USA
Derailment kills Minnesota rail worker
A 44-year old Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway worker was killed
in a crush accident when a wagon in a 6-wagon train he was directing
derailed and pinned him against a building at Northeast 37th Street
and East River Road in Minneapolis where the loaded wagons were being
delivered to a customer. During this "switching" process the worker
would have been at the rear of the train operating a remote control
device to shunt the train.
31st December 2009.
|
Malta
Airport van hits standing plane
On Wednesday a Globe Ground Malta vehicle hit the nose gear door of a
Libyan Arab Airlines aircraft around half an hour before departure for
Tripoli, no injuries were reported.
31st December 2009.
|
Russia
Trawler fire at port kills 4 fishermen
Four fishermen died yesterday when fire broke out on board the trawler
Tropik-1 anchored at Korsakov port in Sakhalin, the other 8 crew
members survived the accident the cause of which is unknown.
30th December 2009.
|
USA
Fatal fall at Denver site
A Colorado worker has died in a 3-storey fall at a site on Via Varra
Road, Broomfield, Denver.
30th December 2009.
|
Mexico
Investigation into circus tigers' escape
An investigation was launched after the escape of 3 Bengal tigers of
the Circo Aguilar Hermanos from their trailer in an accident near
Morelia, Michoacan. The tigers escaped in the direction of Tiripetio
but 1 was rounded up quickly, the other 2 the following day.
30th December 2009.
|
China
Mine management arraigned over alleged illegal work
Five members of senior management have been arrested following a gas
explosion at Donggou Colliery in Jiexiu, Jinzhong City, where 12
miners have died.
It is alleged that authorised production quotas of 300K tonnes of coal
were exceeded and that miners had breached a wall between a working
shaft and a disused one in which a significant density of gas had
accumulated. 29th
December 2009.
|
Greece
Ammonia leakage in busy market place
Fire crews wearing special breathing apparatus tackled an ammonia
leakage at Athens main fruit market in Rendi
where the area was exposed to the leakage from a building in the
market place. 29th
December 2009.
|
Venezuela
9 Seamen missing after freighter fire
Fire broke out on the Greek freighter Aegean Wind of Atlantic Bulk
Carrier Management as it sailed 50 miles northeast of La Blanquilla,
Venezuela. Late on Friday Venezuelan radio reports spoke of 1 crew
member having died and 9 missing, it was not known if they had jumped
into the sea or were trapped in cabins. The 24-man crew vessel was
sailing from Brazil to Houston with a load of iron ore.
26th December 2009.
|
Japan
Borontrifluoride explosion kills 4 Osaka workers
An explosion at a Morita Chemical Industries plant in Osaka killed 4
workers on Thursday who where engaged in cutting away the top of a
tank storing borontrifluoride, the explosion also blew off a section
of roof at the plant which produces fluorine compounds for industrial
use at the premises.
26th December 2009.
|
France
Policeman's finger bitten off
A Parisian policeman underwent 2 hours of surgery after a section of a
finger was bitten off by a youth whose papers he was checking in
Versailles.
26th December 2009.
|
Indonesia
Illegal mall extension in Jakarta collapses
On Wednesday an unauthorised extension to the Metro Tanah Abang
shopping mall in central Jakarta collapsed, killing 2 people and
injuring 12 others, the collapse involved the 3rd and 4th floors.
24th December 2009.
|
India
Shipyard worker burned to death
A shipyard worker was burned to death on Wednesday when sparks during
grinding work ignited a fire in the tank of a ship at Tebme Ship
Builders in Malpe, 2 colleagues managed to escape to safety from the
tank. 24th December
2009.
|
Canada
Worker falls to death during de-icing at Calgary Airport
An employee of Servisair Canada has died in a 7-metre fall from
de-icing machinery while working at an aircraft at Calgary
International Airport.
23rd December 2009.
|
Germany
Naked flame caused triple hospice fatality
It is thought that a candle may have caused the fire at the St
Bartholomaus hospice in Porz, Cologne, in which 3 residents, aged 70,
71 and 81, died at the weekend.
23rd December 2009.
|
West Bank/Palestine
Crush fatality at stone works
A worker died yesterday after sustaining fatal head injuries in a
transport accident at a stone factory in Zeita, in the northwest
Tulkarm district.
22nd December 2009.
|
Croatia
Train fails to brake in Zagreb station
A train from Sisak failed to brake as it arrived in Zagreb central
station, Zagrebacki Glavni Kolodvor, on Monday morning, hitting the
concrete wall after going through the buffers at speed, of 60 people
injured one is listed in critical condition with back injuries and a
fractured skull. HR(Hrvatske Zeljesnice), Croatian Railways, reports
that the train should have stopped at Platform 4. Initial speculation
suggested very low temperatures contributed to brake failure.
22nd December 2009.
|
Germany
Zoo handler attacked by tiger
A 30-year old animal handler is recovering in hospital after being
attacked by a white tiger at Aschersleben Zoo in Saschen-Anhalt, her
leg and arm injuries are not believed life-threatening.
21st December 2009.
|
China
Shanghai painter killed in fall from MEWP
A work-stop order has been put in place at a building site on the
under-construction Jiamin Elevated Road site in the Minhang area of
Shanghai where a painter died and another was badly injured in a
20-metre fall when a MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) toppled
over at the site where the painters were under contract to the
Shanghai Hongpu Steel Structure Company.
21st December 2009.
|
Argentina
Fatal accident at Buenos Aires refurbishment site
A worker died and another sustained multiple injuries when a concrete
section fell during refurbishment work at a building site in the Villa
Crespo district of Buenos Aires, the work was at 1st floor level in
the property. 18th December 2009.
|
Russia
Falling wall kills worker on Moscow site
A retaining wall in a foundation excavation failed at a construction
site of Sukhoi in Moscow on Wednesday, killing 1 worker and injuring 2
others. 17th December 2009.
|
Austria
Crane's overloading mechanism fails on Graz site
A crane driver was hospitalised in Graz on Wednesday when his 22-metre
tall crane toppled over during the hoisting of a 1.5-tonne concrete
section at a site in Lassnitzhohe in the city's suburbs, a special
mechanism controlling any overloading of the crane's lifting capacity
failed. 17th December 2009.
|
USA
Maryland grain silo worker's leg may be amputated
It is feared that a worker may have
required to have a leg amputated following a grain elevator accident
at Perdue Farms Inc on Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Maryland. 16th December 2009.
|
Australia
Policeman injured at firearms training
A policeman is being treated for a thigh injury when a gun discharged
as he was re-holstering it during firearms training at the Police
Service shooting range in Gympie, Queensland. 16th December 2009.
|
China
3 dead as carbon black tank
explodes at Beijing gas works
A tank loaded with carbon black exploded on Monday killing 3 workers
doing renovation work near the tank at Beijing Guangzhongyuan Gas
Company in Fangshan, Beijing, where the company produces liquid
nitrogen and argon. 15th December 2009.
|
Russia
Market warehouse fire leaves 3
dead
Fire in a warehouse at a market in Mytishchi, 12 miles northeast of
Moscow, has killed 3 people, initial speculation was an electrical
malfunction. 15th December 2009.
|
Russia
8 killed in Urals parachute training flight crash
An SM-92T training aircraft crashed shortly after take-off on Sunday
near Chelyabinsk, a pilot, an instructor and 6 parachutists were
killed. 14th December 2009.
|
Mediterranean
Freighter sinks off Lebanon, 4 crew missing
It is believed that 8 of the 12-man crew of the Sally-2, a
Togolese-flagged cargo ship of the Sela Shipping Company, have been
safely rescued following its sinking after issuing a mayday late on
Friday 70 miles off Naqoura, Lebanon, the Ukrainian-crewed ship had
been sailing from Greece to Haifa. 14th December 2009.
|
Turkey
19 miners killed in cave-in after dynamite explosion
The authorities have indicated that a dynamite explosion, rather than
methane, caused the cave-in at a 26-year old coal mine near
Mustafakemalpasa, Bursa, in which 19 miners died some 250 metres
underground.
Recovery work has been difficult, given the narrowness of the shaft
and an ensuing methane gas build-up which has required oxygen to be
pumped into the atmosphere.
12th December 2009.
|
Canada
Wearing protective equipment could have saved fire fighter
At Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury the Ministry of Natural
Resources was fined $300K(£175,304) in respect of an accident in
Killarney Provincial Park in which a seasonal fire-fighter died from
burns during the burning of a slash pile of brush wood.
On May 9th 2008, a crew leader was conducting a training exercise
involving a drip torch used in fire suppression. As a fire was dying
down, another member introduced fuel, in the ensuing flare up the
leader was badly burned.
The Ministry pleaded guilty to breaching Section 25(2)(h) of the
Occupational Health & Safety Act in failing as an employer to take the
reasonable precaution of ensuring the use of personal protective
equipment as appropriate to the task for mixing fuels using a drip
torch and burning a slash pile. Although full protective equipment had
been issued it was not being worn.
11th December 2009.
|
Scotland
Girl in intensive care after mountain bike accident
A 16-year old Tayside girl on a mountain biking trip with the Ancrum
Outdoor Education Centre, Dundee, cheated death in a 30-metre fall
into the River Breen at Rumbling Bridge, Dunkeld, and is in the
intensive care unit of a Dundee hospital with a ruptured spleen, a
broken arm and kidney and pancreas injuries.
Her survival owed much to her fall being straight into the water,
missing rock outcrops and ledges, and the prompt work by the
organisers to pluck her from the freezing water as fast as possible.
The density of local tree canopy also tested the skills of the
helicopter pilot and winch man involved in her rescue.
11th December 2009.
|
Australia
NSW ranger dies in fire-fighting helicopter crash
An NSW Parks & Wildlife ranger has died in a fire-fighting helicopter
crash near Dorrigo, the pilot, a contractor for Rural Fire Service, is
listed in critical condition in hospital.
10th December 2009.
|
Japan
MSDF helicopter located on seabed
A Maritime Self-Defence Force helicopter, which crashed into the sea
off Nagasaki, was located on Wednesday 100 metres down on the seabed,
1 of the 3-man crew was rescued, an underwater camera shot appeared to
show the body of 1 of the 2 missing crew members. The flight had
departed from the Omura base, local coast guards have come across an
empty life raft and a broken rotary wing.
10th December 2009.
|
The Netherlands
Train/lorry level crossing collision
Four people were hospitalised yesterday when a passenger train struck
a lorry laden with concrete sections which had become struck on a
level crossing near Houthem, the train driver was able to warn
passengers in advance of the need to apply emergency braking.
9th December 2009.
|
Germany
3 killed in Frankfurt air crash
A Beechcraft 90 light aircraft on a business trip from Bremen crashed
on landing at Egelsbach, Frankfurt, killing all 3 persons on board, no
immediate technical cause is known for the accident which occurred in foggy
conditions. 9th
December 2009.
|
Russia
Hydrogen leak explosion at petrochemical plant
An explosion occurred during depressurisation and a hydrogen leakage
at the catalyser & organic synthesis plant of Angarask Petrochemical
Company, a subsidiary of Rosneft, a 120m² roof section collapsed and 1
worker died in the accident which will be the subject of criminal
investigation. 8th
December 2009.
|
New Zealand
North Island worker killed in pulp machine
A worker died after being drawn through a roller machine at the Carter
Holt Harvey Tasman plant in Kawerau, Bay of Plenty, he was conscious
and still able to communicate with colleagues after becoming trapped
in the No 2 pulp machine but died later of his injuries.
8th December 2009.
|
USA
2 workers and 43 horses die in Ohio stables fire
Two stables workers, believed to be employees of Lebanaon Raceway, and
43 horses died in a fire at the Warren County Fairgrounds, 25 miles
northeast of Cincinnati, which features a harness racing track. The
collapse of the roof during the blaze made the fire-fighting
additionally hazardous.
7th December 2009.
|
Malaysia
Boiler explosion kills Sabah factory worker
A boiler exploded at a cooking oil factory in the Batu Sapi industrial
area of Sandakan at the weekend, killing 1 worker and leaving another
seriously injured.
7th December 2009.
|
South Korea
ADD researcher killed during ordnance testing
A 40-year old research worker of the Agency for Defence Development
was killed when a shell in a gun exploded during performance testing
at a military range in Pocheon, 30 miles northeast of Seoul, 5 other
people were injured. The explosion occurred after researchers had
inserted a fuse into the shell.
4th December 2009.
|
Serbia
Explosion in field kills farmer
A fatal accident is being investigated in Kacarevo, Pancevo
municipality, north Serbia, where a farmer died in an explosion when
he was clearing tyres from a field and a hand grenade exploded.
4th December 2009.
|
Singapore
Unsafe roof access led to fatal fall from height
Tat Ho Builder has been fined $100K(£43,509) over a fatal accident at
a house in Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore, where a subcontract worker of
New Sun Electrical Contractor died in a fall from the roof while
installing a lightning conductor.
The court heard that the worker had accessed the roof by timber
scaffolds intended for the use of painters and plasterers. The company
was deemed to have failed to provide training and safe system of work
and failed to appoint a competent safety person to oversee the project.
3rd December 2009.
|
Germany
Worms grain silo fires
It has taken 5 days for fire crews to extinguish the smouldering
remains of a grain silo fire at Global Malt premises in the
Rheindurkheim area of Worms. A number of people were badly injured
tackling the blaze which the chairman has indicated was caused by
safety failings.
The plant has a record of fires in recent years, last year a fireman
died during fire-fighting there.
3rd December 2009.
|
Switzerland
Roofer dies in fall off snow-covered roof
A roofer, aged 47, working on a chimney at a 2-storey property in
Wiedlisbach, Berne, died in a fall from the roof on Tuesday. He had
accessed the roof, which had a covering of snow on it, from a ladder
to the front of the house.
2nd December 2009.
|
USA
Fatal accident at Chicago water reclamation site
A worker's harness snagged on a Bobcat which dragged him down and ran
over him at the Calmut Water Reclamation facility on East 130th
Street, Chicago, where a fatal accident investigation is taking place.
2nd December 2009.
|
Belgium
Lorries collide on to permanent way in Antwerp
Two lorries collided on the Antwerp E34 ring road on Monday afternoon
and ran through a safety barrier near the Kennedy Tunnel and down on to the main railway line
between Antwerp and Ghent, both vehicles were travelling towards Knokke. Both drivers were injured but rail traffic on this busy line
was halted before a major accident occurred.
1st December 2009.
|
India
Workers treated for tritium exposure
A leakage of tritium occurred at a nuclear plant in Kaiga, on India's
west coast, the leakage contaminated a water container which saw 55
employees treated for an excessive exposure to radiation.
1st December 2009.
|
|
New Zealand
Farm quad bike rollover accident
A farmer was hospitalised in Christchurch with back injuries when his
quad bike rolled over on a gradient during weed control spraying on a
farm near Akaroa.
31st December 2009.
|
Russia
Triple fatality in restaurant explosion
A gas cylinder exploded in the Genatsvale restaurant in Tyumen,
causing 3 deaths and injuries to 6 others.
31st December 2009.
|
Italy
Training flight crash
A flight instructor and a 28-year old pupil have been hospitalised in
Milan with severe injuries when their light aircraft developed
technical problems and crashed in an emergency landing in a field in
Seregno, north of Monza, during a flight from Lugano to Orio al Serio
airport, Bergamo, to undertake night flight training.
30th December 2009.
|
Russia
Kamchatka cargo helicopter crash
One crew member of a Koryak Airlines Mi-8 helicopter has died and 2
were injured when it crashed during freight transportation between
Anavgi and Tigil on the Kamchatka peninsula, the flight coming down in
an emergency landing 45 miles from the settlement of Esso.
30th December 2009.
|
France
Speleologists rescued after 5 days in cave
A major rescue operation had a successful outcome in reaching 3
speleologists who had been trapped for 5 days 700 metres underground
in a cave in the La Pierre Saint- Martin massif in the Pyrenees after
water levels rose and cut off their exit.
29th December 2009.
|
India
Hazardous recovery work in crocodile-infested river
Rescue and recovery teams, including naval divers, were encountering
difficulties in their task on Friday at the site of the collapsed
timber bridge spanning the Chambal River in Rajasthan where 17 workers
died and 14 others were seriously injured. The precarious structural
collapse and the presence of crocodiles has restricted the recovery
work. 26th December
2009.
|
Austria
Vienna care home fire
Three pensioners were injured when a fire broke out in the room of a
care home in Esslinger Hauptstrasse in the Donaustadt district of
Vienna, 1 has severe burns.
26th December 2009.
|
Canada
Worker electrocuted in Toronto hotel
A contract worker was electrocuted on Wednesday in a boiler room on
the 15th floor of the Holiday Inn on Bloor Street West, Toronto.
24th December 2009.
|
Romania
Fishing vessel grounded in Danube Delta
A marine accident investigation has been taking place into the
grounding of the Korsun, a ship of the HoldAen Fish Ltd company of
Sevastapol which ran aground in the Danube Delta while sailing from
Giugiulesti in Moldova to Turkey, all 12 crew were safely evacuated to
Illichivsk, Ukraine, before the Korsun was taken on tow.
24th December 2009.
|
Ukraine
265 miners escape electrical fire
An electrical malfunction led to a fire 600 metres underground at the
Sukhodolska Skihidna mine of OJSC Krasnodonvuhillia(State Holding
Company), all 265 miners emerged safely a couple of hours after fire
crews had controlled the incident.
23rd December 2009.
|
Greece
Olive oil press explosion
An explosion at an olive oil press in Iraklio has left a worker in the
intensive care unit of a Crete hospital with serious burns, the cause
of the accident remains unknown.
23rd December 2009.
|
Belgium
Double CO fatality at Turnhout caravan park
A defective heater has caused 2 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning
in a caravan at a camping site on Roodhuisstraat, Turnhout, where they
were found dead by other residents on Monday.
22nd December 2009.
|
Vietnam
Petrol station worker dies in lorry accident
A worker at the Army Petrol Corporation on Quang Trung Street in Ho
Chi Minh City died from injuries after being struck by a falling
petrol pump when a rock-laden lorry went out of control and struck the
petrol pumps, causing an ensuing blaze.
22nd December 2009.
|
Canada
Transport fatality at Alberta removal company
An Alberta worker died in a crush accident at the weekend at a removal
company in Beaumont, 2 miles south of Edmonton, where he was attaching
a chain to a lorry to tow another one in snowy conditions. The sudden
movement of the one in tow left him trapped between both vehicles.
21st December 2009.
|
Russia
Cargo ship broke in two in Black Sea storm
All 13 crew members of the cargo ship Ara-1 have been safely rescued
after the ship broke in two in storm conditions off Sochi yesterday.
21st December 2009.
|
Spain
Demolition worker killed
A 31-year old demolition worker has died when a house being demolished
became unstable and the structure collapsed prematurely in Algemesi,
Valencia. 18th
December 2009.
|
England
Clothing dragged farm worker into power unit
A jury verdict of accidental death was recorded in respect of the
death of a 37-year old farm worker who died of injuries sustained
after being drawn into the power unit of a tractor while pumping
slurry from a pit on 13th February this year at Home Farm, Bevercotes,
Nottinghamshire.
It is believed that his clothing caught in the rotating drive between
the tractor and slurry tanker, his injuries saw him lose both arms and
fracture his skull and spine, an HSE inspector observed that the guard
the power take-off shaft was missing and the device reflected the wear
and tear of exposure to the elements.
18th December 2009.
|
Serbia
LPG explosion injures mechanics working on car
Two motor engineers were left with facial and upper body burns when a
gas explosion occurred while they were working on the installation of
the liquid petroleum gas tank of a car in a garage in Jagodina, the
gas had been seeping into the vehicle and became unstable.
17th December 2009.
|
Canada
Portable rig overturned on drill well site
A 39-year worker died this week when a portable oil service rig
overturned at the PetroBakken Energy site 2 miles northwest of Kisbey,
Saskatchewan, the victim was in the rig's crow's nest when the
instability occurred. 17th December 2009.
|
USA
Radio tower collapse kills New York maintenance worker
A maintenance worker has died in an accident during the securing of a
radio tower which collapsed in Dix, New York state.
16th December 2009.
|
England
Untrained roofer killed in fall at London site
A 24-year old contract worker died in a 7-metre fall through a fragile
roof while repairing roof lights on 31st January 2007 at premises on
the Mercury Centre Industrial Estate, Feltham.
At the City of London Magistrates' Court K-Line Logistics (UK) Ltd was
fined £15K plus £4,752 in costs after failing to assess the competence
of contractors, the victim had received no training as a roofer prior
to undertaking the job.
16th December 2009.
|
Malaysia
LPG leakage explosion kills gas
worker during testing
A gas contract worker was killed and 20 people were injured, 6
critically, in an explosion on Monday at the Aeon Jusco shopping
complex in Jalan Lagenda, Bachang, Malacca, during the testing of gas
pipelines to the food outlets at the precinct due to open to the
public on Thursday. 15th December 2009.
|
New Zealand
Company fined over workers'
drowning
Heron Construction has been
fined a total of $213K(£94,976) at Christchurch District Court over
the deaths of 2 workers on October 28th 2008 working on Christchurch's
off-shore waste pipeline project. The bodies of both drowned workers
were recovered but not their inflatable boat which was lost in a
southerly storm.
The company pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health & Safety in
Employment Act by failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the
safety of its employees and to the inflatable boat not having a valid
safe ship management certificate at the time.
On the day of the accident the company had been acting to help another
contractor in difficulty in the stormy conditions. 15th December 2009.
|
Egypt
4 tourists killed in level crossing crash
A minibus carrying European tourists from Hurghada on the Red Sea
collided with a train on an open level crossing between Safaga and
Kusiar on Sunday killing 4 of the tourists, the bus driver and 2
passengers survived and are in hospital in Safaga. 14th December 2009.
|
Canada
Falling timber hits Toronto site worker
The Ministry of Labour is investigating an accident on Sunday in which
a construction worker was struck by falling timber in a 10-metre deep
excavation at Laird Drive, Toronto, ambulance crews had to be lowered
into the trench to effect his rescue. 14th December 2009.
|
England
Fall from ladder led to leg amputation
A Yorkshire electrical engineer has been awarded £450K following a
disabling accident in which he fell more than 4 metres from a ladder
while removing external cabling from a house.
The employee of a Rotherham company managed to land upright but
fractured both ankles, one so severely that complications led to his
leg being amputated below the knee.
11th December 2009.
|
Belgium
Nurse in coma after tattoo
A 26-year old nurse from Wilrijk is in an induced coma in hospital,
full test results will be available today (Friday) to indicate if the
cause of her condition is bacterial infection from an ankle tattoo she
had in Hamme, the public prosecutor's office in Dendermonde is
overseeing the case.
11th December 2009.
|
Germany
Hamburg zoo handler mauled by tigers
An animal handler at Hamburg's Hagenbeck Zoo was left critically
injured after stumbling and losing control of tigers which mauled him
during a public event at the zoo.
10th December 2009.
|
Bahrain
Issue of working in lightning storms
A 28-year old construction worker was killed by lightning while
working on the roof of a house under construction in Hamad, 2 others
survived the strike. The Labour Ministry's occupational health &
safety head has said that there are no plans to institute stop-work
orders during lightning storms.
10th December 2009.
|
Northern Ireland
Appeal court reverses hospital worker's injury claim
A Court of Appeal judge has reversed a High Court judge's ruling and
awarded a hospital worker £3K in damages following an incident in
August 2006 involving the handling of clinical waste at Royal Victoria
Hospital, Belfast.
A ward bedside hygiene operator had feared he may have been
contaminated with a life-threatening disease and had developed an
adjustment disorder that he may have been exposed to grave risks. The
High Court judge had ruled it a trivial injury, no more than an
exposure to risk. The appeal court ruled " .. context is everything.
The plaintiff was injured by a non-sterile needle in a bag of
other items for disposal. It constituted hospital waste and it may
well have been contaminated by blood-borne organisms liable to cause
serious infection."
9th December 2009.
|
Bulgaria
Unsecured Turkish worker killed in 30m fall
An unsecured worker of Turkish contractor Nova Tech has died in a
30-metre fall from scaffolding during work to install glazing at the
Serdika Mall site on Sitnyakovo Boulevard, Sofia.
9th December 2009.
|
France
Ile-de-France light aircraft crash
The Orly air transport police is investigating a fatal accident in
which the 55-year old pilot of a light aircraft died in a crash in
woods near Coulommiers, Seine-et-Marne, on Monday. He had taken off
from Fontenay-Tresigny and is believed to have performed a loop before
soon being lost to radar.
8th December 2009.
|
Romania
Maintenance workers injured at military plant
A number of employees of E.OnGaz were hospitalised on Monday with
facial and hand burns injuries following an explosion in a gas-flow
panel at a military base in Sibiu,120 miles northwest of Bucharest.
8th December 2009.
|
Germany
Workers killed in basement gas explosion
Two Polish workers died and 2 others were badly injured in a gas
explosion at the weekend while working on the installation of a
bathroom in the basement of a house in St Ingbert, Saar.
7th December 2009.
|
Egypt
Nile ferry collision
The search of the Nile for missing bodies near Rashid where 2 ferries
collided was called off on Sunday with no additional casualties and
all persons accounted for. Initially it was feared that several dozen
people were missing when a passenger ferry with cars overturned in the
collision with another ferry which broke in two, it is alleged that
both boats were speeding towards Rashid when the collision occurred.
7th December 2009.
|
Syria
Tyre inflation explosion at Damascus petrol station
An explosion which killed 3 people, a bus driver and 2 workers at a
Damascus petrol station, is being reported as a workplace accident
attributed to over-inflation of a bus tyre which exploded.
4th December 2009.
|
Greece
School computer room fire
An electrical fault led to a fire in the computer room of a primary
school in Kalamata, southern Greece, no injuries were reported from
the accident which is under investigation.
4th December 2009.
|
Russia
Locomotive derailment at chemical plant
At 4am on Wednesday a locomotive derailed on an approach line to a
chemical concentrates plant in Novosibirsk, running on for 100 metres
and hitting an office block, no casualties or injuries were reported.
3rd December 2009.
|
England
Axle stand error killed mechanic
FW Abbott Ltd of Kettering has been fined £40,000 plus £25,000 in
connection with a June 2007 fatal accident in which an experienced
mechanic incorrectly deployed hydraulic lifts and an axle stand in a
combination that could not support the 24-tonne vehicle they
supported.
The four-axle, eight-wheel lorry was raised, but instead of
putting them on the front and fourth axles he put them on the front
and third axle. After raising the lorry, it is thought that the
deceased worker wanted to rotate the wheels on the third axle so he
placed a single tall axle stand under the middle fourth axle.
He then lowered the lifts so that the wheels on the third axle were
able to rotate, but it appears that as he went to adjust the brakes of
the third axle, the vehicle moved and the axle stand collapsed, and as
a result the lorry fell and killed him.
Two stands were available for use, the use of one only was inadequate
to support this part of the vehicle.
The employer had failed to train employees in a safe system of work
for raising and working beneath vehicles. 3rd
December 2009.
|
Poland
Fatal crane accident at Warsaw stadium
A crane lift failed and fell some 15 metres at the construction site
of a new sports stadium in Warsaw on Tuesday, killing 1 site worker
and leaving another badly injured.
2nd December 2009.
|
Dem Rep of Congo
Falling wall kills prisoners making escape bid
At least 4 prisoners died when a cell wall collapsed on them at the
Lufungula police barracks 1 mile from the centre of Kinshasa where a
number of prisoners had attempted an escape during a power cut.
2nd December 2009.
|
Australia
Company fined over quarry accident
At Victoria County Court Barro Proprietary Ltd has been fined $650K(£362,401) in
respect of a fatal accident at a quarry in Donnybrook, 20 miles north of
Melbourne, where a 39-year old rock crushing machine operator was
killed by a falling 1.3-tonne steel plate.
1st December 2009.
|
Singapore
Interpreting accident figures
Four construction companies have been fined a total of $220K(£96,692) over
accidents occurring this year at Housing & Development Board
construction sites, of 17 accidents recorded this year, a figure equal
to 2008, 2 were fatal. The figures are also to be read in the context
of 10% more projects than 2008.
1st December 2009.
|
|
Rep Ireland
Telecom worker's impalement in fall
The HSA is investigating a fall accident in which a Meteor telecom
worker became impaled on a fence after falling from a mobile phone
transmitter tower in Ballylane West, requiring life-saving treatment
in Wexford General Hospital.
31st December 2009.
|
USA
Falling plant kills Maryland worker
A John Deere Skid Steer vehicle became unstable and fell on a
maintenance worker, inflicting fatal injuries at Gladhill Tractor,
Frederick, Maryland.
30th December 2009.
|
Malta
Farmer injured in fall from tractor
A 79-year old farmer was badly injured in an accident after being
struck by his reversing tractor in Gozo, apparently after falling from
the vehicle. 30th
December 2009.
|
Spain
Fire on Madrid metro train
Five metro passengers were treated for smoke inhalation following a
fire on a train yesterday on Madrid Line 9, the accident occurred as
the train was approaching Principe de Vergara station when an
electrical fire was detected.
29th December 2009.
|
Canada
4 killed in Toronto scaffold collapse
Four unsecured workers died and a 5th was critically injured when
scaffolding failed at 13th storey level of housing on Kipling Avenue,
Toronto, on Thursday evening during balcony refurbishment work.
26th December 2009.
|
Peru
40 died in Cusco bus crash
At least 40 people died and a further 22 were injured when a coach of
Guapo Lindo travelling from Arequipa to Velille left the road at Km70
on the Espinar-Santo Tomas highway near Velille and fell 100 metres
down an embankment.
Given the time of the accident driver fatigue may have been a factor,
mechanical problems has also been speculated as a cause, the highways
are in very poor condition in this rural region. It is also believed
that passengers were travelling in the passageway against regulations.
26th December 2009.
|
China
Crush fatality at Hong Kong quarry
A worker has died and 2 others were injured when a 5-metre tall rock
crushing machine collapsed during dismantling yesterday at the
Anderson Road Quarry in Sau Mau Ping, Hong Kong.
24th December 2009.
|
Malaysia
Transport fatality
A 29-year old worker has been killed by a reversing lorry while
inspecting material on a forklift truck at a wire netting company in
Kota Kinabalu, northwest Borneo.
23rd December 2009.
|
Rep Ireland
Hot work accident at Dublin site
An investigation has been ongoing into a fire at the Guinness premises
in central Dublin, it is speculated that sparks from a roofer's
blowtorch may have ignited the felt roof, 2 firemen attended St James
Hospital for a check-up following an ammonia blast.
23rd December 2009.
|
France
Missing Devon fisherman search abandoned
Later on Monday the coastguard in Cherbourg announced that the search
for the Devon fisherman missing from the trawler Etoile des Ondes was
being called off, 3 survivors of the ship's collision with an as yet
unidentified vessel off Cherbourg are being treated in the town's
Pasteur hospital after being picked up by the ship Norman Voyageur in
a life raft some 20 miles north of Cherbourg.
22nd December 2009.
|
Singapore
Unstable load killed HGV driver
Yen Logistics Services was fined $70K(£30,986) in respect of a fatal
accident on 1st August 2007 in which a lorry driver died while
unloading steel pipes at Pasir Panjang Wharves.
Ministry of Manpower investigation established that no risk assessment
existed with regard to safe (un)loading from lorries and no
documentation existed regarding safe work practices. The pipes became
unstable as the driver released strapping securing the load which had
been stacked too high at the rear for safe transit or unloading.
22nd December 2009.
|
USA
Worker drowns in manhole at Denver Airport
A worker drowned in a fall into a 14-metre deep manhole at Denver
International Airport on Saturday, divers recovered his body from the
7-metres of water in the well used for air conditioning.
The 3m x 1.5m manhole does not feature emergency access ladders, it
remains unclear what activity the worker was undertaking at the time
of the accident.
21st December 2009.
|
England
Ill-prepared sailors rescued by
Humber lifeboat
In the early hours of Sunday the Humber lifeboat was launched to tow
the Lady 3, a 10-metre long motor cruiser, to Grimsby after it got
into difficulties at the mouth of the Humber in heavy sea and swell.
The boat had just been purchased and was making for London, but it's
compass and heating had failed, it lacked flares and its radio signal
was so weak that it was barely detectable to Yarmouth Coastguard. When
the lifeboat reached the Lady 3, it found the 2 crew in their 60's
both suffering from hypothermia in deteriorating weather conditions.
The Watch Manager at MRCC Yarmouth said; "We find it very hard to
believe anyone would put to sea in a small motor cruiser, so poorly
prepared, with little sea going knowledge, in the dead of night in
such conditions and with the weather forecast to get worse. My Watch
team and I do not think that they realise how dangerous the situation
was that they were in.
At one stage it seemed so unbelievable I thought we were dealing with
a hoax!
Their lives were probably saved by the fact they did break down and
were therefore not able to proceed further to sea and out of contact
range in such conditions."
21st December 2009.
|
England
Fire involving dangerous substances
At Preston Crown Court Veolia ES Cleanaway(UK)Ltd was fined £150K plus
£90K costs in respect of a fire at its Red Star Industrial Estate
premises in Longside Road, Preston.
The fire began in an area where containers of chemicals were stored,
the company pleaded guilty to breaching regs 6(3) and 9(1) of the
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regs 2002, having
failed to store dangerous chemicals safely, and failed to provide
adequate training from staff.
18th December 2009.
|
England
Labourer drowned at Brent site
At Westminster Magistrates' Court building contractor Chris
Byrne was fined £750 plus £750 costs following the drowning of a
21-year old labourer at a house extension site in Charterhouse Avenue,
Wembley. On 30th June 2006, the labourer, who had a limited
knowledge of english, had been directed to fill earth into areas
around concrete blocks adjacent to the extension and was shown by the
contractor that a board covered a 1.74-metre deep excavation pit. The
board was not replaced and later the labourer was found to have
drowned in the pit.
The contractor pleaded guilty to breaching reg.5(2) of the
Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare Regs) 1996.
An HSE inspector commented: “The labourer had little experience and
was left alone with an excavation pit that wasn’t properly guarded.
His death was clearly avoidable as the risks of excavations and
falling from height is well known.
Those running construction sites, whether they are domestic or
commercial jobs, have a duty of care to supervise vulnerable workers
on their sites.”
18th December 2009.
|
Australia
Boy's injuries highlight pool skimmer box dangers
A media conference took place yesterday beside a dwellinghouse
swimming pool to highlight the dangers of swimming pool skimmer boxes.
A 4-year old boy is recovering after sustaining abdominal injuries and
partial disembowelment, necessitating the wearing of a colostomy bag
for several months, after being injured when he sat on a skimmer box
in the family pool at a home in Gosnells, Perth. The skimmer box
filters leaves and dirt but older models may not have a safety skirt
or lid. 17th December 2009.
|
Canada
Worker killed at Ontario bridge site
The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating a fatal accident which
occurred at the old Bronte Road bridge site in Oakville, 25 miles west
of Toronto, where the Aecon Group is building a new bridge. A worker was using a
hand-operated stone cutter when a 2-metre x 3-metre concrete section
gave way and fell with him and crushed him. 17th December 2009.
|
Wales
Quarry owner failed to prevent trespass
At Cardiff Crown Court Tarmac Ltd, the owner of Cornelly Quarry,
Bridgend, was fined £10K plus £6,930-85 in costs after pleading guilty
to a breach of r.16 of The Quarries Regulations in respect of an
accident there in May 2008 in which a 15-year old trespasser broke an
elbow, wrist and chipped his pelvis in a 17-metre fall.
Dense hedging bounding the site with Heol y Splot had been removed
prior to site expansion, but when this was delayed temporary earth
banks were sited in place of it. Regulation 16 states: "The operator
shall ensure that, where appropriate, a barrier suitable for the
purpose of discouraging trespass is placed around the boundary of the
quarry and is properly maintained."
16th December 2009.
|
England
Mixer removed worker's fingers
Whilst attempting to clear meat from the opening of a mixer onto a
conveyor an employee of Ravendale Foods Limited amputated 2 fingers
when his hand came into contact with its blades.
The company from Consett, County Durham, was fined £7,500 plus £2,865
costs. Ravendale had failed to ensure suitable guarding was in place
on the machine and that staff were properly trained in how to use it.
The injured man was working as part of a makeshift overtime team and
was not doing his normal full-time job and had not received any
training in how to operate the mixer machine.
16th December 2009.
|
South Africa
Stair collapse at Joburg church
An investigation was ongoing on Monday at the Universal Church of the
Kingdom of God in central Johannesburg where a staircase collapsed at
the weekend injuring dozens of people, of the 8 hospitalised one is
listed in critical condition.
15th December 2009.
|
Indonesia
Jakarta school canopy collapses
during contract work
A canopy collapsed and injured 2 construction workers during
refurbishment work at SDN Lubang Buaya School in east Jakarta,
the collapse also brought down some supporting pillars and wall
section. 15th December 2009.
|
Thailand
Factory emission issue
On Saturday 2 workers were hospitalised after inhaling gas from a
recently closed factory on the Map Ta Phut industrial estate in
Rayong, east Thailand, the factory, like a number of other projects,
has been temporarily closed by the Administration Court pending
reports expected to be received this week from a panel regarding
Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) and Health Impact Assessment(HIA)
reviews.
14th December 2009.
|
England
Death on Gloucestershire farm
Daylesford Organic Farms near Moreton-in-Marsh has admitted failures that permitted an accident in which a
57-year old employee died.
In June 2007, the deceased was being supported in the bucket of a telehandler for the purpose of harvesting elderflowers from hedgerows.
Whilst doing so he fell and was run over by the telehandler.
Daylesford had permitted the bucket of the JCB Loadall to be used as a
means of transport and for access to and a working platform for work
at height; caused or permitted the JCB Loadall to be driven by and/or
used by persons who had not been properly trained or instructed in its
correct use; failed to ensure that the work at height was carried out
using suitable safe plant; and failed to provide suitable instruction,
training and supervision as to safe methods of working at height.
It was fined £65,000 with costs of £27,500.
14th December 2009.
|
England
Telehandler killed worker
P J Carey (Contractors) Ltd of Wembley, Middlesex, has admitted
breaching r.15(2) of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare)
Regulations 1996 and been fined £54,000 with costs of £100,000, at
Aylesbury Crown Court.
The prosecution followed a July 2006 industrial accident in which a
man died of injuries sustained when he was struck by a reversing
telehandler on a building site in Aylesbury.
The deceased was employed by a contractor, main contractor PJ Carey
failed to maintain an effective traffic management plan, which would
have ensured pedestrian areas and vehicle areas were clearly
segregated and marked.
11th December 2009.
|
England
Lab explosion at Liverpool University
An explosion during an experiment involving tolypridine n-oxide,
dimothy sulphate and perchloric acid led to an explosion on Wednesday
in the chemistry department of Liverpool University, the HSE is to
investigate the accident in the 1st floor where 2 people were
hospitalised after being struck by flying glass shards.
10th December 2009.
|
England
Falmouth Docks accident verdict
The Deputy Coroner for Cornwall has recorded a verdict of accidental
death in respect of a fatal accident on 15th December last year at
Falmouth Docks where a lorry driver was buried under a 22-tonne load
of coal.
A lever had apparently jammed and the rungs of the lorry's tailgate
opened, the coroner observed that the driver may have accidentally
kicked 1 rung off as he walked to he tailgate, the 2nd falling down of
its own accord.
10th December 2009.
|
Scotland
Offshore rig accident
Shetland Coastguard has uplifted a man to hospital from the Stena Spey
twin-pontoon semi-submersible offshore drilling unit 70 miles north of
Aberdeen, his condition was not known.
9th December 2009.
|
England
Colliery fatality in Yorkshire
Two men were injured in an incident at Maltby Colliery in Rotherham on
Monday evening, one of them fatally.
The 52-year old man died at the scene after reportedly falling down a
shaft. 9th December
2009.
|
England
Tragic folly of forklift driver
An employee of haulage business Joda Freight of Cross Hills,
Yorkshire, has been prosecuted under S.7 of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974 for his part in a March 2006 fatal industrial
accident in which he permitted a colleague to use the forks of the
truck he was driving as an impromptu lift to access pallets on the
second deck of a two-tier lorry. The colleague, aged 48, slipped and
fell, sustaining injuries to which he later succumbed.
The operator was fined £1,500 with costs of £1,000.
8th December 2009.
|
Germany
Nitrogen explosion at ice cream parlour
Monday's investigation of a nitrogen gas explosion in the basement of
Cafe Santin in Wernigerode, Sachsen-Anhalt, has concluded that a
leakage of 100 litres of coolant occurred following maintenance work
on the ice cream parlour's refrigeration units on Friday. The
explosion led to the evacuation of 3K people.
8th December 2009.
|
Rep Ireland
Westmeath quarry fatality
HSA is investigating a fatal accident at the weekend in which a worker
died after becoming trapped under a fallen digger at Hazelwood quarry
in Kilbeggan, Westmeath.
7th December 2009.
|
China
3 crew missing in East China Sea
A ship laden with sand has capsized in the east China Sea off the
coast of Dongshan, Fujian Province, 3 crew members are missing.
7th December 2009.
|
USA
Boy hit by falling beam in gym
A 13-year old school pupil was critically injured by a falling
steel beam from the rafters during a gym session at the McMillan
Magnet Centre in Omaha where workers were on a lift maintaining a
hoist for wrestling mats. A spokesperson for Omaha Public Schools
confirmed a lack of safety barriers demarcating the work area.
7th December 2009.
|
USA
Unsecured workers injured in fall from stadium roof
Two maintenance workers have been hospitalised in Arlington, Texas,
with severe injuries after falling more than 20 metres from the roof
to a lower level at the Cowboys Stadium on Thursday, neither worker
was harnessed. 4th
December 2009.
|
Singapore
Unsecured load comes through cab in emergency braking
On Thursday an HGV driver had a remarkable escape when heavy
industrial pipes crashed through the rear window of his cab and
through the windscreen when he had to apply emergency braking in
Clementi Avenue.
4th December 2009.
|
Rep Ireland
Inquest verdict over Wexford waste facility electrocution
An inquest verdict of accidental death was recorded in respect of the
electrocution of a Polish worker of Keating & Doyle Concrete who died
in an accident in April 2007 at the Murray Waste facility in Ferns,
Wexford, when a metal pole contacted overhead power lines and killed
the worker who was on a float.
3rd December 2009.
|
England
Scaffolding standards
unacceptable
Pullan Development (Selby) Ltd based in Sheffield has admitted two
breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 in relation to poorly
erected scaffolding at the Sheffield Ski Village construction site in
Parkwood Springs for which it has been fined £15,000 with £5,000
costs.
HSE says the company failed to respond to repeated warnings about its
standard of scaffolding and on 13th October 2008 at the Ski Village
site people were observed working on scaffolding that was extremely
unsafe and posed a risk of serious, if not fatal, injuries.
3rd
December 2009.
|
Algeria
Worker falls 50 metres from grain silo
A 58-year old worker, believed to a be a sub-contractor from a French
company in Calvados, Normandy, was killed in a 50-metre fall at a
grain silo site yesterday in Bejaia, 120 miles east of Algiers.
2nd December 2009.
|
Austria
Viennese worker dies in fall from scaffold
A 4-storey fall from scaffolding at a house site on Rautenstrauchgasse
in the Simmering district of Vienna has killed a 43-year unsecured
construction worker.
2nd December 2009.
|
Japan
Spectator injured by media vehicle
A woman sustained a fractured cheekbone in an accident in
Geisei, Kochi, when a golf cart with Tokyo Broadcasting Services
equipment and being driven by a TBS employee hit a spectator gallery
at a sports event.
1st December 2009.
|
England
Man killed by mechanical grab
A man died at a scrapyard in Sholing, Southampton, in August 2007 when
the vehicle he was in was crushed by a mechanical grab. The deceased's
brother tried to warn the grab operator, who had just returned to work
after his lunch break, that the vehicle was occupied, but his
communication was misinterpreted.
James Huntley & Sons Ltd of Sholing, Southampton, admitted breaching
S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and r.3(6) of the
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for which it
was fined £50,000 with costs of £34,373.
An HSE official commented: “This was a truly tragic miscommunication
that led to a man’s death. Had simple measures been in place to
control site access and let members of the public know where they
should and shouldn’t go, this awful incident would probably never have
happened. Recycling sites are dangerous work environments. As such,
warning notices, communication of site rules, and the use of high
visibility clothing, should all be used to set clear expectations for
the behaviour of visitors.”
1st December 2009.
|
|
England
CO death in Derbyshire
A suspected carbon monoxide death is being investigated at the village
of Stanley Common in Derbyshire where a 50-year old man has died and
his wife was left in critical but stable condition.
31st December 2009.
|
Wales
Inquest opened on boy motorcyclist
An inquest into the death of a 5-year old boy who died from head
injuries following an accident on Sunday at ground adjacent to the
cattle market in Carmarthen has been opened and adjourned.
30th December 2009.
|
England
Accidental death of building worker
A Shrewsbury jury has determined accidental death after hearing the
circumstances surrounding the death of a 40-year old building worker
who was crushed in a building collapse during demolition work at Moor
Park School in Richard's Castle, Shropshire in August 2007.
30th December 2009.
|
England
Girl dies at Northants activity centre
A 6-year old girl collapsed and died in the restaurant area at the Berzerk children's
activity centre in Moulton Park, Northampton, in an incident believed
to be natural causes, further details may be available today(Tuesday)
following Monday's post-mortem.
29th December 2009.
|
Wales
Boy killed in tractor accident on Dyfed-Powys farm
HSE is investigating a fatal accident at Pengoilan Farm in Bethlehem,
Carmarthenshire, where a 6-year old boy died in an accident believed
to involve a tractor.
26th December 2009.
|
England
Recovery driver killed in Cheshire
The driver of a recovery wagon has died after being struck by a
passing car as he worked on a breakdown. The accident occurred on
Monday morning on the M60 near Sale.
24th December 2009.
|
England
Large pool of petrol result of
failures
Vopak London Terminal BV Limited of West Thurrock has been prosecuted
following a July 2007 incident in which a large quantity of petrol
formed when it leaked from a tanker being loaded. A shut-off valve
failed when it became blocked by debris, preventing it from closing.
The situation that developed was described by the HSE as 'very
serious' with the potential to cost many lives.
Vopak admitted breaching r.4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards
Regulations 1999, it had failed to: provide suitable and sufficient
controls to prevent a gasoline spill;
undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for large gasoline
spills; provide and manage an adequate emergency shutdown procedure;
suitable and sufficient controls to prevent a discharge of static
electricity; suitable and sufficient training and information
regarding gasoline spill hazards to tanker drivers.
Vopak was fined £50,000 with costs of £19,136.
23rd December 2009.
|
England
Risk assessment failed injured worker
The lack of an appropriate risk assessment proved critical in an
accident in February 9th 2007 in which a Stanlow oil refinery employee
sustained multiple injuries including a fractured spine, shoulder,
pelvis and ribs when a cage laden with 0.5t of rubble became unstable
and fell 10 metres down on him.
Shell UK Oil Products, his employer Dalprop Ltd (prev SG Blair & Co)
and subcontractor Hertal UK all admitted breaching health and safety
regulations, for which sentence will be passed on January 4th 2010.
As a regenerator had been closed for maintenance, a hoist with a steel
cage had been constructed to bring rubble down to ground level but a
rope attached to the cage snagged on a scaffolding structure. One of
the boards became dislodged and the cage, suspended over an access way
on the site, fell. Neither Shell nor SG had considered that lifting
equipment was to be deployed and it was not risk assessed at the
outset. 23rd
December 2009.
|
United Kingdom
10 ships detained in port last
month
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency reports that its surveyors
detained 10 ships during November after they failed Port State Control
Inspections.
One vessel, a tug flagged in Portugal had 19 deficiencies and 4
grounds for detention. It was detained for 9 days in Southampton, it
had several life jackets that were found to have improperly attached
lights; the records of rest were inaccurate and false despite
this being a deficiency that had been identified during the last port
state inspection; the maintenance of the ship and equipment was not
according to SMS; the watertight door between the engine room and
steering flat had been tied back with rope; there were oily rags in
the flat bilges and there were unterminated electrical cables at the
aft end of the port main engine.
Of the detained vessels, 6 were registered with flag states listed on
the Paris MOU (Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control)
white list, 4 were registered with flag states on the black list.
23rd December
2009.
|
England
Worker survived 8-metre fall
While working for a contractor repairing a roof two men were moving
across it using a crawling board when one fell 8 metres to the
building floor below. The incident occurred on 8th October last year
at industrial premises in Small Heath, Birmingham.
The equipment provided for the men and the system of work used was
inadequate, the injured worker's colleague was found to be
inadequately trained for the work undertaken.
The contractor was fined £3,500 plus £1,408 costs having breached
r.4(1)(c) and r.6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and S.3(2)
of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
22nd December 2009.
|
England
Employee fell from moving vehicle
On 18th March last year whilst unloading HGV's at a distribution
centre in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, a 53-year old employee of
Tuffnells Parcels Express Ltd of Sheffield was standing in the back of
a lorry when the driver unexpectedly pulled away from the loading
dock.
He fell to the ground from a height of about 1.3 metres, fracturing
his thigh bone.
Tuffnells was fined £35,000 with £5,134 in costs at Bedfordshire
Magistrates’ Court. The company was aware that someone could be inside
the back of a vehicle when it drove off and had produced a risk
assessment to be issued to new drivers with their employment
contracts, but the driver had not received a contract and had not seen
the risk assessment.
A simple control system to prevent the driver from pulling away from
the loading bay could have been implemented, eg. a key cabinet with
restricted access or giving the keys to the porter until loading was
complete. 22nd
December 2009.
|
Northern Ireland
Man died at sawmill
Balcas Timber Limited has been fined £50,000 plus £6,623 costs, having
been prosecuted for safety failures relating to the death in an
industrial accident of a maintenance fitter on 31st May 2006 at its
Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, premises.
The deceased employee died of crush injuries when the conveyor he was
working on was unexpectedly started by a colleague, the company had
failed to implement systems that would have controlled risks and
prevented the accident.
21st December 2009.
|
England
Employee was crushed between
buses
In May 2004, as an employee of Centrewest London Buses Ltd, part of
the First Group, stepped between 2 buses at its Uxbridge Bus Garage,
one of them lurched backwards, fatally injuring him.
The accident only occurred because traffic management was poor and
required drivers to walk between closely parked buses manoeuvring to
leave the garage. The bus that moved had a defective gear selector, as
had others in the garage.
Centrewest was fined £400,000 plus as yet undetermined costs.
21st December 2009.
|
England
Accidental death of care home client
A 40-year old woman suffering from Huntingdon's disease died after she
fell down between a bed side and a mattress after a bed rail detached
at Sue Ryder Care's home in Bamber Bridge, Lancs.
An HSE inspector declared the bed to be in 'extremely poor condition'
and raised matters with management concerning procedures and training.
An inquest jury determined accidental death.
18th December 2009.
|
England
Laser incident troubles air ambulance
service
A laser beam shone into the eyes of the pilots of an air ambulance as
it prepared to land at the University Hospital in Coventry on
Wednesday, endangering the pilots and the badly injured man they were
transporting after he fell from a scaffolding structure.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is to recommend to the Secretary of
State that Article 135 of the Air Navigation Order be amended to make
it an offence to shine lights at aircraft. The CAA has received 522
reports of laser or high-power light incidents since mandatory
occurrence reporting came into effect.
18th December 2009.
|
Scotland
Glasgow tower block fire death
A man has died and 2 women suffered severe smoke inhalation following
an outbreak of fire on the 5th floor of a high rise block of Glasgow
Housing Association flats in the Gorbals.
The fire started at 3am yesterday and was extinguished after 4
hours of firefighting.
17th December 2009.
|
England
Serious injuries as vehicle load
strikes bus
A bus toppled over yesterday morning after it was struck by the
protruding load of rail sections being transported by an HGV in
Battersea,London. Fifteen persons required to be taken to hospital, 3
are seriously injured, the HGV driver has been arrested. 17th December 2009.
|
England
Injured worker dies
The workman who was injured last week in an industrial accident on the
Westfield Stratford City retail construction site has died. The man,
an employee of Firesafe Installations Limited, was crushed between an
elevating platform and structural steel. 17th December 2009.
|
England
Company failed to report injury
KTC (Edibles) Ltd has been fined £12,500 plus £2,388 costs having
admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974
and r.3(2) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulations 1995 following a number of offences at its
West Bromwich premises.
In February last year, a mezzanine floor collapsed, causing injury to an
employee when he was trapped between bags of rice and beans. After the
incident an HSE inspector who was not informed of the injury advised
on edge protection around the opening, but the advice was not acted
upon and a prohibition notice followed. Several other safety issues
were of concern to the official were raised.
An HSE official commented: “This company showed scant regard for health
and safety practice, putting their employees at risk of serious
injury, if not death. The management of KTC Edibles Ltd had ample
opportunity to report the incident to the visiting authorities."
16th December 2009.
|
England
Motorist died in crash with
unlit contractor's vehicle
Cumbrian Industrials Ltd of Bristol has been fined £65,000 plus as yet
undetermined costs for its involvement in a fatal road traffic
accident in May 2004.
The deceased's vehicle struck an unlit contractor’s vehicle parked on
the hard shoulder of the M6, just past junction 35 near Carnforth.
Investigation found inconsistency in traffic cone positioning leading
to uncertainty as to which lane should be used.
An HSE official commented: “The company should have carefully planned
and co-ordinated the work of its subcontractors. A new route through
the roadworks should not have been opened until the carriageway was
clear of obstructions and the correct signs and cones were in place."
16th December 2009.
|
Scotland
Roads workers struck by car
Three workmen were injured yesterday when they were struck by a
passing vehicle in Aberdeenshire. The accident occurred on the A90
near Charleston, reports say at least one has a major injury but none
have life-threatening injuries. 15th December 2009.
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England
Teenager dies at go-karting
venue
An 18-year old female has died from injuries received last Thursday
while go-karting at the Cambridgeshire Raceway in Caxton.
Accounts state she was wearing a scarf which became entangled and
inflicted a neck injury. 15th December 2009.
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England
£20,000 fine for printer
Colpac Ltd of Flitwick, Beds, and
two of its directors have been fined for a number of infringements of
safety law in August 2008.
A 20-year old female employee attempting
to retrieve a carton blocking a window-patching machine caught her arm
between two rollers, suffered bruising and cuts to her left arm.
During the investigation of the incident a number of other safety
issues resulted in 5 prohibition and 4 improvement notices.
The company was fined £17,000 for breaching S.2(1) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974, £3,000 for breaching r.11 of the
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, plus £5,129
costs.
Its operations director admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £3,000, a manager admitted
breaching S.7 of the same Act and was fined £800.
14th December 2009.
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England
Beam fell on worker
A 37-year old worker died after he was crushed by a steel beam at the
Colnbrook premises of Lakeside Energy in Slough.
During August last year, the deceased with 4 colleagues were
positioning the steel section when it fell 5 metres. An inquest
narrative verdict stated that the absence of a written method
statement contributed to the accident. 14th December 2009.
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United Kingdom
Rail incidents
A car driver was seriously injured yesterday when his vehicle was
struck by a train as he negotiated a level crossing at Tunstead,
Norfolk.
The crossing has an automated barrier, he is listed in serious
condition in hospital.
In Edinburgh's Waverley Station a teenager received serious head and
leg injuries when he was struck by a train on platform 8 yesterday.
11th December 2009.
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England
Housing Society and plumber
fined
Severn Vale Housing Society Limited, of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire,
has been fined £50,000 with costs of £7,500 in connection with an
incident in which a tenant died following boiler explosion at a
residential property in Twyning in November 2007.
The Society engaged a self-employed
plumber to decommission a boiler there, but he failed to fully drain
it and an explosion occurred when the deceased lit a fire.
The plumber was fined £7,500 with £1,500 costs.
10th December 2009.
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England
Unexploded bomb unearthed in Leeds
Bomb disposal experts yesterday made safe a WW2 bomb discovered by an
excavator on a site in Hunslet, Leeds.
10th December 2009.
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England
Man killed in fall
A man in his 50's has fallen to his death from a ladder as he worked
on a residential property in Cranswick Grove, Hull. One account states
he was an employee of Kier Building Maintenance and was working on a
contract for Hull City Council.
9th December 2009.
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England
Workman injured in Manchester
explosion
A workman sustained burns injuries in an incident at the site of the
disused Withington Hospital. There has been speculation that a gas
main had been breached and several buildings nearby were
evacuated. 9th
December 2009.
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England
Workman shocked by cable
It is reported that a workman was badly shocked on Sunday at retail
premises on Yorkshire Street, Oldham. One account states that he was a
construction worker in his 30's and was listed as stable in hospital
after the accident involving an extension cable.
8th December 2009.
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England
Van was loaded with asbestos
waste
A multi-agency inspection of vehicles on the A1 at Boston Spa
discovered a load of asbestos- containing materials in an untaxed and
uninsured van.
It is speculated that the vehicle, which had no MOT and had a man
sitting on top of it without respiratory protection, was conveying its
load to an illegal dumping place.
8th December 2009.
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United Kingdom
Level crossing focus by
regulator
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is to embark on a number of
initiatives aimed at reducing the risks of accidents at level
crossings, in particular level crossing misuse which poses a safety
risk to those travelling by rail, road and foot.
An ORR spokesperson said: "Recent incidents at level crossings have
increased concerns over their safety. That is why we are undertaking
extensive work aimed at reducing the risk of accidents at all types of
level crossings. We will also inspect all 128 automatic open level
crossings across Britain and have advised Network Rail to review line
speed at AOCLs in line with industry guidelines."
7th December 2009.
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England
Men inhaled radioactive contamination
Sellafield Ltd has been fined £75,000 with costs of £26,100 at
Carlisle Crown Court after breaching health and safety law in an
incident in which two contractors inhaled radioactive contamination on
11th July 2007 at Sellafield Nuclear Licensed Site in Cumbria.
During the removal of a patch of concrete floor, the drilling required
caused plutonium in the dust generated to be inhaled by the
workmen. 7th
December 2009.
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England
Death at refrigeration works
It is reported that an employee of George Barker, refrigeration
engineers of Bradford, has died in an industrial accident in an
incident involving storage units.
4th December 2009.
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England
Passenger vessel had no serviced
liferaft
The owner of a Class V passenger vessel has been prosecuted and
admitted proceeding on voyages without a serviced liferaft and an out-
of-date hydrostatic release. The owner will appear at Truro Crown
Court on the 6th January 2010 for sentencing.
The offences came to light during an audit by the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency, a spokesman for whom said: “Sailing without
properly serviced or maintained lifesaving equipment is totally
unacceptable. The owner should have had systems in place to ensure
that this did not happen. It is also of great concern that attempt was
made to disguise the fact that the liferaft was 9 months overdue for a
service.”
4th December 2009.
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England
Track worker dies in railway
accident
An employee of Network Rail has died on the permanent way at Whitehall
Junction, Wortley, near Leeds station after he was struck by a train
yesterday morning.
3rd December 2009.
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England
Metal working fluid mist a
problem at engineers
Koyo Bearings (Europe) Ltd has been fined £20,000 with £15,280 costs
at Barnsley Magistrates Court for exposing employees between 12th
December 2007 and 8th May 2008 to a metal working fluid mist,
generated by more than 100 metal work machines. The company had
nothing in place to contain or extract the mist away from its workers.
An HSE official commented: "Research shows that exposure to metal
working fluids in this way can cause serious respiratory conditions,
and the large number of cases of illness of this type at the company
is shocking."
3rd December 2009.
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England
Fatal accident at Lancs bar
An employee at the Baroque Bar in Northgate, Blackburn, has died after
falling down a flight of stairs leading to a cellar early Sunday
morning,
Darwen Council is investigating the 35-year old woman's death.
2nd December 2009.
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Wales
Hoist accident claimed life of
disabled man
A 54-year old paralysed man died after he became entangled in his
hoist as he used it to enter his bed at home in Newport. He died from
positional asphyxia, a Coroner's Court deemed it an accidental death.
The Coroner is to write to Newport Council to ask them to consider
supplying neck pendants for use in such emergencies. It is speculated
that the equipment's hand-held controller fell on the floor beyond his
immediate reach.
1st December 2009.
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England
Cars detached from ride that was in
very poor state of repair
In November 2007, several cars on a 'Hellraiser' ride detached,
injuring several persons including a woman who suffered multiple
injuries at the Suffolk Big Night Out.
Despite its condition, an independent fairground inspector failed to
identify its poor state resulting from its poor maintenance.
The ride owner was fined £2,000, the inspector and his company were
fined £2,000 with £1,000 costs, and £8,000 fine with £1,000 costs
respectively.
An HSE official commented: "Some of
the key structural components had deteriorated to such an extent that
they were no longer safe and had been inappropriately repaired over a
significant period of time. Neither the owner of the ride nor the
examiner took appropriate action to remedy this problem, which
ultimately resulted in the ride collapsing."1st
December 2009.
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