Cyprus
Fatal legionnaires’ outbreak
afflicts maternity unit
The Cypriot Health Ministry has indicated that initial tests confirm
that legionella bacteria has been detected at a private hospital on
the island and has led to the closure of its maternity unit where a
newborn baby died on Tuesday, 9 others are ill with one baby already
listed in critical condition.
31st December 2008.
|
India
Student pilot handles technical
emergency
A trainee pilot of the Indira Ghandi National Aviation Academy landed
a 4-seater T20 light aircraft safely this week after it developed
technical problems 15 minutes into flight from Birsi Airport, Gondia,
Maharashtra, he brought it down at the village of Lanji, 50 miles
away, sustaining only minor injuries in the process.
31st December 2008.
|
China
Furnace explosion kills 17 at
Hebei steel works
The number of fatalities in the blast furnace explosion at the Ganglu
Iron & Steel Co plant in Zunhua, Hebei, has risen to 17, with 27 other
workers being treated for injuries. A gas explosion occurred when a
ventilation panel on the furnace's gravity dust filter burst, on
Monday the Chinese Administration of Work Safety was stressing that
work safety inspections and safety audits should be increased at such
premises. 30th
December 2008.
|
Iceland
Equine salmonella infection
linked to sedimentation water
A significant outbreak of salmonella infection has killed more than 20
horses at stables in Mossfellsbaer, 10 miles north of Reykjavik, and
Kjalarnes, it is thought that the source may be a sedimentation lake
at the pasturage, the scale of the incident has taken the authorities
by surprise. 30th
December 2008.
|
Australia
Nursery farmer's son killed in
fall from tractor
A nursery farmer's son was killed in a tractor accident at the weekend
on a tomato nursery at Lower Tent Hill, 30 miles west of Brisbane. It
appears that the 4-year old Vietnamese boy was riding as a passenger
on his father's tractor when he fell into grass cutting equipment
being drawn at the rear. Department of Employment guidelines urge that
passengers should only travel on tractors in cases of extreme
emergency or where training is being undertaken.
29th December 2008.
|
France
Psychiatric hospital absconders
detained
Police in Marseille have caught the second patient who had absconded
from the Edouard-Toulouse psychiatric hospital from where 2 patients
escaped late on Friday, the second patient, who had previously been in
Baumettes prison, was detained in north Marseille on Sunday.
29th December 2008.
|
USA
Forklift accident in Californian
company's car park
A fatal accident occurred on Wednesday in the car park of ANG
Automotive on West 17th Street, Costa Mesa, southern California, where
a person was either knocked over or crushed against another vehicle by
a forklift truck.
25th December 2008.
|
Bulgaria
Rail staff charged over sleeper
train fire
The State Prosecutor's Office in Pleven has announced that 2 employees
of Bulgarian State Railways are to face charges of negligence in
connection with the fire on a Sofia-Kardam sleeper train in
February in which 9 people died.
25th December 2008.
|
Singapore
173 passengers in 6-hour ferris
wheel ordeal
The Singapore Flyer ferris wheel experienced a technical breakdown
which saw most of its 173 passengers stranded for 6-hour period in its
28 gondolas, around a dozen were able to escape by harness from the
lower capsules.
The 165-metre high wheel is the world's tallest and has stalled on a
couple of occasions since its inauguration in February.
24th December 2008.
|
England
Unwell passenger airlifted from
Bay of Biscay ferry
A Sea King helicopter was summoned yesterday to airlift a 78-year old
heart-attack victim from the Bretagne ferry of Brittany Ferries which
was 30 miles off the south coast during its voyage from Santander to
Plymouth. 24th
December 2008.
|
Latvia
LDz goods train in SPAD accident
A SPAD (signal passed at danger) incident is speculated as the cause
of the weekend crash in which a fuel-laden goods train from Jelgava
collided with a stationary train in Ventspils No. 2 station, the fuel
caused a major blaze and claimed the lives of 2 engineers, believed to
be employees of Latvijas Dzelzcels(LDz).
23rd December 2008.
|
France
Londonderry boy drowns in hotel
pool
Police are investigating the drowning of a 5-year old Londonderry boy
who was on a holiday visit to Disneyland Paris when he drowned in the
pool of the nearby Explorers Hotel. Prior to the accident he was last
sighted in a play area on the ground floor.
23rd December 2008.
|
Pakistan
Fears for missing under Gakhar Plaza rubble
There are fears that more persons may still be missing under the
rubble of the collapse at the Gakhar Plaza, Rawalpindi, where 10
people are known to have died and a further 59 were injured. At least
2 firemen died in the accident as they fought to control the blaze at
the 6-storey building which houses hundreds of commercial units, many
with large stocks of textiles.
22nd December 2008.
|
Italy
Croatian politician killed in ski accident
The Croatian Deputy Defence Minister was killed in a weekend skiing
accident at Cortina d'Ampezzo, northern Italy, where he was skiing
with a circle of friends from the Zagreb Rotary Club. The 47-year old
army general is thought to have collided with another skier and
sustained head injuries, and was transferred by helicopter to Belluno
for surgery.
22nd December 2008.
|
Australia
Transport accident at Victoria
fruit and veg farm
WorkSafe Victoria is now investigating the death yesterday of a
vegetable harvester killed by a reversing lorry at premises in
Werribee South, on the coast 20 miles southwest of Melbourne.
Yesterday proved a busy day for the department who were also informed
of an accident in which 2 workers were seriously injured in a
6-metre fall from a mobile elevating work platform(MEWP), and a crush
accident during the unloading of steel from a lorry which saw a worker
have 4 fingers crushed and another amputated.
19th December 2008.
|
USA
Californian mechanic killed in
helicopter blowover
Strong gusting winds appear to have led to a helicopter blowing over
on Wednesday in the Bouquet Canyon area of Santa Clarita, north of Los
Angeles, killing a mechanic and injuring another worker, the 5-year
old helicopter was built by Kaman Aerospace and deployed in industrial
lifting work and firefighting.
18th December 2008.
|
Australia
Gas explosion at Queensland meat
manufacturing plant
Queensland Workplace Health and Safety was alerted to a gas explosion
on Wednesday at a meat manufacturing plant on Mulgrave Street in Gin
Gin which saw a teenage worker sustain upper body burns.
18th December 2008.
|
Israel
25 Russian travel agents killed
in Arava coach crash
At least 25 people, representatives of 5 St Petersburg travel agencies
on field research, were killed on Tuesday when their coach came off a
narrow road in the Arava desert area as it headed towards Eilat, a
further 28 persons were injured, a dozen are listed in serious
condition. The trip was organised by Israeli agency, Travelux, for the
representatives to visit potential holiday locations. Initial
speculation alleges that the coach may have been overtaking in a
restricted passing zone.
17th December 2008.
|
Australia
Embankment subsidence led to
tractor rollover accident
Queensland Workplace Health & Safety is investigating a fatal tractor
rollover accident which killed the driver preparing for weed spraying
work at Lindemans Road, Moore Park Beach. He was reversing his vehicle
to tackle an area beside a railway embankment when subsidence
occurred, and the tractor overturned into an irrigation ditch.
17th December 2008.
|
Argentina
Formwork collapse traps workers
on Buenos Aires site
Formwork failed at a new-build site in Palermo, Buenos Aires, on
Monday afternoon, trapping 9 workers under the rubble, 2 are listed in
critical condition. The workers were constructing a balcony at 2nd
floor level when the accident occurred.
16th December 2008.
|
Australia
Heavy fines over fatality at
Victoria car parts plant
Car parts manufacturer Manumatic and a managing director have each
been fined $100K(£46,729) over a fatal accident at its Epping plant in
August 2006, the company pleading guilty to failing to provide a safe
workplace and adequate training, the director to failing to provide a
safe workplace.
A worker had been asked to attend to an oil leak under machinery
manufacturing exhaust pipes. As he inclined to inspect the job he was
struck on the head by a moving section and pitched against a safety
fence enclosing the machine. A laser safety device restricting access
to the machine was found to have been deactivated, and the enclosing
fence was estimated to be below national safety standards.
16th December 2008.
|
Egypt
Dozens killed as bus crashes
into irrigation canal
At least 57 people died when a bush crashed into the Ibrahimiya Canal
near El Minya, 140 miles south of Cairo, at the weekend. Divers were
recovering bodies on Sunday of many passengers who were unable to exit
the coach which had allegedly swerved to avoid an oncoming lorry. The
bus driver is believed to have survived the crash, prosecution teams
were investigating at the accident scene yesterday.
15th December 2008.
|
New Zealand
Municipal driver killed at
Wellington landfill site
A Wellington City Council worker has died when a lorry he was driving
overturned and slid 50 metres down a steep embankment at the Southern
Landfill site, Owhiro Bay. The 40-tonne vehicle was laden with spoil
and was negotiating a gradient when it skidded against a bank and
overturned. 15th
December 2008.
|
USA
Falling debris clouts worker at
Times Square site
A construction worker sustained critical lower body injuries on
Thursday morning after being struck by falling debris in a deep
excavation at the site of a new 35-storey office block at 11 Times
Square, New York, it is thought that a retaining wall fell into the
excavation. 12th
December 2008.
|
Latvia
Questions hang over Beverina's
sinking
A Maritime Administration investigation and a Latvian Police criminal
investigation have been launched into the sinking of the Kurzeme
fishing boat Beverina which sank in stormy weather last week 3 miles
off the coast at Liepaja. No sign of the missing 6-man crew was found
this week, only a naval life raft which was washed up on the coast.
The coastguard has indicated that the Beverina repeatedly declined the
naval assistance, although a raft was thrown to assist the boat which
later sank in just 15 minutes after engine failure.
The Beverina had been caught fishing illegally 4 times this year in
Latvian waters and once in Polish waters, having an outstanding fine
for several tonnage of cod caught illegally. Apart from its fishing
registration it was believed to have also been active in the scrap
metal trade. 12th
December 2008.
|
USA
Vehicle crush accident in Ohio
An industrial accident investigation is underway following a crush
accident at Logsby Place in Milford, Ohio, where a man was pinned
against a wall by a lorry on Wednesday afternoon.
11th December 2008.
|
The Netherlands
Older train type more prone to
collision derailment
The Inspectie Verkeer en Waterstaat wants to hear from railway
provider NS(Nederlandse Spoorwegen) its plans for the phasing out of
the Mat'64 'stoptreins' which it feels are prone to higher risk of
derailment in the event of a collision. On Wednesday IVW released
details of an investigation of such an accident in December last year
when a "stoptrein" derailed in a collision with a tractor on a level
crossing at Coevorden. More than 140 of these older trains are still
in service, mostly on central, eastern and southern local routes.
11th December 2008.
|
Italy
5 deaths on grim day for
workplace safety
A bleak day for Italian workplace safety saw 5 workers killed in
separate accidents and several more workers critically injured.
At a steel plant in Tenaris di Dalmine near Bergamo a 20-year old man
was crushed by a falling 1-tonne steel cylinder; a 21-year old died in
a transport accident at a gravel quarry in Torretta di Galliavola; a
diver working in the River Brembo at San Pellegrino apparently
succumbed to hypothermia; a 37-year old worker died on a construction
site in Santa Giustina; and at Amatrice, in Riete, 1 worker died and 2
were seriously injured in an unstable excavation collapse at a
dwellinghouse site.
Serious injuries to workers were also reported from around the
country. Last night a construction worker was undergoing emergency
surgery to save his legs after sustaining life-threatening injuries
when he fell into a cement mixer at Bellaria Igea Marina near Rimini.
A 60-year old worker is listed in critical condition after falling 6
metres from the roof of a building in Brescia; and at Scanzorosciate a
39-year old Senegalese worker is facing amputation of a finger after a
machine accident.
10th December 2008.
|
Canada
Electrocuted maintenance worker
was not an electrician
Loewen Manufacturing of Altona, south Manitoba, has been fined $108K
(£57,924)in respect of a fatal accident when a worker was electrocuted
while attempting to repair a robotic welder in February 2006. The
court heard that the equipment had been locked out but the wrong power
supply had been deactivated. Significantly, the court heard that the
victim had previously been undertaking electrical maintenance work but
was not an accredited electrician.
10th December 2008.
|
Serbia
Worker missing in chemical
factory fire
A worker was missing, feared dead, following a fire on Monday at the
Viskoza chemical factory in Loznica, in west Serbia's Podrinje, 4
other workers caught up in the initial stages of the blaze have been
accounted for.
Fire crews were still attending the locus late on Monday to prevent
any spread to an adjacent factory with highly flammable stock.
9th December 2008.
|
Malta
Worker falls 6 metres at
building site
A construction worker was killed on Monday after falling through 2
storeys at a building site on is-Settembrina Street in the village of
Ghaxaq, south Malta.
9th December 2008.
|
USA
Unsecured worker in scaffold
fall in Indianapolis
A worker of Carl Most Construction has died in a 7-metre fall from
scaffolding at the Virginia Avenue Parking Garage on South Delaware
Street, Indianapolis, it is speculated that he had just disconnected a
safety line to move on to a platform when he fell.
8th December 2008.
|
Scotland
Angus farm accident
A 45-year old farm worker has been hospitalised in Dundee with a
broken leg and other injuries after falling at East Seaton Farm, near
Arbroath, where he was cutting timber in a steep embankment by the
Carlingheugh Bay cliffs.
8th December 2008.
|
USA
Train/lorry collision kills
Denver railroad conductor
A collision on a road/rail intersection in Denver, Colorado, has
killed a Union Pacific conductor who was in the leading third wagon of
a locomotive and 3-wagon train which was reversing when it collided
with a freightliner lorry at the junction of 66th Avenue and Franklin
Street, the train's estimated speed was 5 mph.
5th December 2008.
|
England
Midlands warehouse death
prosecution
A prosecution brought by Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council at
Warwick Crown Court against RS Components of Nuneaton has led to a
total fine of £144K for a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and
Safety at Work Act (1974) in respect of a fatal accident in January
2005 during maintenance work on an automated crane system in a
warehouse. 5th
December 2008.
|
England
Demolition worker killed at
Tyneside shipyard
A demolition worker has been killed in an accident at the former Swan
Hunter shipyard in Wallsend, Tyneside, when a large roof beam fell on
a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) he was operating. He was
pitched out into a shallow pool of water and died shortly afterwards
in hospital in North Shields.
4th December 2008.
|
England
MAIB investigates amputation
accident at Felixstowe
The Maritime Accident Investigation Board is conducting a preliminary
investigation into an accident at Landguard Terminal, Felixstowe,
where the skipper of the tug Haven Harrier of Svitzer Towage became
trapped between his 16-metre long boat and a floating pontoon, an
accident which led to an amputation of a lower section of one leg.
4th December 2008.
|
China
CO incident kills 11 Shanxi
schoolchildren
Eleven primary school children have died in a carbon monoxide accident
involving a defective charcoal burning heater at Duiziliang School in
Yulin City, Shanxi, 1 girl has survived the incident at the boarding
school. 3rd
December 2008.
|
Northwest Atlantic
Search for missing cargo boat
crew off Newfoundland
The 4-man crew of the cargo ship Cap Blanc are missing after it was
found overturned on Tuesday afternoon 50 miles from the shores of the
French overseas island of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, south of
Newfoundland. The Cap Blanc plies the routes between Saint-Pierre,
Terre-Neuve and Miquelon serving the communities with supplies on a
weekly basis. 3rd
December 2008.
|
Australia
Worker killed at Queensland
Transport site in Brisbane
A Queensland worker has died in a horrific accident at the Boggo Road
site of Eastern Busway project in Buranda, Brisbane, when a
concrete section fell on a mobile elevating work platform. Fire crews
deployed airbags and hydraulic lifting gear to release the worker
whose legs were severed in the accident.
A 2nd man who was injured is listed in stable condition, Workplace
Health and Safety has suspended work at the Queensland Transport site
pending a structural engineering inspection.
2nd December 2008.
|
China
Catering industry serving up
better safety figures
At the 10th Catering Industry Safety Award Scheme presentation the
Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare announced that the number
of accidents in the catering industry, which employs 200K workers, has
fallen to under 9K, down 30% over the decade, falling from 66.9
accidents per 1,000 workers to 43.5 in 2008. In recent years this
sector has returned one of the highest accident rates.
2nd December 2008.
|
Germany
Fireman killed in malt house
explosion
An explosion killed a fireman in a
crew tackling a smouldering fire at a malt house in the Worms-Rheindurkheim
district of Mannheim on Sunday morning, 3 others are listed in
life-threatening condition. 4 others escaped with lesser injuries at
the 38-metre high silo site on the banks of the Rhine.
1st December 2008.
|
South Africa
Parachutist's death at Nylstroom
The national safety and training
officer of the Parachute Association of South Africa (PASA) has
indicated that a 23-year old skydiver was killed in an accident on
Sunday during a formation dive at Nylstroom airfield.
1st December 2008.
|
|
USA
Falling crane kills Wyoming
workshop owner
The 44-year old proprietor of Wyoming Fabrication and Machine of
Evanston, southwest Wyoming, has died in an accident at the metal
fabrication shop where a crane fell on him.
31st December 2008
|
UAE
Machinery accident at
construction site
A 27-year old Chinese construction worker was hospitalised on Monday
at Ras Al Khaimah with a serious hand injury following a machine
accident at a site in the Halilah area.
30th December 2008
|
USA
Transport accident at Colorado plant
A forklift truck driver has been killed in a crush accident at the
premises of JBS Swift & Co in Greeley, north Colorado, on Saturday. He
had apparently alighted from the forklift and was then pinned by a
reversing lorry in the north loading bay area.
29th December 2008
|
Australia
Boy swept away down flood drain
A 6-year old Queensland boy has drowned after being swept away down a
storm water drain in Farleigh, 350 miles north of Brisbane, where he
was playing with his sister. The rush of water carried him 100 metres
away, he was later pronounced dead at Mackay Base hospital.
29th December 2008
|
Germany
Fire in Hamburg aluminium plant
A worker was hospitalised in Hamburg with smoke inhalation following a
fire on Wednesday at the Hamburger Aluminium Werke in the Waltershof
area of the city. The incident appeared to be focussed on a filtration
unit in a building 100-metres long, bitumen on some of the conveyor
belts inside the building contributed to the extent of the blaze.
25th December 2008
|
India
Fire destroys Pune forensic lab
The Maharashta government's forensic laboratory in the Aundh district
of Pune was largely destroyed by fire on Tuesday, fire crews managed
to isolate many nitrogen and oxygen cylinders early on, no injuries
have been reported and damping down operations were proceeding
throughout the day.
24th December 2008
|
Japan
Boy of 2 lost finger section in
arcade machine
A 2-year old boy lost a section of a finger which became stuck in the
cash slot of a gaming machine at an arcade in Kashiba, Nara, where he
was with a family group and playing with an older brother.
23rd December 2008
|
USA
Bin man falls under reversing
wagon
A Louisiana refuse collector was killed in an accident at the weekend
in Houma, 45 miles southwest of New Orleans, where Solid Waste
Disposal Inc was on its route through Venture Boulevard. The victim
was a "hopper" who rides at the rear of the wagon and assists with the
loading of rubbish into the vehicle's compactor unit. It is speculated
that he slipped while attempting to remount the rear side step and
fell under the reversing vehicle.
22nd December 2008
|
New Zealand
High Court raises health and safety fines
The Department of Labour has welcomed the decision this week of the
High Court in South Island to increase fines for health and safety
offences, indicating that generally accidents of low culpability
should attract fines of up to $50K(£20K), medium culpability
$50K-$100K, and high culpability $100K-$175K. This Wednesday saw the
High Court increase a fine from $5K to $50K against Hanham & Philp
Contractors over an accident in November 2007 when a painting
contractor was injured in a 2.4m fall from scaffolding.
Cookie Time saw its $15K fine increased to $40K for an accident in
February 2007 when a worker broke his arm in a conveyor belt. The
Black Reef Mine of Runanga saw its fine doubled from $10K to $20K in
respect of a miner's drowning in a flooded mine.
19th December 2008
|
South Africa
Gold miner killed in chairlift accident
A worker has died while using a chairlift rope conveyor which was
under maintenance at Harmony Gold's Tshepong mine in the Free State.
The system had been running for 24 hours to remove spin from the ropes
which propel the conveyor transporting miners from one level to
another. The victim had hooked his chair on but may have been unaware
of the maintenance work.
18th December 2008
|
France
Sentencing after child killed by falling TV in shop
In July 2003, a television set on display fell and killed a 3-year old
girl in the Cora shop in Rots, west of Caen. On Wednesday the store's
departmental manager was given a 3-month suspended jail sentence for
involuntary manslaughter, the company was fined
€50K (£46,500) and the store
manager was acquitted.
18th December 2008
|
Austria
Farmer killed loading bull into
trailer
A farmer was killed on Tuesday while loading 2 bulls on to a
transporter when one of the 750Kg animals barged against the vehicle's
metal door which struck him on the head, another worker assisting with
the task was also injured.
17th December 2008
|
New
Zealand
Taranaki crop spraying pilot
killed
A pilot of Wanganui Aero Work Ltd was killed when his plane crashed
into a hillside at Tarata, Taranaki, while crop spraying, the Civil
Aviation Authority is investigating this accident involving an
experienced pilot with 12K flying miles on such agricultural
contracts. 17th
December 2008
|
Philippines
More than 50 drowned in
overcrowded ferry accident
Overcrowding is being cited as a factor in the sinking of the ferry
Mae Jan 250 miles north of Manila which has seen 23 passengers drowned
and 33 missing. More than 100 were speculated to have been on board
the ferry, with an official capacity of 50, when it left Calayan and
it was within 1 mile of its destination of Aparri on Cagayan when it
listed in heavy seas. It is thought that an outrigger was damaged
prior to the sinking. 50 people are known to have survived the
incident. 16th
December 2008
|
Uruguay
Search for River Plate ferry
passenger
A search by helicopters of the Uruguayan Aviacion Naval was ongoing on
Monday over the River Plate for a passenger who fell from the Eladia
Isabel ferry which had sailed from Colonia del Sacramento for Buenos
Aires. Relatives of the victim were able to confirm his identity, he
had been seated or leaning on a railing when he lost his balance,
given the river's currents, hopes of a rescue are not high.
16th December 2008
|
India
Overload crane fails, worker
killed at Games Village site
A construction worker of Ahluwalia Contracts (India) Ltd was killed on
Sunday at the site of the new Commonwealth Games Village being
developed by Emaar MGF in east Delhi. Initial speculation of the
accident suggests overloading caused the crane to malfunction, and a
section fell on the worker below.
15th December 2008
|
South
Africa
Bogus policeman electrocuted at
Joburg station
A bogus policeman was electrocuted at the weekend after contacting a
live power source at a Johannesburg railway station. He had allegedly
robbed the African Hair salon in the city's Strand Street of
R30K(£2,122) by initially proffering false identification and then a
firearm. 15th
December 2008
|
France
Irish cargo ship and trawler
collision
A collision between the Irish cargo ship Arklow River and a
French trawler Joann Jordan was reported on Thursday evening 10 miles
northwest of Sables d'Olonne from where the 80-metre long Arklow River
was sailing to Hamburg. No injuries were reported but the trawler,
from Saint-Gilles-Croix-deVie, was believed to be taking in water.
12th December 2008
|
New
Zealand
Legionnaires' outbreak linked to
compost
The Health Ministry has reported a tripling of legionellosis cases
last month, 20 this November as opposed to 7 in November 07, and is
attributing this to the handling of compost. Of the 20 cases, 5 are
confirmed, 5 are probable notifications, and 10 are under
investigation, with 7 people hospitalised.
Testing has shown that the strain of bacteria is that associated with
compost, the Ministry is advising professional and amateur gardeners
to adhere to guidelines on packaging and to be aware that the bacteria
can thrive in compost bins.
12th December 2008
|
Russia
Body recovered at Moscow
refurbishment site collapse
A body was recovered on Wednesday from the rubble at the site of a
partial building collapse in StarokonyushennyPereulok, near old Arbat
Street, Moscow, 8 others were rescued, 2 having been hospitalised.
More than 250m² of internal structural walls collapsed at the
refurbishment site of a 6-storey building.
11th December 2008
|
Bahamas
Bin collector killed by
reversing wagon
A 52-year old refuse collector of United Sanitation has been crushed
to death against a wall by a reversing bin wagon during its round in
Sandford Drive, Nassau.
11th December 2008
|
Vietnam
Methane explosion kills 8 Quang
Ninh miners
A methane gas explosion has killed 8 miners and left 1 missing in a
mine at Cam Pha Town in northern Quang Ninh province, 24 others among
the 100 workers were injured. The accident occurred 250 metres
underground in a ventilation section at No. 4 mine, excavation site
No. 3. 10th
December 2008
|
Australia
Queensland company fiend over
machinery accident
A $30K(£13,431) fine has been levied against Lamont Investments
Queensland following an accident in July 2007 in which a worker was
struck by a flying adjustment bold from a steel roller, inflicting
injuries which fractured his jaw and an eye socket. Department of
Employment and Industrial Relations' investigation claimed that the
company, which pleaded guilty to the charges, had failed to identify
systems of work as a hazard, failed to develop safe operating
procedures based on risk assessment and provide support and training.
It was reckoned at the moment of equipment failure that it was
overloaded by 10 times its capacity.
10th December 2008
|
Switzerland
Hot air balloon hits power lines
A hot air balloon crashed shortly into its flight on Monday at Berneck,
St Gallen, when it collided with high power lines and exploded. The
basket separated from the rest of the balloon, the condition of the 5
occupants remains unknown.
9th December 2008
|
South
Africa
Handling fatality at Free State
gold mine
The Department of Minerals and Energy is investigating a fatal
accident at the Bambanani mine of Harmony Gold in the Free State where
a worker was killed during a handling accident. A number of workers
were attempting to lift a heavy steel door at a store above ground
when it became unstable and fell on one of them.
A Section 54 notice regarding the inspection of heavy lifting
apparatus has also been filed.
9th December 2008
|
India
Shuttering fails on Mohali site
The authorities in Mohali are preparing a charge under Section 304(A)
of culpable homicide legislation against the owner of a property in
Mohali where shuttering fell on workers at a 4-storey building site in
the Mohali Industrial Area at the weekend in which 1 worker died and 2
were injured. 8th
December 2008
|
Argentina
Antarctic cruise ship grounds
More than 80 cruise passengers of an Argentinian cruise ship MV Ciudad
de Ushuaia of Antarpply Expeditions have been flown home from Chile's
Frei base on Antarctica after the ship ran aground in Guillermina Bay,
the 82 passengers and 5 crew were picked up by a Chilean navy ship.
On Sunday optimism was being
expressed that the Ushuaia could be re-floated on the next high tide
although some structural damage had occurred to the 38-year old ship.
8th December 2008
|
USA
Oregon quarry death
investigation
Department of Labour and Industries' inspectors have been on site at
Slavco Rock Products in Clackamas, Oregon, following the death of a
worker in a quarry accident.
5th December 2008
|
India
Engineer killed at Pune newbuild
site
A falling slab of concrete killed a civil engineer of Marvel Realtors
and injured 5 construction workers at the site of the 11-storey Diva
building in Pune. He was inspecting work on the 11th floor of the
under-construction building when roof supports failed as workers were
concreting above him.
4th December 2008
|
South
Africa
2 killed in separate gold mine
accidents
Two workers died in separate accidents at gold mines on Tuesday.
At Pamodzi Gold's President Steyn mine in the Free State a maintenance
worker was killed while working on the S24 Underground Winder at the
No 2 Shaft.
Earlier on Tuesday at Anglo Gold Ashanti's Moab Khotsong mine a miner
died in a locomotive accident.
3rd December 2008
|
USA
New York lumber worker killed
A 36-year old New York worker of J & J Lumber was killed after
becoming pinned under a large section of felled timber at a woodland
site off the highway in Pine Plains, southeast New York state. Initial
speculation suggests that the timber became unstable and rolled over
him while he was attempting cutting work.
3rd December 2008
|
France
Fire crew rescues scaffold fall
worker
A 53-year old construction worker was badly injured in a fall on
scaffolding on Monday afternoon at a monument site in Rohaliguen, near
Sarzeau, he became stuck at a height of 8m and a fire crew trained in
specialist rescue was summoned to free him and transfer him to
hospital in Vannes.
2nd December 2008
|
Iran
Tainted liquor incident in
Hormuzgan
A batch of illicit hooch has killed
12 people and left another 70 in critical condition in Hormuzgan,
south Iran, where a local hospital has reported numerous cases of loss
of eyesight following the incident.
1st December 2008
|
South
Africa
Shoe worker succumbs to burns
injuries
The Department of Labour is
investigating a fatal accident at a shoe factory in Arena Park
where a female worker sustained burns over 80% of her body when a
blow-lamp ignited while she was handling benzene, she died from
her injuries at the end of the week.
1st December 2008
|
|
Kenya
Air Italy 757 in emergency
landing
A technical problem caused the flaps of an Air Italy Boeing 757
aircraft to fail to open shortly after take-off from Moi International
Airport on Monday, the Milan-bound flight had to circle the airport
prior to an emergency landing, no injuries were reported of the 8 crew
and 202 passengers.
31st December 2008
|
Cyprus
Farmer killed by falling hay
bale
An investigation is underway into an agricultural fatality at farmland
near Avgorou, southwest Cyprus, where a 60-year old farmer was found
dead under a 400Kg bale of hay.
31st December 2008
|
Japan
2 nonagenarians killed in care
home fire
Initial speculation as to the cause of a fire at a care home in Iwaki
which killed 2 elderly residents and injured 3 others points to a fire
in a linen cupboard on the 1st floor, all the casualties from carbon
monoxide poisoning were located on the 2nd floor.
30th December 2008
|
Austria
Children slip through secured chairlift seats
Deep snow cushioned the fall of an 8-year old girl who fell out of a
chairlift at the weekend as it approached the Montafon station in the
Vorarlberg region. The safety bar on the 4-seater chair was engaged
but she slipped out under it, a similar accident was reported last
week involving an 11-year old girl.
29th December 2008
|
Canada
Steel falls on Saskatchewan
worker's leg
A worker was hospitalised with serious leg injuries when falling steel
trapped his leg at premises on 51st Street, north Saskatoon.
25th December 2008
|
England
Cornish fairground ride owner
cleared in fatal accident trial
A jury at Truro Crown Court has found the owner of P.J. & A. Raymond
Amusements of Zelah not guilty of having failed to ensure that a
fairground ride was safe to operate in respect of a fatal accident on
August 24th 2004 when a worker's clothing snagged on the drive-shaft
of a "Chair-O-Plane" ride at Marazion.
The HSE prosecution alleged that guards should have been in place to
prevent access to the machinery during ride operation, allegations
refuted by the owner who maintained that he had moved controls to
outwith the central consol to prevent the operator having to enter
during operation and that no prohibition or improvement notices had
been issued to him.
24th December 2008
|
Germany
Man breaches polar bear cage at
Berlin Zoo
A 33-year old man from Cottbus has been charged with trespassing after
attempting to enter a polar bear's cage at Berlin Zoo on Monday. After
clearing a chest-high fence he made his way into a water-filled ditch
but handlers managed to keep the bear calm and distracted from the
intrusion. 23rd
December 2008
|
Germany
Forklift with raised forks in
overturning fatality
A forklift truck driver was killed on Saturday in an accident on
premises in Lorrach, 30 miles south of Freiburg. The 35-year old
driver had deposited a load of rubble and was moving between buildings
with the forks still raised when he struck an overhead bridge between
the buildings, causing the truck to overturn and crush him under its
weight. 22nd
December 2008
|
England
Narrative verdict over Wiltshire fat fryer death
A Wiltshire inquest jury has returned a narrative verdict over the
death of a 25-year old chef who spilled burning oil from a deep-fat
fryer over himself during an epileptic fit in the kitchen of the
Mbargo pub in Swindon three years ago.
The jury adjudged there to be "systematic failures" in the health and
safety procedures, with Jameson's who hired him, and the absence of
health & safety documentation, expertise or training in the company
which took over his training, CLG South.
It also recommended that such fryers be more securely fastened to wall
or floor.
19th December 2008
|
Wales
Wall surge was avoidable at Cardiff site
Taylor Woodrow Construction Ltd has been fined £200K plus £71,400
costs after pleading guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to a charge under
Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 when a wall
collapsed at the site of the National Assembly for Wales' Senedd
building in Cardiff which killed a subcontractor of Ferson
Construction Services, contracted to build a blockwork supporting
wall. The worker was filling the wall cavity when pressure saw the
wall surge back. An HSE inspector observed that a combination of
working at height and a failure of the company to properly manage the
risk posed by the failure of the wall under pressure from the cement
resulted in the death of the worker. This despite risks being
recognisable prior to the accident.
An HSE official commented: "There are recognised procedures in the
construction industry for backfilling and cavity insulation which
would have prevented the wall from surging outwards. And use of
ladders was meant to be strictly controlled on site yet one was in use
despite a method statement to the contrary. The company failed to
ensure the method statement was followed and in doing so failed to
manage the activities of others."
19th December 2008
|
Spain
Arrests following fatal accident at Mallorcan hotel site
Arrests were made on Wednesday of an architect, quantity surveyor and
foreman following the structural collapse at the Hotel Son Moll in
Cala Rajada, Mallorca, in which 2 Moroccan and 2 Spanish construction
workers died. Charges of negligent homicide have been filed,
refurbishment work was taking place at the Hoteles Serrano SL premises
which had been refused a renovation warrant and had been instructed to
stop work in early November.
18th December 2008
|
England
London scaffold collapse accident
An accident investigation is studying the circumstances in which a
teenage worker was badly injured when scaffolding fell during
dismantling at Angel House on Islington's Pentonville Road.
18th December 2008
|
USA
Fatal accident at Carolina steel
plant
A fatal accident occurred on Tuesday morning at the Gerdau Ameristeel
plant in northwest Charlotte, North Carolina, details of the accident
have yet to emerge but it may have involved a crush accident on the
2nd floor, another worker sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
17th December 2008
|
Russia
Murmansk fertiliser mine
explosion
Rostekhnadzor is investigating the explosion at the Rasvumchorrsky
mine of PhosAgro Apatit, outside Kirovsk, which killed 12 of the
18 miners on site. Some 18 tonnes of explosives had been placed for a
controlled blast and a further 30 tonnes were being prepared to be set
when the explosion occurred. The company operates 3 other such mines
in its fertiliser manufacturing enterprises in the Murmansk region.
17th December 2008
|
Spain
Seaman killed in Cypriot tanker
fire
Early on Monday fire broke out on the Cypriot tanker Doxa off Cabio
beach on the River Arousa, Pontevedra, all but 1 of the 23-man crew
were safely rescued, police reported finding the body of the missing
Filipino crewman later in the day.
The 27K-tonne Doxa had unloaded a cargo of grain on Sunday and was
returning to sea when the fire occurred.
16th December 2008
|
England
Berks coy fined after recycling
plat death
At Swindon Crown Court SITA(UK) Ltd was fined £180K plus £38K costs in
respect of a fatal accident in August 2005 at its Berkshire recycling
centre where a worker, neither trained nor authorised to use a paper
baler, died after falling into the compressor in an attempt to clear a
blockage. An HSE inspector observed:"Where a blockage occurs, work to
clear it should only be undertaken under a written system of work,
backed up by a full permit to work system." 16th
December 2008
|
France
Confined space death at cider
factory
A workplace accident investigation has been launched at the Le Brun
cider factory in Plovan, Finisterre, where a worker was found dead at
the weekend. Fire crews from Pouldreuzic and paramedics from Pont-l'Abbe
attended the incident but could not revive the man who is believed to
have been the victim of a confined space accident.15th
December 2008
|
Luxemburg
PC caused Dudelingen aid centre
fire
An electrical malfunction in a computer caused a major fire at the
weekend at the Hellef Doheem aid and care centre in Dudelingen, the
accident occurred shortly after opening, no injuries were reported.
15th December 2008
|
Sweden
Woman lay dead for 6 weeks at
municipal residence
A 67-year old woman has been found dead, possibly for as long as 6
weeks, in an apartment block designed for elderly residents under the
administration of the local authority in Karlkrona, staff's attention
was drawn by a build-up in her uncollected mail.
12th December 2008
|
Cameroon
Dozens of plantation workers
drowned when boat sank
More than 35 workers travelling to plantations in Gabon have drowned
when their boat sank off the coast of Cameroon, of the 43 passengers
and crew 6 were rescued, survivors being treated in hospital in Limbe.
11th December 2008
|
Hungary
Archaeological dig unearths WW2
ordnance
An archaeological dig site near the Bosnyak ter market of Budapest has
been experiencing interruptions for the disposal of a number of WW2
bombs uncovered, a total of 350 Kg has been unearthed, at times
leading to local evacuation of buildings.
11th December 2008
|
India
Bus fire kills 20 in Uttar
Pradesh
Twenty Hindu pilgrims died when fire engulfed their bus as it was
travelling in Firozabad, 125 miles southwest of Lucknow. It is
speculated that either a tyre blow-out or axle failure led to sparking
which ignited the fuel tank.
10th December 2008
|
Japan
Hot work accident at Niigata
nuclear plant
Fire during hot metal work at the building housing No 6 reactor at
Kashiwajaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station in Niigata left a welder
injured on Monday.
The work is part of a project to resist earth tremor, Tokyo Electric
Power Company's own staff tackled the incident.
9th December 2008
|
Bangladesh
Bull runs loose at Dhaka
festival market
A bull managed to run loose at one of the many markets preparing for
the Eid al-Adha festival in Dhaka yesterday, it caused extensive
damage to some of the shops in the Gulshan district of the city but no
injuries were reported as officials managed to restrain it by
deploying a net.
9th December 2008
|
Canada
Handling fatality on Ontario
farm
The Ministry of Labour is investigating a fatal accident on farmland
in Chatham-Kent, southwest Ontario, where 3 men were engaged in
attempting to move a grain auger whose centre of gravity shifted,
pitching a 75-year old man 6 metres off the ground.
8th December 2008
|
England
Midlands companies fined over
amputation accident
Two Midlands companies, Anthony Wilson Homes and hauliers MJ Curle Ltd
of Shifnal, have been fined £35K and £12.5K respectively, including
costs, after admitting breaches of health and safety regulations in
respect of an accident 3 years ago at a pub conversion site where a
worker's injury led to an amputation of a lower leg. A lorry
overturned, pinning the victim by the foot, investigation found that
no-one on site had any safety management training.
The builders are now in liquidation, the hauliers have compensated the
worker with £970K.
8th December 2008
|
England
Teenager injured in scaffold
fall at Sussex site
A 19-year worker of Mattison Scaffolding has been hospitalised after
surviving a 17-metre fall from a scaffold at Sussex Manor Business
Park at Manor Royal, Crawley, he was being treated for multiple
injuries.5th
December 2008
|
England
Transport fatality at West Ham
station
A subcontract worker was killed on Wednesday morning at West Ham
station where he was struck by the bucket of a heavy vehicle at the
site where Skanska GrantRail has been laying foundations for a new
platform for a line extension.
4th December 2008
|
France
Scalloper sinks off St Malo,
fisherman dies
A scallop fisherman of the Cherbourg-registered fishing boat
Emmanuelle-Jean died after the boat sank at 9am on Tuesday 3 miles off
Saint-Lunaire.
Another scalloper, the Refractaire, rescued the 3-man crew but the
victim died as the group arrived back at Granville.
3rd December 2008
|
Baltic
Baltic ferry incidents
A fractured fuel line in the main engine of the Baltic ferry, Sea
Wind, led to a mayday and an emergency evacuation of the 11 passengers
travelling from Abo in Finland to Stockholm, the 28-man crew remained
on board and tackled the incident which occurred in the early hours of
Tuesday off the Nyhamn lighthouse of the Aland islands. Sjofartsverket
(Swedish Maritime Administration) announced that it had to abandon its
search for a passenger who fell from the Silja Festival ferry last
week during its journey from Stockholm to Riga.
3rd December 2008
|
Mediterranean
Crew rescued after abandoning
ship
The crew of the Cambodian-registered cargo ship Maystar is reported
safe after having to abandon their timber-laden 88-metre long ship
following problems with its ballast tanks. Water ingress had occurred
and the Belize-owned ship sank 26 miles off Delimara Point, southeast
Malta, another vessel, the Sea Flower, picked the crew up from their
life rafts. 2nd
December 2008
|
USA
Transport fatality on Kentucky
site
A fatal crush accident involving
transport claimed the life of a 62-year old worker at the Kentucky
Splash Water Park site in Williamsburg, south Kentucky, where the
victim became pinned between vehicles during earth excavation work.
1st December 2008
|
England
Crush accident at south Lancs
plant
A worker was in intensive care on
life-support equipment after sustaining crush injuries when a large
metal sheet fell on him at Renolds Gears, Milnrow, east of Rochdale.
1st December 2008
|
|
Scotland
Scottish agriculture deaths
undiminished
Thirty-nine workers died in
Scotland in accidents during work in its agriculture sector during
2007/8. With only around 1.5% of the working population employed in
agriculture, the sector is responsible for between 15% and 20% of
fatalities to workers in Great Britain each year.
The 10-year total remains a stubborn 455, 34% died in accidents
involving overturning vehicles or being struck by vehicles, 21% dying
as a result of a moving or falling object, 14% dying in falls and 7%
dying as a result of injuries by an animal.
31st December 2008
|
England
Cement recalled by manufacturer
Lafarge Cement of Wiltshire is
recalling a batch of its cement product some of which, it has
discovered, may contain higher levels of Chromium than it considers
acceptable. The recall involves hundreds of thousands of bags produced
before the beginning of December 2008.
30th December 2008
|
UK
Men injured in falls
A man is in hospital after falling nearly 20 metres from the roof of a
property in Kinver, Staffs, his condition is presently unreported.
A man working at Royal Portbury Docks on the Severn near Bristol
sustained serious injury on Saturday in a fall down a shaft on a ship.
29th December 2008
|
England
Inadequate guarding of
Derbyshire company's machine
MP Bio Science International Ltd has been fined £2,000 with £3,000
costs for contravening r.11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998, having failed to take measures to prevent
access to a dangerous part of machinery, resulting in an industrial
accident.
In August last year, an employee attempted to unblock a blending
machine while it was in motion. This caused him to access a dangerous
part which inflicted a serious degloving hand injury, an HSE official
commented: "The access panel was removed frequently for cleaning,
maintenance and to unblock material, so it should have been fitted
with an interlocked safety switch. This would have prevented this
accident as any moving parts inside the machine would have been
stopped when the panel was lifted off."
25th December 2008
|
England
Vehicle struck elevated platform
Two workmen were thrown from the basket of a mobile elevating platform
when it was struck by a lorry at the side of the A19 near Bootham,
York, in August last year. Serious injury resulted but both survived.
The workmens' employer, William
Birch & Sons Ltd, had provided training, information and equipment
but it failed to ensure that the particular risks involved in the work
at this location were adequately assessed and controlled; it was also
alleged that the employee failed to take reasonable care while setting
up and operating the platform.
The employee was fined £2,500 with costs of £3,500 at York Crown Court
having breached S.7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
William Birch and Sons Ltd of York, was fined £12,000 with costs of
£2,500.
24th December 2008
|
England
Supervisor
died in mixer
An inquest jury has determined
a verdict of accidental death having considered the facts surrounding
the death in an industrial accident of an employee at Building
Chemical Research's premises in Radcliffe, Lancs.
The deceased entered a mixer which was activated by a colleague who
did not realise the immediate danger, a number of issues concerning
risk assessment, maintenance and devices intended to guard against
this type of activation were examined by the jury during its 4-day
deliberations.
23rd December 2008
|
England
Recycling site death
A man died following an incident on
Friday at the UK Wood Recycling Ltd site at Grangetown, Teesside. No
further details are available.
22nd December 2008
|
England
Fall from height man seriously
injured
It is reported that a workman has fallen from the roof of a property
undergoing refurbishment in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire,
sustaining serious head injuries, the incident occurred on Wednesday
morning. 19th
December 2008
|
England
One dead, colleague seriously injured in Lancs industrial accident
An accident at the Darwen premises of Brookhouse Patterns Ltd has
resulted in the death of a man in his 50's and serious injuries to a
colleague.
The incident occurred early Thursday morning, emergency services
required to free both men, according to one account.
19th December 2008
|
England
Machine inflicted severe hand injury
W H Davis Ltd of Langwith Junction, Nottinghamshire, has been fined
£5,000 plus £2,381 costs after an employee had his gloved hand drawn
into a 3-roll bending machine in September last year, resulting in
severely crushed fingers.
An HSE official commented: "All companies should ensure that work is
risk assessed and appropriate measures are put in place so that
workers' safety is not compromised. There were a number of failures in
WH Davis' safe systems including failure to train a new member of
staff and failure to ensure that the machine stopped immediately when
the emergency trip device was activated."
18th December 2008
|
England
Fatal industrial accident in
Leicestershire
It is reported that a
man in his 50's
has died following an accident at the
Leicester premises of Parker Plant. No details are available about
Saturday morning's incident
that led to the death of the company
employee. 17th
December 2008
|
England
Man killed at Cornwall Docks
It is reported that a vehicle driver was killed on Monday morning
while his vehicle was being loaded with coal from a ship berthed at
Falmouth Docks. One account states he had become trapped under a
quantity of coal and required to be rescued by emergency services.
16th December 2008
|
England
Fatal accident at silo
An incident at a farm silo near Ainthorpe in Yorkshire's Esk Valley on
Wednesday claimed the life of a man in his 40's. The deceased was
released from the grain silo by emergency services but died at the
scene. 15th
December 2008
|
England
HGV driver failed to apply brake
A man died of multiple injuries, crushed between 2 lorries, after he
apparently failed to secure the handbrake of a lorry while he was
coupling it to a trailer. The incident occurred outside Brampton in
Cumbria, the deceased had attempted to halt the vehicle's progress
down an incline but was crushed as he tried to enter the cab as it
passed another vehicle, the Carlisle inquest jury determined a verdict
of accidental death.
12th December 2008
|
England
Risk assessment failure blamed
for accident
The consequence of a failure to assess the risks involved in moving an
industrial oven weighing 0.8 tonne was an industrial accident,
resulting in serious injury when the oven fell from the two pallet
trucks that were being used to move it.
The incident occurred in January this year at Caltherm (UK) Ltd's
premises on the Rowhurst Industrial Estate in Newcastle-under-Lyme,
the company was fined £10,000 plus costs of £3,377. An HSE official
commented: "Insufficient safeguards existed for the protection of
employees because no risk assessment had been conducted for the
movement of ovens in the premises. Lack of information, instruction,
training and planning for the movement of such heavy equipment,
coupled with an unsuitable means transport, all contributed to an
unsafe system of work which led to the accident".
11th December 2008
|
England
Halifax fatal industrial
accident
It is reported that an employee of Nestle has died in an accident at
its Halifax premises. The accident occurred on Sunday, one account
states that it involved a pallet machine.
10th December 2008
|
England
Gas poisoning incident in
Manchester
An elderly female resident of a flatted property in Didsbury,
Manchester, has died following a gas incident on Friday.
Both the deceased, and another person who was taken to hospital,
were, it is suspected, overcome by carbon monoxide, but this remains
to be confirmed. The surviving resident's life is not in danger.
9th December 2008
|
England
Worker lost finger
PAS (Grantham) Ltd of Easton,
Lincolnshire, has been fined £10,000 with £3,587 costs over an
industrial accident in which an employee was permitted to use an
unsafe system of work to investigate a fault on a tray-making machine.
This resulted in him getting his hand trapped in the drive pulley of
the equipment when the motor started up again, causing an injury that
required the amputation of a finger.
An HSE official commented: "All companies should ensure that work is
planned properly and appropriate measures are put in place so that
workers are not put at unreasonable risk. There were a number of
failures in PAS's safe systems including failure in training for a new
member of staff, isolation procedures that were not appropriate or
applicable to maintenance activities; custom and practice that ignored
safer procedures; access to dangerous parts of machinery, all
contributing together to lead to the risks to the accident victim's
safety." 8th
December 2008
|
England
Cleaner died of horrific head
injury
An inquest jury returning a narrative verdict has criticised a meat
processing company for its use of an adopted unsafe system of work
that led to a cleaner sustaining a fatal head injury in May 2007.
The cleaner, in her 50's, was inspecting a flap device under a blender
when it unexpectedly activated. A clipboard had been positioned to
defeat a sensor instead of the required isolation of the equipment, it
is thought that the deceased may have upset the clipboard herself. The
accident occurred at the DeliCo premises in the Tattenhoe area of
Milton Keynes. 5th
December 2008
|
England
Warehouse worker injured in
robbery
An employee of Key Sales Ltd of Brighouse, Yorkshire, was struck and
injured as he attempted to stop a van being driven by thieves making a
getaway with a stolen television on Monday.
The vehicle reversed in his direction, crushing him against a van,
inflicting lower body injuries which put him in hospital in a serious
but stable condition.
4th December 2008
|
England
Devon fisherman killed by winch
A fisherman in his 30's has died after he was apparently dragged into
the capstan winch being used to transfer crab from a fishing vessel to
a vehicle.
The accident occurred yesterday afternoon at Salcombe Quay.
3rd December 2008
|
England
Great care required with
healthcare hoists
On 25th March 2006 at Birmingham's Moseley Hall Hospital, 2 auxiliary
nurses were transferring a 90-year old patient from a commode to a bed
using a large sling and a battery-operated lifting hoist. During this
task she fell from the sling to the floor and subsequently died from
her injuries.
Neither the hoist nor sling was defective, the patient had slipped
from the sling because it was too large for her, the moving and
handling risk assessment for the task did not specify which sling
should be used for the patient.
South Birmingham Primary Care Trust was fined £20,000 with costs of
£17,500 at Birmingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaching
S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
An HSE official commented: "South Birmingham Primary Care Trust failed
in its duty by exposing the patient to grave risk. It is essential to
ensure that all equipment, including hoists and slings, is appropriate
for the individual being moved or handled. It is also vital that
professional carers and nursing staff receive adequate information,
instruction and training in the correct selection and safe use of that
equipment." 2nd
December 2008
|
Scotland
Oil rig fatal accident
A scaffolder has died in a 40-metre fall from the Ocean Princess oil
rig platform undergoing maintenance work in Invergordon, Ross and
Cromarty.
The man was employed by Macdonald Scaffolding who were contracted for
work on the platform by its owners Diamond Offshore.
1st December 2008
|
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