Australia
Workers sprayed with sulphuric acid
Four workers sustained burns, 3 of them listed in serious condition,
when a sulphuric acid pipe burst at Millenium Inorganic Chemicals on
the Kemerton Industrial Estate in Australind. One of the workers has
45% burns and has undergone surgery in Perth.
26th
February 2010.
|
Singapore
Company and director fined over hot work fatality
Peakmore Enterprise, a processor of steel material, has been fined
$50K for a breach of the Workplace Safety & Health Act in respect of
an accident in May 2008 in which an employee engaged in hot metal work
died in a flash fire accident.
The worker was cutting with an Oxy-Acetylene torch in an open yard
where drums were being crushed for disposal when the flash fire
occurred, he sustained extensive burns and died in hospital 10 days
later. Investigation established that leaks were found at the valves
of the torch cylinders and at the connection of the hose and torch. No
one had been assigned maintenance duties for the hot works equipment
and the company was charged with failing to implement adequate safety
measures in the use of gas-cutting torches and the crushing of drums.
A director was also fined $20K for a failure to exercise due diligence
in his capacity as director to ensure that adequate safety measures
for work were in place.
26th
February 2010.
|
USA
Orlando theme park worker killed by orca
A female worker at Sea World Orlando has died in an attack by the
killer whale Tilikum at the Shamu Stadium theme park. It is believed
that she was briefing the audience prior to the show when the whale
rose and seized her around the waist, Tilikum is the largest orca in
captivity. 25th
February 2010.
|
Austria
Discharged hospital patient lay dead for 4 months
An investigation has been launched following the discovery of the body
of a 69-year old man who lay dead in his house in Neunkirchen for 4
months. He had been admitted to hospital in October for treatment for
a life-threatening condition but was later discharged.
25th
February 2010.
|
The Netherlands
Prisoner tunnels to freedom from Breda jail
A 35-year old female inmate
serving a jail sentence for murder escaped from a rehabilitation unit
in Breda by apparently tunnelling from under a cellar space in the
kitchen and out under a pavement, it is believed that an accomplice
outside had assisted by removing paving stones where the tunnel
emerged. 24th
February 2010.
|
India
Falling beam kills Bangalore worker
A worker has died after being struck by a falling beam during
renovation work on a domestic property on KR Road, Jayanagar,
Bangalore, a colleague survived but sustained a number of fractures.
24th February 2010.
|
Malta
2 workers missing in fireworks factory explosion
An explosion on Monday evening at the St Sebastian Fireworks Factory
in Qormi left 2 workers missing and feared dead under the rubble, 2
other workers were treated for injuries in hospital. 23rd February 2010.
|
Peru
39 dead in double bus collision
At least 39 people died and 56 were injured in the head-on collision
of an America Express bus and a Crisolito bus on the Panamerican
highway in Viru, it has been alleged that the former was overtaking a
lorry and trailer when the accident happened. 23rd February 2010.
|
Brazil
Long delay in rescue after sail-training ship capsize
Concern has been expressed over the time taken by Brazilian
authorities to respond to the capsize of a school sailing ship in a
microburst 350 miles off Rio de Janeiro, an accident which saw the 16
crew and 48 students take to life rafts and spend more than 36 hours
adrift prior to their safe rescue.
The students were participating in the Class Afloat programme on the
3-mast SV Concordia of West Island College International of Nova
Scotia which had left Brazil on February 8th and was due in Montevideo
on Tuesday. The freak and sudden downdraft of wind capsized the boat
but a mayday was issued and the authorities should have been able to
act from the boat's EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio
Beacon). 22nd February 2010.
|
The Netherlands
Wheelchair patient died in care home stair fall
The Inspectie voor de Gezondheitszorg (Health Care) is investigating
an accident which led to the death of a patient in a Swinhove Group
care home in Zwijndrecht in which the patient in a wheelchair
negotiated a door operated by staff code and subsequently fell down a
stairway. 22nd February 2010.
|
Spain
2 killed in separate MEWP accidents
Two fatal accidents involving MEWPs (mobile elevating work platforms)
have occurred in Madrid this week.
At a site in Estambul Street in Alcorcon a 28-year old Romanian worker
died when a MEWP he was operating became unstable and overturned as he
attempted to negotiate a ramp, he died of severe injuries to the
thorax.
Earlier this week a worker died in a similar MEWP accident in Delco
Street, Leganes, Madrid has now recorded 12 workplace deaths in 2010. 19th February 2010.
|
Germany
Teacher stabbed to death
Police in Ludwigshafen have made an arrest, believed to be a 23-year
old male, following the death of a teacher who died from knife wounds
in an attack yesterday at a technical college in the Mundenheim area
of Ludwigshafen. 19th February 2010.
|
Austria
Worker's legs severed in shunting accident
A 33-year old worker's legs were severed just above the ankle
yesterday in an accident at the Voestalpine premises in Linz where he
lost his balance while attempting to place a chock on the tracks
during the shunting of wagons.
18th February 2010.
|
Canada
Worker drowns in ramp collapse at BC port
An employee of Seaspan Coastal Intermodal has died when a ramp on
which he was working to prepare for the arrival of a ship failed at
Tilbury Terminal south of Vancouver, coastguard divers recovered his
body. 18th February 2010.
|
USA
Wisconsin worker killed by falling material
A fatal accident occurred on Tuesday at Galland, Henning and Nopak Inc
in West Milwaukee where a falling metal sheet killed a 57-year old
worker at the plant which manufactures scrap processing equipment and
pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders.
17th February 2010.
|
The Netherlands
Amsterdam care home fire
A fire broke out in a room on the 2nd floor of the 7-storey Nieuw
Vredenburgh care home of Cordaan in Amsterdam, 20 residents were
evacuated and 8 required hospitalisation, 3 being detained.
17th February 2010.
|
Belgium
SPAD suspected in rail collision
While no cause for the head-on collision of 2 trains at Buizingen
yesterday was immediately available, it increasingly appeared that the
Leuven-Braine-le-Comte train, which struck the Quievrain-Liege
Guillemins train, had passed a red light. It was also a matter for
conjecture that a power failure may have caused signal failure and the
SPAD (signal passed at danger) incident which has claimed 18 lives and
left many others injured.
16th February 2010.
|
Austria
Arboreal fatality during felling
Police in Karnten attended a fatal accident yesterday in which a
44-year old worker died after being struck by a falling timber section
during tree felling in Prossinggraben.
16th February 2010.
|
Nigeria
Bus passengers electrocuted by falling power line
At least 11 people have died when a 33KW overhead cable of Power
Holding Company of Nigeria came down in heavy rains and contacted a
bus in the Trans-Amadi area of Port Harcourt, electrocuting passengers
and inflicting burns injuries on others.
15th February 2010.
|
Bolivia
Falling rock kills sleeping youth in La Paz
The 14-year old son of a European family has been killed after a
20-tonne section of rock dislodged in torrential rain and virtually
demolished the family house in the Amor de Dios suburb of south La
Paz, the other 4 family members survived with varying injuries. 15th February 2010.
|
Japan
Directors charged over negligence in nursing home fire
Two executive directors have been charged with allegations of
neglecting to conduct fire drills and upgrade fire-fighting equipment
at Tamayura nursing home in Shibukawa where 10 patients died in a fire
last March.
12th February 2010.
|
Norway
Military base fire
A fire at the Terningmoen military base,west Elverum, saw 70 personnel
evacuated and 3 warehouse buildings, including a weapons depot,
destroyed.
12th February 2010.
|
Brazil
Media helicopter crash in Sao Paulo
A Record Television news AS-350BA helicopter crashed on Wednesday
morning on Marginal Pinheiros near the Sao Paulo Jockey Club
racecourse, the pilot died and an accompanying cameraman was
hospitalised with serious injuries. The helicopter, along with a Globo
helicopter, was monitoring traffic for police following a bank robbery
on Avenida Morumbi in the south of the city. The Record pilot
indicated to his Globo colleague that he was experiencing rotor tail
problems and would attempt an emergency landing at the racecourse.
When the Globo pilot reached the crash scene he deactivated the fuel
pump and battery of the crashed helicopter, manufactured by Eurocopter
France, to prevent an explosion.
11th February 2010.
|
Spain
Falling material kills Seville site worker
A worker was killed by a falling concrete section at the site of a
former olive processing plant in an industrial estate in Marchena, 40
miles south of Seville.
11th February 2010.
|
South Africa
15 die in KwaZulu-Natal orphanage fire
A fire in the Hope in Christ Home orphanage in eNgogo, KwaZulu-Natal,
has killed at least 15 people, with possibly a further 4 unaccounted
for, much documentation was lost in the fire.
The premises are administered by the Department of Social Development.
Fire investigators from Pretoria are seeking clues of the cause of the
blaze.
10th February 2010.
|
USA
Chemical reaction in paint stripping solution
A worker sustained severe burns in an explosion yesterday morning at
Quality Surface Processing in Schofield, Wisconsin, during paint stripping from
metal which involved the immersion of metal in a hot salt solution(900
degrees) during
which a chemical reaction occurred.
10th February 2010.
|
Philippines
Health centre fire kills 3 workers
Fire broke out in a health centre yesterday at Barangay Santa Ines in
Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, killing 3 workers and leaving another with 3rd
degree burns. 10th
February 2010.
|
India
Kashmir avalanche kills 17 soldiers
An avalanche killed 17 Indian soldiers and injured 17 others when it
swept away a barracks building at the High Altitude Warfare School
near the Kashmir ski station of Gulmarg in the Khilinmarg Mountains
where 450 soldiers were participating in training exercises at
2,730-metre altitude. An avalanche alert was issued on Friday and 3
metres of snow fell over the weekend.
9th February 2010.
|
Japan
Stowaway died in landing gear of New York-Tokyo flight
The body of a stowaway was recovered from inside the door of the
landing gear storage compartment of a Delta Airlines
aircraft at Tokyo's Narita International Airport on Monday where it
landed after a flight from New York, the victim had presumably died
from hypothermia with in-flight locus temperatures falling to -60ºC.
9th February 2010.
|
USA
Major explosion at Connecticut power plant site
An explosion occurred yesterday as workers were performing a blow-down
to clear gas from lines at the construction site of the Kleen Energy
Systems 620MW gas-fired power plant in Middletown, Connecticut,
initially 2 fatalities were reported but this figure was expected to
rise given the severity of injuries sustained by dozens of people.
8th February 2010.
|
Bangladesh
Worker killed in boiler explosion
One worker has died and another was injured when the air compressor of
a boiler exploded during maintenance work at the Pran Foods factory in
Ghorashal. 8th February 2010.
|
Germany
3 killed in US army helicopter crash in Hessen
A US army Black Hawk helicopter crashed in rainy conditions in
woodland near Viernheim in south Hessen, killing the 3 crew members on
board, the training flight was flying from Mannheim to Coleman
Barracks, north of Mannheim. Hessen police investigation is now
complete, specialists from Fort Rucker, Alabama, will arrive to pursue
the investigation.
5th February 2010.
|
Australia
Worker injured by nail gun
A Brisbane factory worker was hospitalised yesterday after a 15-cm
long nail was lodged in his leg after being discharged accidentally
from a nail gun at the premises in Grindle Road, Rocklea, his
condition is listed as stable.
5th February 2010.
|
Spain
Farmer dies after arm severs in tractor rotor
An Andalusian farmer bled to death when his arm was severed yesterday
in an accident during spraying in an olive grove in Fuentes de
Andalusia, Seville. As he alighted from his tractor his clothing
snagged on a rotor which drew his arm in and severed it at the
shoulder. 4th
February 2010.
|
USA
Florida worker dies in fall from cinema roof
A 40-year old construction worker
died yesterday in an 8-metre fall from the roof of the Epic Theatre
building in the centre of Palm Coast, details of the accident were not
known. 4th February
2010.
|
Japan
Maintenance error caused bullet train incident
Central Japan Railway Company has indicated that human error was
responsible for the suspension of the bullet train on the Tokaido
Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Osaka after maintenance workers at
the Oi rail depot in Tokyo failed to attach bolts to a pantograph
which detached, and an arm connected to it cut an overhead cable
supporting the trolley wire.
3rd February 2010.
|
Austria
Sawmill worker's foot severed
On Tuesday surgeons were attempting to reattach a sawmill worker's
severed foot following an accident yesterday in Henndorf am Wallersee,
northeast of Salzburg, where his leg was drawn into a circular saw
after he activated a conveyor belt when he stepped on to it and
subsequently lost his balance.
3rd February 2010.
|
Indonesia
32 workers feared drowned
Eight people drowned and 24 are missing, feared drowned, following the
sinking of the 12-metre long speedboat Dolphin which sank in rough
seas in the Molucca Sea.
Of the 33 people on board when the boat sailed from Dobo Island were
many Chinese workers, building a factory on Penambulai island.
2nd February 2010.
|
New Zealand
Detonator explodes in hand during military training
A soldier underwent surgery at Palmerston North Hospital following an
accident at Linton Army base where a detonator exploded in his hand in
a training exercise during annual weapons training.
2nd February 2010.
|
Canada
Double fatality at Quebec smelter harbour
Two workers died on Saturday following an accident in which a heavy
load fell during the loading of a ship at the Alcoa smelter in Baie
Comeau, Quebec, where the 1-tonne load hit one worker and another
worker died from a heart attack. 1st February 2010.
|
Sweden
Double CO fatality from leaking generator
A couple have died in an accident involving the leakage of carbon
monoxide from a generator installed in the basement of their home near
Solleftea, Vasternorrland, as a temporary power source while they were
without electricity. 1st February 2010.
|
|
USA
NC forklift accident
An investigation is underway into a fatal accident at Watson Portable
Welding in Wilmington, North Carolina, where a 28-year old worker
driving a forklift truck was killed.
26th February 2010.
|
Trinidad and Tobago
Concern over high energy sector accidents
During the National Safety Awards and Safety Week conference in Couva
this week it was announced that 2,944 workplace accidents occurred
between 2006 and 2009, including 56 deaths, but most concern has been
expressed over the energy sector which accounts for 1 death per 4,000
workers, 5 times the rate for construction and 10 times the rate for
all work sectors.
26th February 2010.
|
Andorra
Hotel fire leaves 2 dead
Two persons died from their injuries yesterday after leaping from
windows to escape a fire at Hotel Normandia on Avenue Princip Benlloch
in Andorra la Vella. The fire broke out in the hotel's reception area
and 17 other staff and residents were injured.
25th February 2010.
|
Turkey
13 killed in mine accident
A methane gas explosion produced a structural collapse which killed 13
miners 250 metres underground at the Odakoy mine in Balikecir, some
died instantly, others from severe burns, a further 6 miners are
listed in critical condition.
During questioning at the prosecutor's office, the mine owner became
unwell, his rapidly falling blood pressure saw him hospitalised where
he is being treated for critical heart failure.
25th February 2010.
|
Vietnam
Falling material kills Hanoi site engineer
An engineer has died after being struck by falling material at the
Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower site on Pham Hung Road, Hanoi. The Tower
is Vietnam's tallest structure, this fatality is the 2nd this month at
the site and the 6th since last July.
25th February 2010.
|
Gaza
3 children die in generator fire
A small electric generator exploded and caught fire leading to a blaze
which killed 3 children and injured 5 others in a house in Bani
Sahela, south Gaza.
24th February 2010.
|
USA
Flying tyre kills race spectator
A tyre came off a dragster during a National Hot Rod Association race
at the Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona, killing a
female spectator in the crowd.
24th February 2010.
|
Canada
BC logging driver death investigation
WorkSafe BC has been advised of a fatal accident involving the driver
of a logging lorry which struck a rock face on Bedingfield Bay,
Clayoquot Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
23rd February 2010.
|
Greece
Seamen rescued from listing ship
Five seamen have been safely rescued from the Comoros-flagged cargo
ship Alborada which began listing in rough seas and issued a mayday 5
miles northeast of Tilos in the Aegean Sea while sailing from Bulgaria
to Turkey. 23rd
February 2010.
|
USA
Sailor electrocuted during maintenance work
An investigation is ongoing into the weekend death of a 36-year old
sailor during electrical repair work on the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft
carrier at the North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego Bay.
22nd February 2010.
|
Greece
Negligence probe after Athens hospital baby abduction
Staff at the Elena Venizelou Maternity Hospital in Ambelokipi, Athens,
may face negligence charges in respect of the abduction of a baby from
the hospital by a 38-year old woman facing charges of alleged
abduction, the Health Ministry has received an initial investigative
report mentioning "signs of serious shortcomings in the operation and
guarding of the hospital." 22nd February 2010.
|
Colombia
Patient certified dead revives in funeral parlour
A 45-year old Multiple Sclerosis patient revived in a funeral parlour
in Cali as undertakers were preparing to apply formaldehyde after
having been certified as clinically dead in the city's Rafael Uribe
hospital where doctors claimed that instrumentation failed to record
blood pressure or heart rate. She began to breathe and move in the
funeral parlour and was then readmitted to hospital where she was
listed as being in a coma.
19th February 2010.
|
The Netherlands
Worker killed in trench accident
A 55-year old worker died after being buried under a large amount of
sand which slipped into a 2.5-metre deep excavation when the side-wall
failed at a site in Ede, Gelderland, yesterday, it took rescuers 20
minutes to recover his body. 18th February 2010.
|
USA
Safety harness partly arrests worker's fall
On Wednesday a 25-year old Wisconsin worker was injured in a 20-metre
fall at the site of a 6-storey apartment building on Park and Regent
Streets, Madison. Although he was secured by safety harness which
arrested much of his fall, he somehow became released from it
and fell a lesser distance to the ground. 18th February 2010.
|
Italy
3 killed in Tuscany school trip bus crash
Three people died, including a 13-year old girl, when a Les Cars Magne
bus carrying 63 people on a trip from Notre Dame de Riberac school in
the Dordogne crashed on the A12 motorway near the Massa exit.
It remains unclear why the bus left the road and overturned at 05.30
yesterday, the 6-year old coach was fitted with seatbelts and was last
maintained on December 18th last year.
17th February 2010.
|
USA
Resident dies in Seattle social housing fire
A 71-year old man has died following a fire on the 7th floor of the
11-storey Green Lake Plaza building owned by Seattle Housing Authority
which houses pensioners and disabled residents in its 129 living
units. Seattle Fire Department has indicated that the victim was on
oxygen therapy and had been smoking.
17th February 2010.
|
Germany
Czech plane crashes in Saxony
A Czech Cessna Citation 550 aircraft flying from Prague to Karlstad in
Sweden crashed in the Grosser Zschirnstein mountain area of the
Elbsandsteingebirge, 20 miles southeast of Dresden. Both pilots died
in the crash, it is believed that the flight had sought permission to
climb from 8K metres altitude to 10.5K metres shortly before
disappearing from radar.
16th February 2010.
|
Saudi Arabia
6 killed in house collapse
It is believed that heavy rains undermined the structure of a house in
the Al-Kakia district of Makkah which resulted in a structural
collapse, killing the 6 residents.
16th February 2010.
|
Argentina
Parachutists' aircraft crashes in freak weather
The pilot of an aircraft died but 6 parachutists survived when it
crashed on Sunday after encountering freak meteorological conditions
in Jose de la Quintana, south Cordoba. The aircraft had taken off from
Alta Gracia aerodrome but reported emergency weather conditions akin
to a mini-hurricane and the pilot advised the parachutists to jump for
their lives. 15th February 2010.
|
Austria
Cold and out of pocket after ski-lift experience
A 22-year old German snowboarder was stranded for 6 hours on the
Sonnenjet ski-lift in Kaltenbach-Hochzillertal, Tyrol. He had got on
to the lift 20 minutes after closing but it was running then for only
a short period in maintenance mode, leaving him stranded in the upper
reaches of the 2,360-metre peak. He lit bank notes to assist rescuers
find him and later left hospital after treatment for hypothermia.
15th February 2010.
|
England
Notts company fined over dust explosion
At Derby Crown Court Chromalloy UK Ltd was fined £50K plus £13,200
costs after pleading guilty last year at North East Derbyshire and
Dales Magistrates' Court to 3 breaches of the Dangerous Substances and
Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) in which a dust
explosion left a worker injured at its premises on Alfreton's Clover
Nook Industrial Estate.
On October 17th 2007, a dust explosion occurred upon the introduction
of aluminium powder into a blender, inflicting burns to the hands, arm
and face of a 54-year old worker. HSE investigation found that the
explosion was caused by the ignition of the aluminium powder, probably
by a discharge of static electricity. An original hose with a metal
strip had been replaced by a plastic hose without this strip. An
inspector observed that the company had failed to carry out duties
under DSEAR such as risk assessment and to implement controls in
relation to an explosive dust such as powdered aluminium.
12th February 2010.
|
Canada
Die fell on machine greaser's arm
At Ontario Court of Justice in St Catherines metal forging company IMT
Corporation was fined $60K(£36,395) in respect of an accident in which
a worker was injured at its Port Colborne facility. On March 11th
2009, a worker was greasing a die machine when he inadvertently
stepped on a pedal which activated it, causing the die to descend on
his forearm and crush it. Ministry of Labour investigation established
that the machine had not been locked out, the company pleaded guilty
to breaching Ontario Regulation 851, Section 75, of the Occupational
Health and Safety Act by failing to ensure that the machine was locked
out before being greased.12th
February 2010.
|
South Africa
Poultry farmer killed by snake bite
A 59-year old poultry farmer has died from a bite from a black mamba
snake(dendroaspis polylepis) which he encountered in his chicken run
in KaMdladla, Mpumalanga. At first it was thought to be an imfezi(naja
haemachates), or spitting cobra, with a less venomous bite but the
very fast moving black mamba must have bitten him as he tackled it at
close quarters with a stick. Shortly after the incident he developed
feverish symptoms and succumbed to the venom.
11th February 2010.
|
Australia
Company fined over MEWP accident
Hyde Park management Ltd, operating as Cable Beach Club Resort, has
been fined $60K(£33,722) after pleading guilty to failing to provide a
safe workplace in respect of an accident at Cable Beach, Broome,
where a landscape gardener sustained disabling head injuries in a fall
during arboreal work. While working in the basket of a 7-metre high
Squirrel MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) he accidentally
deactivated the equipment. Upon reactivation it became unstable and
toppled over. A WorkSafe WA Commissioner said:" The case was a
reminder of the importance of maintaining plant in a safe state.
In this case, the Squirrel itself was clearly marked with a caution to
ensure that the wheels had to be fully extended when the machine was
in use and that all wheels must be ballasted with water. The same
information was on the first page of the Owner's Manual located at the
workplace.
The employer was required by law to ensure that the machinery used by
employees was properly maintained and in a safe operating condition.
The quality of life of the injured worker had been severely affected
by Hyde Park's failure to provide a safe workplace."
11th February 2010.
|
USA
Transport fatality on Alabama site
A 55-year old construction worker of East Alabama Paving Company was
killed by a reversing dump lorry while directing heavy equipment at a
site on Lee Road 72 in Auburn, Alabama, initial investigation found
the vehicle's reversing alarm to be in order.10th
February 2010.
|
Germany
Romanian lorry navigates into Rhine
A 40-tonne Romanian lorry had to be lifted from the Rhine at
Kappel-Grafenhausen in west Baden -Wurttemberg after driving into the
river from a jetty, the driver had apparently trusted the vehicle's
navigation system that there was bridge there but in fact there is a
ferry connection to France operating only in daylight hours. Despite
braking late he could not prevent the vehicle sliding into the river.
10th February 2010.
|
Japan
Pet shop fire kills 75 dogs
More than 75 dogs died when fire engulfed 2 timber structures housing
dogs at the Wan Wan House in Katsuragi, the cause is believed to have
been a kerosene heater used to keep the animals warm.
9th February 2010.
|
Ukraine
Dnipropetrovsk gas explosion
Fourteen people were rescued, including 6 from under rubble, following
a gas explosion at a 2-storey apartment block yesterday in Pushkin
Street, Ordzhonikidze, Dnipropetrovsk, the most critically injured is
a woman with 60% burns.
9th February 2010.
|
Argentina
Triple fatality in Mendoza air crash
Three persons died when a Piper PA 28 aircraft crashed on the Banquito
high ground 3 miles southeast of Piedras Blancas, in the Potrerillos
region of Mendoza, one of the persons on board was a professional
photographer. No cause for the accident is yet known but the area of
the Las Vegas mountains is known for its tricky air currents.
8th February 2010.
|
Switzerland
Matterhorn railway train collision
The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn is investigating a train collision and
derailment which occurred on the Brig-Zermatt stretch of the line at
the weekend injuring 6 people. A train ran into a stationary train
which had stopped at a red light.
8th February 2010.
|
Australia
Queensland loft insulator electrocuted
A 25 year old worker was electrocuted yesterday while installing loft
insulation at a house in Milla Milla, north Queensland. It is believed
that he worked for Titan Insulations and had contacted a live power
source while using a metal staple gun.
5th February 2010.
|
Belgium
3 survive Genk CO incident
A triple carbon monoxide fatality was only narrowly averted in Genk
yesterday involving an oil-fired boiler which had recently been
overhauled in a house basement. A mother returned home to find her
15-year old daughter unconscious, she too collapsed in the CO
atmosphere. By chance one of the girl's friends arrived soon and
managed to drag the pair out before passing out herself. The latter is
being treated in a decompression chamber in hospital in Diest, the
mother and daughter are hospitalised in Genk, all are expected to
survive. 5th
February 2010.
|
Gaza
Rafah tunnel death
The third tunnel death of the year was reported yesterday when a
21-year old man died in the collapse of a tunnel in the Al-Qassas area
in Rafah on the Egyptian border, this incident follows on from the
weekend electrocution which occurred in a tunnel.
Wednesday's incident may be linked
to an Israeli air strike late on Tuesday against smuggling tunnels in
the Gaza-Egypt border area.
4th February 2010.
|
Austria
Worker severs arm
A 43-year old worker's arm was severed at the elbow while operating
machinery at a factory in Schonau an der Triesting, in hospital in
Vienna his condition was listed as life-threatening.
4th February 2010.
|
Rep of Ireland
Hospital patient's death investigated
An investigation has been launched into the death of an elderly female
patient in St Stephen's Psychiatric Hospital in Glanmire, County Cork,
it is believed that she died as a result of strangulation with a
television flex.
3rd February 2010.
|
France
Slovakian freighter engine fire
Late on Tuesday the salvage tug Abeille Bourbon was towing the
Slovakian freighter Eider into Brest following an engine room fire
which saw the latter lose all propulsion, no injuries were reported in
the accident off Ouessant, the Eider was sailing from Poland to
Montoir,Saint-Nazaire, with a cargo of windmills.
3rd February 2010.
|
Iceland
Tourist killed in glacier crevasse fall
A 45-year old woman in a touring party has died in a 30-metre fall
into a narrow crevasse on the Langjokull glacier, her 7-year old son
also fell but survived the accident, the party was caught out by the
fragility of glacier fissures.
2nd February 2010.
|
Austria
Fatal fall from scaffold
An East European worker died in a 13-metre fall from scaffolding
during asphalt mixing at a building site in the Feistriz district of
Knittelfeld, Styria.
2nd February 2010.
|
USA
Forklift accident at Arizona hospital site
A 30-year old Arizona worker of Kitchell Construction was killed by a
forklift truck which struck him unsighted as he stooped to retrieve an
object at the Phoenix Children's Hospital extension site. 1st February 2010.
|
Spain
Circus woman's leg crushed by elephant
A 45-year female animal handler of the Gran Circo Mundial sustained
serious crush injuries to a leg when a 5-tonne elephant slipped and
fell during a matinee performance for children in Madrid, one of its
tusks shattering her leg.
1st February 2010.
|
USA
Nebraska MEWP accident
A worker died on Saturday at Excel Speciality Products in Nebraska
City where a MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) became unstable and
overturned, causing him to fall 7 metres during the replacement of
shelving units. 1st February 2010.
|
|
China
Dust explosion kills 19 at Hubei starch works
An explosion, speculated to have been a dust explosion, killed 19
workers in the No 4 workshop of the Qinghuangdao Lihua Starch Company
in Funing, Hubei, of 49 other workers injured, 8 are listed in
critical condition.
26th February 2010.
|
Norway
Seamen not shipshape
Last year the work contracts of 511 seamen and sailors were cancelled
when they failed to meet the maximum BMI(Body Mass Index) requirement
scale of 35, 20% more than the number failing to meet the requirement
in 2008. 26th
February 2010.
|
USA
Connecticut refuse wagon crush accident
A Connecticut worker died of crush injuries in an accident on
Wednesday in Midwood Avenue, Wolcott, where he was pinned against a
wall by a reversing Gaudiosi Hauling refuse wagon.
25th February 2010.
|
France
Court overturns canoe accident verdict
Overturning a previous ruling by a Quimper court, a court of appeal in
Rennes has found the Centre Nautique of Pleyben culpable over the
drowning of 3 canoeists at the Buzit canal lock on 14th May 2000,
citing negligence in failing to consider the difficult water flow
conditions and the inexperience of the youths to whom the canoes had
been hired.
An award of €190K(£166,916)
plus €3K(£2,636)
costs was made against the company. Compensation to a young girl who
survived the incident with serious injuries will be assessed by an
expert appointed by the court.
25th February 2010.
|
New Zealand
Linesman sustains burns injuries
A subcontract worker of Transpower was hospitalised with serious burns
injuries while undertaking maintenance work yesterday on power lines
between Kaitaia and Kaikohe.
24th February 2010.
|
Australia
Worker's arm pulled off in conveyor accident
Midland Brick has been fined $70K plus $30K in costs in respect of an
accident in 2006 at its Jandakot factory in south Perth where a
worker's arm and shoulder were torn off in conveyor belt machinery.
He was cleaning material from the belt's roller when it reactivated,
drawing him into the conveyor's pinch point where moving parts meet.
At the accident locus there was no emergency button or any means to
deactivate it. Some guards were inadequately attached to the
machinery, a WorkSafe WA Commissioner observed that "the guarding of
the machinery was at best hit-and-miss and this created an extremely
hazardous situation." Workplace inspectors found 50 items of machinery
to be inadequately guarded.
24th February 2010.
|
Scotland
Train driver jailed over drunk driving
A former Scotrail train driver has been jailed for 135 days after
being found to have driven trains with 100 microgrammes of alcohol in
100 ml of breath, having admitted to drinking while working as a train
driver, an offence under the Transport and Works Act.
He was arrested in August last year at Glasgow's Queen Street station
when a manager had concerns about his fitness to drive and prevented
him continuing his shift, earlier in the day he had fallen asleep in
his driver's cabin at Cumbernauld.
23rd February 2010.
|
UAE
Antonovs banned on safety grounds
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab
Emirates has banned Antonov AN-12 cargo aircraft from using its
airspace from Monday March 1st 2010, citing their failure to meet
modern safety standards following a recent technical audit.
23rd February 2010.
|
La Reunion
1 dead, 3 survive helicopter crash
A 43-year old passenger died when an Alouette 2 helicopter crashed
near le Tampon in the Plaine-des-Cafres area in the south of the
island on Sunday, the pilot and 2 other passengers escaped with light
injuries. 22nd February 2010.
|
England
Silage bales crushed man
Three bales of silage from a stack of 4 fell and inflicted a fatal
injury on a man helping out on a farm near Illston on the Hill,
Leicestershire, in January last year.
An inquest jury heard from an HSE inspector that, although the bales
had been stacked safely, guidance recommends that silage bales should
only be stacked 3-high.
22nd February 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Fatal crush accidents at farms
Two fatal accidents at farm premises are being investigated by the
HSA.
At McAuliffe's piggery in Fahaduff, County Kerry, a 31-year old worker
collecting a skip there became crushed between the skip and a
hydraulic hoist raising it.
At Creagh in Baltimore, West Cork, a farmer died from crush
injuries in a tractor accident.
19th February 2010.
|
England
Worker's hand crushed in unguarded machine
At Grantham Magistrates' Court Bakkavör Foods Ltd was fined £3K plus
£2K costs after admitting a breach of Regulation 11(3) of the
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 in respect of an
accident at its Bourne Salads factory in Bourne where a worker's hand
was crushed in cabbage shredding machinery.
On August 24th 2008, the worker was assisting with the clearing of a
blockage and had reached into the screw conveyor where the shredding
takes place, but a guard had been disabled to allow the machinery to
run without it and was not properly isolated, the machine reactivated
upon clearance of the blockage with the worker's hand still inside.
19th February 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Clare Council fined over roadworker's death
At Ennis Circuit Criminal Court, Clare County Council was fined
€50K(£43,375) for
breaches of health and safety over a fatal accident on May 17th 2006
in which a 49-year old council worker died when a digger he was
operating overturned at a roadworks site in Tulla, County Clare.
200618th February 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Jockey killed in fall from bolting horse
The HSA is investigating a fatal accident at Carlow Stables where a
21-year old apprentice jockey died in an accident on the gallops after
being thrown against a post-and-rail fence from a bolting horse.
18th February 2010.
|
Scotland
Kent scout dies in fall on Inverness mountain
An 18-year old scout leader of Kent Scout County has died in a fall
through a collapsing snow cornice, a wind-loaded snow accumulation
often overhanging a ridge, on Creag Meagaidh, Invernessshire.17th
February 2010.
|
USA
Animal sanctuary worker badly injured by chimp
A 21-year old female volunteer worker was hospitalised with serious
injuries after being mauled by a 10-year old chimpanzee while cleaning
a cage at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbour, Florida, the
animal had emerged from an unsecured holding cage to attack the
worker.17th
February 2010.
|
Bulgaria
Train hits snow plough on Sofia crossing
On Monday a snow plough of the Titan Chistota Sofia fleet was struck
by a goods train at the Letostrui Street crossing in Sofia, killing
the plough operator and injuring the train drivers, initial
speculation suggests that the snow plough had passed through a red
warning light. 16th
February 2010.
|
The Netherlands
Girls injured in fall from carnival float
Five teenage girls have been hospitalised with various fractures when
a structure with a balcony designed for a carnival float fell from the
rear of a lorry, the accident occurred as the vehicle began to move in
Erp, northeast of Eindhoven.
16th February 2010.
|
England
Leics road worker killed
Leicestershire Police are questioning a suspect in connection with a
fatal accident on the A1 northbound at Tickencote, Rutland, in which a
roads worker was killed at the weekend by an allegedly stolen van
whose driver absconded from the locus.
15th February 2010.
|
New Zealand
Worker killed in transport accident
The Department of Labour is investigating a fatal accident at a site
in Old Reservoir Road, Karangahake, North Island, where a 40-old
worker was found trapped under a bulldozer.
15th February 2010.
|
England
Northants farm fatality
A fatal accident occurred at a site in Station Road, Finedon,
Northampton shire, where a 64-year old farmer of Roundhouse Farm died
in a crush accident under a trailer.
12th February 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Dublin fireman injured in roof collapse
A fireman was admitted to Connolly Hospital, Dublin, with shoulder
injuries after a ceiling collapsed while tackling a blaze at a
derelict property in Castleknock Road, west Dublin.
12th February 2010.
|
Northern Ireland
Worker dies at Ballymena sewage plant
An investigation is ongoing into the death of a sub-contract worker at
the Tullaghgarley Wastewater Treatment Works in Slaght Road,
Ballymena. 11th
February 2010.
|
England
Uncontrolled ignition of flammable chemical
At Trafford Magistrates' Court Rust Proofing Company (Manchester) Ltd
was fined £1,003 plus £2,997 costs following an HSE-instigated
prosecution of an accident in which a worker sustained leg burns and
lifelong scarring when his legs were set on fire after pouring paint
thinner on to a slow-burning fire which subsequently ignited and
exploded. The court heard that the company tolerated employees
lighting fires around cast-iron radiators to facilitate removal of
powder coatings.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of S.2(1) of the Health &
Safety at Work etc act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of its
employees.
An HSE Inspector: “One of Rust Proofing’s employees was in hospital
for three months following the incident and needed extensive skin
grafts. He is still undergoing treatment for his injuries nearly two
years later, and has been scarred for life as a result of the injuries
he suffered.
It’s disturbing that this company needed something like this to happen
before taking action to improve safety. This process for removing
powder coatings was extremely dangerous and had been used on numerous
occasions by workers.
The coatings could have been removed safely as Rust Proofing Company
(Manchester) Ltd had the equipment to do this, but tried to save time
by lighting unsafe fires instead. As a result, one of the company’s
workers has suffered severe burns to both his legs and will never
fully recover.
It’s vital that companies take action now to improve safety so similar
incidents are prevented from happening again.”
11th February 2010.
|
England
Rare prosecution by fire service
In a rare case of a fire service bringing a prosecution, Publicana
Limited was fined £15K plus costs at North Wiltshire Magistrates'
Court after pleading guilty to 4 breaches of the Regulatory Reform
(Fire Service) Order 2005 in respect of an incident attended by
Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service at the Little George pub in New Road,
Chippenham.
On 5th October 2008, the fire service found means of escape
compromised with fire doors and exits at the premises screwed shut;
fire doors propped open; escape routes obstructed; and a failure to
maintain any of the fire protection systems. The company, which had
contracted a licensee against whom charges are still being pursued,
was deemed to have failed to carry out or record a fire risk
assessment, failed to have effective policies for protection and
prevention measures, and failed to provide suitable and sufficient
information to the sub-contractor.
The fine was scaled down by 25% in recognition of the tender of an
early plea of guilty.
10th February 2010.
|
Norway
Refinery gas leakage
An evacuation of 200 workers took place at the Mongstad Refinery when
propane and methane began leaking from a pipeline, no injuries were
reported. 10th
February 2010.
|
West Bank/Palestine
Cleaner killed in fall from height
A 21-year old worker died yesterday in the Darwish Nazzal Hospital,
Qalqiliya, where he had been transferred with serious head injuries
after a fall from height during cleaning duties at a local workplace.
9th February 2010.
|
Belgium
Antwerp port train/lorry collision
An investigation was launched yesterday into the collision of a goods
train and a lorry on Monday in Norderlaan in the Antwerp harbour area.
9th February 2010.
|
England
Yorks worker injured in fall through uncovered opening
At Leeds Magistrates' Court Allied Glass Containers were fined £10K
plus £3,173 in costs in respect of an accident in which a man fell 2 metres through a
gap and sustained multiple injuries.
Urgent maintenance work had
necessitated the opening of a mezzanine floor to remove defective
equipment and a 3-metre wide gap was created to facilitate deployment
of a block and tackle pulley system. The worker fell through the open
gap, HSE investigation found that no risk assessment for creating the
hole in the floor had been carried out.
8th February 2010.
|
Baltic Sea
Hazardous containers lost overboard
A Finnish freighter lost several containers, some containing toxic
industrial chemicals, as it sailed from Rotterdam to St Petersburg,
the incident happened south of Gotland where the seabed is 70 metres
deep. 8th February
2010.
|
Bulgaria
Ordnance factory fire
A fire in the Midzhur ordnance factory in Gorni Lom, northwest
Bulgaria, caused a series of explosions yesterday, of 4 people
reported injured one was transferred to Sofia with a serious eye
injury. 5th
February 2010.
|
Northern Ireland
Fermanagh contractor dies in fall from forklift
The HSENI has been advised of a fatal accident in Ballinamallard,
Fermanagh, where an electrical contractor in his 70's sustained fatal
injuries in a fall from the safety cage of a forklift truck on
Wednesday afternoon.
5th February 2010.
|
Belgium
CO incident at nursery
A defective gas fire in a nursery in Wambeek, Ternat, led to a
build-up of carbon monoxide which caused the 13 children and 3
supervisors to be taken to Onze-Lieve-Vrouw hospital in Aalst for
treatment. 4th
February 2010.
|
Slovenia
Doctor killed by dangerous dogs
A doctor in Llubljana has died following an attack by his 3
bullmastiff dogs. The dogs had previously attacked a dog handler and
had been ordered by a judge to be put down but the doctor had argued
successfully in court against this order.
4th February 2010.
|
England
Restaurant owners neglected council advice
At Watford Magistrates' Court Lush Restaurants, owners of Asia
Restaurant in Beaconsfield Road, St Albans, were fined £10K plus costs
after pleading guilty to 4 food hygiene breaches in August and
September last year, including a failure to provide a food safety
management system and failing to send staff on a food hygiene course.
The prosecution resulted from failure to act on council advice
following routine inspections.
3rd February 2010.
|
Scotland
MAIB investigates creel fisherman's death
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is studying the drowning of a
creel fisherman who fell overboard from his boat the Wilma K off the
Black Isle in the Moray Firth, his body was recovered by the
Invergordon lifeboat.
3rd February 2010.
|
Sweden
Railway worker killed by train
An SJ (Statens Jarnvagar) railway worker was killed after being struck
by a Norrkoping-Linkoping train at Linghem station, Ostergotland, on
Monday morning while clearing snow there.
2nd February 2010.
|
India
Kerala structural collapse kills worker
A construction worker died when a partial collapse occurred at the
site of a new 4-storey lodge under construction near the central
railway station in Thiruvananthapuram, 4 other workers were injured.
2nd February 2010.
|
Australia
Separate HGV maintenance accidents
Two fatal accidents occurred over the weekend in which workers lost
their lives while working on HGV's. SafeWork South Australia is
investigating an accident in Burton where a 73-year old man was found
dead at the rear of CMD Engineering where he was apparently working on
a tipper lorry's hydraulic system.
In Queensland a mechanic working on a lorry died after becoming
trapped between the tipper and bed at the New Chum landfill site of
Transpacific Industries, it is believed that he was a contract worker. 1st February 2010.
|
Germany
Level crossing incidents
Two separate level crossing accidents occurred in Schleswig-Holstein
on Sunday. At a level crossing in Ivendorf a van became stuck on the
snowy conditions and was unable to move before the crossing gates
descended. The driver quit the van before it was struck by a train
from Travemunde with 30 passengers and propelled 80 metres along the
track, no injuries were reported.
At a forest crossing in Lubeck-Kucknitz a food delivery lorry was hit
by a train, again the driver managed to leave his stranded vehicle
prior to the collision.
1st February 2010.
|
|
Wales
Forestry worker killed in
accident
A forestry worker has died following an accident in which he was
struck by a falling tree limb at Llanfyllin, Powys, on Wednesday
afternoon. 26th
February 2010.
|
England
Design error led to death of boy
A 9-year old boy died when electrically powered gates at private
residences in Bournemouth crushed him.
On 13th April 2006, he got out of a car, put his arm and upper body
around the gate pillar and pressed the button on the inside, intended
for use by people leaving the block of flats on foot. His head and
upper body were in this gap, and when the gates started to move, the
opening narrowed, crushing his head between the gate and the
brick pillar.
Faulkner Gates Limited of Romsey, Hampshire, was fined £80,000 with
costs of £40,000, it had involvement in the design of the gates.
An HSE official commented: "Had the company undertaken a suitable and
sufficient risk assessment, and communicated its findings with the
other companies involved in the design and installation of the gates,
it is unlikely this tragedy would have happened. Where several
organisations are involved in design and construction projects, they
must cooperate and communicate effectively with one another to control
risks to the public."
26th February 2010.
|
England
Self-employed Leicestershire roofer
fined
A self-employed roofing contractor, trading as Streamline Guttering
and Cladding of Kirby Muxloe, has been fined for 3 breaches of the
Work at Height Regulations 2005.
The business proprietor and 2 employees were working on the roof of a
7-metre high building between 8th December 2008 and 16th January 2009
without fall protection at the rear of the building, an HSE official
explained: "All 3 workers were walking across the roof, which also had
fragile roof lights, to work on the back of the premises where there
was no protection to stop them from falling. There was also a sharp
palisade fence below which could have caused horrific injuries if
anyone had fallen on it."
The proprietor was fined £1,314 at Loughborough Magistrates' Court.
25th February 2010.
|
England
Wood plane had exposed cutters
Richard Burbidge Ltd of Oswestry, manufacturer of balustrades and
wooden decking, has admitted breaching r.11(1) of the Provision and
Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
In July 2008, an employee sustained a serious finger injury when he
came into contact with the rotating rear cutters of a machine used to
plane wood. Its cutters were partially exposed, a guard was missing
and the machine required nearly 30 seconds to stop.
The company was fined £5,000 with £5,842 in costs.
25th February 2010.
|
England
Falling lighting standard injures baby
A baby in its pram and a woman in her 60's
have been struck by a falling lighting standard in Sutton Court Road,
Hounslow, London. The baby is critical but stable in hospital
following yesterday morning's incident which occurred at a location
where footpath and services work are underway.
Update: the boy has now died.
24th February 2010.
|
England
Property developer disregarded safety
A Bradford developer who failed to attend to the required standards of
safety for its workers has been fined £10,000 with £10,000 costs by
Hull Magistrates Court.
Inspectors found a list of misdemeanours breaching safety law at HQ
Leisure Limited's site in Albion Street in Hull in October 2007.
Scaffolding was dangerous and had not been properly inspected; roofing
materials were being bombed from a 15-metre high platform at the roof
eaves into an area where other contractors were working below;
unsuitable ladders were being used to access upper floors;
insufficient and unsecured boards were being used in the roof space,
leaving workers at risk of falling through the ceiling joists; voids
created by the demolition of a rear extension had not been guarded to
prevent falls out of the building; and no toilet or proper washing
facilities were provided.
An HSE official commented: "HQ Leisure blatantly disregarded the
importance of a safe working site, leaving their workers on Albion
Street at risk of serious injury or even death."
24th February 2010.
|
Northern Ireland
Gasket confusion led to crash
On 31st May last year, an aircraft had to make a forced landing in a
field at Cookstown, Northern Ireland, landing when its engine failed.
The occupants escaped with minor fractures.
The Rockwell Commander 114's engine
suffered sudden oil loss caused by the failure of a gasket on the oil
filter converter plate. The gasket was the subject of an Airworthiness
Directive (AD) that required gasket renewal at 50-hour intervals, but
this requirement was terminated when an improved design of gasket was
fitted. The aircraft’s maintenance records indicated periodic
replacement of the gasket for a time following the issue of the AD.
However, the aircraft was subsequently transferred to a different
maintenance organisation, which concluded that the new type of gasket
had been fitted and that the AD was no longer applicable. The gasket
had not been changed for over 100 hours.
23rd February 2010.
|
England
Unregistered gas fitter ignored HSE
warnings
A 70-year old man has been fined £450 plus costs of £1,347 for
breaching r.3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations
1998 after he supplied and fitted a gas fire at a property in
Cheltenham in June 2009 without being registered with the Gas Safe
Register. The fire failed and was reported to the HSE.
In July 2008, the convicted man was
fined £1,000 for a series of gas-related offences including carrying
out gas-related works while being unregistered, breaching a
Prohibition Notice, and leaving gas appliances in a dangerous state of
repair at several Gloucestershire properties.
23rd February 2010.
|
Wales
Ordnance danger at recycling centres
A Welsh local authority is asking the public not to deposit dangerous
items at its waste recycling centres. Powys Council in recent months
required the assistance of army bomb experts for an artillery shell
left at a skip at Ystradgynlais. This followed other incidents in
which detonators and marine flares were dumped.
22nd February 2010.
|
England
CO kills resident
A woman in her 30's has died of carbon monoxide poisoning and 3 other
persons required hospital treatment after
emergency services were called to a house
in Wokingham, Berks, on Thursday evening.
22nd February 2010.
|
England
Refuse worker killed in Gloucestershire
accident
It is reported that an employee of SITA contracted to Cotswold
District Council died yesterday morning in Fairford.
One account states he died at the scene from crush injuries inflicted
by the collection vehicle.19th
February 2010.
|
England
Worker reversed over farmer
A farm worker has been prosecuted under S.7 of the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974 and fined £450 with costs of £1,000 in connection
with a fatal accident.
The worker, who had been previously cautioned over driving the tractor
at speed at White Meadow Farm, Moor Lane, Osmaston, in Ashbourne,
returned to the farm at the end of the day to park it. A muck spreader
was attached, and whilst reversing through the farmyard in the vehicle
with restricted visibility he ran over his 73-year old employer.
19th February 2010.
|
Scotland
Worker killed at Dumfries
factory
A 36-year old employee of Alba Proteins of Dumfries has died in an
industrial accident. The accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the
animal food processors and involved an item of mechanical plant.
18th February 2010.
|
England
Detailed surveys vital in demolition
preparation
In July 2005, a 29-year old labourer employed by a demolition
sub-contactor, Bayoak Demo Ltd, was instructed to remove a number of
steel props supporting a slab of concrete, during the demolition of
Telstar House in Paddington, London. There were 13 props and, as each
one was removed, the load increased on the remainder until the final
one was bearing the entire load. When the props were removed, the
concrete slab fell to the ground and the last prop struck the deceased
worker.
The collapse occurred as part of the structure was not physically tied
onto the building as was assumed by the management. A full structural
survey of the section of the building being worked on was not
undertaken.
John F Hunt Demolition Ltd of Grays in Essex pleaded guilty to
breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was
fined £85,000 with £25,000 in costs.
Bayoak Demo Ltd of Barking, London, admitted breaching S.2(1) of the
same Act and was fined £30,000 with £8,000 in costs.
18th February 2010.
|
England
Fatal accident
It is reported that a 56-year old workman has died following an
industrial accident in Hailsham, Sussex.
The account states that the accident occurred on Monday at the
premises of Apaseal Ltd in Battle Road.
17th February 2010.
|
Wales
Bakery fall fine
Tregroes Waffle Bakery Ltd of Ceredigion has been fined £1,750 with
£1,374 costs at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court in connection with an
incident in which a worker fractured a rib when she fell from a
structural girder being used as access for cleaning in November 2008.
She sustained the injury in a 1.2- metre fall at the Llandysul
premises, Tregroes pleaded guilty to a charge under S.6(3) of the Work
at Height Regulations 2005.
17th February 2010.
|
Scotland
Forklift truck kills worker
A forklift truck accident has claimed the life of a haulage delivery
driver using the truck to unload mussels at Unst Shellfish premises in
Ordale, Shetland, on Saturday morning when he was crushed underneath
it. 16th February
2010.
|
England
ROSPA warns on blinds cords
Two fatal accidents, one last week involving children being strangled
by cords hanging from blinds, have recently occurred in Staffordshire.
Last Tuesday a 16-month old child died in Stafford and on February 4th
a 3-year old died in the county, both accidents involving corded
systems.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says on average 2
children die each year in such accidents.
16th February 2010.
|
England
HSE and police investigate site
death
Following the discovery by post mortem that a deceased construction
worker's collapse and death may have been contributed to by a neck
injury, the police and the HSE are investigating the circumstances of
the sudden death of the 36-year old last Monday afternoon at Barrow
Docks. 15th
February 2010.
|
England
Workman was run over by
reversing truck
On 11th November 2008, at the
Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale a Ford Transit truck was reversing
on the construction site when it struck a 56-year old construction
worker helping to build a new track around a large pond at the
business park. No person was allocated the responsibility for guiding the
truck which was regularly reversing up to 400 metres to drop
materials. No pedestrian walkway to separate vehicles from pedestrians
was marked.
The accident victim lost a kidney, fractured 7 ribs, a shoulder and
right foot, fractured his spine, dislocated his right hip and now has
a pin through his knee.
Carillion JM Ltd of Wolverhampton, part of Carillion plc group,
admitted 3 breaches of health and safety law at Manchester Crown Court
where it was fined £185,000 plus £9,821 costs.
An HSE official commented: "It is not acceptable that a construction
company, which employs 50,000 people around the world, did not carry
out the right risk assessment or put a system in place for preventing
collisions. It would have been simple to mark out a basic pedestrian
walkway, using cones and tape, and have someone responsible for
guiding reversing vehicles."
15th February 2010.
|
England
Conveyor smashed worker's arm
In April last year, as a
maintenance engineer leaned into a crossover conveyor used to move
boxes from one part of a conveyor to another, its moving mechanism
shifted, smashing his arm between the frame of the cross-over and the
moving arm. The incident occurred at Moy Park Ltd's premises at
Anwick, Lincs, and resulted in multiple fractures to the employee's
arm.
The company had failed to ensure that measures were in place to
prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery as required by r.11(1)
of the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998 for
which it was fined a total of £35,000 with £3,115 costs.
12th February 2010.
|
England
Window manufacturer fined £10,000
M&M Windows Ltd of Droitwich Spa
has admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
1974 and S.1(1) of the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act
1969 in connection with an industrial accident in May last year. It
was fined £10,000 plus £2,500 costs for the failures at its Brierley
Hill, Staffs, site where an employee was cutting window frames on a
double pivoting head mitre cutting saw when his hand was caught by the
blade. His left index finger was amputated and his middle finger
needed major surgery and reconstruction. He has been unable to work
since the incident. The company was not insured against injuries to
its employees, as it believed it was exempt because it employed mainly
agency staff. 12th
February 2010.
|
England
Worker dies after building site
accident
It is reported that a man died following an industrial accident on a
building site near Moulsford, Oxfordshire, on Tuesday morning. The man
in his 20's is believed to have been struck by a block of limestone.
11th February 2010.
|
England
Worker fell through fragile surface
A man suffered multiple fractures to his legs and arm when he fell
through a fragile roof surface as he was about to clean roof lights at
Beeley Fabrications premises in Sheffield during June 2007. He was
pulling water pipes across the roof when he fell 7 metres through a
roof light onto the workshop floor. His employer had not ensured the
provision of working platforms, guardrails, scaffold or protection
underneath to prevent the fall.
Charles Painting (UK) Ltd of Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, South
Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to breaching r.9(2) the Work at Height
Regulations 2005 for which it was fined £2,000 plus £1,000 costs.
11th February 2010.
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England
Construction worker killed in
Hampshire
A 34-year old construction worker was killed in an industrial accident
on Monday at the Rose Bowl cricket ground in Southampton. One account
states he was crushed by a concrete segment during a lifting
operation. 10th
February 2010.
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England
Biffa admit fatal breach
Biffa Waste Services Ltd of High Wycombe has pleaded guilty to
breaching S.3(1) of the Heath and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and
contravening r.3(1)(b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999 in the circumstances of the death of a visitor to the
Civic Amenity Site on Pinchington Lane in Newbury on 10th September
2007.
Sentencing will take place at Reading Crown Court.
10th February 2010.
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England
Council and employee fined over
colleague's death
Dudley Metropolitan Council has been fined £30,000 with £20,000 in
costs following prosecution over an industrial fatality in which an
employee was struck and killed by a wheeled shovel loader at its
Netherton depot on 27th October 2006.
The council employee and driver of the vehicle was prosecuted under
S.7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £750
with £500 in costs.
The account of the accident described how the vehicle was driven
against the direction of the site’s one-way system. The loading shovel
was also at a height preventing forward view.
An HSE inspector commented: "Drivers need to obey signs and
instructions in workplaces, just as closely as they would obey them on
a public highway. In driving at over 8mph against the one-way system,
with the unnecessarily raised bucket obscuring much of his view
through the windscreen, the driver failed to take reasonable care for
the health and safety of the deceased."
9th February 2010.
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England
HSW Section 6 prosecution of
crane company
A crane manufacturer has been prosecuted following an incident at
Georgia Pacific GB Limited, of Oughtibridge Mill, on 18th February
2006 in which an electric overhead moving crane dropped a load,
narrowly missing the crane operator, because an anchorage point on the
crane failed, causing the crane to drop its 1.8t load.
Manufacturer and supplier of the crane,
Rossendale Group Limited of Ellesmere Port,
Wirral, pleaded guilty to breaching S.6(1)(a) of the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974 for which it was fined £10,000 plus £10,000 costs
at Sheffield Magistrates Court.
An HSE official commented: "Rossendale Group Limited should have
ensured the safety critical anchorage points on the crane had been
designed for the typical loading conditions that the crane would
experience during routine use.
Companies that supply lifting equipment must be aware that they will
be held to account if the equipment is not well designed or
manufactured."
9th February 2010.
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England
Shocking case of toxic exposures
Electrical Waste Recycling Group Ltd of Glasgow, formerly Matrix
Direct Recycle Ltd, permitted 20 employees to be exposed to extremely
high levels of mercury at its Kirkheaton, Huddersfield, Yorkshire,
premises between October 2007 and August 2008. The employees,
including a pregnant worker, were exposed to emissions of mercury and
lead in their work recycling electrical equipment and lighting tubes.
EWR was fined £140,000 with £35,127 costs at Bradford Crown Court
after pleading guilty to breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974, 3 separate breaches of the Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and one breach of the Control of
Lead at Work Regulations 2002.
A company director was fined £5,000 after pleading guilty to breaching
r.7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
2002.
An HSE Inspector commented: “This is a shocking case involving a large
number of employees, many of them young and vulnerable, who were
suddenly faced with the worrying possibility of damage to their
long-term health."
8th February 2010.
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England
Stonemasons have long term lung
damage
A company that was aware of high levels of airborne silica identified
14 years earlier during a monitoring survey, but who implemented
inadequate measures to protect employees, has been fined £30,000 with
£6,000 costs.
Two employees of William Anelay Limited, of Osbaldwick, York, now have
long-term lung damage, one of whom has since been forced to take early
retirement, the other has been obliged to cease work as a stonemason.
The exposures occurred between May 1994 and July 2008, an HSE official
commented: "During the investigation, HSE found that a combination of
dry stone cutting with no ventilation or use of protective clothing
resulted in the workers breathing in hazardous levels of respirable
crystalline silica. This was allowed to happen for many years, which
has meant that not only do both men have to cope with life-long,
serious health issues which will affect them for the rest of their
lives, their careers have also been affected."
8th February 2010.
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England
Legionella flourished in
company's cooling towers
A Coseley, Staffs, company failed to act to reduce the high
concentrations of legionella in its towers after it was informed of
the problem by water treatment consultants.
During September 2008, HSE inspectors visited the site in Cannon
Business Park to look at the control of legionella bacteria and found
no management system in place, or tests for at least 8 months. A
prohibition notice was issued to stop the towers operating and an
improvement notice was issued for a management system to be put in
place.
The failings identified in the investigation showed neglect on the
part of First Metal Finishers Ltd, its managing director had failed to
put a management system in place for the control of legionella. He
pleaded guilty to breaching S.37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work
etc. Act 1974 and was fined £2,000 with £1,000 costs.
5th February 2010.
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England
MEWP overturned at manhole
Shepherd Construction Limited Huntington, York, has been fined £20,000
with £6,900 costs for its failures leading to an incident at the
Trinity Square construction site in Nottingham in which the operator
of a mobile elevating work platform sustained serious injuries when a
concealed manhole cover failed under its weight.
An HSE Inspector commented: “This was a very dangerous incident, in an
area which was bustling with pedestrians and vehicles. It could so
easily have led to people being killed and has left a worker with
serious injuries. The company failed to put in place adequate measures
to find and record where the manholes and service covers were around
the site and failed to take steps to protect them or prevent vehicles
from driving over them."
5th February 2010.
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Scotland
Bridge collapse caused
derailment of fuel train
Heavy corrosion caused the collapse of a rail bridge near Stewarton,
Ayrshire, in January this year, resulting in fire and considerable
environmental damage to watercourses when 6 wagons laden with fuel
derailed.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch report on the incident cited
several deficiencies in the way Network Rail manages such structures
in the areas of inspection, its methods and processes for the
examination of hidden critical parts, and its use of information for
decision making on structural safety.
4th February 2010.
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England
Accidental crushing death of
worker
A 54-year old employee of MTU UK Ltd of East Grinstead died after
becoming caught and crushed between an engine and another item of
plant as it was being moved by crane in February this year. Horsham
Coroner's Court inquest determined a verdict of accidental death.
4th February 2010.
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England
Unregistered gas fitter's huge
workload
An unregistered gas fitter was contracted to install appliances,
connect and disconnect pipework, and conduct gas safety inspections of
LPG fuelled appliances in up to 200 caravans at a site in Brierley,
Herefordshire.
During July 2008, gas engineers from CORGI selected a small sample and
identified numerous defects with their installation and operation.
He pleaded guilty to breaching
S.3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and r.3(3) of
the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 and was fined a
total of £1,250 with £550 costs.3rd
February 2010.
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England
Employer's risk assessment
placed worker at risk
A 22-year old support worker died after she visited a client at his
home in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, on 19th May 2006 and was attacked
and stabbed.
Her employer, Mental Health Matters
Ltd, a North East-based registered charity, was fined £30,000 with
costs of £20,000.
The client's mental health was known to be deteriorating but Mental
Health Matters failed to respond and afford the deceased the level of
protection that was warranted.
HSE’s Head of Operations commented:
"This is an unusual case which shows the need for employers to assess
risks to employees who visit individuals in their homes and for
arrangements to be reviewed when changes occur. We believe that if
Mental Health Matters had carried out a risk assessment, it would have
resulted in the visiting arrangements being reviewed."
3rd February 2010.
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England
Unstable ladder led to death
fall
A 64-year old employee of a Bolton house building company died after
falling 5 metres from a ladder. He was working on a project in Bolton
to construct residential properties in December 2007, using the ladder
which had lost its rubber feet and was unsecured at the time.
The company was criticised for permitting the ladder use when, with
better planning, the stairs could have been fitted before work was
carried out on the first and second floors of the house. The deceased
and his colleagues had to access the second floor using the ladder
where there were unprotected edges.
DC Kennedy Homes Ltd was fined £7,500 with £7,500 costs.
2nd February 2010.
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England
Landlord fined £8,000
A landlord from Didcot, Oxfordshire, who failed to arrange the annual
safety check on gas appliances and flues at a residential property he
rented, and also failed to maintain gas appliances there, has been
fined £8,000 with £1,957 costs.
The convicted man was aware of the deficiencies but did nothing, he
had contravened r.36(3)(a) and 36(2) of the Gas Safety (Installation &
Use) Regulations 1998. Carbon monoxide was found to have accumulated
in the kitchen.
2nd February 2010.
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England
Accident at road works
A roads workman in his 30's has sustained a serious leg injury while
working on a site in Greystone Road, Carlisle, on Saturday morning.
The accident victim was struck by a road roller under which he was
trapped for some time.
1st February 2010.
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Scotland
Fall at concert
A man in his 20's is seriously ill after a 5-metre fall from the
balcony at Dundee's Caird Hall during a concert performance on Friday
evening. 1st
February 2010.
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