Norway
4 killed in fjord helicopter crash
On Thursday the coast guard vessel Nornen raised the sunken Robinson
R44 helicopter which crashed through the ice near Horten in the Oslo
fjord during a routine flight from Stokke to Oslo, an accident which
claimed the lives of the pilot and 3 passengers on Wednesday.
The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Norwegian
Aircraft Accident Investigation Board but the pilot had indicated
technical problems to the Rygge flight control tower.
29th January 2010.
|
Australia
Stevedore killed on Christmas Island wharf
WorkSafe Western Australia is investigating a fatal accident at the
wharf on Christmas Island where a stevedore was crushed to death
between a container on the wharf and a suspended one being unloaded
from the Canadian-registered ship Princess Mary.
29th January 2010.
|
France
HGV driver electrocuted
A lorry driver was electrocuted in a field at Bille, northeast of
Rennes, on Wednesday when electricity arced to the raised rear of his
vehicle during the tipping of its contents.
28th January 2010.
|
Malaysia
Painter dies in fall at Pahang school hostel
A 39-year old painter has died in a fall from 3rd storey level from
the hostel of the Sekolah Menengah Teknik secondary school where he
and his brother have been working in Kuantan. 28th January 2010.
|
USA
Washington Metro workers killed by track vehicle
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a fatal
accident which occurred on Tuesday outside Rockville Metrorail
station, Maryland, where 2 workers were struck by a high rail track
vehicle on the Red Line, both men were automatic train control
technicians on track replacement work.
27th January 2010.
|
Vietnam
Fatality at warehouse site
It is being speculated that a crane arm detached and fell on
inadequately supported beams at a warehouse construction site of Binh
Duon Export, Import and Production Company at Vifaco Farm in Thuan An
District. A concrete pour had also just taken place, a worker was
killed, struck by a falling beam at the site being built by the Gia
Thuy construction company.
27th January 2010.
|
Malaysia
Welder killed in gas tank explosion
A gas tank exploded during hot metal work at Felda's Chalk Palm Oil
Mill in Setiu, Terengganu, on Monday, killing 1 worker who fell into
the tank and injuring 2 others. The tank is located 13 metres above
ground and some 600 metres from the plant entrance.
26th January 2010.
|
Canada
Woman's arm caught in Ontario laundry press
The Ministry of Labour is investigating a machinery accident which
occurred on Monday morning at London Linen premises in London,
Ontario, where a female worker's arm became trapped in a line press
roller. 26th
January 2010.
|
Singapore
Fatal explosion at chemical plant
On Saturday 2 workers were killed when
an explosion blew the cover off a tank at Chemicals Specialities on
Jurong Island. Work was ongoing to install pipes to various tanks, the
explosion involved a tank containing chemicals used in brake fluid
manufacture, all installation work has been suspended pending
investigation. 25th
January 2010.
|
Russia
Cave-in at Raspadskaya
A roof collapse occurred on Saturday at
the Raspadskaya mine in west Siberia causing the death of 1 worker
there at Russia's largest coal mine.
25th January 2010.
|
France
Trawler sinks during winding in of nets
A Bayonne trawler sank on Thursday 10 miles off Biscarosse as the
5-man crew began winding in their nets. A 54-year old Spanish
fisherman drowned, the other 4 were hospitalised in Bordeaux with
extreme hypothermia.
22nd January 2010.
|
Italy
Intruder attacks staff at Rome fire station
Six members of staff at a fire-fighter training centre in Capannelle,
southeast Rome, were attacked by a knife-wielding intruder on
Thursday, a female worker was admitted to Vannini Hospital with
life-threatening throat injuries but was listed out of danger later in
the evening. 22nd
January 2010.
|
Germany
Braunschweig level crossing collision
A train collided with a grain lorry near the Runningen level crossing
in Braunschweig, 16 passengers were injured, 2 seriously. Both drivers
escaped serious injury. The crossing has gates and lights, it was
initially speculated that the lorry had turned on to the tracks at the
crossing to access a lane parallel to the tracks but had encountered a
locked gate. 21st January 2010.
|
Ghana
Oil refinery fire
A worker died and another sustained critical burns in a fire at the
Tema oil refinery, 20 miles east of Accra, it was speculated that an
ignition spark from attempts to restart a broken down lorry may have
triggered the explosion in the loading bay.
21st January 2010.
|
South Africa
Durban trench accident
A construction worker died on Tuesday in an unstable excavation
collapse in Westville, Durban, his head was barely visible under the
soil ingress. 20th
January 2010.
|
USA
Farm worker killed in conveyor accident
A Minnesota farm worker died in a conveyor belt accident at Ries Farms
in Welch where his clothing snagged on the moving equipment.
20th January 2010.
|
Ukraine
3 killed in hospital oxygen explosion
It is speculated that inappropriate handling of oxygen cylinders in
the cardiac ward on the 4th floor of Luhansk Hospital led
to an explosion on Monday in which at least 3 people died. At that
time there were 14 staff and 8 patients and it was unclear if people
were unaccounted for as the explosion caused damage on other floors of
the 5-storey building.
20th January 2010.
|
Argentina
Fire at Buenos Aires sulphuric acid plant
A Lanus Oeste brigade fireman has been hospitalised for CO inhalation
while tackling a major blaze on Monday at a chemical plant in Valentin
Alsina, Buenos Aires.
The factory produces sulphuric acid, thus a 200-metre evacuation zone
was created prior to explosions at an adjacent paraffin factory as
the fire spread. The locations of the factories in a densely populated
area has been a contentious local issue.19th
January 2010.
|
USA
Colorado MEWP accident
A worker of Sturgeon Electric Company Ltd was killed when a MEWP
(mobile elevating work platform) failed when he and a colleague were
working on an overhead line in Broomfield, northwest Denver, Colorado,
the line was not live at the time of the accident.
18th January 2010.
|
Cuba
Negligence alleged over 26 hospital deaths
The Cuban Commission on Human Rights has claimed that 26 patients of
the Psychiatric Hospital near Havana Airport died last week in
circumstances amounting to "criminal negligence." Temperatures fell to
4ºC last week and it is alleged that the fabric of their accommodation
was inadequate for the weather and patients experienced gross neglect
in the country's worst such incident since the 1959 Socialist
Revolution. 18th
January 2010.
|
Bahrain
Worker left hanging from roof cavity
A maintenance worker has died as a result of injuries sustained while
working on overhead projecting equipment housed in a ceiling cavity at
the Mercure Grand Hotel, Seef, Manama. Failure to deactivate the power left
him suspended by his hands and head from the cavity when he
inadvertently pressed a button which caused the projector to retract
upwards into its housing.15th
January 2010.
|
USA
High-pressure hose accident
A worker has been badly injured in Kapolei in Honolulu, Hawaii, when a
high-pressure hydraulic hose blew out adjacent to a metal fitting,
upon hospitalisation he was listed in critical condition but has since
responded to treatment. 15th
January 2010.
|
Pakistan
11 killed in Punjab school van level crossing accident
The Jaffar Express train collided with a van in dense fog on an open
level crossing 25 miles from Khanewal station in Mian Channu on
Wednesday, the driver and 10 children being taken to school in the van
were killed, a further 8 of the 30 children are being treated for
injuries. 14th
January 2010.
|
Russia
Irkutsk freight train boiler fire
A boiler fire occurred on a freight train at Sukhovskaya Station in
Irkutsk region in which 7 of the 9 crew were injured. 14th
January 2010.
|
Japan
Nagasaki fishing boat missing off Goto
All 10 crew of the fishing boat Yamada Maru No 2 of the Yamada Suisan
company fishing out of Nagasaki are missing and feared drowned in
30mph winds off the Goto Islands.
The 113-tonne boat had sailed from Nagasaki for Jeju Island, South
Korea, but the coastguard received reports that it had developed a
list in heavy seas and an empty life raft was sighted near Goto on
Tuesday. 13th
January 2010.
|
USA
Remote-control crane accident
A worker operating a remote-control crane by handset has died after
being crushed by an unstable section he was moving at the GE
Transportation locomotive plant in Erie, Pennsylvania.
13th January 2010.
|
Germany
Garage grill left guests exposed to CO
Thirteen people are being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning
following a grill party in a garage in Osterhusen, Lower Saxony, where
wood and gas grill ovens were inadequately ventilated. 12th January 2010.
|
New Zealand
Machinery accident at Auckland site
A road worker has sustained serious leg and abdominal injuries,
possibly a fractured pelvis, after becoming trapped in machinery
during the unloading of pipes on a water main replacement project at
the Curran Street on-ramp to Harbour Bridge, Auckland.
12th January 2010.
|
Georgia
Building collapse kills Tblisi renovation workers
At least 2 workers died when a structural collapse occurred in Tblisi
during renovation work of the former Georgian National Guard building
now taken over by the Justice Ministry. 11th January 2010.
|
Portugal
Seating collapses at Lisbon circus
Several dozen spectators were injured when a section of seating
collapsed at the arena of Circus Chen in the Parque das Nacoes in
Lisbon on Saturday evening. 11th January 2010.
|
Philippines
Unsecured boat section kills woman at Manila pier
A woman was killed in an accident on Thursday morning at Pier 6 of
Manila North Harbour when a roller section of the MV San Sebastian of
Negros Navigation detached and struck her on the head as the ship was
leaving for Palawan, a male was hospitalised with a hip injury after
also being struck by the roller which bounced on the pier.
8th January 2010.
|
Romania
Helicopter's emergency landing in bad weather
Severe weather conditions forced an SAF Helicopteres helicopter, which
would take tourists from Bucharest to and from mountain resorts, had
to undertake an emergency landing at a hypermarket depot in Orsova,
the flight had crew only on board.
8th January 2010.
|
China
Fire kills 25 Hunan miners
At least 25 miners have died and 3 are missing following an
underground cable fire at a private colliery in Xiangtan County,
Hunan, where 43 workers escaped to safety.
7th January 2010.
|
Finland
Man overboard from ferry investigation
The Maritime Rescue Centre, Sjoraddningscentralen, attended a man
overboard incident from the Viking Ferry, Mariela, earlier this week
south of Uto island in the Baltic as the ferry sailed from Finland to
Stockholm. A subsequent criminal investigation in Stockholm has
revealed that an individual may be about to be transferred to the
Finnish authorities to face charges in connection with the incident
which occurred in Finnish waters. No body has been recovered.
7th January 2010.
|
China
15 workers killed by gas in separate incidents
Eight maintenance workers have died in an apparent confined space
accident while performing electrical repair work in a 1.5-metre deep
underground pump station in the No 1 steel plant of the Dalian Special
Steel Company in Dalian. The bodies showed no indication of
electrocution but had apparently lost consciousness in an
oxygen-deficient atmosphere.
A gas leak appears to have killed 7 workers assembling a furnace in
the Hebei Puyang Iron and Steel works where Nanjing Sanye was the
utility installation company.
6th January 2010.
|
Canada
Snow clearer kills unsighted pedestrian
A fatal accident occurred in a parking area in Glen Stewart Drive,
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where a woman was killed by a
reversing back hoe during snow clearing work, both unaware of the
other's presence.
6th January 2010.
|
USA
Indiana MEWP accident
A worker was injured in an accident on Monday morning in the Hamilton
Town Centre Mall in Noblesville, Indiana, where a MEWP (mobile
elevating work platform) became unstable and fell, pinning his leg.
5th January 2010.
|
Indonesia
Hot work sparks car workshop fire
A major fire occurred at a vehicle repair workshop at Jl Logistik No
52 in Koja, north Jakarta when welding sparks ignited a can of petrol
which was under a car being repaired.
5th January 2010.
|
Turkey
SPAD accident in northwest Turkey
TCDD (Turkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryollari), Turkish Railways, has
indicated that the Eskisehir Express passed a red signal(SPAD- signal
passed at danger) in Bilecik at the weekend and struck another train,
an accident in which a driver died and 2 people were injured. Although
upgrading work on a high-speed section of track was underway, TCDD
reports that the lights were not subject to power switch-off.
4th January 2010.
|
Russia
Sakhalin Railway site accident
The body of a railway worker was recovered on Sunday under 3 metres of
snow at a work site on the Sakhalin Railway where a train and snow
plough had derailed, a 3-man crew was working at the site when a
subsequent avalanche hit them, 1 worker survived.
4th January 2010.
|
|
Spain
Galician worker killed in trench accident
A construction worker has died and another was seriously injured in an
unstable excavation collapse at a site in Celanova, south Galicia.
29th January 2010.
|
Russia
Unsafe Ukrainian ship detained
The port authority in Nakhodka, 110 miles east of Vladivostok, has
detained the Comoro Islands-flagged Sea Star of Odessa company,
Transforward, following a technical inspection which revealed cracks
in the deck and rudder of the ship which was built in China last year
and where it was sailing to with a cargo of coal.
29th January 2010.
|
Finland
Disabled woman lay dead for 3 years in Helsinki flat
It is estimated that the decomposed body of a handicapped woman
discovered in a chair in her apartment in Helsinki may have lain there
since 2007, initial speculation points to death by natural causes. The
woman had no offspring or relatives and her bills were being paid by
direct debit. 28th
January 2010.
|
France
Fisherman's body recovered
The body of a drowned shellfish fishermen, believed to be the owner of
the fishing boat le Kalon Breizh, was recovered yesterday off Paimpol
by the fishing boat le Bon Retour.
January 2010.
|
Greece
Level crossing collision in northern Greece
Two people died and 2 others were injured when a car was struck by a
train travelling from Thessalonica to Florina on Tuesday at an
unguarded level crossing near Alexandreia.
27th January 2010.
|
USA
Roofer falls through skylight
A Hawaiian roofer sustained critical injuries in a 10-metre fall
through a skylight at the former Panasonic building on Iwaiwa Street,
Aiea. 27th January
2010.
|
Turkey
Lorry brings down Istanbul overpass
A 51-year old pedestrian was injured when a covered overpass spanning
a dual carriage highway in Beylikduzu, Istanbul, partially collapsed
on Monday when a lorry passing underneath struck a central support
pillar. 26th
January 2010.
|
New Zealand
Diver treated for bends
A diver is being treated in the hyperbaric chamber at Devonport Naval
Hospital after becoming unwell during a dive at Whale Island off the
Bay of Plenty coast.
26th January 2010.
|
Iran
59 dead in plane crash, 8 killed in train derailment
A Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft of Tabal
Airlines crashed on landing in Maschhad, killing 46 passengers and 13
crew. The pilot of the flight from Abadan had wanted to abort the
landing on account of poor visibility but had a seriously ill
passenger on board and decided to attempt the landing.
Eight people died and 12 were injured
when 2 carriages of a train travelling from Mashhad to Teheran
derailed at Azadvar Station in Joqati, the driver indicated that brake
failure occurred. 25th January 2010.
|
Finland
Flight recorder recovered from test flight
crash
The flight recorder has been recovered
from the Finish Air Force 2-seater Hornet F18-D which crashed in
Juupajoki, both pilots ejected from the aircraft, sustaining leg and
arm injuries.
The aircraft, built by aerospace company Patria from a
damaged single-seat Finnish plane and a Canadian Hornet fuselage, was
on a test flight prior to delivery to the FAF.
25th January 2010.
|
USA
Unstable excavation kills Texas utility worker
On Thursday morning a section of an excavation on Airport Road,
McKinney, north of Dallas, failed during sewage pipeline installation
for the North Texas Municipal Water District, 1 worker died in the
accident, another was rescued from the trench.
22nd January 2010.
|
Romania
Fireman kills senior officer
A senior officer of a military base at Dorohoi, northeast Romania,
died from head injuries after being attacked by a 25-year military
fireman at the base on Thursday, police were later investigating the
discovery of a body in car 6 miles away as the suicide of the
perpetrator. 22nd
January 2010.
|
Spain
Man found dead in clothes receptacle
A 24-year old Slovenian national was found dead on Wednesday in
clothes recycling container at the junction of Dolores Marques and
Vicente Zaragoza in Valencia. The container's opening and closing
mechanism operated in a manner which prevented him getting out. 21st January 2010.
|
USA
Oil worker drowned in Ohio river
A Marathon Oil Corporation worker drowned in an accident during the
casting off of lines at Kenova, West Virginia, on the Ohio River. As
the Marathon tow boat was ready to pull away from a barge, the worker
noticed a line still attached. Before he could reach it the tow boat
struck the barge, pitching him into the river. Although he was wearing
a life jacket he was drawn down under the barge. 21st January 2010.
|
USA
Worker killed as vehicle slips off lift
At Cypress Knolls Golf Club in Florida's Palm Coast a maintenance
worker died in an accident in a garage there when a vehicle under
repair slipped off a lift and pinned him.
20th January 2010.
|
Canada
Bypass key incident could have been fatal
At Ontario Court of Justice in Dryden, Ontario Power Generation Inc
has been fined $100K(£59,257) after pleading guilty over an accident
in which a worker sustained electrical burns to his upper body.
On 15th January 2008, 2 workers were attending an incident of
malfunctioning equipment at the Atikokan operating station where the
chamber is protected by a lock-out system on account of the
electrically energised moving apparatus inside. The lockout system
requires the equipment to be electrically de-energised, grounded and
locked out prior to chamber access. The equipment operator used a
bypass key to circumvent the lockout system and open it while the
equipment was still energised. When a worker shone a torch into the
chamber, an arc flash of electricity occurred.
Ministry of Labour investigation found that the key used to bypass the
lockout system was available to workers. The company pleaded
guilty to failing to take the reasonable precaution of preventing
ready access to the means of circumventing the lockout system,
breaching Section 25(2)(h) of the occupational health and safety
regulations. 20th
January 2010.
|
Paraguay
Competition swimmers drowned and missing in Parana
Three swimmers died, 2 more are in intensive care and 5 others are
missing after participating in the weekend Cruce de Parana 4-mile swim
across the Parana river from Posadas in Argentina to Encarnacion in
Paraguay. Organisers from the Caza y Pesca Pacu Cua club had expressed
concerns over conditions, with the river in flood spate, but had
decided to go ahead with the swim involving 65 participants. Strong
flow and currents as well as waves and the wake of a large barge
proved significant hazards for the swimmers, 1 of the missing is a
58-year old in his 46th participation.
19th January 2010.
|
Malaysia
NIOSH chair delivers safety message
At a university engagement on Monday the chairman of the National
Institute for Occupational Safety & Health reiterated his call for the
mandatory inclusion of occupational health & safety in school, college
and university curriculae.
Most recently available annual accident figures from the Social Security
Organisation show a fall from 63,423 early in the decade to 38,657.
19th January 2010.
|
Israel
Falling concrete kills kibbutz worker
An unstable concrete section killed a worker of the Bnei Darom kibbutz
east of the port of Ashdod on Sunday.
18th January 2010.
|
Antarctica
Injured worker transferred from base station
A Chinese worker is recovering in the Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania,
following a 10-hour, 3-leg rescue trip from the Zhongshan station on
Antarctica where he sustained serious abdominal injuries in a crush
accident involving heavy machinery.
18th January 2010.
|
Russia
Military
aircraft missing in Far East
An Su-27 fighter aircraft of the Far Eastern Air Force was reported
missing on Thursday morning 20 miles beyond take-off from the Dzyangi
airfield, Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
15th January 2010.
|
Japan
Unstable crane fell in Tokyo
An 18-year old worker was seriously injured when he was struck by a
section of a crane which toppled in windy conditions at a construction
site in Hachioji, west Tokyo, the accident occurred as the crane
pivoted while lifting a 250Kg heavy plate.
15th January 2010.
|
France
Fire in Brest dry dock
Fire broke out on the vessel Acergy Falcon undergoing refitting at the Sobrena dry dock in Brest, no injuries or cause for the fire were
immediately available, the boat positions flexible and rigid pipelines
in oil fields. 14th January 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Crew rescued from sinking trawler
The 17-man crew of the German-registered trawler Ortegal Uno was
rescued by a sister ship on Wednesday morning as it began to sink off
southwest Ireland, the crew has been taken home to Spain.14th January 2010.
|
China
Several workers killed in Wuhu
scaffold collapse
A scaffold and roof collapse at a construction site in the Wuhu
Huaqiang Culture & Technology Industrial park in Anhui Province has
killed 3 workers and injured 7 others, the authorities are also
contending with the prospect that other workers are buried under the
debris. 13th
January 2010.
|
Canada
Rail wagon coupling fatality
A fatal accident has occurred during the coupling of 2 rail wagons at
the Ford plant in Oakville, Ontario, where an employee of Canadian
National railways was crushed between the wagons.
13th January 2010.
|
Dem Rep of Congo
8 feared dead at old tin mine site
Eight people have died, including 5 children,
following a structural collapse at an abandoned tin mine of Zaire-Etain
in Manona, southeast
Congo, the mine ceased production in 1995. 12th January
2010.
|
Greece
Freight train derailment
OSE, Helenic Railways Organisation, is investigating the derailment of
3 wagons of a 19-wagon train which came off the tracks near Rodopi,
north Greece, during the transit of scrap metal from Bulgaria.
12th January 2010.
|
China
Workers killed during sulphuric acid experiment
A hydrogen sulphide overflow has killed 2 workers and injured 6 others
at Nikeguoran New Materials Co Ltd in Pengshan County, Sichuan, when
an introduction of excessive sulphuric acid during an experiment led
to the overflow. 11th January 2010.
|
Algeria
Bus/lorry collision leaves 15 dead
The collision of a bus, travelling from El Menea to Ghardaia, and a
lorry 30 miles north of El Menea on Algeria's N1 highway on Sunday
killed 15 people and saw 15 others treated in Chaabani Mohamed
Hospital in El Menea, later this month the Ministry of Transport
introduces new legislation to tackle careless and dangerous driving.
11th January 2010.
|
Australia
Boat explosion after refuelling
A man has been hospitalised in Sydney with extensive burns following
an explosion yesterday morning on a cabin cruiser at the Empire
Marina, north Sydney, the accident occurred shortly after the boat had
been refuelled and was leaving the wharf.
8th January 2010.
|
USA
Louisiana maintenance worker killed in gas explosion
A gas pipeline explosion killed a worker of Chesapeake Operating Inc
at the Barksdale Air Force base where he was conducting equipment
maintenance. 8th
January 2010.
|
China
Zoo keeper mauled by lion
A 56-year old zoo keeper has died after being mauled by a lion while
cleaning its cage at Nanhai Wildlife Park in Madian, Henan, having
been just 4 days in employment there.
7th January 2010.
|
Algeria
Civil engineer abducted
An engineer working for SNC-Lavalin of Canada at the water treatment
facility in Koudiet-Asserdoune was abducted at gunpoint by terrorists
who ambushed his vehicle and chauffeur, the latter was released unhurt
at Djeridet forest. The search by the authorities for the engineer
from Draa-El-Mizan is believed to be focussed on the Tizi-Ouzou area,
60 miles east of Algiers.
7th January 2010.
|
USA
Man crushed under hydraulic trailer bed
A Texas worker has died in a crush accident involving the bed of a
lorry trailer which was taking concrete from a construction site to an
authorised debris area near the Neches River Bridge. The trailer bed
had developed hydraulic problems and was locked in the raised
position, but fell as the worker was attempting repairs under it.
7th January 2010.
|
South Africa
Diamond mine workshop fatality
A diamond mine worker has died in an accident involving equipment in
an underground workshop at the Petra Diamonds mine in Koffiefontein.
6th January 2010.
|
Bahrain
Slight increase in workplace deaths
Workplace deaths rose by 5.55% in 2009 from 36 in 2008 to 38 although
serious accidents reported fell from 66 to 62.
The Labour Ministry reports that most deaths resulted from falls at
construction sites, being struck by falling material and being trapped
in machinery. 6th
January 2010.
|
Finland
Train fails to brake in Helsinki station
A train experienced brake failure on Monday in Helsinki Central
station, crashing into the adjacent Holiday Inn.
The train was carrying 3 crew and no passengers, no injuries were
reported from the accident scene.
5th January 2010.
|
New Zealand
Falling anchor injures sailor's leg
A sailor was airlifted by helicopter from a boat near Mayor Island off
Tauranga when an anchor fell on his leg, his condition in hospital in
Tauranga was unknown.
5th January 2010.
|
Argentina
Spectator killed by Dakar rally car
A female spectator was killed by a car participating in the 2010 Dakar
Argentina-Chile rally at the weekend when a driver lost control of his
vehicle on a bend 1 mile from Alpa Corral, Cordoba, where members of
the public had ventured into an area unauthorised for spectating.
4th January 2010.
|
Italy
Landslide kills chef in Amalfi restaurant
A 44-year old chef died at the weekend when a landslide caused by
severe weather struck his restaurant on the Amalfi coast, south of
Naples. 4th January
2010.
|
|
Greece
Road blasting rock injures nearby resident
During controlled blasting of rock by contractors at a road site
in Fthiotida a large section of rock flew through the roof of nearby
accommodation, inflicting injuries which have left the occupant in
intensive care.
29th January 2010.
|
Switzerland
Trains collide near Simplon Tunnel
Several wagons derailed in the collision of 2 goods trains of BLS and
Crossrail yesterday between Brig and the Simplon Tunnel, the cause of
the accident remains under investigation.
29th January 2010.
|
Belgium
7 dead in Liege gas explosion
A gas explosion led to the collapse of a 4-storey building on rue
Leopold, Liege, yesterday, killing 7 residents, of the 21 injured 2
are listed in critical condition.
28th January 2010.
|
USA
Farmer injured by reversing HGV
A 79-year old Florida agricultural worker sustained critical crush
injuries after being pinned between a conveyor belt and a tractor
trailer reversing to deposit its load of potatoes at Singleton Farms,
Hastings, northwest of Palm Coast.
28th January 2010.
|
Russia
Contaminated water taints religious ceremony
Almost 300 people participating in Epiphany ceremonies and who drank
contaminated water from 2 wells and an ice hole in a nearby lake at
the Archangel Michael Russian Orthodox Church in Irkutsk last week
have been hospitalised with gastro-enteritis. The water had raised
levels of chloride and nitrate, the church's location is in an
industrial area. 27th
January 2010.
|
Belgium
Transport accident at industrial cleaners
A worker was critically injured on Tuesday at Peeters Industriele
Reinigung in Herentals during maintenance work on vehicle brakes. The
vehicle suddenly rolled forward, knocking him down, later in the day
his condition was listed as stable.
27th January 2010.
|
France
Huntsman shoots off 3 fingers
A huntsman lost 3 fingers when his rifle discharged unexpectedly when
he leaned on it and used it as a support while negotiating a ditch in
Rouperroux-le-Coquet, Pays de la Loire, he is being treated in the Pre
clinic, Le Mans.
26th January 2010.
|
Lebanon
Experts discounting lightning in air crash probe
All 83 passengers and 7 crew of an Ethiopian Airlines flight from
Beirut to Addis Ababa died when their flight came down in the sea 2
miles off Naameh in stormy conditions. Contact with air traffic
control was lost almost immediately after take-off. The aircraft
exploded into 4 sections, some experts have been discounting
speculation of a lightning strike. The airline has 38 passenger and
freight aircraft and is expanding its destinations to other
continents. It is profitable, its aircraft are well maintained and its
pilots well trained. This was only the 3rd major accident since its
founding in 1945. 26th
January 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Mine fined over fall from height death
At Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court in
Carlow, Galway Mines was fined €100K(£87,919) after pleading guilty to a
breach of health and safety legislation, 2 other charges were dropped,
in respect of a fatal fall accident at Galway Mines in February 2007.
A 44-year old worker was investigating a blockage in a crusher
underground when the top guardrail of a gantry failed, causing him to
fall to a concrete surface. Falls from height caused 8 of Ireland's 43
workplace deaths last year.
25th January 2010.
|
England
Lorry sheds glass load in Derby
A lorry shed 5 tonnes of glass in Ascot
Drive, Derby, shortly after leaving Glass Center there, no injuries
were reported. 25th
January 2010.
|
Belgium
Fatal head injuries in fall from scaffold
A worker died in hospital in Ghent on Thursday after being transferred
by helicopter after falling from a scaffold during demolition of a
house extension in Merendree, East Flanders.
22nd January 2010.
|
Switzerland
Care home head sacked over negligence
On Thursday the local authority in Heiden dismissed the manageress of
the Mullersberg care home for the elderly on account of alleged
negligence in terms of diet, hygiene and general care following
concern expressed by a health insurer.
22nd January 2010.
|
England
Leics child killed in fall from tractor
HSE is to investigate the death of a 13-month old child in a fall,
possibly while being taken down from a tractor at stables in Sproxton
near Melton Mowbray. 21st January 2010.
|
France
Unstable helium carboy
On Wednesday afternoon an evacuation of the Beaulieu campus of the
University of Rennes took place when it was feared that a helium
carboy might explode in building 10A of the chemistry department. 21st January 2010.
|
Scotland
MAIB investigation lessons for
vessel owner
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has investigated and reported
on the 1st April 2009 accident that occurred on the diving support
vessel 'Wellservicer' in which a rigger died after the winch for a
diving bell's cursor unexpectedly fell and crushed him.
The MAIB concluded that project management of the cursor modifications
that was underway at the time lacked direction, focus and effective
monitoring at various management levels.
No recommendations have been made but the MAIB has published a Safety
Flyer for circulation to the offshore shipping industry, which details
the lessons learned from the accident.
21st January 2010.
|
Fiji
Child(6) killed by school swing
The 6-year old son of a school janitor has died in an accident after
being struck on the head by the metal frame of the swing on which his
sister was playing at a school in Tauvegavega, Ba.
20th January 2010.
|
Turkey
Black Sea shipping incidents
Stormy conditions at the northern end of the Bosphorus saw 2 ships in
difficulty on Tuesday.
The 21-man crew of the Moldovan-flagged Ocrun C was rescued by the
Turkish coastguard after their ship drifted and grounded in the gales,
the fuel tanks also split in this accident.
Also the Piper, a Maltese-flagged Romanian-registered ship was
drifting and at risk of sinking off Kilyos following engine failure.
20th January 2010.
|
Kenya
Crop spraying aircraft crash
Both occupants of a light aircraft of Farm Land Aviation Company of
Nairobi have been seriously injured when their plane crashed at
Enaibelkel, 15 miles from Narok, southwest Kenya, as it flew to Nkorinkori to spray
wheat. 19th January
2010.
|
Israel
Soldier injured during tank maintenance
A soldier of the 7th Armoured Brigade sustained critical head injuries
when a 5-Kg heavy hammer being wielded by a colleague during
maintenance work on a tank slipped from his grasp at a site near the
Gaza Strip. 19th
January 2010.
|
India
Trains collide in dense fog
It remains unclear if a SPAD (signal passed at danger) caused
Saturday's collision in dense fog of the Kalindi Express and the
stationary Shram Shakti Express near Tundla station, 15 miles from
Agra, which claimed 3 lives.
18th January 2010.
|
Sweden
Iranian airbus accident investigation
Statens Haverikommission(SHK), the Swedish Accident Investigation
Board, is investigating a weekend incident at Stockholm- Arlanda
Airport where an Iran Air 300-600 airbus with 172 people skidded 100
metres off the runway into snow, it is not known if brake or engine
problems occurred during a turning manoeuvre.
18th January 2010.
|
Singapore
Worker jailed over negligent supervision
A worker supervising a lifting operation in which another worker died
in October 2007 has been jailed for 1 month over his negligent
supervision.
The supervisor had instructed 2 other workers to assist with the
hoisting of timber formwork by mobile crane, but the cable failed and
the falling formwork fell 10 metres and killed a worker. The
supervisor was deemed by the court to have failed to ensure that both
workers were trained riggers competently instructed for the task and
was deemed to have endangered the safety of workers by exposing them
to falling hazards during the task.
15th January 2010.
|
Pakistan
10 Narwar miners killed in separate accidents
More than 10 miners are feared dead in separate accidents on the
Narwar coal field, 50 miles southeast of Quetta.
It is thought that at least 7 miners died in a gas accident 1,200
metres underground, and a roof collapse at the Habibullah mines killed
3 miners. 15th
January 2010.
|
Northern Ireland
Maintenance company fined
Red Sky Ltd has been prosecuted and fined £300 plus £72 costs for
infringements of health and safety law following an accident at
commercial property in the city's High Street in which an employee was
badly injured. 14th
January 2010.
|
Scotland
Fisherman sustains head injury
A crewman onboard the Irish fishing vessel Niamh Edghan was airlifted
from the vessel after he sustained a serious head injury as he worked
on its deck.
The accident occurred in rough sea conditions 20 miles west of South
Uist, the 45-year old man is stable in Stornoway hospital. 14th January 2010.
|
Gaza
Electrical fire at ice cream factory
An electrical malfunction is speculated as the cause of an explosion
on Tuesday which killed a worker in an ice cream factory in the
Al-Amal district of Khan Yunis, south Gaza.
13th January 2010.
|
Serbia
Explosions at munitions plant
Two separate explosion occurred on Tuesday at the Sloboda weapons
manufacturing plant in Cacak, 90 miles south of Belgrade. The first
explosion injured a worker in the pyrotechnics section, the second
left a female worker in the grenade unit with serious burns to the
arms. 13th
January 2010.
|
France
Corsican fisherman's body recovered
On Monday the body of a 56-year old fishermen missing since Thursday
from the fishing boat Maria Anghjula, sailing out of Propriano, south
Corsica, was found semi-submerged on the beach at Capo di Feno,
Ajaccio. 12th
January 2010.
|
Belgium
Sint-Niklaas school fire
Pupils of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Presentatieschool on Plezantstraat,
Sint-Niklaas, were evacuated on Monday to an adjacent monastery when
fire broke out in the gym, the cause of the incident was not
immediately known.
12th January 2010.
|
England
Worker's fingers severed in guillotine machine
At Liverpool Magistrates' Court Centriforce Products Ltd of Derby
Road, Liverpool, was fined £2,500 plus £2,438 costs for a breach of
r.11(1) of the Provision & Use
of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 in respect of an accident in which an
operative lost 4 fingers while using a guillotine machine. The
machinery cuts plastic in sections, during a change in section size a
blockage occurred, the guillotine lowered as the worker's fingers were
under it. 11th January 2010.
|
Belgium
CO fatality
A defective gas heating system is being blamed for the carbon monoxide
incident which killed 1 resident and hospitalised 5 others in
Koekelberg yesterday. 11th January 2010.
|
England
Yorks builder fined over unsafe scaffolding
At Bridlington Magistrates Court a partner of builders Wm Naylor & Son
pleaded guilty to a breach of r.6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations
2005 at the Sylvan Lea housing development in Driffield and was fined
£8K plus £2,244 costs. The court heard that on 29th April last year
during a routine inspection by HSE internal and external scaffolding
was found to have been poorly erected and lacked edge protection.
8th January 2010.
|
New Zealand
Christchurch recycling centre fire
A fire broke out in a wood chipper at the Eco Recycling Park in the
Christchurch suburb of Wigram where fire crews spent much of Thursday
controlling the blaze.
8th January 2010.
|
Malaysia
Maintenance worker killed at cement works
On Wednesday a maintenance worker died after being struck by the
blades of an air conditioning unit he was working on and falling from
a ladder at a cement works in Bukit Sagu, Pahang.
7th January 2010.
|
Germany
Freight derailment incident
Three empty coal wagons of a goods train derailed at Vennebeck,
Minden, on Wednesday just a day after 4 wagons in the middle of a
9-wagon freight train derailed near Neubeckum, Munsterland, the train
running on for a mile before stopping.
7th January 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Fishing boat rescued off east Cork
A French fishing boat was taken under tow by the Ballycotton lifeboat
yesterday afternoon after its nets became entangled in its propeller
off the east Cork coast.
6th January 2010.
|
Scotland
Grampian freight train derailment
A rail worker was injured when a section of a 10-wagon freight train
with 2 workers on board derailed at Carrbridge station as it travelled
from Inverness to the Mossend yard depot.
6th January 2010.
|
China
Flyover collapses at Yunnan airport site
An unfinished flyover collapsed at a construction site at Kunming
Airport, killing 7 workers and injuring 34 others, 8 of whom are
listed in critical condition.
5th January 2010.
|
Belgium
Double fatality in Flemish air crash
An air accident investigation was launched following the crash of a
Cessna light aircraft in woodland near Jagershof, Knesselare, East
Flanders.
The flight had been due to land at Ursel airfield, a couple aged 74
and 76 died in the accident.
5th January 2010.
|
USA
Montana mine fatality
Mine Safety & Health Administration is investigating a fatal accident
which occurred on Saturday when a worker died in the surface shop at
the Signal Peak Mine, south of Roundup, Montana, work resumes at the
mine today (Monday).
4th January 2010.
|
Mexico
18 farm workers dead in Tijuana bus accident
Eighteen people died and 31 were injured when a bus carrying workers
from farms in the San Quinton area to Sinaloa left the road on the
Tijuana-Mexicali highway in the Rumorosa Mountains west of Tijuana and
fell down into a deep, rocky ravine.
4th January 2010.
|
|
Scotland
2 die after separate falls
A painter has fallen to his death
from the Forth Bridge. He fell initially from a ladder but came to
land 50 metres below on Wednesday evening.
Yesterday morning a workman in his 40's fell to his death from a
ladder on to a ledge on the Tay Bridge.
Both deceased worked for contractors
engaged directly or indirectly by Network Rail to maintain the
structures. 29th
January 2010.
|
England
Fatal docks accident
It is reported that a man in his 50's died in an industrial accident
on Wednesday afternoon at Henderson Quay, Immingham Docks. He was
employed by ABC (Grimsby) Ltd.
29th January 2010.
|
England
Construction workers exposed to
asbestos
Frank Bruce and Company Ltd of Bristol has been fined for its failure
to instruct a licensed asbestos contractor to remove asbestos-
containing material during refurbishment work at Lawrence Hill
Industrial Park in Bristol during February and March 2009.
HSE inspectors viewed industrial units where the work involving the
removal of the asbestos insulation board was undertaken without taking
statutory safety precautions.
The company was in breach of r.4(10) of the Control of Asbestos
Regulations by failing to review or implement a plan to manage
materials containing asbestos. Additionally, it failed to appoint a
CDM-coordinator or principal contractor for notifiable construction
work for which the company was fined a total of £18,000 with £6,679
costs.
28th January 2010.
|
Scotland
Safety deficiencies at contractor's
site
Scotcare Preservation Ltd of Edinburgh has been fined £3,600 for
breaching safety legislation at a project in Galashiels. Inspectors
found problems with training standards, fall from height prevention,
welfare provision and compliance with Improvement Notices.
28th January 2010.
|
England
Axle stands would have saved
life
Aviance UK has been fined £90,000 with costs of £18,800 for failings
that led to an employee being crushed under an airport vehicle in
March 2008 at Heathrow Airport. The deceased was underneath a baggage
trolley pulling vehicle propped up by a single trolley jack when it
moved, inflicting fatal head injuries.
Aviance UK did not have an adequate system for ensuring that the
maintenance van returned to the workshop for axle stands, or that
defective vehicles were recovered and proper vehicle hoists used.
27th January 2010.
|
Scotland
Worker's tank fall
An investigation of an accident in which a hospital painter fell
several metres from a ladder while painting within a tank in the
grounds of a Renfrewshire hospital is underway.
Last week's incident took place at the Royal Alexandria Hospital in
Paisley where he was treated for a head injury.
27th January 2010.
|
United Kingdom
8 vessels detained in UK ports
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency detained a further 3 foreign-flagged
ships during December, joining 5 detained since November which were
rated as unseaworthy by marine inspectors.
This included the vessel Hanseatic Spirit flagged in Antigua & Barbuda
which had 10 deficiencies and 9 grounds for detention. It was detained
in Southampton because the foscle equipment store including the bow
thruster space was flooded; no hours of rest had been recorded in
November; records of rest for the Master and Chief Officer were found
to be false; several hatch cover securing cleats on the starboard side
were unsecured and only 1 of the hatch cover wedges was fully
operational. Major non-conformities were identified in respect of
maintenance and equipment and resources and personnel.
26th January 2010.
|
England
Accidental death by drowning
A 15-year old boy drowned last August while swimming at Whitlingham
Little Broad in Norfolk after he became entangled in weeds. A
Coroner's jury determined accidental death, the Coroner noting that
issues raised during the inquest required attention from the local
authority. 26th
January 2010.
|
England
Care home's £100,000 fine
Lifeways Community Care Ltd of Owens Way, Oxford, has been fined
£100,000 with £45,000 costs in connection with the death through
scalding of an 18-year old disabled female resident in August 2007.
The bath involved was fitted with a special valve to prevent scalding
but it had never been set, also staff had no training in the risks of
scalding and there was no bath thermometer.
25th January 2010.
|
England
Carbon filter explosion killed
worker
An verdict of accidental death was reached by an inquest jury considering
the circumstances of the November 2007 death of a worker in an explosion at the Ponders
End, Enfield, premises of Aesica pharmaceuticals.
A carbon filter unexpectedly filled with gas through a leaking seal
which caused a stainless steel vat to explode, killing the worker
and injuring a colleague.
25th January 2010.
|
England
Fatal fall at engineers
It is reported that a worker has died after falling on Monday
afternoon at the premises of Maine Engineering on the West Line
Industrial Estate, Chester le Street, Durham. The 49-year old man is
reported to have succumbed to head injuries.
22nd January 2010.
|
Wales
Training incident
A member of the public alerted rescue services on Tuesday after
witnessing an incident during a training exercise being undertaken by
Merseyside Fire & Rescue near the Menai Bridge.
Three men were seen in the water after a rigid inflatable boat
capsized in a hazardous area. All three were safely rescued from the
very strong ebb tide.
22nd January 2010.
|
Scotland
Fatal diving accident in Clyde
It is reported that a 44-year old man died in a diving accident on Sunday in the Clyde
estuary near Inverkip. He was discovered by fellow divers but died at
the scene. 21st
January 2010.
|
England
Man fell from aircraft wing
A worker fell 5 metres from the
wing of an aircraft at Filton, Bristol, in October 2007 as he was
wrapping it in protective plastic. No fall protection or prevention
measures were put in place by his employer, Air Livery Plc of Southend
Airport, Essex.
Air Livery admitted breaching
r.6(3)
of the Work at Heights Regulations 2005 and was fined £2,400 with
costs of £9,162 at Bristol Magistrates Courts.
21st January 2010.
|
England
Staff escape injury when metal
section passes through office
Employees of an estate agency in Preston escaped possible fatal injury
when a long steel section fell through the roof of their office as it
was being lifted on an adjacent building site. It passed through
several floors vertically before coming to rest on the ground.
20th January 2010.
|
England
Bus hits scaffolding
It is reported that a bus was damaged after it impacted on a
projecting scaffolding member as it passed along Truro's Boscawen
Street on Monday, no passengers were injured.
20th January 2010.
|
Scotland
Building collapse injures
workmen
The partial collapse of a building on a residential site in Airdrie,
Lanarkshire, yesterday morning necessitated the rescue of 2 workmen who
were taken to nearby Monklands Hospital.
19th January 2010.
|
England
Level crossing death
investigation
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch and Network Rail are
investigating the circumstances of Saturday's level crossing accident
at Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire, where a train struck at least one
of 2 cars involved in the incident.
One of the occupants of one car was killed, her co-occupant seriously
injured. The 2 occupants of the other car escaped with minor injury. 19th
January 2010.
|
England
Global defence company's
failings led to death
BAE Systems Land Systems (Munitions and Ordnance) Ltd has been fined
£80,000 plus £118,000 costs for safety failings that permitted a fatal
accident at its Chorley premises.
On 2nd March 2005, a female employee was working with the explosive
substance lead styphnate when she was killed in an explosion.
HSE could not conclude what had caused the explosion but it maintained
BAE had allowed unsafe working procedures to develop by providing too
little supervision and monitoring.
18th January 2010.
|
England
Construction company's training
was inadequate
A 23-year old construction worker died when his head was crushed as he
leaned out of the mini-digger he was operating on a site in Abbeymead,
Gloucester, in February 2005. He had inadvertently operated a lever
when he leaned forward.
The deceased was not qualified by training to operate the digger,
vehicle keys were routinely left in the machines, rendering the
vehicles accessible to anyone on site, regardless of their
qualifications.
Macob Administration Ltd admitted
breaches under r.9(1) and 28(a) of the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998 for which it was fined £40,000 for each
charge with costs of £29,798.
18th January 2010.
|
Scotland
School crossing officer killed
in Glasgow RTA
A 59-year old traffic patrol officer was struck and killed yesterday
morning by an HGV as she worked in Alma Street in the east end of
Glasgow. 15th
January 2010.
|
England
Aerosol storage risk too high
A.M Widdowson & Son Ltd of Mill
Lane Industrial Estate, Leicester, has been fined a total of £5,000
with costs of £4,900 having admitted breaching r.6(2) of the Control
of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) and S.2(1) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The company stored large amounts of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) for
around 7 months without notifying the authorities and did not complete
a risk assessment. It also failed to implement many good industry
practices.
HSE said that there was a real risk of a major fire and wanted the
prosecution to serve as a reminder to all operators of sites
warehousing aerosol products.
15th January 2010.
|
Scotland
Hospital slip investigated
It is reported that Lothian and Borders Police and the HSE are
investigating an incident that occurred on 21st December at Borders
General Hospital in which a 71-year old outpatient slipped and
sustained what was to eventually prove to be a fatal head injury
shortly after being dropped off by a Scottish Ambulance Service
vehicle. 14th
January 2010.
|
United Kingdom
Boating lifejacket message from
MCA
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency
says people don't wear lifejackets because they underestimate the
risks of being immersed in the water.
Recent research provided this conclusion, people believe they can
survive for a long time in the water or even climb out quickly.
MCA says the report found a general lack of awareness about the effect
of cold water shock, where sudden immersion in cold water can cause
increased blood pressure, a rise in heart rate and risk of gasping in
water. 14th January
2010.
|
England
Fallout of explosion and fire at
Bristol gas plant
Considerable disruption continues at the locality of the BOC bottling
depot in Bristol's Whitby Road, with surrounding businesses closed and
passing traffic diverted.
Three employees were injured in the explosion and fire involving
acetylene last Thursday. One is more seriously injured, and he remains
in hospital being treated for burns.
13th January 2010.
|
England
Building work led to structural
collapse
Twenty occupants of a building escaped with their lives when a
building project went badly wrong at a clothing importers in Tower
Hamlets.
On 13th February 2007, work was
underway on a wall on the first floor where a large opening was made
in the brickwork when the front elevation collapsed, taking with it a
scaffolding structure.
Although plans for the work had been prepared by architects and
structural consultants, the managing director of the clothing company
was acting as the principal contractor. The architect was unaware of
any work being carried out on the first floor and HSE had not been
notified of the work.
Importers Citytex UK Ltd of Tower Hamlets was fined £10,000 plus
£35,000 costs at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty
to breaching S.2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
1974. 13th January
2010.
|
England
Legionnaires' disease at Essex
hospital
Two patients are being treated for Legionnaires' disease at Basildon
hospital. The Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust says that it acknowledges that it is the likely
source of the disease.
One of the patients is listed in critical condition, no other cases
have been identified.
12th January 2010.
|
Scotland
RAIB investigates near miss
An incident in which a goods train came relatively close to striking 2
passenger trains on the evening of 22nd December at Carstairs,
Lanarkshire, has been the subject of an initial review by the Rail
Accident Investigation Branch which could find no evidence of signal
failure as a factor.
12th January 2010.
|
England
Care home poisoning
A client of a Sheffield care home died after drinking toilet
cleaner in July last year at the Newfield Nursing Home in Sheffield.
A narrative verdict from a Sheffield Coroners' Court related that the
80-year old man died because of phosphorous poisoning and inhalation
of the chemical components of the cleaner.
How he obtained the hazardous substance was the subject of speculation,
it was noted that he had confided to a friend that he may take his own
life. 11th
January 2010.
|
England
Ship's master was drunk
The Russian master of the vessel BaluC has been fined after being
breathalysed at 3 times the legal limit for taking control of a ship.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency was notified about the ship's
master's performance of berthing at Southampton Port.
He was fined £2,000 plus £100 costs at Southampton Magistrates Court.
11th
January 2010.
|
Scotland
Snow collapses farm buildings
A farmer had to be pulled from
underneath a collapsed farm building by colleagues after snow on its
roof brought it down.
The incident occurred at the farm near Glass, Aberdeenshire, the
injured man is recovering in hospital, several cows died. Other farm
buildings in Scotland are believed to have collapsed under snow
loading.
8th January 2010.
|
England
Injured telehandler operator was
untrained
A Gateshead company was fined this week after it permitted an employee
to use a telehandler for which he was untrained. He was lifting roof
trusses on to a roof at its site in Sandhoe, Corbridge,
Northumberland, in July 2008 when it overturned, severely injuring his
arm.
Meldrum Construction services was fined £4,500 with costs of £2,342.
An HSE official commented: "While
the company had produced a risk assessment and a system of work for
lifting the roof trusses, neither were sufficient, and had failed to
identify the dangers that workers would face."
8th January 2010.
|
England
Reckless breaches permitted 5m
fall
ECH Ltd, also known as Maple Timber Frames of Preston, Lancashire, has
been fined £16,000 with £5,000 costs in connection with an incident on
18th November 2008 in which a self-employed timber frame erector
subcontracted to the company fell 5 metres on a self-build project at
Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells. He fell down an inadequately covered
stairwell, sustaining multiple fractures.
7th January 2010.
|
Scotland
20-year old surveyor
electrocuted
W A Fairhurst and Ptns. of Glasgow has been fined £25,200 at
Stonehaven Sheriff Court for failures that led to the death of a
trainee surveyor who was holding a levelling staff which contacted
overhead power cables.
The incident occurred in February 2007 at a site near Echt,
Aberdeenshire. 7th
January 2010.
|
England
Hotel guest critical after fall
An 18-year old is critically ill after falling 15 metres from a
balcony of the Metropole Hotel in Padstow, Cornwall.
He was discovered in the car park in the early hours of Monday
morning, HSE has been informed.
6th January 2010.
|
England
Pilot failed blood test
A pilot employed by United Airlines has admitted preparing to fly an
aircraft at Heathrow Airport while having 50mg of alcohol in his blood
stream on 9th November last year. The maximum permitted amount is
20mg, he is to be sentenced next month.
6th January 2010.
|
Scotland
Incident closes climbing
facility
An incident in which a woman fell from a climbing wall at Robert
Gordon's University's sports facility in Aberdeen
has led to its temporary closure. The
woman fractured her pelvis, HSE has been informed.
5th January 2010.
|
England
3 companies fined £283K over
paralysing accident
Three companies have been fined for their failures that led to an
industrial accident in which a worker was paralysed after he was
struck by a falling 0.5t of waste materials suspended above a walkway.
The incident, described by HSE as totally avoidable, occurred in
February 2007 at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex near Ellesmere Port
during a refurbishment project.
Shell UK Oil Products and Dalprop, the accident victim's employer,
both breached r.8(1)(c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting
Equipment Regulations 1998, Shell was fined £116,666 with costs of
£16,204, Dalprop was fined £83,333 with costs of £11,115.
Hertel UK installed the scaffolding and platforms, this included the
boards around the lifting equipment which became dislodged, causing
the container carrying waste materials to fall. It was fined £83,333
with costs of £16,204.
5th January 2010.
|
England
12 injured by explosion
A suspected gas explosion at a building in Shrewsbury town centre has
injured 12 people, 2 of them seriously.
Some of the injured reported a smell of
gas prior to the explosion at 11.30am on Sunday morning at the mixed
residential and commercial property at the Smithfield Street/ Bridge
Street junction. 4th
January 2010.
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