in
the grounds of the Bhagatji Memorial Model School in Palla in
Alipur, Delhi.
The driver of the bus who works for the school was arrested on charges
of causing death by negligence. 9th August 2010
|
Finland
Fatal accident at sauna championship
A competitor has died during the Sauna World Championships in Heinola,
with another contestant being hospitalised with severe burns.
Contestants are required to enter the 110°C hot sauna where a pint of
water is introduced every 30 seconds, the last person remaining inside
is the winner. The women's event passed off without incident. 9th August 2010
|
Scotland
Female diver dies in Loch Sunnart
A female diver has died after getting into difficulties and failing to
surface from a dive on Friday in Loch Sunnart in Ardnamurchan. Her
body was recovered early on Friday evening.
7th August 2010
|
USA
Fatal accidents in high winds in Ohio
An 18-year old construction worker of Hoffman Masonry was killed when
a 3-metre wall blew over in high winds at the construction site of the
new Edgerton Elementary School in Edgerton, Ohio.
High winds were also responsible for a fatal accident at Ohio Fresh
Eggs in Licking County where 2 subcontract workers of Creative Masonry
were killed when a barn collapsed. 6th August 2010
|
Austria
Wall falls during unauthorised refurbishment
An internal wall collapsed during refurbishment work at a nursery site
on Lorenz Mandl Gasse in the Ottakring district of Vienna, no licence
for construction work had been issued for the project. No injuries
were reported. 6th August 2010
|
Greece
Bin man crushed in wagon compactor
A refuse collector has died in a crush accident in Chania, Crete, when
he entered the wagon's compactor to attempt to clear a blockage and
the cover descended on his head, 2 colleagues were treated in hospital
for shock. 5th
August 2010
|
South Africa
Gauteng transformer explosion
Four workers were connecting a transformer to the power supply at the
MA Automative car parts plant in Rosslyn when it exploded, issuing
burning oil over the workers. One worker died and 2 others are listed
in critical condition.
5th August 2010
|
USA
Cargo flight crashes in Alaska
Three crew members of a Fairchild C-123 cargo aircraft of All West
Freight have died when their aircraft crashed on the slopes of Mount
Healy in the Denali national Park, 180 miles north of Anchorage. 4th August 2010
|
Australia
Woman compensated for office accident
A female office worker has received $420K(£240,398) in damages over an
accident in May 2008 in which she broke her coccyx at Invitro
Technologies, Brisbane, when she attempted to sit on her chair which
had apparently slid back on a plastic floor mat, an issue which had
been highlighted by her on previous occasions. The judge ruled that
the company had breached its duty of care to an employee. 4th August 2010
|
China
Coal worker kills 11 in drunken rampage
An allegedly drunken worker has killed 11 people in an incident
involving a shovel tractor in Yaunshi, Hebei. He appeared to have an
argument with a customer at the Shengxing Coal Depot and left to
return with the vehicle which rammed a shed, killing a person inside.
The others died when he took the vehicle on the highway and engaged in
a spate of accidents. He was arrested in a field where his blood
alcohol reading was 154mg per 110ml of blood.
3rd August 2010
|
India
Cleaner suffocates in manhole
A confined space accident has claimed the life of a worker and
hospitalised a colleague who were subcontracted to clean a sewer line
on the Ajay Industrial estate in the Dhudheshwar district of Ahmedabad
whose municipal corporation may file a complaint of negligence against the private
industrial estate.
3rd August 2010
|
Austria
House beside building site collapses
A partial building collapse occurred at the weekend directly adjacent
to a building site on Kandlerstrasse in the Penzing district of
Vienna. Remarkably no injuries were reported but cracks have appeared
on the U3 metro tunnel directly under the house.
2nd August 2010
|
Italy
Girl rescued from rubble of collapsed house
A 10-year old girl was rescued after 14 hours from the rubble of a
collapsed 3-storey house in Afragola, Campania, 3 adults died in the
incident.
It is speculated that recent heavy rains may have provoked subsidence,
prosecutors in Naples could prefer charges against the council.
2nd August 2010
|
|
Wales
Search for missing kayaker
Holyhead Coastguard searched yesterday for a 53-year old missing
female kayaker who became separated from friends off Rhoscolyn beach,
Anglesey. 31st August 2010
|
England
Woodworker severs thumb
A 55-year old man underwent surgery in Royal Derby Hospital after
partially severing a thumb while working with a circular saw to lay
decking at a property in Glascote, Tamworth. 31st August 2010
|
England
Patient drowns on hospital unit outing
A 17-year old boy drowned and two teenage girls were treated for
hypothermia and secondary drowning when their dinghy was caught by a
rip tide off Whitby harbour.
All 3 were patients on an outing from St Nicholas Hospital, a
psychiatric forensic unit for youths in Gosforth. The boy had
apparently got into difficulties trying to rescue one of the girls.
Both girls had swallowed a lot of sea water and had to be checked for
secondary drowning in Scarborough Hospital.
27th August 2010
|
Scotland
Chemical leak at factory
Emergency services were called
upon to deal with a leakage of refrigerant gases at the premises of
Mitsubishi in Houston Industrial Estate in Livingston, West Lothian,
early yesterday morning.
The gas had accumulated in a test room which was made safe by
firefighters with breathing apparatus.
27th August 2010
|
Malta
African worker killed in 3-storey fall
A construction worker, believed to be a Sudanese national, was killed
in a 3-storey fall on Wednesday while working on flats on San Mikiel
Street, St Julian's.
26th August 2010
|
Venezuela
Tunnel collapse kills illegal gold miners
At least 7 people died when a tunnel collapsed during digging by
illegal miners at the abandoned Tami gold mine formerly operated by Crystellex
of Toronto. The mine, 10 miles from El Callao in Bolivar state, is in
an area now overseen by Aurifera CVG Minerven. 26th August 2010
|
Rep Ireland
HSA action on farm machinery
During one of the HSA's major safety audits this year, enforcement
action was required on machinery in a third of farms visited.
The inspections were a result of adverse agricultural accident figures
early in the year, with a focus on machinery, livestock, slurry
handling and safety of children and the elderly.
72% of inspections saw some level of action required on machinery,
with 53% on slurry handling.
25th August 2010
|
USA
Forklift driver killed in gradient overturn
A forklift truck driver of Stock Building Supply in Fayetteville,
Arkansas, has died when his 3-wheel forklift overturned on a gradient
while lifting cinderblocks at a construction site.
25th August 2010
|
Belgium
Chemical plant fire
A fire broke out following an explosion at Seveso's Ajinomoto Omnichem
plant on Cooppallaan in Wetteren on Monday, the cause of the incident
which occurred during shift change was not immediately known but has
been speculated as caused by a spark in a recatorvat from static
electricty. 24th
August 2010
|
Sudan
Rock fall kills Darfur miners
A rock fall led to the deaths of 5 miners in an accident at Jebel Al
Takeelaat in North Kordofan, Darfur, 6 others were injured.
24th August 2010
|
USA
Virginia worker killed in unstable trench
A contract worker was killed when an un-shored excavation in which he
was working collapsed during work on a blocked drain at the weekend in
Radford, Virginia. 23rd August 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Trawler grounds on Dingle rocks
The 10 crew of the French trawler Concerto were safely rescued after
the boat ran aground on rocks at the entrance to Dingle Harbour,
Kerry. 23rd August 2010
|
Belgium
Train/lorry collision on Antwerp level crossing
A lorry driver was extremely fortunate to emerge virtually unscathed
when his vehicle collided with a train at the crossing on
Steenlandlaan in Waaslandhaven, Beveren. The cabin was largely
crushed, a lorry and train also collided here in April. It was alleged
yesterday that the lorry driver's licence had expired and that he had
gone through a red light and ignored the crossing's siren.
20th August 2010
|
USA
Nevada miners' deaths investigated
The US Mine Safety and Health Administration is investigating the
deaths of 2 miners at the Meikle gold mine operated by Barrick in Elko
County, Nevada. They were descending in a lift cage when a pressure
surge on the hoist drum occurred and vertical pipe broke off from the
shaft wall and struck the cage.
20th August 2010
|
Philippines
41 dead in Benguet bus crash
At least 41 people have died when an Eso bus came off the
highway and ran down a steep ravine at Barngay Banangon in Sablan,
gearbox failure is speculated as the cause of the accident.
19th August 2010
|
Russia
Workers succumb to chlorine exposure
Two workers engaged in the erection of scaffolding died after inhaling
chlorine vapours at the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill in Siberia.
19th August 2010
|
England
Train and lorry collide, 18 injured
A diesel train collided with an HGV on a level crossing in Sudbury,
Suffolk, injuring 18 persons, 4 critically, one of whom is the train
driver.
The collision occurred yesterday at 5.30pm at Little Cornard on the
line between Sudbury and Marks Tey, reports state the HGV is a sewage
tanker which had been negotiating the user-operated crossing.
18th August 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Only 1 fisherman survives boat fire accident
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board is investigating the fire and
sinking of the 9-metre long cruiser Castaway which claimed the lives
of 3 of the 4 fishermen on board.
The fire appeared to have a locus in the console area behind the
wheel, the coastguard received no mayday from the boat which sank off
Castletownbere, County Cork. 18th August 2010
|
Rep Ireland
CO cooker alert
The
National Consumer Agency has issued an
alert over 3,000 of 7,500 faulty gas cookers still unaccounted for
since 2003 and which were linked to carbon monoxide deaths.
Certain models of Beko, Flavel, Leisure and New World cookers
were sold which feature separate oven and grill and can release CO
when the grill is operated with the door closed.
17th August 2010
|
Greece
Underwater fisherman hit by speedboat
An arrest has been made following a fatal accident in Kyparissia,
Messinia, where
an underwater fisherman died after being struck by a speedboat at the
weekend. 17th August 2010
|
Cyprus
Unstable tractor kills maintenance worker
A worker died in Famagusta General Hospital from injuries sustained
during the maintenance of a tractor in the Pefkos area of Xylofagou, a
colleague is recovering in hospital.
It is believed that the tractor was unbraked and unchocked and moved
during the repair work. 16th August 2010
|
USA
North Carolina arborist killed
An arborist has died while working in a tree in Nance County Road,
Climax, North Carolina, he was found suspended in the tree, the
accident is under investigation. 16th August 2010
|
Kenya
2 dead, 1 trapped in quarry collapse
A worker is trapped and 2 others have died when the walls of a stone
quarry collapsed at Timboni, Kisauni, the rescue has been hampered by
a lack of suitable equipment to move the rubble.
13th August 2010
|
Canada
Safety harness saves NS roofer
A Nova Scotia roofer was left suspended by his safety harness 4
storeys up when he fell through rotten timber at a property in St
John, fire crews lowered him to a ladder and down to safety.
13th August 2010
|
India
Worker dismembered in gas cylinder refilling blast
A 65-year old worker died in an explosion on Wednesday during the
refilling of gas cylinders at Parag Gases and Chemicals Pvt Ltd at
Loni-Kalbhor, 10 miles from Pune. The force of the explosion virtually
dismembered the victim, 5 others were injured, 1 of whom was at risk
of limb amputation.
There have been allegations of violations of the Factory Act 1948,
with possible implications for the owners under section 304 of the
Indian Penal Code.
12th August 2010
|
USA
Kansas HGV hit by train on open crossing
A Kansas lorry driver died yesterday following the collision of his
vehicle and a Union Pacific train near the Bettis Asphalt works in
north Topeka, the locus has no controlled crossing of the track with
lights. 12th August
2010
|
England
Shropshire workers hit underground cable
Two workers were taken to the burns unit of the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital in Birmingham after sustaining facial burns after apparently
striking an underground cable during digging on Tuesday at the
industrial estate at Halesfield in Telford.
11th August 2010
|
Northern Ireland
HSENI warns over gas appliance work
On Tuesday the HSENI released a
statement urging anyone who had gas maintenance work undertaken by a
named individual from the Calor Shop in Coleraine to immediately
switch off all gas appliances and contact an emergency number. This
indicated the level of concern over LPG appliances fitted by the
company, with further checks planned in Castlerock and Coleraine.
11th August 2010
|
Greenland
Search for missing hikers
A major search was ongoing yesterday for 3 European tourists missing
in the Sondre Stromfjord area, a helicopter search for the hikers
proved fruitless on Sunday.
10th August 2010
|
Spain
Fireman dies tackling Palma blaze
A fireman died and 3 colleagues were injured while tackling a blaze in
a bar in the basement of an 8-storey building on Andreu Feliu Street in central Palma, a roof
collapse occurred, the fireman died later in the Son Dureta Hospital.
10th August 2010
|
Ukraine
Rock slide traps 3 Donetsk miners
A rock slide at the Rumiantsev Colliery of Artemvuhillia in Horlivka
has trapped 3 miners 1,100 metres underground. There were 122 miners
underground, with 8 in the locus, 5 managed to escape to safety. 9th August 2010
|
Canada
Nova Scotia worker's foot severed
Nova Scotia Department of Labour is investigating an accident in which
a worker's foot was amputated at JD Irving's Truro sawmill as he
changed blades on a hog fuel-chipping machine where his foot caught in
the power transmission shaft. His leg was also broken in 2 places.
9th August 2010
|
England
RAIB reports broken axle caused derailment
The Rail Accident Investigation Board has reported that the derailment
of a high-speed train near Market Harborough on February 20th was
caused by a broken axle. The focus is on a gearbox output bearing
above the fracture point where an inner ring of the bearing was
rotating and the slipping at the ring/axle interface led to very high
temperatures. 6th August 2010
|
England
HSE investigates AWE fire
An HSE team from its hazardous installations directorate has opened a
preliminary investigation into the fire in a non-nuclear area at the
Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston, Berkshire, 1 worker was
injured in the incident. 6th August 2010
|
France
Hydrochloric acid leak
A leak of hydrochloric acid occurred on Wednesday morning at the
Atlantec factory in Malville, northwest of Nantes, fire crews took 5 hours to secure the
incident and a 200-metre exclusion zone was established around the
factory. 5th August
2010
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Intruder dies from blood loss
A man died yesterday in hospital in Banja Luka from massive blood loss
after being found bleeding profusely from leg and arm injuries 40
metres from a store into which he is believed to have been attempting
to enter by kicking in a window.
5th August 2010
|
England
Worker fell through open scaffold edge
At Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates' Court Klarius UK Ltd of Cheadle,
Staffs, was fined £8K plus £1,892 in costs over an accident in August
2009 in which a worker fell more than 2 metres from a scaffold tower
and fractured a vertebra and crushed another, rendering him immobile
for 6 weeks. During machine maintenance he had been stooping to find
an oil leak and possibly overbalanced as he stood up.
Investigation established that a guardrail had never been present on
one edge of the scaffold as it was felt that it would interfere with
access to the machine.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 6(3) of the Work
at Height Regulations 2005.
4th August 2010
|
Slovakia
Safety device bypass led to press accident
The Chief Inspectorate of Zilina Inspectorate has found that Mobis
Slovakia breached workplace safety rules in respect of a fatal
accident in which a Korean worker was crushed by a high pressure
injection press for vehicle bumpers at the company's plant in Teplicka
nad Vahom.
Workers had been allowed to use timber planks to operate the press,
bypassing a lockout safety device. 4th August 2010
|
South Africa
18 dead in Gauteng care home fire
Investigators are probing the cause and checking the safety standards
at the site of the Pieter Wessels retirement home in Nigel where 18
elderly patients died in a fire on Sunday at the single-storey
building, 3 patients are in hospital with serious burns. Many of the
victims were trapped by their disabilities.
3rd August 2010
|
Belgium
Electrocution in Brussels metro tunnel
An investigation was ongoing yesterday into the electrocution of a
man in a Brussels metro tunnel between Comte de Flandre/Graf van Vlandeeren and
Etang Noirs/Zwarte Vijvers stations.
3rd August 2010
|
Greece
Training flight helicopter crash kills 2 pilots
Both pilots died when an Apache military helicopter crashed at the
weekend during a training flight from Megara. It is speculated that
mechanical problems caused a fire at an altitude of 1K metres and an
emergency landing was being attempted but it began to nosedive at 50
metres. The military took possession of 12 such helicopters in 2007
and they were in storage until late last year, only commissioned in
February this year.
2nd August 2010
|
Russia
Varnek search suspended
Only 1 body was recovered from the site of the overturned 36-year old
Varnek cargo ship, which foundered in stormy conditions a week ago 20
miles off the Kanin Nos peninsula in the White Sea.
Rescue and recovery vessels from Murmansk and Arkhangelsk made for the
site but bad weather hampered divers. The cargo ship of Nord Way was
making for Shoina with 8 on board and building materials. The search
has now been suspended.
2nd August 2010
|
|
England
Fatal accident at Corus Scunthorpe
A man employed as a contractor has been
killed in an incident involving an HGV at the Corus steelworks in
Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. He died on Saturday afternoon from crush
injuries. 31st August 2010
|
Northern Ireland
Boy critical after water sport accident
A boy aged 6 is listed in critical condition after he was struck by a
boat on Monday afternoon in shallow water at Cranfield Beach near
Kilkeel, County Down. He sustained head injuries after, it is
reported, he was struck by a passing speed boat.
31st August 2010
|
Scotland
Construction worker killed in
accident
A man died yesterday at the new
bottling hall site being built for Diageo in Leven, Fife.
Accounts state the incident involved a dumper truck on Banbeath
Road, the project work was halted by Rok. 27th
August 2010
|
England
Scaffolding death fall
A 58-year old workman fell to
his death from a scaffolding structure last Saturday in Southall,
London.
The structure was erected at a residential property in Shrubbery Road.
27th August 2010
|
England
Driver died after trailer fall
A jury has delivered an accidental death verdict after considering the
evidence presented at the inquest into the death of a 52-year old
lorry driver who fell from a trailer at the Nice-Pak International Ltd
premises in Aber Park, Flint, last August.
The deceased, an employee of Boughey Distribution of Wardle, Cheshire,
fell for some reason that is not clear after he stepped on to the
trailer to obtain straps to secure the load.
27th August 2010
|
England
Boy,8, drowns in N Yorks swimming pool
An 8-year old boy drowned in an incident late on Wednesday afternoon
at Hambleton Leisure Centre in Northallerton, the premises are run by
Hambleton District Council.
26th August 2010
|
England
Fire and explosion injures
worker at Yorks engineers
An employee of London and Scandinavian Metallurgical Co Ltd of
Rotherham was injured on Tuesday when fire broke out in a fume
extraction system there.
The fire and subsequent explosion involved an inventory of titanium
stored outside.
26th August 2010
|
Scotland
Horrific accident caused brain
damage to driver
A driver unloading panel saws at the premises of the Saw Centre in
Eglinton Street, Glasgow, sustained a serious head injury when he was
struck by one as it fell from his vehicle.
The accident victim's employers, Joda Freight Limited, of Crosshills,
West Yorkshire, had no reliable system of communication to ensure
their drivers were informed about the securing and stability of loads.
When he removed the straps securing the saws, the load became
unstable, causing the incident.
Joda admitted breaching S.2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
1974 and was fined £5,000.
26th August 2010
|
England
Mother and child injured by
falling tree
A woman and her 4-year old son have been injured by a falling tree at
the Manor Wildlife Park in St Florence, Pembrokeshire.
Yesterday morning's incident required firefighters to lift the tree
from the pair who were seriously injured.
25th August 2010
|
Scotland
Occupational cancers not a risk
at semiconductor plant
A report by the HSE and the
Institute of Occupational Medicine has concluded that fears of
occupational cancer at the National Semiconductors UK factory in
Greenock are unfounded.
It found that the number of employees with cancer is within the range
expected for a workforce of a similar age and background. This was
also true for each of the individual types of cancer studied.
25th August 2010
|
England
Fatal accident in Blackburn
A man in his 20's has died in
an industrial accident involving an excavator in premises at Gordon
Mill, Blackburn.
He died as a result of head injuries on Sunday morning.
24th August 2010
|
England
Ladder fall broke worker's
shoulder
An employee of Moulton Bulb Company
Ltd was covering onion boxes with plastic sheeting when he fell 3
metres from a ladder at its Glebe Farm site in Spalding in September
2009, breaking his shoulder. He had been wrapping a stack of boxes
around 5.5 metres tall.
The company admitted breaching r.4(1) of the Work at Height
Regulations 2005 and was fined £6,000 with costs of £2,188, it has now
eliminated the need to work at height by applying polythene sheeting
at floor level and then raising the boxes up.
24th August 2010
|
England
Cyclist killed falling load
A female cyclist in her 50's has been killed in an accident on the A63
in Hull. She died on Saturday morning when a container fell from a
trailer and crushed her as the HGV vehicle pulling it negotiated a
roundabout. 23rd
August 2010
|
England
Asbestos problematic for
companies
An inability of companies to
conduct work involving asbestos-containing materials is resulting in
prosecutions.
Acetech Construction Limited in 2008 failed to carry out an adequate
survey for asbestos on a boat it was dismantling, in that it would have
highlighted the presence of asbestos-containing materials before
employees began work on the boat at Grimsby dock. It was fined £3,400
plus £5,000 costs.
Eastern Regional Shopfitters Ltd of Cambridge has been fined £4,000
plus £3,215 in costs after it exposed its employees to the substance
at the Arndale Centre in Manchester in 2009.
Greswolde Construction Ltd of Knowle, Somerset, failed to warn
its employees that asbestos was present at Rokeby Primary School in
Rugby while building an extension there last year. It was fined £1,000
plus £2,268 costs.
23rd August 2010
|
England
Roads worker killed in Thames
Valley
A workman in his 30's was struck by a vehicle on the M4 near
Hungerford, Berks, on Wednesday evening during the placement of signs,
he died later in hospital.
20th August 2010
|
Scotland
Capsized fishermen had no
lifejackets
Two commercial crab fishermen were saved yesterday afternoon after
their vessel capsized near Fraserburgh. Fortunately their plight,
which was desperate because they were not wearing lifejackets, was
spotted by a passing fishing boat and they were rescued.
20th August 2010
|
Scotland
Driver drowned after error
A 75-year old man died in September 2007 when he selected the wrong
gear in his car while parked at an Argyll and Bute Council car park on
the pier at Dunoon. The vehicle mounted the edging, and in the absence
of a continuous protective barrier, it fell approximately 3 metres
into the sea below.
There was no risk assessment for the car park and no action had been
taken to provide adequate edge protection to prevent incidents like
this.
The council was fined £20,000.
19th August 2010
|
England
Steeplejack fell 1.5 metres
A steeplejack company from Stoke-on-Trent, Rafferty Chimneys
Engineering Ltd, has been fined £8,000 in connection with an
industrial accident in March 2009 in which an employee injured his
heel. The company provided its workmen with a tower scaffold to access
the eves of a roof in order to inspect four 20-metre tall chimneys at
an industrial property in Tunstall. The tower was unsafe, its
guardrails were too low, the correct boards were not used and no
toeboarding was fitted.
The accident occurred during dismantling of the tower, but HSE
investigation revealed that 2 workers had also walked across a fragile
asbestos sheet roof using boards 45cm wide, with no safety
measures in place to stop them falling nearly 4 metres into the
workshop below.
19th August 2010
|
England
Man hurt in electrical explosion
It is reported that a 25-year old man was badly burned in an explosion
after cutting through an 11Kv cable with a saw.
The incident occurred at a bridge over the river Aire in Leeds, there
has been speculation that a theft may have been in progress at the
time. 18th August 2010
|
England
Nurse assault jail term
An inebriated assailant of a nurse has been jailed for 8 months at
Durham Crown Court.
The convicted 44-year old man was taken to hospital and was being
assessed when he struck a male nurse about the head and smashed his
glasses at the University Hospital of North Durham.
18th August 2010
|
England
Scaffolding board incident at
hospital
A scaffolding board which fell
from a structure erected around Southend Hospital has narrowly missed
several passers-by below.
One report states that the structure was being dismantled at the time
after it was used to access windows on the building.
17th August 2010
|
Wales
3-metre fall changed worker's
life
A 21-year old man suffered life changing injuries when he fell from
the roof of a farm building last year in Boncath, Pembrokeshire. He lost the sight of
one eye with some loss in the other. Brain injury means he has limited
speech and has difficulty walking. His employer, Delme L James Ltd of
Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthenshire, admitted breaching r.4 of the Work at
Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £8,000 with costs of £2,189 for
its failure to prevent the fall.
It did not plan, supervise or carry out the work safely, providing
only limited edge protection to prevent falls from the roof and no
measures to prevent falls into the building. 17th August 2010
|
England
Gamekeeper impaled on farm
equipment
A man in his 40's was airlifted to hospital after he impaled himself
when he fell on to a hay baler, emergency services detached the spike,
which was more than 1-metre long, from the equipment, leaving a
section protruding from his
groin.
The incident occurred last Wednesday afternoon at a farm near
King's Lynn, Norfolk. 16th August 2010
|
England
Stone blinds 7-year old
Investigation of an incident which resulted in an injury to a 7-year
old, who has subsequently lost an eye, is to attempt to determine
whether a stone may have been ejected from grass cutting equipment.
The incident occurred on 3rd August at Vale of Glamorgan Council's
Maslyn Park, Barry Island. 16th August 2010
|
England
Fatal industrial accident in Shropshire
It is reported that a worker at the automotive manufacturers Stadco in
Shrewsbury died on Tuesday following an incident on Monday. 13th August 2010
|
Scotland
Delivery driver murdered
A 40-year old takeaway restaurant delivery driver died on Thursday
after being set upon by several youths on Wednesday evening. The
incident occurred in Lochend Avenue, Edinburgh, outside the shop. 13th August 2010
|
Wales
Fatal roof fall in Shropshire
It is reported that a man carrying out roof work on a residential
property in Welshpool, Dyfed Powys, has died after falling from the
roof on Tuesday afternoon.
12th August 2010
|
England
Chemical incident at
Nottinghamshire care home
A spillage of a quantity of hydrogen peroxide yesterday morning at a
care home in Retford resulted in a person being taken to hospital for
treatment for burns.
12th August 2010
|
England
Construction site death in
London
It is reported that a construction worker has died after being struck
by a falling scaffolding member.
The incident occurred on Friday on a residential development in
Lancaster Gate.
11th August 2010
|
Scotland
Death at quarry
On 21st November 2008, a
58-year old plant fitter employed by Leiths Scotland Ltd was working
beneath a digger at Parkmore Quarry, Dufftown, Aberlour, when it
rolled backwards, inflicting fatal injuries. The vehicle was on a ramp
but because the rear wheels were inadequately secured it rolled off
the ramp and on to his chest.
Although experienced, he had not undertaken this task before.
An HSE official commented: "He should have received adequate
information, training and supervision from his employers, which Leiths
did not provide. It is wholly unacceptable his employers left him
unsupervised to devise his own means of working on such a risky repair
job."
The Aberdeen company was fined £96,000.
11th August 2010
|
Wales
Propeller injures man
A man being towed by a speedboat in the Aberdovey Estuary has been
badly injured when it struck him as it picked him up after he fell
from a ring doughnut on Saturday.
Milford Haven Coastguard Watch Manager commented: "Thrill rides are
inherently dangerous and people need to carefully consider whether
their skipper has the necessary expertise and safety equipment before
they jump in." 10th
August 2010
|
England
Lead work resulted in unacceptable
exposures
Anglia Lead Ltd of Norfolk has been
prosecuted for failing to meet the requirements of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in respect of potential lead exposures to
its workforce.
The company was fined £10,000 plus costs of £10,556, a director was
also fined £10,000.
An HSE official commented: "Anglia Lead Ltd and its director failed to
discharge their duties, meaning the company’s processes fell
significantly below the expected standards required for working with
the material."
10th August 2010
|
England
Man died after tail lift
incident
The owner of a vineyard died whilst helping to unload empty wine
bottles from the back of a lorry of Gregory Distribution Ltd of North Tawton,
Cornwall, driven by an agency driver in April 2008. The bottles
fell on him at the vineyard in St Ewe, inflicting fatal head and chest
injuries.
An HSE Inspector commented: "This tragic accident highlights the
dangers involved in unloading large and heavy loads using a tail lift.
Employers should ensure that employees are given the right equipment,
information, instruction and training to allow them to unload loads
safely. Where employers use the services of agency staff they should
ensure that those agency staff are aware of the systems of work in
place and have the skills and training to undertake the required
tasks. Tail lifts should be examined by a competent person at least
every 6 months to ensure that they are safe to use."
The company was fined £200,000 with £16,993 costs.
9th August 2010
|
England
Miraculous escape as piling machine fell
on road
Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering
Ltd and Multibuild Ltd have been fined in connection with an incident
in December 2007 in which a 44 tonnes piling machine fell and rolled over
on to a
busy road in Hull.
Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering Ltd, formerly Stent Foundations Ltd,
of Basingstoke, and Multibuild Ltd, of Stockport, were deemed to have breached S.3(1) of
the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Balfour Beatty was fined
£25,000 with £17,676 in costs, Multibuild Ltd was fined £20,000
with £18,687 costs.
Multibuild Ltd had provided a stone platform for the machine to work
from, but failed to design or install it correctly. Balfour Beatty
Ground Engineering Ltd had failed to safely carry out the work.
9th August 2010
|
England
Hospital patient's fatal fall from
window
A patient at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, has fallen 7 metres
to his death from the window of a ward on the 2nd floor of the
building. The incident occurred last Friday at the hospital's
Trelawney wing.
6th August 2010
|
England
Child killed on Yorks farm
It is reported that a 4-year old boy died
last Thursday after being struck by a vehicle on a farm near Askrigg
in Yorkshire.
6th August 2010
|
Northern Ireland
CO likely cause of teenagers'
death
Two 18-year old men have died
and another is being treated in hospital after becoming ill at an
apartment in Castlerock in Co Londonderry.
They were discovered on Tuesday evening, it is speculated that they
were overcome by carbon monoxide. 5th
August 2010
|
Wales
Public health warning to
bathers
An investigation into the outbreak of cryptosporidium at the Merthyr
Tydfil leisure centre during August and September 2009 has underlined
existing advice that persons with diarrhoea, or who have had this
condition
within 48 hours, should not go near swimming pools. Those diagnosed
with cryptosporidium should not swim for 2 weeks.
Last year's outbreak led to 106 cases of illness, Public Health Wales
have made recommendations to the pool operators concerning cleaning
and removing faecal matter. 5th August 2010
|
England
Driver injured by his lorry load
The driver of a lorry carrying desks has been seriously injured after
his load fell on him while he was in the back of his vehicle in
Portland Square, Bristol.
The incident occurred on Monday
afternoon, his injuries are not believed life-threatening.
4th August 2010
|
Scotland
Horse rider killed in fall
A 46-year old schoolteacher died on Monday after she was thrown from
her horse near Cawdor Castle, Nairnshire. She sustained neck injuries
to which she succumbed later in hospital in Inverness. 4th August 2010
|
Scotland
Accident victim's arm chopped
off by valve
John Hogarth Ltd of Kelso has
been fined £16,750 in total for its failures that led to a horrific
accident that occurred whilst an employee was attempting to clean a
rotary valve 4 metres above the ground. When he slipped, his arm
became entangled in the exposed rotating valve, at which point he was
suspended as the rotor drew his arm into the mechanism because it had
not been isolated from its electrical supply, which was difficult to
reach. His arm was severed and he then fell to the floor and suffered
severe injuries, permanent disfigurement and impairment as a result.
Access to the valve, which was cleaned each shift, was by a propped-up
ladder and by walking along a narrow beam and then standing or sitting
on a small wooden plank.
An HSE official commented: "This tragedy
should never have happened but it took this incident to occur before
the company assessed the risks with the cleaning operation of the
valve." 3rd
August
2010
|
England
Faulty gas work placed lives at
risk
A Hereford gas fitter has been
fined £2,000 plus £1,600 costs in connection with faulty work he
conducted on migrant workers' caravans in Shropshire and
Herefordshire.
The work included the faulty capping of gas installation pipework, the
incorrect calculation of ventilation requirements and discoloured and
unmarked flexible gas hosing.
The gas fitter pleaded guilty to 3 breaches of S.7 of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and breaching r.6(3) of the Gas Safety
(Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. 3rd
August 2010
|
Wales
Industrial accident claims life
of worker
A man has died in an industrial
accident at the Dafen Industrial Park premises of Dyfed Steels in
Llanelli. Reports state he was trapped and suffered a head injury on
Friday morning within the company's garaging area.
2nd
August 2010
|
England
Machine's momentum cut off
worker's fingers
United Biscuits (UK) Ltd has been prosecuted following an industrial
accident last year at its McVities Cake Company factory in Halifax.
An employee climbed a 2-metre fixed step ladder to reach a large mixing
machine to empty and then restart it but, although the mixer had
stopped, the blades inside were still rotating and severed 2 fingers.
The company was fined £10,000 plus £2,889 costs, an HSE official
commented: "Preventing access to moving parts and fitting guards is an
elementary and essential precautionary measure and inexpensive. By not
putting these measures in place United Biscuits failed to fulfil its
duty of care to its employees."
2nd August 2010
|
|