USA
Milwaukee worker's head crushed in press
A 58-year old worker died when his head became crushed in a press on
Tuesday at ASI Technologies, northwest Milwaukee, it was speculated
that cable failure caused the machine to fall on him.
31st August 2011
|
USA
Explosion kills 3 contractors on Wyoming oilfield
An explosion occurred during work on a fuel supply line to a heater
treatment facility separating oil and water on Hornbuckle Ranch, 50
miles northeast of Casper, Wyoming, killing 3 workers of Wild West
Construction and Double D Welding & Fabrication, subcontracted to
Samson Resources Company of Oklahoma.
31st August 2011
|
USA
Florida worker's leg badly crushed at Pepsi plant
A 39-year old worker sustained serious injuries when his leg was
crushed between rails and a pallet transport device on a conveyor
system during cleaning work at the Pepsi plant on North 30th Street,
Tampa. 30th August
2011
|
USA
Kansas rail worker killed during track inspection
A Union Pacific rail worker driving a track-mounted vehicle
undertaking track inspection died in a collision with a vehicle on a
level crossing east of Abilene, the latter driver was hospitalised.
Initial
investigation of the accident suggested
that the crossing barriers failed to descend.
30th August 2011
|
Madagascar
11, including politician, killed in boat accident
Eleven people have died in an accident when a boat was struck by a
rogue wave near the Soanierana-Ivongo channel and an explosion
occurred during the rescue.
A government minister is believed to have been one of the victims, the
boat was returning from a cultural event on the island of Sainte
Marie, 25 miles off the northeast mainland. 29th August 2011
|
Malta
British diver rescued off Gozo
A British diver was rescued yesterday after getting into difficulties
in rough seas at Dwejra, Gozo. The alarm was raised by fellow divers
and he was taken to hospital, his condition was unknown. 29th August 2011
|
China
26 miners still trapped in flooded pit
Hopes were beginning to fade yesterday of rescuing 26 miners trapped
in a flooded pit of the Hengtai Coal Mining Company in Boli county,
Heilongjiang. The mine had been closed for 4 years but work resumed
there illegally last week. The miners mistakenly drilled into an
adjacent flooded shaft but 19 of them managed to reach safety.
26th August 2011
|
France
ULM hits power line during flying lesson
A Dordogne flying instructor has died in hospital in Periguex after
the ULM aircraft in which he and a student were taking a lesson struck
a power line at Domme. The student survived the crash with light
injuries. 26th
August 2011
|
Tajikistan
CO leak kills 6 leather workers
A carbon monoxide leak has killed 6 workers at the Kukhandiz leather
factory in Dushanbe, 4 others are being treated in hospital.
25th August 2011
|
South Africa
Miner killed at Tau Lekoa Gold Mine
A seismic event measuring 2.6 on the Richter Scale led to a fall of
ground early on Wednesday at the Tau Lekoa Gold Mine of Village Main
Reef, an accident which claimed the life of a miner.
25th August 2011
|
Germany
Wall falls on Hamburg site worker
A construction worker died in a crush accident on Tuesday at a site in
the Stellingen area of Hamburg when a 2.5m x 10m concrete section fell
on him during excavation work.
24th August 2011
|
India
2 killed in Punjab woollen mill boiler explosion
A boiler explosion at the Youngmen Woollen Mill in Ludhiana has killed
2 workers and left 5 others injured.
24th August 2011
|
Russia
Unscheduled flight crashes in Tuva
The crash of an Antonov-2 aircraft in Tuva on Monday is believed to
have involved an unscheduled and unregistered flight. The aircraft,
owned by Sayanian Cedar, crashed near Choigan-Hol Lake, one of
the 7 people on board has died.
23rd August 2011
|
Argentina
Another fire at Bahia Blanca oil refinery
A fire broke out on Monday at the Petrobras oil refinery in Bahia
Blanca, the scene of an explosion which led to a fatality on August
10th, on this occasion no injuries were reported.
23rd August 2011
|
Canada
12 killed in Arctic air crash
The crash of a First Air charter Boeing 737 aircraft near Resolute Bay
left 12 people dead and 3 others injured. The flight from Yellowknife
to Grise Fiord carried 4 crew and 11 passengers, but contact was lost
5 miles from Resolute Bay and the flight came down on a hill a mile
west of Resolute. Low cloud prevailed locally at the time of the
accident but had cleared not long after the crash. 22nd August 2011
|
Kazakhstan
2 killed in Karaganda mine explosion
A gas explosion during sinking work has killed an engineer and machine
operator at the Kuzembayev mine of Arselor Mittal Temirtau in Saran,
Karaganda. Two other workers at the locus managed to move to safety.
22nd August 2011
|
Australia
Youth dies after kick in the head by cow
A 17-year old youth has died in a accident during milking at the
Waaia-Bearii Road dairy farm in Bearii, 140 miles north of Melbourne,
it is believed that his injuries stemmed from being kicked in the head
by a cow. 19th
August 2011
|
Canada
Transport fatality at Calgary food distributor
A warehouse worker was killed in a transport accident on Thursday at
the Loblaw Distribution Centre in the Foothills industrial park area
of Calgary where he was run over by a lorry in an unloading bay.
19th
August 2011
|
France
4 killed in Manche aircraft crashes
Four people died in 2 separate aircraft crashes in the Manche region
on Wednesday afternoon.
An Ultralight aircraft came down in a spin into the sea at
Lingreville, having departed from Greville-sur-Mer. Both pilot and
passenger died, a fishing boat recovered one of the bodies.
At Lessay 2 people also died when a light aircraft crashed in a field,
having just left Saint-Andre de L'Eure aerodrome where it had stopped
for fuel. 18th
August 2011
|
New Zealand
Worker badly injured in fall through skylight
The Department of Labour was advised of a workplace accident in
Southbridge, south of Christchurch, where a 17-year old worker fell 6
metres through a skylight yesterday while clearing snow from the roof
of premises on the town's High Street, his condition in Christchurch
Hospital last night was critical.
18th August 2011
|
Italy
Electrical discharge burns Terni cleaners
Two Romanian subcontract workers of a Chieti firm were injured
on Tuesday when a discharge of electricity occurred as they were
engaged in cleaning work at the Tk-Ast plant in Terni. One of them
sustained 2nd degree burns over 50% of his body and is in the burns
unit of Rome's Sant'Eugenio Hospital, the other was treated in
hospital in Terni and is expected to achieve a full recovery within a
month. 17th August 2011
|
Austria
Falling pole breaks worker's thigh
A metal section fell from 4th floor level from a scaffold on a site in
Franz-Grill Street in Vienna yesterday afternoon, injuring 3 workers,
1 of whom has a broken thigh and another has chest injuries.
17th August 2011
|
Israel
2 killed in separate fall from height accidents
Two people died in 2 separate fall from height accidents on Monday. A
teenager died in a fall from unspecified height from a scaffold in
Tzur Hadassah in the Judean hills; and on a construction site in
Ashkelon a worker died in a 10-metre fall.
16th August 2011
|
Spain
Girl fights for life after pool accident
A 16-year old girl is listed in critical condition in hospital after
coming close to drowning yesterday in a swimming pool at a restaurant
in Morata de Tajuna, 5 miles southeast of Madrid. It is believed that
she was being treated for cardiac arrest.
16th August 2011
|
USA
5 killed in stage collapse in severe weather
A stage set at a country music festival in Indianapolis collapsed
during severe weather at the weekend, killing 5 members of the
audience and injuring 45 others who sustained fractures and head
injuries as scaffolding and lights fell into the front of the
audience.
Severe weather, including gusts of high wind, was forecast and it is
believed that plans were underway to evacuate the Indiana State Fair
but were overtaken by the speed of the incident. 15th August 2011
|
USA
Kansas aerosystems worker succumbs to injuries
On Saturday an employee of Spirit Aerosystems died in hospital
in Wichita from injuries sustained in an accident during the moving of
a fuselage panel. 15th August 2011
|
Germany
Hessen electrician crushed by cable drum
An electrician died on Thursday evening another was badly injured when
they became pinned under a 700Kg cable drum which rolled down steps
into the basement of premises in Ostend, Frankfurt, rescuers had to
use hydraulic gear to free the workers. 12th August 2011
|
Australia
Falling branch kills worker after digger hits tree
Workplace Health & Safety is investigating an accident in Roma,
Queensland, where a man supervising excavation work in Bingil Street,
was killed by a branch which fell from a tree after a digger
struck it. 12th August 2011
|
Argentina
Explosion at Petrobras refinery
A gas explosion occurred in a workers' rest room at the Petrobras oil
refinery in the Loma Paraguay barrio of Bahia Blanca, killing a
44-year old worker and leaving a 47-year old colleague with burns to
15% of his body. The accident occurred as a light switch was pressed. 11th August 2011
|
Japan
Boy collapses and dies on baseball training run
A 12-year old boy collapsed and died
during a late morning training run with a baseball team in Tsu City,
Mie, temperatures approaching midday in Mie were 31.5ºC.
11th August 2011
|
Brazil
9 killed as hoist falls at Bahia site
Investigators are studying an
accident in the Caminho das Arvores barrio in Salvador, Bahia, where 9
construction workers died when a cable failed and a passenger lift of
the Thome de Souza company fell 20 stories at a Constructora Segura
site at the beginning of the Tuesday morning shift. It was initially
unclear if its carrying capacity was 8
people. 10th August 2011
|
Azerbaijan
2 killed in explosion at Hajiqabul petrol station
An explosion occurred yesterday at an Azpetrol station in Padarchol,
70 miles south of Baku, leading to the deaths of 2 people and injuring
15 others. It was thought that a lorry swerved to avoid an accident
and struck a car carrying propane gas which triggered an explosion.
However, the station's fuel tanks did not explode. Criminal
proceedings under article 225 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan,
violation of fire safety regulations, are being prepared.
10th August 2011
|
New Zealand
Test engineer sucked into Hercules engine
An aircraft engineer died at the Safe
Air aircraft testing facility at Woodbourne Air Field, Tasmania, where
he was sucked into the engine of a Hercules jet.
The aircraft would
normally be housed in a stand during testing and controlled from a
booth, it was unclear why the worker would be close to the air intake
while the turbo prop engine would be running. 9th August 2011
|
China
Factory lift falls on workers during
installation
A goods lift fell 3 storeys when a
cable failed during installation at a factory in Shanghai, killing 2
workers of OTIS and injuring 2 others. 9th August 2011
|
France
Girl,2, severs arm on Var farm
A 2-year old girl's arm was severed on Sunday morning in conveyor belt
machinery for feeding sheep on a farm at Montmeyan in the Var, she was
airlifted to La Timone hospital in Marseille where she has undergone
surgery. 8th August 2011
|
USA
Utah roads worker crushed between reversing lorries
A Utah roads site worker died in a crush accident on Saturday near
Willard. Roto-milling was taking place, whereby the old asphalt
surface is torn up and ground in the mill prior to resurfacing. The
roto-miller was reversing to deposit the load in another reversing
lorry and the victim became pinned between both reversing vehicles.
8th August 2011
|
UAE
Fire kills 4 workers in adapted warehouse accommodation
Four people died yesterday in a fire in a warehouse in Mussaffah which
had been adapted to include residential accommodation. Possibly as
many as 200 people were there and fled from the fire which was thought
to have been caused by an electrical malfunction.
5th August 2011
|
Germany
Gardener killed by reversing lorry
On Immenweg in Huckenbrol, Eitorf, on Thursday a 60-year old landscape
gardener was run over and killed by a reversing lorry which was
arriving to remove portable toilets from a building site.
5th August 2011
|
USA
Hydraulic lift crushes Atlanta airport worker
A crush accident claimed the life of a contract worker at
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta where he was
crushed under a loading dock on a hydraulic lift which collapsed in a
cargo area. 4th
August 2011
|
Italy
Death follows Padua piano
incident
A workman has died in a crush accident at premises on via Modigliani,
Albignasego, where he sustained fatal head injuries during the
movement of a grand piano on to a lift.
4th August 2011
|
Austria
Farmer electrocuted jumping from burning tractor
A 25-year old Steier farm worker was electrocuted on Tuesday during
harvesting work in a field in Knittelfeld. His tractor with a tipper
attachment was raised and electricity arced from 34K-volt overhead
power lines. The vehicle's tyres ignited and the electrocution
occurred as he leapt clear of the vehicle and on to the ground to
escape the fire.
3rd August 2011
|
Vietnam
Explosion in tent kills gold miner
A gold miner died at the Bai Muoi mine of Phuoc Minh Ltd in Quang Nam
when his tent exploded, it was unclear why explosives were therein.
3rd August 2011
|
The Netherlands
Motor boat explosion on the Alkmaardermeer
Two people were admitted to the burns unit of a hospital in Beverwijk
following an explosion on a motor boat on Monday evening at De Woude
on the Alkmaardermeer. A number of others were being treated for burns
injuries of lesser severity. It is believed the explosion occurred as
the engine was switched on.
2nd August 2011
|
Canada
Alberta oilfield fatality
A 55-year old contract worker of Flint Transfield Services died of
blunt force trauma after being struck in the chest by equipment as he
worked on a SAG-D well pad at the Firebag oilfield site of Suncor
north of Fort McMurray.
2nd August 2011
|
Ukraine
Dozens killed in 2 mining accidents
Thirty seven miners died in 2 separate accidents at Ukrainian mines,
the bodies of some of those listed missing were recovered yesterday.
At the Bazhanov mine in Makeyevka, 15 miners were trapped when a
70-metre tall lift collapsed, 11 were killed and 4 were rescued.
An explosion occurred at a depth of 915 metres in the
Sukhodolskaya-Vostochnaya mine in Lugansk which killed 26 miners. Two
were rescued but were listed in critical condition.
1st August 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Girl,4, dies in fall from tractor
HSA is investigating a fatal accident at the weekend in County
Offaly where a 4-year old girl died in a fall from the rear of a
tractor at premises in Derryadd, Killeigh. 1st August 2011
|
|
Canada
Wall collapse injures teenage worker
A teenage worker was badly injured on Tuesday when a wall fell at a
new development site on Coachill Road, south Winnipeg. He was admitted
to the city's Grace Hospital with a broken leg but may have sustained
other injuries in the accident.
31st August 2011
|
Bulgaria
School group swept off rocks at Black Sea resort
Education Minister Sergei Ignatov launched a full investigation into
an accident in which a group of teenage schoolchildren from Kurdjali,
holidaying at a camp in Kiten, were swept off rocks by a wave while
having a photograph taken. The accident occurred near the old town
area of Sozopol, one child with a large backpack drowned in the
accident. 31st
August 2011
|
Italy
Illegal Albanian bricklayer killed in 8-metre fall
A 44-year old Albanian bricklayer died in a fall of 8 metres yesterday
when the roof of a shed collapsed at premises in Castelfiorentino,
Florence. He was an illegal worker and a 36-year old Albanian who
hired him has been charged with culpable homicide in connection with
the accident and also with hiring illegal labour.
30th August 2011
|
South Africa
Game farm guides injured by wounded leopard
A husband and wife tourist guide team were badly injured in an attack
by a wounded leopard on a game farm near Polkwane. The leopard had
been shot and wounded earlier and stalked the party, the guides
intervened as it attacked the group. Both guides had arm injuries, the
man also had abdominal injuries.
30th August 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Crush accident during loading at Galway car dealership
A 48-year old worker died in University Hospital Galway at the
weekend, succumbing to crush injuries sustained during the loading of
cars he was collecting for scrap from Windsor Motors on Monivea Road,
Galway city. 29th August 2011
|
Sweden
Nursing staff sacked over unprofessional conduct
Three workers at an Attendo Care nursing home in Vaxjo have been
sacked after laying bets against the time of a patient's death and
subsequently placing sunglasses on the corpse. Police have also been
informed of the incident. 29th August 2011
|
Germany
Boy in park killed by felled tree sections
The Public Prosecutor's office in Munster is considering bringing a
charge of causing death by negligence against arborists working in
woodland in Reken where a 4-year old boy died after being struck on
the head by falling timber. The workers were cutting limbs off trees
at a height of 10 metres as the child and his grandfather were passing
below. 26th August
2011
|
Germany
Worker trapped in unsafe trench
Timber shoring failed in an excavation yesterday at a site on the
Grunenthal premises in Aachen where a worker became trapped below
waist level. Hand digging managed to free him and he was hospitalised
with serious leg injuries.
26th August 2011
|
Russia
Explosion kills 6 at Astrakhan firing range
An explosion at the Ashuluk firing range in south Astrakhan in which 6
service personnel died has led to a case being opened under Article
349, Part 3 of Russia's Criminal Code governing a breach of rules
regarding the handling of high risk objects resulting in the negligent
death of more than 2 persons. Projectiles for the Grad system were
being unloaded at the site for their disposal but exploded
prematurely, setting off a chain of explosionS in which an officer and
5 servicemen were killed.
25th August 2011
|
USA
Missouri worker dies in fall from scaffold
A maintenance worker has died in a fall from scaffolding while working
on a lift shaft in the parking garage at the Lumiere Place Casino
complex in Laclede,s Landing, St Louis.
25th August 2011
|
England
Kent restaurant worker died in CO accident
The 36-year old owner of a Bexleyheath restaurant has received a
6-month prison sentence suspended for 2 years over an accident in
March 2009 in which a 16-year old girl died from carbon monoxide
poisoning in a store room in the restaurant. The girl and a 17-year
old youth had permission to stay in the room after the restaurant
closed but a cylinder heater in there was 30 years old and lacked
servicing and a cut-off sensor in the event of malfunction. The youth
was found unconscious by the proprietor but the girl succumbed to the
CO atmosphere.
The owner pleaded guilty to a failure to maintain the heater and was
fined £15K costs in addition to the suspended sentence.
24th August 2011
|
USA
Illinois conveyor belt crush fatality
A worker has died in a crush accident while trying to clear sand from
a conveyor system at Swansea Building Products Corporation in East St
Louis, Illinois.
24th August 2011
|
USA
Scaffold collapses on Philadelphia site
A scaffold collapsed at a housing refurbishment site on South 15th
Street in Philadelphia on Monday, 3 workers were injured, 1 of whom
has serious head and back injuries.
23rd August 2011
|
Canada
Burns accident in Ottawa
A 46-year old worker sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his arms
and back in an industrial accident at premises on Doncaster Road,
Greely, after a spark, possibly from hot metal work, ignited
combustible contents of a barrel.
23rd August 2011
|
USA
Mower falls from jack and kills worker
An Illinois cemetery worker succumbed to head injuries after being
struck on the head by a lawn mower which became unstable and fell from
a jack while he was repairing a hydraulic pump on it at a cemetery in
Proviso. 22nd August 2011
|
Italy
Worker dies in fall from roof
A Kosovan worker died in a 10-metre fall from height accident at the
weekend while working on the roof of the Domus ceramics premises in
Rubiera, Reggio Emilia.
22nd August 2011
|
Ukraine
Rock fall traps Donetsk miners
A fall of top rock in a blind drift yesterday has trapped 2 miners at
the Stakhanov coal mine in Dymytrov in the Donetsk region, 4 rescue
teams were attending the accident.
19th August 2011
|
China
2 killed in Shanghai railway site scaffold collapse
Two construction workers died and 4 others sustained fractures when a
scaffold collapsed on Thursday at the new urban railway site near
Luoshan Road in the Pudong New District of Shanghai.
19th August 2011
|
USA
Roads worker killed at work zone
A Texas roads construction worker operating a stop/go traffic sign on
Farm to Market Road 105, south of Evadale, was killed on Wednesday
after being struck by a vehicle. The Eagle Pro worker, subcontracted
to APAC, was knocked 10 metres by the impact and died at the locus.
18th August 2011
|
Australia
Mechanic killed at WA iron ore mine
A 27-year old mechanic has died in an accident at the Brockman 2 iron
ore mine of Rio Tinto in Western Australia's Pilbara region where he
became trapped in machinery while replacing a hydraulic cylinder on a
lorry. 18th August
2011
|
Scotland
Tanker crewman injured in chemical spillage
Chemicals spilled on to the face of a crewman of the tanker
Navion Norvegia off Sumburgh, Shetland, on Tuesday morning, resulting
in him being airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by Shetland
Coastguard. 17th
August 2011
|
The Netherlands
Missing Zeeland patient found in trench
A 91-year old dementia patient of the Vliedberg care home in
Koudekerke, Zeeland, was found in a trench with serious head injuries
yesterday. He had been missing in his pyjamas from the home for 2
hours during the night and was found in the trench on an adjacent
property. He is being treated in hospital in Goes for his injuries.
17th
August 2011
|
Austria
Boy's leg severed in farm equipment
A 15-year old boy's leg was severed in an accident in a field on a
farm in Alkoven, west of Linz, on Monday as he attempted to make an
adjustment to tractor-drawn equipment but slipped into it. His
condition in hospital was stabilised but his leg could not be saved.
16th
August 2011
|
New Zealand
Unsighted contractor run over in container yard
A 49-year old contractor of Allied Work Force has died in a transport
accident in the container loading area in Port of Tauranga, it is
speculated that he was stooping to check measurements and was struck
by a reversing vehicle.
16th August 2011
|
England
2 die in E Sussex caravan fire
A caravan fire claimed the lives of 2 holidaymakers at the Combe
Haven Holiday Park in St Leonards, they were rescued unconscious from
the smoke-logged caravan but could not be resuscitated. 15th August 2011
|
Spain
Girl,2, rescued from skip
Police in Murcia are questioning the parents of a 2-year old girl over
allegations of neglect after the child was found abandoned and in a
state of distress in a rubbish skip in Cabezo de Torres.
15th August 2011
|
Canada
Boy's hand trapped in meat processor
A 14-year old boy was admitted to the Rimouski hospital in Quebec with
his hand trapped in meat-processing equipment following an accident
yesterday at the Debitage Duchenier family business in Saint-Narcisse,
his father was the only other person working there.
12th August 2011
|
South Africa
Gold miner killed in seismic event
A miner was killed and another injured in a fall of ground accident
following a seismic event at the Mponeng mine of AngloGold Ashanti.
12th August 2011
|
Italy
Elderly farmers die in tractor accidents in Lazio and Trentino
Elderly farmers died in 2 separate accidents on Wednesday.
In Vallerano, 40 miles northwest of Rome, a 75-year old farmer died of
head injuries when his tractor struck a tree; in Rasun Anterselva,
South Tyrol, a 79-year old farmer died when he was run over by his
tractor while attempting to attach a trailer on a gradient.
11th August 2011
|
USA
Forklift load kills worker at Texas rig site
A 56-year old Texas worker has died of
blunt force trauma injury to his chest after piping loaded on a
forklift became unstable and fell during the dismantling of an oil rig
in High Island.
11th August 2011
|
Spain
3 killed on Toledo fairground ride
Three Romanians were killed in an accident involving the "Extreme"
ride at a fair in Villacanas, Toledo. The ride features four 4-seater
rides linked to a mechanical arm which rises and falls as it spins. It
is believed that 1 of the seats detached in motion, a woman survived
the accident but with serious injuries. 10th August 2011
|
USA
Worker killed by reversing vehicle on Arkansas highway site
A 19-year old Arkansas construction worker, a subcontractor of
Crawford Construction, was killed in a transport accident at an
Arkansas State Highway Department site in Frontier Road, Barling,
where he was struck by reversing plant as he was crouching, unsighted
by the driver, while taking measurements. 10th August 2011
|
France
Diver dies in accident off Corsica
A diver's body was recovered yesterday
following an accident in the Gulf of Pinarello, Corsica. He had been
diving from his boat to a depth of 20 metres some 600 metres offshore.
However, the accident appeared to occur as the 67-year old diver was
attempting to free his anchor.
This was the 12th diving fatality in
the area this year, an increase of 50% on last year. 9th August 2011
|
Vietnam
Farmers killed salvaging scrap from shell
Two farmers died in an explosion as they
attempted to saw a metal casing off old ordnance they found in the
Lien Chieu area of Da Nang, last week a similar accident killed 3
farmers in Quang Ngai. 9th August 2011
|
Russia
Workers critically injured in refinery fire
Four workers are listed in critical condition in intensive care in a
Khabarovsk hospital following a fire there on Sunday, another worker
was admitted to the burns unit with serious facial and arm injuries.
The refinery's own fire crew contained the blaze in under an hour, the
locus appeared to be a pump station unit. 8th August 2011
|
Northern Ireland
Passenger overboard on River Bann
HSENI is being advised of an accident on the River Bann on Sunday in
which a passenger on a chartered boat with 66 passengers fell
overboard between Portglenone and Newferry and was later rescued and
given first aid on the shore. 8th August 2011
|
Ukraine
Methane explosion at Lugansk mine
Twenty six miners were injured with 5 listed in critical condition in
hospital following a methane gas explosion during work to dismantle
equipment at the Krasnokutskaya mine in Lugansk.
5th August 2011
|
Germany
Boiler explosion at Neckar foundry
A boiler exploded on Thursday in a foundry in the Neckarelz area of
Mosbach, injuring 5 workers, 2 of whom sustained severe injuries.
The blast blew out an outer wall and ignited an adjacent tree.
5th August 2011
|
England
Norfolk girl badly injured as horse collapses
A 14-year old girl was in hospital in Cambridge last night with
serious head injuries last night after being trapped under a horse on
Blackwater Lane, Great Witchingham, Norfolk, HSE has been advised of
the accident. 4th
August 2011
|
Croatia
Hospital patient wandered 2 hours in pyjamas
A 41-year old psychiatric patient was found wandering on the seafront
in Split in his pyjamas after disappearing for 2 hours from the
Klinicki Bolnicki Centar in Split where he was being treated for
depression. 4th
August 2011
|
USA
Fatal accident at Dallas bakery
A Texas bakery worker was killed on Tuesday after becoming trapped in
machinery and crushed on a conveyor belt at CSM Bakery Products on
Miller Road, Dallas.
3rd August 2011
|
USA
Fatal accident on rural Tennessee site
A fatal accident occurred at a rural site on a farm near Dyersburg,
Tennessee, where a 19-year old worker sustained fatal head
injuries during work to re-instate a crop sprinkling system which had
fallen over. 3rd
August 2011
|
USA
Scaffold fatality at Kansas sports ground
A Kansas construction worker of Five Star Masonry, subcontracted to
Konrath Construction Managers, was killed in a 33-metre fall on Monday
at the Kansas State University football stadium in Manhattan, it is
thought that a board on a scaffold failed, causing him to fall down on
to the car park.
2nd August 2011
|
Guyana
US assists air accident investigation
The US National Transportation Safety Board is assisting with the
investigation of an air accident at Cheddi Jagan International
Airport, Timehri, where a Boeing 737-800 of Caribbean Airlines of
Trinidad overshot the runway during landing in heavy rain and broke in
two. Some passengers were injured but no fatalities occurred, the
flight from New York had stopped off in Trinidad before flying on to
Guyana. 2nd August
2011
|
France
Bull kills man at Gard festival
A 25-year old man was killed by a bull on Saturday after falling from
a horse at a local festival in Vergeze, Gard, from where he was
transferred to hospital in Nimes but pronounced dead.
1st August 2011
|
Russia
9 drown in overloaded boat collision in Moscow
Nine people died when a boat carrying 16 people collided with a docked
barge on a stretch of the Moscow River close to the city's Luzhniki
stadium.
The 12-metre long boat had a legal carrying capacity of 12 passengers
and is believed to have a previous history of overloading. Concern has
been expressed in Moscow that some boat owners are running businesses
in violation of transport regulations. 1st August 2011
|
|
Rep Ireland
HGV driver dies in overturn near waste site
A Moldovan lorry driver has died when his vehicle overturned on an
access road at the Drehid Waste Management Plant of Bord na Mona in
Kildare, the HSA has been advised of the accident.
31st August 2011
|
England
Cornish campers could have died in CO atmosphere
Timely intervention by fellow campers saved the lives of a family of 5
at Trevella Park camp site in Crantock, Cornwall, when carbon monoxide
fumes built up in their tent after a barbecue had been lit inside it.
Two men managed to pull the 2 adults and 3 children out of the tent as
they struggled in the CO atmosphere. The family was later released
from hospital after treatment for CO fumes.
31st August 2011
|
Scotland
Rail passenger severs arm in fall at Perth
A 21-year old rail passenger is listed in stable condition in hospital
in Dundee after slipping between the platform and train as he was
attempting to board a train at Perth station, his arm was amputated in
the accident. 30th
August 2011
|
Japan
Couple suffocate in unstable beach sand pit
A 23-year old couple died of suffocation when a 2.5-metre deep and
wide pit dug by them and 5 friends on the beach in Kahoku, Ishikawa,
became unstable and collapsed on them, police and rescuers took 45
minutes to dig them out by which time they had already suffocated.
30th August 2011
|
England
Yorks drag racer killed in 130mph crash
A 23-year old drag race driver died in a 130mph crash on Sunday when
he lost control of his 1966 Ford Mark 1 Cortina while participating in
an event at York Raceway, a racing strip on Old Melbourne Airfield,
Pocklington.
The HSE will be investigating the accident. 29th August 2011
|
England
Chemical leak at Northants foundry
Two employees at Omega Foundry Machinery Ltd's premises in
Peterborough were exposed to a quantity of what one account stated was
triethylamine which escaped during an incident on Friday morning.
The incident was attended by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service's
specialist hazardous materials team and the East of England Ambulance
Services’ hazardous area response team. Both men were assessed at the
scene but did not go to hospital.
29th August 2011
|
Scotland
Fishermen hospitalised in confined space accident
Three workers were airlifted from the Peterhead fishing boat Starlight
Rays working on guard duty in the Devenick oil field after apparently
being overcome by fumes in the engine room.
26th August 2011
|
England
Structural collapse at Telford school
A 30-metre long structural collapse occurred yesterday at the Abraham
Darby Academy in Telford injuring 5 construction workers, 4 of whom
sustained serious injuries.
26th August 2011
|
England
Greenkeeper's finger severed in ball-washing machine
At Leamington Magistrates' Court The Warwickshire Golf & Country Club
was fined £13,500, £8K in costs and £5K in compensation over an
accident last June at its Leek Wootton base where a greenkeeper lost
sections of fingers trying to clear a blockage in an industrial
ball-washing machine.
The Hungarian worker managed to disable a guard to access the
machine's belt and pulley system but his hand was drawn into rotating
parts and mangled. The club was found to have failed to take steps to
control the hazard of the guard being bypassed, and failed to provide
adequate health and safety information, instruction and training on
the safe use of the machine.
25th August 2011
|
Austria
Masonry drill penetrates worker's chest
A construction worker's masonry drill penetrated his chest after he
fell from a ladder at a site in Bruck, Pinzgau. He had been drilling
into a wall but when the drill stuck, he lost his balance while
extracting it and the drill fell on his chest. He was admitted to
hospital in Salzburg where his condition is unknown.
25th August 2011
|
England
Lancs theme park incident
It is reported that a 12-year old boy was airlifted to hospital after
he fell from the Excalibur 2 ride at the Camelot Theme Park in Chorley
yesterday afternoon.
24th August 2011
|
Scotland
Man injured in naval base explosion
A man was taken to hospital yesterday morning after he was very badly
injured in an explosion at the nuclear submarine base at Faslane. The
Ministry of Defence says the accident victim is a contractor.
24th August 2011
|
Austria
Worker falls from scaffold on mountain site
A 21-year old construction worker has been hospitalised in Salzburg
with severe head injuries after falling 10 metres from a scaffold on
Monday afternoon at the lift for the new Reiterkogel-Ost mountain
station in Saalbach. He was attempting to cross from one section to
another through an area of the scaffold without barriers.
23rd August 2011
|
Poland
Six died in separate plane crashes
Six people died in 2 separate aircraft crashes.
Two died in the crash of a light aircraft at Witowice Dolne as it was
flying to Krakow from an air display at Lososina Dolna.
The pilot, believed to have been the director of Aeroklub Krakowski,
and 3 girls died when a Cesna 182 struck a house in Nowa Huta, the
flight was only taking the girls on a brief circle before returning to
the airport. 23rd
August 2011
|
The Netherlands
Farmer killed in tractor rollover
A 68-year old farmer died in an accident on Sunday afternoon in Stijen
where his tractor and fully laden trailer overturned and he was pinned
under the vehicle in a water-filled ditch on Hoekseweg. 22nd August 2011
|
Japan
Life jackets could have
prevented drownings
Police in Shizuoka are considering filing a professional negligence
charge over a failure of a company to enforce the wearing of life
jackets following an accident in which 5 people drowned when a
12-metre long fibreglass boat overturned in rapids on the Tenryu
River.
Three more bodies were recovered from the river on Sunday, the boat,
operated by Tenryu Hamanako Railway, was carrying 2 rowers and 21
passengers. 22nd August 2011
|
England
Fatal accident at Wiltshire abattoir
The HSE is investigating a fatal accident at the abattoir premises of
F Drury & Sons Ltd in Tockenham, 3 miles southwest of Wootton Bassett,
Wiltshire, where a worker has died in an accident, details of which
have yet to be confirmed.
20th August 2011
|
England
Midlands machine operator injured
A machine operator was admitted to the specialist trauma centre of
Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Thursday with serious facial
injuries following an accident at industrial premises on Talbots Lane,
Brierley Hill, Dudley.
19th August 2011
|
Scotland
Workman dies at Tayside company
It is reported that a workman in his 30's died yesterday after
collapsing within a chemical tank. The incident occurred at the
premises of Diamond Wheels Technologies in Dryburgh Industrial
Estate, Dundee, where it repairs and refurbishes alloy vehicle wheels.
19th August 2011
|
England
Steering failure grounds coaster
It is speculated that steering failure caused the grounding
yesterday of the coaster vessel Mungo at the entrance of Littlehampton
Harbour, West Sussex.
The Shoreham RNLI lifeboat attended the incident in the mouth of the
River Arun, an attempt will be made today (Thursday) to refloat the
gravel-laden ship.
18th August 2011
|
England
Cumbrian farm quad bike accident
A 13-year old Cumbrian boy was admitted to Newcastle Royal Infirmary
after falling from a quad bike on farm land at Gilsland, Brampton, his
condition was listed as stable.
18th August 2011
|
Wales
Confined space accident kills camper
North Wales Police are not treating as suspicious the death of a
34-year old female holidaymaker who appears to have succumbed to
barbecue fumes in the confined space of a tent at a camping site in
Gyrn Goch, Gwynedd, her husband and 2 children were listed in
comfortable condition in hospital in Bangor.
17th
August 2011
|
England
Industrial accident at sugar factory
A worker was taken by air ambulance to a
hospital in Essex following an industrial accident in which he
suffered chemical burns, reported to be from sulphuric acid. The
incident occurred at British Sugar premises in Wissington, East
Anglia. His injuries require treatment in a specialist burns unit
rather than in a local hospital.
17th
August 2011
|
Serbia
3 killed in level crossing collision
Three car passengers were killed on Monday in a level crossing
accident as their vehicle was struck by a train travelling between
Kisac and Zmajevo, it is alleged that the car attempted to negotiate
the crossing after the barriers had descended.
16th August 2011
|
Australia
Victoria plane crash investigated
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating an aircraft
crash near Wallup in which 2 people died, a female survivor is listed
in critical condition in Royal Melbourne Hospital with head and chest
injuries. 16th
August 2011
|
Northern Ireland
30 injured in Belfast bus accident
An investigation was launched into an accident yesterday in which more
than 30 people were injured when a Translink bus mounted a pavement
and struck a wall and overturned near Central Station. It was unclear
whether the accident was attributable to mechanical problems or human
error. 15th August 2011
|
Northern Ireland
GAA ref collapses during hurling match
A GAA(Gaelic Athletic Association) match referee died in Coleraine
Hospital after becoming unwell and collapsing early in the second half
of a hurling match at which he was officiating in Swatragh, County
Londonderry. 15th August 2011
|
Scotland
Shetland diver treated for bends
A diver was airlifted from Bluemull Sound, Unst, to Aberdeen Royal
Infirmary on Thursday for treatment at the National Hyperbaric Centre
after experiencing decompression sickness during a dive from the Clive
Dive boat in Shetland.
12th August 2011
|
USA
Georgia lineman electrocuted
A Georgia Power Company lineman was electrocuted after contacting a
live power source during storm restoration work east of Brookfield.
12th August 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Tipperary training flight crash investigation
The Air Accident Investigation Unit is
studying an accident in Tipperary where a 2-seater Pegasus Quantum
microlight aircraft with a 4-stroke petrol engine crashed at Ballyduggan during a training flight, injuring a flying instructor and
his student. 11th
August 2011
|
England
Refuse driver jailed over pedestrian death
A 24-year old former Durham County Council
refuse worker received a 16-month jail sentence over an accident in
which a pedestrian died after being struck by a reversing bin van in
Front Street, Chester-le-Street, on May 19th last year.
At an earlier
hearing the driver had admitted causing death by careless driving, on
the basis of a momentary lapse of attention but the judge at Durham
Crown Court adjourned the case for trial of issue.
11th August 2011
|
England
Boy critically injured in petrol strimmer accident
The HSE has been informed of an accident
in which a 15-year old boy was badly burned while using a
petrol-powered strimmer in Egremont, he is listed as being in critical
condition in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle.
10th August 2011
|
England
Worker falls from Cheshire school roof
A building worker was admitted to the
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital with back injuries and a broken wrist after
falling 4 metres from the roof of Lakelands School in Ellesmere. 10th
August 2011
|
Austria
Karnten sawmill worker severs fingers
On Monday morning at a sawmill in
Lieserbrucke, Seeboden, a worker severed 3 fingers as he used his
left hand to position a post being cut with a band saw. 9th August 2011
|
Belgium
Care home fire
Night shift staff reacted promptly when
fire broke out early on Monday at the Den Akker care home for 36
handicapped patients on Montenakenweg, Sint-Truiden. No injuries
occurred although 7 patients were treated for smoke inhalation, the
fire is believed to have been caused by a faulty electrical
appliance. 9th August 2011
|
England
Demolition worker dies on Merseyside site
A subcontract demolition worker has died in an accident at the Sonae
plant on Knowsley Industrial Estate, Kirkby, Merseyside. It is
speculated that he may have inadvertently activated controls of a
cherry picker crane he was operating as he leaned across the cage,
which rose and struck a girder, inflicting crush injuries. He
subsequently fell 18 metres down into an abandoned building on the
site. 8th August 2011
|
England
Farmer lay under mower for 10 hours;
farmer killed in ATV accident
A man is recovering from multiple injuries after his ride-on mower
overturned on a slope and trapped him for around 10 hours before his
discovery. The incident occurred last weekend on the farm in Highampton, Devon, he received serious chemical burns from the petrol
which escaped and soaked him.
In Cumbria a man in his 30's died in an overturning ATV accident on a
farm in Marton on Friday evening.
8th August 2011
|
Belgium
Polish HGV driver crushed under raised tipper
A Polish lorry driver was killed yesterday in a crush accident
involving the hydraulic bed of his articulated lorry in Oostlaan,
Ardooie, West Flanders. He was attempting to deal with a technical
malfunction when the raised bed came down and crushed him.
5th August 2011
|
Austria
Worker dies in fall at unsafe site
A worker was killed in a 10-metre fall from a roof at the site of a
new gymnasium in Modling, police opened a case of death by negligence
after work inspectors arrived at the locus and found safety failings.
5th August 2011
|
Northern Ireland
Worker critically injured in fall at Larne factory
A contract worker was listed in critical condition in the Royal
Victoria Hospital, Belfast, after sustaining serious head injuries in
a 7-metre fall at the FG Wilson factory in Larne where a specialist
aerial assistance vehicle was needed to rescue him from mid-air
suspension in his safety harness.
4th August 2011
|
England
Crewman dies on Thames
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating an incident
in which a 19-year old crewman died after he fell from the Woolwich
Ferry yesterday morning. The ferry is understood to be operated by
Serco on behalf of Transport for London, one account speculates he may
have fallen whilst releasing mooring ropes and been struck by the
vessel's propellers.
4th August 2011
|
Italy
Demolition worker dies in 15m fall
A 56-year old Sicilian demolition worker died on Tuesday in a 15-metre
fall from the 4th floor level of the former Poiatti building in
Trapani, west Sicily, during demolition work, the accident occurred as
Bobcat equipment was active at the site on via Giovanni Falcone.
3rd August 2011
|
Spain
Navarra pensioner gored to death at bull run
An elderly spectator was gored to death by a bull during a bull run in
the streets of Lodosa, Navarre.
He was standing in the doorway of a building behind a timber barrier
which the bull breached, this was the 3rd such death in a week during
bull running in Spain.
3rd August 2011
|
England
Farm worker's leg badly broken in fall from trailer
A 45-year old Cumbrian agricultural worker is recovering from a
severely fractured tibia after falling from the back of a tractor
trailer in Hethersgill, north of Brampton.
2nd August 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Killarney farmer run over by tractor
The HSA has undertaken an investigation of a fatal accident at a farm
in Coolcuslough, Killarney, where a 66-year old farmer was run over by
his tractor after alighting from the vehicle.
Irish farming fatalities for 2011 now stand at 14.
2nd August 2011
|
England
HSE may investigate electric gate accident
The HSE is understood to be considering launching an official
investigation into an accident at the Rawsthorn Avenue development of
Bellway Homes in Gorton where a 7-year old girl's head became stuck in
electric-powered gates when a mechanism activated as she attempted to
squeeze through a gap between the gate and a post. Fire crews rescued
the girl from the gates which were provided by Italian company BFT who
supplied the gated security system.
1st August 2011
|
England
Emergency rescue from Holy Island sea causeway
An RAF helicopter was scrambled on Saturday to rescue a couple who
became stranded on the causeway between Holy Island and
Northumberland, it was thought that they had attempted to drive back
over the causeway 90 minutes after the time for safe passage had
elapsed. Seahouses RNLI lifeboat also attended the incident. 1st August 2011
|
|
England
Transport safety failure at recycling
yard
First Skips Ltd of Thornley Station Industrial Estate, Shotton
Colliery, has been prosecuted and fined £3,350 plus £3,528 in costs
having breached the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in
connection with an industrial accident on 8th October 2009 in which a
25-year old worker was seriously injured when he was reversed into by
a telescopic materials handler. The injured worker had been sorting
material by hand where the dry waste had been deposited, he fractured
his shoulder, a rib and 2 toes.
Peterlee Magistrates’ Court learned how, despite the activity of hand
sorting of recyclables near moving vehicles being a substantial part
of the company’s daily undertaking, it failed to enforce a safe
system of work which would have featured the segregation of vehicles
and pedestrians.
31st August 2011
|
Scotland
Dismantling operation had tragic
outcome
A 68-year old man died when he was crushed by part of a 7-tonne
excavator he was dismantling with a flame torch.
On 12th May 2008, the deceased was cutting bolts supporting the
machine's rear counterweight when the accident occurred, he had been
left to devise a method of work for the task.
The operation had not been properly risk assessed and planned by
Whiteinch Demolition Limited, leaving the worker without a safe
system of work. The court was told that any system provided by the
company would have had regard for the way that the large machine had
been assembled during its manufacture.
Whiteinch Demolition Ltd of
Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, admitted breaching S.2 of the Health and
Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 and was fined £15,000.
An HSE official commented: "This
incident was entirely foreseeable and could have easily been avoided.
If straightforward steps had been taken then the deceased would
undoubtedly be alive today."
31st August 2011
|
England
Two hurt in fairground accident
A 58-year old woman and her 4-year old granddaughter were injured on
Sunday afternoon when they were thrown from a log flume ride on the
seafront in Bridlington. The woman has since had her leg removed at
Hull Royal Infirmary.
One account describes how they were thrown out of the ride when it
jammed on its rails at a point where there would normally have been
water. 30th August
2011
|
Scotland
Large payout for toilet mishap
In June 2007, a female clerical assistant in her 60's fell from the
toilet bowl and sustained a severe foot and ankle injury as she
attempted to reach a window to ventilate the toilet cubicle she had
just used at Glasgow City Council's Kirkriggs School.
The employee, who was just over 5ft tall, had stood on the rim of the
bowl and it had toppled over. The window ring was at a height of 7ft
above floor level but no pole was provided for use in the cubicle to
open the window.
A previous finding at the Court of Session in Edinburgh determined
that no award in compensation was justified and she should have left
the window closed or gone to the janitor's office for a pole rather
than have attempted this hazardous manoeuvre.
The Pursuer maintained that the Defender (Glasgow City Council) had
breached their statutory duties under r.3 of the Management of Health
and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and r.15 of the Workplace (Health,
Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 in that had they carried out a
suitable and sufficient risk assessment, a window pole would have been
provided in the cubicle. There was a window pole in the school
janitor's office, but the appeal judges challenged the original
judgement's view of the reasonable practicability of the reclaimer
having to search out the janitor to get access to his office to obtain
the window pole, deeming it to be 'misconceived'.
On appeal, 3 judges determined that Glasgow City Council were in
breach of the Workplace Regulations. Damages were assessed at £31,800
but confirmed that the Pursuer was 50% at fault and reduced the award
on the basis of her contributory negligence.
30th August 2011
|
England
Suspended prison sentence over site death
A self-employed roofing contractor has
been prosecuted in connection with the death of a friend who was
helping him replace the flat roof of a domestic garage in Stock, Essex,
during June 2009. The deceased, aged 58, suffered a stroke and fell
between rafters and landed on the floor, sustaining multiple injuries
and
succumbing 3 weeks later.
The roofing contractor failed to properly consider the risks of the
job and proceeded without guard-rails around the edge of the roof or
measures to prevent anyone falling through it.
He received an 8-month
prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and must meet £500 costs
having breached S.3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
29th August 2011
|
Wales
Farming death
It is reported that a farmer in his 70's has died following an
accident involving a quad bike.
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at Ffynnonddrain,
just north of Carmarthen.
29th August 2011
|
England
Bakery and manager fined after death
fall
A London bakery and its manager have been fined at the City of London
Magistrates' Court following an HSE investigation of a fatal accident
in April 2009 in which a casually engaged handyman sustained head
injuries in a fall from a stepladder. The deceased was engaged by the
site manager to build shelving in the store room using a stepladder,
tools and materials provided by the company, Ovenpride Wholesale Ltd,
of Empire Way, Brent. He was discovered lying on the floor with a
severe head wound from which he succumbed several weeks later. A
stepladder deemed to be in very poor condition was removed from
the bakery by HSE inspectors.
An HSE official explained: "The consequences of this tragic incident
will be felt by the deceased's family for ever but it was so easily
preventable. As the risk of a fall was foreseeable, Ovenpride and its
manager should have carried out a full site-specific risk assessment
and planned and organised the work to be carried out in a safe manner.
Where access to heights is required, even for relatively short term
work, they are ultimately responsible for assessing and planning the
work and ensuring that it is carried out in a safe manner using
suitable access equipment."
Ovenpride Wholesale Ltd admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health &
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined a total of £300 plus costs
of £200. The manager pleaded guilty to breaching the same Act
and was fined £1.
26th August 2011
|
England
Hotel had inadequate fire precautions
A former hotel manager has been fined £3,000 with £2,000 costs
for his failure to comply with an enforcement notice issued by
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Authority. It related to the Kedleston
Country House Hotel near Derby, which the authority deemed to have
inadequate means of escape, including inadequate emergency lighting
and inadequate fire doors.
The authority granted 2 extensions to complete the work ordered under
the Enforcement Notice, but it deemed fire safety at the hotel to be
inadequate.
The hotel is under new management and is currently closed pending
refurbishment, a spokesman for from Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service
commented: "People who own and manage hotels are under a high duty of
care to their guests. This is because those staying there are
unfamiliar with the layout of the hotel and will be entirely reliant
on the fire safety measures provided by the owners and operators to
make sure that they can get out safely in the event of a fire."
26th August 2011
|
England
Worker 'serious' in hospital after
accident
A construction worker in his 50's is being treated for serious
injuries following an industrial accident at Biffa's Brookhurst Wood
site in Horsham, Sussex, last Friday.
One account states he was crushed by a steel section.
25th August 2011
|
England
HSE asked to look at breakdown
equipment
A Coroner is to ask the HSE to consider the need for longer jump leads
or alternative equipment to enable breakdown and recovery personnel to
operate more safely.
The Coroner is to make the recommendation following the inquest into
the death in 2008 of a 58-year old breakdown industry worker who was
killed on the road near Ringwood, Hampshire, when a passing motorist
struck the vehicle he was working on. He had taken up a position
between the 2 vehicles in order to apply jump leads and he could not
place his vehicle in the preferred position some way behind the car he
was working on.
A verdict of unlawful killing was arrived at.
25th August 2011
|
England
Risk assessment not good enough to
prevent accident
Fertiliser Solutions Ltd of Dawson’s Wharf, Middlesbrough, has been
prosecuted and fined a total of £10,500 plus £12,411 costs following
an industrial accident on 29th April 2008. A 32-year old employee was
struck and injured by a 0.6 tonne bag of nitrate that fell from a
stack, inflicting multiple injuries which have prevented him from
returning to work. The injured man was hooking fallen bags onto the
arms of a forklift truck as a colleague swept up spillage close to a
remaining stack of bags which was 3 high and he noticed that 2 bags on
the third layer were leaning to one side just before one fell from the
third level.
An HSE official advised that although the company had a risk
assessment for the bag store, which had identified bags falling from
the stacks as a hazard, the control measures were too generic and made
no reference to any safe working procedures.
She commented: "Had the 2 bags that remained on the third layer of the
stack, and which were seen ‘leaning’, been removed with a forklift
truck before allowing workers into the area to clear up the spilled
product, the worker would not have been injured. The incident
highlights the importance for all companies in the fertiliser industry
to ensure that they have effective arrangements in place for the safe
stacking and de-stacking of fertiliser bags and for dealing with bag
falls from stacks."
Fertiliser Solutions admitted breaching S.2(1) the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974 and a breach of r.3(1)(a) Management of Health
and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
24th August 2011
|
Wales
Trampoline user injures back
A 40-year old man was airlifted to hospital on Monday afternoon after
he sustained a spinal injury at the Quay West holiday park in New
Quay, Ceredigion. He was using a trampoline at the time of the
accident, his condition is unreported.
24th August 2011
|
Scotland
Worker run over twice
A worker was twice run over by a forklift at a construction supply
company's warehouse in Livingston. The operator driver was unaware
that 2 other employees were in the warehouse and as he advanced his
truck a few metres he became aware of a colleague shouting and
indicating to him to reverse. Having just run over another colleague's
leg he then reversed the truck over his leg again. The accident victim
now lives with constant pain.
The forklift truck had its load, a large metal coil, supported on its
forks which were raised and this restricted the operator's view. No
arrangements were established to separate pedestrians from vehicles
operated by 2 companies which shared that part of the site. No
employee training on transport issues had been carried out and no
high-visibility garments for use in the warehouse were issued.
An HSE official commented: "This incident was entirely foreseeable.
The company failed to carry out a risk assessment for the movement of
vehicles and segregation of pedestrians from traffic or put in place a
workplace transport plan. Coupled with the lack of training and poor
work practices this led to the serious injuries sustained by the
employee. After the incident, corrective measures including barriers,
walkways and high-visibility garments were put in place and employees
received training."
SIG Trading Limited of Sheffield admitted breaching S.2 of the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £36,000.
23rd August 2011
|
Scotland
Spectator injured at Fife
airfield track
A spectator who took to the
track in his vehicle following a motor sports event at Crail Airfield
is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after it overturned on
Sunday afternoon.
23rd August 2011
|
England
Confusion led to chemical burn at
engineers
Despite a company's resolution to ban a hazardous substance from its
premises, a management failure to ensure this was done permitted the risk from
the substance to be realised in an accident in which a teenage
employee suffered chemical burns to his face and an eye.
At Moughton Engineering of Great Yarmouth during October 2010 the
young worker was instructed to apply pickling paste to some stainless
steel tanks and proceeded to do so unsupervised. As he did so the tub
of paste, which is highly acidic, fell from his grasp, some of its
contents splashing onto his face and into his eye, resulting in severe
burns.
Investigation established that the teenager was unaware of the
hazardous nature of pickling paste and should not have been using it,
Moughton had previously banned the product's use and replaced it with
a safer electrode-based cleaning system. Nevertheless a quantity was
later purchased and management became aware of this and stopped its
use but failed to ensure it was removed from site and this was
subsequently given to the teenager by a welder colleague unaware of
the ban.
The company lacked an effective management system, putting it in
breach of S.2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for
which it was fined £6,000 plus costs of £4,846.
22nd August 2011
|
England
Kent bus collides with crane's load
Passengers escaped with only one minor injury when a bus collided with
steel reinforcement being lifted by a tower crane on to a building
site on Jubilee Way outside Sidcup railway station on Thursday
afternoon. The 7-year old passenger who sustained a minor cut was on
the upper deck when the glass window was smashed in an accident that had
the potential for a more serious outcome.
22nd August 2011
|
Scotland
Simple steps could have avoided
death
An HSE inspector has said that had a meat processing company taken
simple steps to keep their employees safe, a man who died in an
industrial accident on 2nd June 2009 would be alive today.
The 60-year old was walking across Vion Foods Scotland Ltd's yard in
Broxburn, West Lothian, when he was struck and run over by a forklift
truck carrying 2 containers which partly obscured the driver's forward
view.
Vion had not properly assessed the risks of moving the containers
around the yard or made arrangements to make sure the containers were
moved in a safe way. There was no safe traffic management system or
adequate supervision to separate pedestrians and vehicles.
At Livingston Sheriff Court Vion
Food Scotland Limited of Kirkton Campus, Livingston, admitted
breaching S.2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was
fined £100,000.
The Vion Food Group had a turnover of €8.9m in 2010. Vion UK employs
14,000 people throughout the country.
19th August 2011
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England
Investigation into Sheffield factory
death
A worker, aged 47, was killed in an industrial accident on Wednesday
afternoon in Sheffield. The incident is reported to have involved
movement of metal at the premises of ATI Allvac Ltd on the city's
Carlisle Street. The company supplies special steels and alloys.
19th August 2011
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Northern Ireland
Accidental death of farmer
An inquest in County Tyrone has
determined a verdict of accidental death after considering the
circumstances of the death of a 59-year old farmer who fell 2.6 metres
from the top of bales of hay stacked in a shed on a farm in Strabane.
It was the deceased's usual method of work to bring them to the ground
by using a ladder to access the hay bales and then rocking them over.
Although machines could, in the interests of safety, be better used to
accomplish this task, not all farmers can justify the expense.
18th August 2011
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England
Circular saw severed operative's thumb
A 20-year-old production
operative lost part of his thumb while cutting insulation foam on a
table-mounted circular saw. He did so as he removed the guard because
the height adjustment mechanism on the saw was broken. Another factor
in the accident was that the table saw was not big enough to
adequately support the foam. This meant he had to support the foam
with his hands rather than using a push-stick.
Employer Kestrel Timber Frame Ltd of Bourne, Lincolnshire, admitted
breaching S.(2)1 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and
was fined £6,700 plus costs of £4,117.
18th August 2011
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England
Firm deployed workers on roof without
fall protection
Rainsafe Protect Ltd has been prosecuted and fined for placing its
employees at unnecessary risk of falling from a sloping roof which
they were pressure washing in Bebington, Cheshire, during March 2010.
No safety barriers or scaffolding had been put up around the edge of
the roof, this despite the company having been advised about working
at height by HSE on 4 occasions during the previous month.
Rainsafe Protect Ltd of Liverpool admitted breaching the Work at
Height Regulations 2005 having failed to make sure the work was
planned and carried out safely. It was fined £2,000 plus £2,069 in
prosecution costs.
17th
August 2011
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England
Confectioners PUWER breach
Tangerine Confectionery Ltd of Blackpool has pleaded guilty to a
breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
after it failed to make sure one of its machines stopped operating
when the guard was not in place. The prosecution arose from an
industrial accident at its site in the town in September 2008. An
employee, attempting to clear a blockage, removed a guard and severed
his index finger, after gaining access to rotating parts while
the power was on.
Tangerine Confectionery was fined £3,400 plus £4,568 costs. Surgeons
could not reattach the employee's finger.
17th
August 2011
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England
Fatal industrial accident in Lancs
It is reported that a man has died following an industrial accident at
the Scout Moor quarry in Edenfield. One account states that the
accident, which occurred yesterday morning, involved an overturning
crane.
16th August 2011
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Scotland
Serious accident revealed host
of safety failings
A worker sustained serious crush injuries when standing between
2 skips at the Lowmac Alloys Ltd recycling centre in Ayr. A shovel
loader hit one of the skips pushing it towards the other and crushing
him, leaving him with life-changing injuries.
HSE investigation revealed that traffic management had not been
adequately assessed, the operators worked without a safe system of
work or markings and barriers to separate traffic from pedestrians.
The shovel loader was too big for the area where it was operating and
the drivers had never been formally trained and were not adequately
supervised. The employees reported that the toilet was so filthy they
preferred to urinate elsewhere and this was why the accident victim
moved between the skips.
Lowmac Alloys Ltd of Ayr, admitted
breaching S.2 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 and was
fined £80,000. 16th
August 2011
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England
Antennae installer lacked equipment
A satellite TV installation company has been prosecuted in connection
with the death of a 29-year old engineer employee who succumbed
to head injuries after falling nearly 14 metres from the roof of a
flatted residential property in Belsize Park, London.
Investigation could not establish exactly from which position he fell,
from a flat roof or sloping. HSE officials observed that he lacked
suitable equipment for the type of work involved. HSE also took issue
with the deceased's recruitment and supervision, Foxtel Ltd had not
planned, organised and monitored him, and had not sought references or
evidence of competence.
Foxtel Ltd of Brentwood, Essex, admitted breaching S.2(1) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and, now without assets, was
fined £1. 15th
August 2011
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England
Meat mixing machine was unguarded
An employee of Tulip Ltd, of Warwick Technology Park, Warwick, severed
2 fingers as he reached into the bowl of an unguarded mixer to
retrieve a foreign body while working at its Ruskington premises in
December 2009. Other mixers there had electrically locked gates at the
top of a set of access steps, and if gates had been in place on this
mixer they would have prevented the paddles inside the machine from
turning as the seasoning was added. A company risk assessment months
earlier had identified the danger but was not acted upon.
Tulip admitted breaching r.11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £16,000 plus costs of £4,076.
An HSE official commented: "This incident was entirely foreseeable and
easily preventable. The risk could have been removed at no cost to the
company by removing the access steps and only using the machine for
tasks that did not require feeding from the top. Alternatively they
could have provided a new set of locked steps at a cost of £960.
Unfortunately, a much larger price has been paid, not least by their
employee. This case shows that risk assessments are not just about
producing pieces of paper. Employers have a duty to act on their
findings. If Tulip had taken prompt action at the time, this incident
would not have happened."
15th August 2011
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England
Crewman feared drowned in Thames tug sinking
The search for a crewman missing in the River Thames from the
Gravesend-based tug Chieftain was called off on Friday evening, the
Chieftain sank rapidly late on Friday morning at Convoys Wharf,
Deptford, as it worked with another tug taking the Skyline Barge 19
along the river from St George's Wharf in Vauxhall. London coastguard
at Woolwich co-ordinated the search, it is speculated that a collision
with a buoy may have precipitated the accident. 13th
August 2011
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England
Man killed by masonry
A man in his 20's has been killed after being struck by falling
masonry on Wednesday evening outside a restaurant in Battersea Rise,
Battersea. 12th
August 2011
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England
Company's casual attitude to
contractors
A company who never asked a contractor for method statements and risk
assessments has been prosecuted after the 67-year old worker fell
through the fragile roof of its premises as he fixed a leak. The
contractor was permitted to work on the section of the roof without
anything in place to prevent him falling.
Engineers Lupton and Place Ltd,
which produces parts for the automotive, defence and electronics
industries, admitted breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work
etc Act 1974 and was fined £6,000 plus £6,250 in prosecution costs.
The accident victim escaped major injury because he landed on a
machine cover. 12th
August 2011
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England
Heavy rains trap group in Yorks cave
A group of 11 Lancashire cavers,
comprising of 3 adults and 8 teenagers, became trapped by rising water
on Wednesday in the Lower Long Churn cave in the Ingleton area of the
Yorkshire Dales and after waiting for a few hours for the water to
subside they were led out by the Cave Rescue Organisation.
11th
August 2011
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England
Chemical incident in High Wycombe
Two workmen were taken to hospital yesterday morning following an
incident in which they were exposed to chlorine dioxide at the Pann
Mill water treatment works in High Wycombe. One report stated that
several other people were attended to by paramedics.
A statement by Thames Water explains that the gas was generated when
the workmen, employed by contractors, mixed two disinfecting chemicals
in error.
The A40 was closed for several hours during the emergency, as
were other roads nearby.
11th August 2011
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England
3 companies responsible for asbestos
failure
An improperly conducted office refurbishment project in Colmore Row,
Birmingham, resulted in prosecutions for the building owner, its
project manager and its contractor.
Lift engineers discovered asbestos-containing insulating board in the
lift shaft area and declined to work. After HSE officials became
involved they prohibited entry to the building, which had significant
asbestos fibre readings, until after it had been decontaminated.
Vacuum cleaners were also contaminated as was the contractor's van.
Evanacre Colmore Row Ltd of Droitwich pleaded guilty today
to breaching r.11(1)(a) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations
2006 and was fined £7,000 plus £1,500 costs.
Marchment Consulting Ltd of Droitwich, pleaded guilty to breaching
r.11(1)(a) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and was
fined £7,000 with £1,500 costs.
Roland Morewood of Birmingham, admitted breaching r.8(1) and 16 of the
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and was fined £1,000 and ordered
to pay £823 costs.
An HSE official commented: "Evanacre
Colmore Row had an asbestos survey which clearly showed that asbestos
was present in the lift. Marchment Consulting, which has expertise in
building work, should have known how to deal with asbestos and
materials containing its fibres in refurbishment projects. These
companies decided not to use a licensed contractor to remove the
asbestos insulating board but to get the work done over a weekend by
an unlicensed contractor for a tenth of the cost. It is against the
law for anyone to remove asbestos insulating board without a licence.
Roland Morewood should never have carried out the work and did not
take enough precautions to prevent the spread of asbestos fibres.
Asbestos fibres were found to be at significant levels and if the
alarm had not been raised, it is likely that people working on the
refurbishment and office workers would have been breathing these
fibres for some time."
11th August 2011
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Scotland
Scorpion stings shop worker
A shop worker at the Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, branch of Farmfoods
spent overnight in hospital after he was stung by a scorpion in
a box of Colombian bananas.
He is recovering at home after his Monday afternoon encounter with the
scorpion which is being identified by the SSPCA.
10th August 2011
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England
Propped lorry cab fell on worker
A 60-year old technician conducting a vehicle check became trapped
when the prop supporting its cab failed, allowing it to fall on him. He
fractured his ribs and was trapped for 10 minutes at his employers
premises in Martlesham, Suffolk.
Orwell Trucks, trading as Orwell
Truck and Van, of Martlesham, admitted breaching S.2(1) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £4,500 plus costs
of £2,726.
An HSE official commented: "Orwell Trucks did identify the risks
facing their employees and how to prevent things going wrong. But it
did not make sure that they had the necessary information or that they
were properly trained. Nor were the measures needed to avoid injury
monitored or enforced by supervisors. The injury could have been
foreseen and prevented. And it all could have been much worse: there
are cases of people having been killed by falling vehicle cabs."
10th August 2011
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Croatia
UK skipper fined over yacht incident
The Mancunian skipper of the Virgin
Islands-registered yacht Kai, owned by Genu Marine Ventures, was fined
10K kuna(£1,166) over an accident in the harbour at Hvar where 5
yachts were damaged and 2 people were injured.
The Kai, with a crew of
11 and 13 passengers, had berthed but the engine had inadvertently
been left on and the yacht broke free from its moorings and struck the
other boats. 9th August 2011
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England
Forklift truck death was misadventure
A man died last August following a forklift truck accident at Cammell
Laird shipyard in Birkenhead. He was moving a load when he leaned out
of the truck as he reversed and crashed into a steel section. No
defect in the truck that would have contributed to the accident was
discovered, although the company had no record of the deceased having
undergone formal training in the use of the truck.
The inquest jury determined death by misadventure.
9th August 2011
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England
Brewer had 2 industrial accidents
Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) Ltd of Burton-on-Trent experienced
2 serious industrial accidents at its Station Street premises over a
6-week period in 2008.
On 20th May 2008, a 64-year old delivery driver arrived at the site to
unload a trailer of empty cans, and as he walked along the lines in
the canning hall to find a space to deliver his load he was struck by
a forklift truck, fracturing his foot and left wrist. Approximately 6
months previously an HSE official had visited the site and alerted the
company to shortcomings in the safety of their workplace transport
system but nothing was done to remedy this. Molson Coors admitted
breaching S.2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and
r.3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
for which it was fined £31,000 with £33,042 costs.
The second industrial accident occurred on 30th June when several
thousand litres of caustic soda solution escaped from a pipeline, some
of it spraying out from a faulty valve that 3 maintenance contractor
employees were repairing, causing injuries ranging from temporary
blindness and 25% burns to scars and continuing skin sensitivity.
Their personal protective equipment was inadequate, they had visors
but the overalls provided by the company permitted the caustic
chemical to soak through. Investigation further revealed that the men
were inadequately instructed, an HSE official commented: "All
companies must manage contractors properly and make sure that they are
following health and safety procedures. They must also carry out
proper risk assessments for any work that contractors are required to
carry out." Molson Coors admitted breaching S.3 of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £14,000 plus £43,674 costs.
8th August 2011
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England
Worker entered machine enclosure
A production line worker, who was able to gain access to equipment
through a defective interlocked gate in a 2-metre high perimeter fence
surrounding it, was seriously injured when it started up as he freed a
blockage. Investigation revealed the gate had been interfered with and
tied open, and frequent jamming meant workers regularly passed the
gate rather than stopping and isolating the machine.
The production line at Euro Clad Ltd in Wentloog produces roof panels,
and on 19th April 2009 the machine that positions wooden blocks
beneath packs of roof panels jammed in the machinery. The accident
victim entered the enclosure with the machine in automatic mode and
reached under it to reach the jammed bearers and free them. However,
once the blockage was removed, the machinery started up again and
crushed his wrist between the bearer and the base frame.
Euro Clad Ltd breached r.11(3) of the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £20,000 plus £6,000 costs.
8th August 2011
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England
Man lost fingers to unguarded bandsaw
Derek Parnaby Cyclones
International Ltd of Chilton Industrial Estate, Chilton, has been
fined a total of £10,500 plus £3,266 costs having breached the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and r.11(1)(a) the Provision and Use
of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 in the circumstances of an
industrial accident in which a contractor severed 3 fingers while
using an unguarded horizontal cutting bandsaw. The injured man's
company has ceased trading as he has been unable to return to work.
Despite prior warning from HSE, the company had allowed its employees
to operate another horizontal metal cutting bandsaw without the
required adjustable blade guard since 2008.
An HSE official commented ".. the bandsaw used had been in use without
a suitable guard for some months while a second saw had been
identified by inspectors as having no guard in place some 2 years
earlier. However, despite this warning, the company failed to take any
action putting its workers at risk of injury."
5th August 2011
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England
Printer used press without guard in
place
An HSE accident investigation conducted at an Ipswich printers found a
fixed guard that would have prevented access to the underside of a
machine had been removed. The guard, had it been in place, would have
prevented an industrial accident on 10th September 2010 in which an
employee fractured his index finger, lost his middle finger to its
first joint and lost the nail and a section of his ring finger.
The accident occurred when the employee attempted to clear a blockage
from underneath a conveyor belt on the stacking machine, his right
hand got caught in its toothed cogs. HSE officials also found around
20 other guards and safety devices on machines around the factory were
missing or disabled. The accident victim required 7 months absence
from work as a result of his injuries.
Employer Ancient House Press plc of Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate,
Ipswich, admitted breaching r.11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations for which it was fined £7,500 with £8,272 costs.
An HSE inspector commented: "The fixed guard would have prevented
access to the dangerous moving parts of the machine while it was
running, and looked as if it had been missing for several weeks, if
not months. An interlock device that should have turned off the
conveyor when the fixed guard was opened had been overridden, which
left the machine running with no guard in place. Had the interlock
been working, opening the fixed guard would have turned the belt off
and prevented the injury. These machines come complete with many
safety features as standard and these must be used to ensure accidents
like this do not happen."
5th August 2011
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England
Worker falls in to ship's hold
A man has spinal injuries after falling in to the hold of a grain ship
moored at Southampton's eastern docks.
The accident occurred during the early hours of yesterday, HSE and the
MCA are investigating.
4th August 2011
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England
Method statement was ignored
A decision not to follow all the requirements of a method statement in
respect of fall prevention on a roofing project permitted a man to
fall 6 metres through a fragile roof and sustain serious back
injuries.
The injured 23-year old self-employed
roofer was working through a subcontract with Mechanical Solutions Ltd
of Mansfield which was engaged by the building’s owners to help cover
the asbestos cement roof with steel cladding. He fell on 16th June
2009, his first day on the site in Somercotes, Derbyshire.
The method statement required harnesses at unprotected edges with
skylights and openings protected, but investigation found
no provision had been made for use
of harnesses, and no evidence of protection at the openings and
skylights. Guardrails for access boards used to move about the main
asbestos cement roof were either missing or incomplete and there was
also no safety protection underneath such as netting.
An HSE official commented: "The company fell far short of the expected
standard in the system of work. There was inadequate risk assessment,
instruction and supervision."
Mechanical Solutions Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching r.4(1) of the
Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £10,000 plus full costs
of £5,366.
4th August 2011
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Scotland
Chemical incident at hospital
An incident involving exposure to formaldehyde occurred yesterday
afternoon within the pathology department of Edinburgh's Western
General Hospital, 2 persons were potentially placed at risk.
3rd August 2011
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England
Employee injured
It is reported that a worker was taken to hospital for treatment for
burns following an electrical incident yesterday morning at the
premises of Gurit (UK) Ltd in the St Cross Business Park, Newport,
Isle of Wight.
3rd August 2011
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England
Work should have awaited risk
assessment
An attempt in July 2008 at a Sheffield factory to unload a 5-tonne
crate from a container using a 4-tonne capacity forklift truck ended
in tragedy after a worker climbed on the back of a forklift truck to
unhook a chain from a corner of the container. The forklift reversed
too far and tilted up over the lip of the container, trapping him
against the roof, inflicting fatal injuries.
Following the abandonment of an initial attempt to lift the crate, the
site manager left to carry out a risk assessment and devise a safe way
of getting the container from the lorry to the ground. In his absence,
the workers made more unsafe and unsuccessful attempts before managing
to drag it from the container using the forklift. A similar attempt to
drag a second container from further inside was stopped as the wooden
crate could be heard to be cracking. It was at this point that the
deceased stood on the back of the forklift and the accident occurred.
Employer DavyMarkham Ltd of Sheffield admitted breaching S(2)(1)
of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which it was fined a
total of £33,333 with £49,247 in costs.
2nd August 2011
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England
Worker 'hurt for no good reason'
Tufnells Parcels Express Ltd of Sheffield has admitted breaching
S.2.(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and been fined
£150,000 plus costs of £19,000 in connection with an industrial
accident at its West Horndon, Essex, depot.
On 23rd March 2010, a 22-year old nightshift warehouse porter watched
an HGV reverse into a loading bay, but the trailer was not straight,
and to enable him to shout to the driver he put his head around the
back of the trailer. The trailer moved backwards and trapped his head
and fractured his skull.
Examination of the facts surrounding the accident led HSE to take the
view that Tufnells had not assessed, controlled, or properly managed
the risks arising from vehicle and equipment movements and had
failed to provide a safe system of work.
An HSE official commented: "Working with moving vehicles is a high
risk activity which causes significant numbers of major and fatal
injuries every year in this country. Tufnells is well aware of these
risks and this horrific incident in which a young man could have lost
his life would have been avoided had the company’s senior management
ensured such risks were properly managed in all of its depots.
This firm could have put in place a physical separation between the
porters, moving vehicles and the loading bays and a safe way for
porters and drivers to communicate with each other. None of these
measures were evident and so a worker was seriously hurt for no good
reason."
2nd August 2011
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Wales
Goalposts death
A 12-year old boy has been
killed after goalposts fell on him at a recreation ground in Caersws,
Dyfed-Powys. 1st
August 2011
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England
Work planning failure permitted death
A fatal accident in which a man fell from a wall as he worked on
CCTV cameras above the M5 could have been prevented but for major
failings in the way his work was planned, says the HSE.
An HSE official commented after the deceased's employer, Serco Ltd of
Hook, Hampshire, and principal contractor, Birse Civils Ltd of
Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, were prosecuted for failing to protect him as he worked at the site near Junction 20 Northbound, between Clevedon and Gordano, during January 2006. He had not been warned of
the 12-metre drop before he fell off the wall into bushes.
Serco Ltd admitted breaching r.4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations
2005 and r.11(i)(a) of the Management of Health & Safety at Work
Regulations 1999 for which it was fined a total of £200,000 plus costs
of £36,186.
Birse Civils Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching r.11(i)(a) of the
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and was fined
£100,000 with costs of £180,093.
The companies had also failed to cooperate with each other to make
sure workers at the site were not placed in danger.
1st August 2011
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