Romania
Double confined space fatality
at waste processing plant
A confined space accident has killed 2 workers at the SC Protan Dej
animal waste processing facility in northwest Romania, a 3rd worker is
hospitalised in Cluj-Napoca. A worker had entered a process area
to replace a chain in machinery and was overcome by ammonia gas used
in the production process. The 2nd fatality involved a colleague
attempting the latter's rescue. None of the workers was attired in
suitable gear with breathing equipment. 31st July 2009.
|
Canada
Company fined over worker's
death at ski station
A provincial court in Banff, Alberta, has fined Sunshine Village
Corporation $250K(£139,845) over a failure to ensure the safety of workers in
its employment under the Occupational Health & Safety Act in respect
of a fatal accident in 2004 in which a 25-year old worker carrying out
maintenance died after being struck by a metal bar while working on a
chair lift at Sunshine Village in Banff National Park.
The company was cleared of 3 additional charges.
31st July 2009.
|
Austria
Confined space accident leaves 2
workers in critical condition
Two sanitary workers were listed in critical condition in hospital in
Innsbruck last night after being overcome by gases while working on a
waste pipeline at a pumping station in the Tux alpine resort, Tyrol.
The first worker was overcome quickly and fell into a water-filled
chamber 7 metres deep. His colleague was similarly overcome in
attempting a rescue. Both men were rescued unconscious from the
chamber by colleagues and transferred to hospital.
30th July 2009.
|
Gaza Strip
Contraband tunnel accidents
A tunnel collapse killed a Palestinian yesterday close to Rafah, the
4th incident in a week involving accidents in border contraband
tunnels. A fuel leak led to a fire in which 7 people died a few days
ago. 30th July
2009.
|
USA
Transport fatality in West
Virginia mine
A driver, believed to be an employee of subcontractor Hawkeye, has
died in a transport accident while operating an excavator which
reversed into a pond at the Samples Mine of Catenary Coal in Boone
County, West Virginia, the 2nd state mining fatality of 2009 and the
9th nationally this year.
29th July 2009.
|
Russia
Kemerovo gas pipeline fracture
At least 4 workers were injured when the Parabel-Kuzbass gas pipeline
fractured near Oktyabrsky in Kemerovo's Topkinsky region on Tuesday.
29th July 2009.
|
Canada
Impaled worker killed on Alberta
site
An employee of Chandos Construction died in a fall on Monday at the
Athabasca University site, 100 miles from Edmonton, where he was
impaled on steel reinforcement bars after falling 6 metres from a
wall. 28th July 2009.
|
Croatia
Investigation into derailment
accident
Police have been interviewing Croatian Railways Head of Procurement in
the wake of the weekend derailment near Split which saw 6 deaths and
55 people injured, 1 female with severe internal injuries.
The train's black box has been recovered, it has been speculated that
oil deployed to prevent timber ties from igniting in very hot weather
may have been implicated in the derailment. Some experts have also
opined that the braking system on the tilting trains leaves room for
improvement, a derailment occurred in the same area last year. 27th July 2009.
|
Mexico
Shepherd and flock electrocuted
in lightning strike
A shepherd died of electrocution after being struck by lightning while
sheltering under a tree during a storm in El Cajon, Puebla, his flock
of 30 sheep also perished in the accident. 27th July 2009.
|
Belgium
Cyanide spillage in recycling
wagon
Two workers of ICDI operating a recycling vehicle in Reves Les Bons
Villers, south of Brussels, have been hospitalised after being exposed
to a cyanide leakage from a container which spilled in the collection
bin of their vehicle. Initial investigation points to it having been
collected at the I'nstitut Sainte-Marie in Reves, both operatives are
being kept in hospital for observation for a minimum 24 hours.
24th July 2009.
|
USA
ATV fatality in Oregon orchard
An employee of Geiger Orchards was found dead yesterday under an
overturned ATV in the orchards in The Dalles, Oregon, he was not
wearing any head protection. 24th July 2009.
|
Russia
6 killed in Volgograd oil
helicopter crash
A Gazprom Avia Mi-8 helicopter crashed early on Wednesday near
Moiseevoi in Kotovsky region after experiencing engine failure,
5 Lukoil engineers of the Volgogradneftegaz facility and 1 crew member
were killed, 2 crewmen survived. 23rd July 2009.
|
USA
South Carolina utility worker
electrocuted in MEWP
A Santee Cooper utility worker has been electrocuted while working on
high voltage lines in a mobile elevating work platform at a site on
route 17A south of Lake Moultrie, South Carolina. 23rd July 2009.
|
Spain
4 Catalonian firemen killed in
forest fire
Four GRAF (Grupo de Refuerzo en Actuaciones Forestales) firemen have
died while fighting forest fires in the Horta de Sant Joan area of
Catalonia, 2 others have been critically injured. It is believed that
they were members of the helicopter crew of Parque de Bomberos Lleida
(Taragona), caught out by a sudden change of wind direction. A total
of 47 people have died fighting forest fires in Spain since 2000,
including 10 Catalonian firemen.
22nd July 2009.
|
Bolivia
Farm worker dies asleep on large
ant nest
A 42-year old farm worker has been found dead after being swarmed over
by a colony of ants after falling asleep under a Palo Santo tree. It
is believed that the aromatic wood was home to a colony of
particularly aggressive ants. Other workers found his badly bitten
body. 22nd July 2009.
|
Japan
Search for missing Robinson
helicopter
A search was ongoing through Monday evening for a missing Robinson R44
helicopter with 2 occupants whose last contact was with Toyooka
Airport in Hyogo to report that it was seeking an alternative landing
on account of dense cloud cover there. The helicopter is believed to
be owned by a businessman and had departed from Yonago with an
estimated 2 hours of fuel.
21st July 2009.
|
Canada
Saskatoon scaffold death
investigation
An investigation has begun into the death of a 44-year old
construction worker who died in a 7-metre fall from scaffolding at an
apartment block in Queen Street, Saskatoon.
21st July 2009.
|
Belarus
Fatal ammonia leak at food plant
A female worker died and 4 others were badly burned when a 200-Kg
release of ammonia occurred at a meat-manufacturing plant in Slutsk,
65 miles south of Minsk, 1 of the injured workers is listed in
critical condition.
The leakage was controlled by spraying with water, the resulting
ammonium hydroxide mixture was then pumped out.
20th July 2009.
|
Malta
Worker electrocuted in yacht
A worker has died following an electrical accident while working on a
super yacht berthed in the Vittoriosa Marina(Dockyard Creek), Valetta,
succumbing to his injuries during transportation to hospital.
20th July 2009.
|
France
Worker killed in concert stage
collapse
A 53-year old French worker died when a stage collapsed during
preparations for a Madonna concert in Marseille's Velodrome Stadium, 9
other workers were seriously injured, including an American and a
British worker.
Around 50 technicians were working on site, with a dozen under the
stage when the roofing structure, being lifted by 1 of 4 cranes,
became unstable and fell.
17th July 2009.
|
Germany
Ravenburg psychiatric unit fire
Fourteen patients of a psychiatric hospital in Ravensburg were
hospitalised with smoke inhalation following a fire started by a
patient in the early hours of Thursday. This was the first fire this
year, 4 occurred there last year, the frequency of such incidents has
made it mandatory for these units to have their own fire crew in
attendance.
17th July 2009.
|
Iran
168 killed in Caspian Airlines
crash
The crash of a Tupelov aircraft of Caspian Airlines in Qazvin some 15
minutes into a flight from Teheran to Erevan in Armenia has led to the
deaths of 168 people.
Most of the passengers were Armenian citizens, the Iranian
national judo youth team was also on the flight.
16th July 2009.
|
Sweden
Care home patient died after
swallowing dentures
Socialstylrelsen, Sweden’s National Board for Health and Welfare, is
studying a report regarding the death of a male octogenarian care home
patient who died following an accident in which he swallowed his lower
dentures during a meal. Shortly after the incident he complained of
throat pain and as his condition deteriorated a hospital scan revealed
his lower dentures were lodged in his gullet. Although they were
surgically removed, an infection had developed which brought on a
fatal heart attack.
16th July 2009.
|
Malta
Woman dies during charity dive
A 24-year female diver participating in a charity dive of the Atlam
Subaqua Club of Qawra on Tuesday has died after losing consciousness
during the event in which scores of participants were diving. It is
understood that she was undertaking a taster dive when the accident
occurred, the event was supervised by qualified instructors and
divers, with 3 doctors and a nurse interviewing participants prior to
their dive. 15th
July 2009.
|
Japan
Falling rock kills tourist at Mt
Fuji camp site
A falling section of rock on the Shizuoka side of Mount Fuji has
killed a tourist inside a camper van at Mount Fuji 5th Station, the
rock breaching the side the of the van.
15th July 2009.
|
USA
Fatal accident at Los Angeles
recyclers
A warehouse worker was killed on Monday morning in an accident
involving a cardboard recycling shredding machine at premises in
Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, details of the accident were yet to
emerge. 14th July
2009.
|
Azerbaijan
Search in Caspian Sea for
missing oil men
A search of the Caspian Sea was ongoing on Monday for 2 persons
missing following the crash of an Mi-8 helicopter with 3 crew and 3
oil workers on board travelling from an SOCAR (State Oil Company of
Azerbaijan Republic) flying from a rig in the Gyuneshli sector, 70
miles offshore.
14th July 2009.
|
USA
Worker killed in lathe accident at
Illinois plant
A 41-year old Illinois worker was killed in an accident on Saturday
when a section of lathe broke off and inflicted blunt force chest
injuries at Olin Brass, a division of Global Brass & Copper Inc in
East Alton.13th July 2009.
|
Japan
Teacher driving school bus
arrested over fatal accident
A teacher of Yanagigaura High School in Oita was arrested on Saturday
and charged with negligent driving resulting in death and injury
following an accident at the weekend when the bus he was driving
crashed after hitting an expressway wall, causing the death of a
member of the school baseball team and injury to 42 others. There have
been allegations that the 18-year old bus was being driven at
excessive speed, only the driver's seat was fitted with a seat belt.
13th July 2009.
|
India
Police search methanol source in
hooch tragedy
Police in Ahmedabad are attempting to find the source of methyl
alcohol(CH3OH) sourced illegally from an industrial unit in the
suburbs which was used in hooch manufacture which has seen 65 deaths
in the city this week, with 23 others gravely ill. Police have already
made 32 arrests in connection with the incident.
10th July 2009.
|
Singapore
Unsafe scaffolds and blocked
access close condominium sites
The Manpower Ministry issued partial stop-work orders at 2 high rise
sites on Thursday, the M21 on Mandalay Road and the Montebleu in
Balestier, where unsafe scaffolding and blocked entry and exit routes
were found by inspectors.
The Ministry has embarked on a programme of deterrence through
pro-activity by site owners, having informed 30 sites in advance of
possible visits and selecting 4 at random.
10th July 2009.
|
USA
Falling scaffold pole kills
Kansas worker without hard hat
A falling scaffold pole killed a worker on a site in West Bottoms,
Kansas City, on Wednesday, falling 5 storeys from roof height, police
report that the victim was not wearing protective headgear.
9th July 2009.
|
Canada
Power company fined over
electrocution of subcontractor apprentice
At Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto SNC-Lavalin Power Ontario Inc
has been fined $300K(£160,148) after pleading guilty to a breach of
S.23(1)(c) of the Occupational Health & Safety Act in respect of the
electrocution of an apprentice subcontractor during construction of an
electricity plant in Toronto.
On 3rd October 2007, the apprentice of an electrical subcontractor was
electrocuted upon contacting a live source after removing the
cover panel of a 600-volt transformer. Ministry of Labour
investigation established that the panel was neither tagged nor locked
out. Both the company and contractor had lockout policies but the
electrical squad were not given detailed training or a copy of the
company's policies.
The company pleaded guilty as an employer to failing, as constructors,
to ensure that a subcontractor implemented a tag out and/or lock out
procedure to ensure workers were protected from shocks and burns.
9th July 2009.
|
Serbia
2 killed in Batajnica plane
crash
A Serbian Army MiG-29 aircraft
crashed close to Batajnica military airport, 12 miles northwest of
Belgrade, on Tuesday morning, causing the death of the pilot and a
soldier on the ground.
The plane was 1 of 14 acquired by the Yugoslavian Air Force from the
former Soviet Union in 1987, a VS(Vojska Srbije) investigation has
been ordered by Serbian President Tadic.
8th July 2009.
|
Switzerland
Search for missing Zurich diver
A search of the Rhine at Schaffhaussen for a diver missing since
Monday evening was still fruitless as darkness fell on Tuesday, he was
1 of 3 divers who had undertaken a dive close to the road bridge
spanning the river.
8th July 2009.
|
Turkey
4 construction workers killed in
lorry landmine explosion
On Monday morning in Sirnak, in southeast Anatolia near the Iraq
border, a landmine explosion which hit a lorry carrying construction
workers to a roads and dam site killed at least 4 workers and left 9
others injured, the incident was presumed to be terrorist activity.
7th July 2009.
|
Australia
Worker permanently injured after
glass fell from forklift
At a Victoria court hearing Asixa was fined $250K(£122,216) after
pleading guilty to 2 breaches of health and safety legislation
regarding an accident at its Dandenong warehouse in July 2006 when a
700Kg crate of glass fell from a forklift truck following unloading
from a lorry and so badly injured a worker that he has remained in a
permanently vegetative condition.
7th July 2009.
|
Russia
TV production boat sinks in
River Ob, 3 missing
A TGM-306 motorboat with 3 crew members and 6 participants in the
media production, "The Yamal Parallel", overturned and sank in rough
weather on the River Ob some 12 miles from Salekhad, 3 persons are
missing in the river.
6th July 2009.
|
USA
NC pyrotechnics explosion kills
4 workers
A lorry laden with fireworks exploded at the ferry terminal on
Ocracoke island, North Carolina, where the Melrose South Pyrotechnics
staff were setting up an Independence Day fireworks display, 4 persons
died and 2 sustained burns injuries in the incident.
6th July 2009.
|
USA
Electrical fatality at Indiana
bakery
A maintenance worker of VIM Recyclers has died in an electrical
accident at Aunt Millie's Bakeries in Fort Wayne, Indiana, when he
contacted a live source while working on a baler machine for cardboard
boxes. He recoiled in shock and struck his head against machinery and
also sustained a degree of crushing.
3rd July 2009.
|
USA
Crush accident at Rhode Island
submarine plant
A fatal crush accident has occurred at the General Dynamics/Electric
Boat submarine plant in North Kingston, Rhode Island, where a worker
became pinned between a closing door and a large steel section being
moved at the premises.
3rd July 2009.
|
Qatar
30 missing in oil support vessel
capsize
The capsize off Doha of the oil support services vessel Demas Victory,
a St Vincent & The Grenadine-flagged vessel of Midgulf Offshore Ship
Chartering, has left 30 people missing. Of the 35 people on board, 24
were employees of HBK Power Cleaning of Doha, as well as 9 crew
members and 2 caterers. The incident happened at the entrance to the
Doha canal, little hope is now held of finding survivors. The vessel
had attempted to return to Doha on account of rough weather, which
precluded its negotiation of the channel to the harbour. The capsize
occurred in rough seas at an outer anchorage.
2nd July 2009.
|
Thailand
Rampaging elephant kills 3 Trang
rubber workers
Three rubber plantation workers have been killed in separate incidents
by a rampaging elephant at different locations in Trang, police are
considering charges of negligence against its owner with regard to its
tethering. Allegations have been made that the same 38-year old
elephant has been involved in previous attacks leading to injury.
2nd July 2009.
|
Union of the Comoros
Girl survives airbus crash in
Indian ocean
A 14-year old girl has survived the crash of a Yemenia Airways Airbus 310
which crashed into the Indian Ocean 12 miles north of the Comoros
islands. The flight comprised of 142 passengers and 11 crew and had
departed from San'a in Yemen for Moroni on Grand Comore, with a stop
at Djibouti. Weather conditions were locally poor at the time of the
accident and have been hampering attempted rescue operations.
The 19-year old aircraft had failed a technical inspection 2 years ago
in France but Yemenia Airways is not restricted from using
French air facilities.
The aircraft had been in the ownership of Yemenia Airways for 10
years, completing 17,300 flights covering 51,900 miles. 1st July 2009.
|
The Netherlands
Girl drowns at Gelderland sailing camp
A 14-year old girl drowned on Tuesday at a sailing camp at the
Kerkdriel water feature. The accident appeared to have happened
suddenly, she was rescued from the water but died later in hospital in
Utrecht. 1st July 2009.
|
|
Denmark
Player rouses from coma after
lightning strike
Doctors at the intensive care unit in Hvidovre Hospital announced on
Thursday that the footballer of Danish side FC Nordsjaelland yesterday
awakened from an induced coma after being struck by lightning in a
match last week. His heart stopped as lightning passed through his
whole body, paramedics managed to revive him.
Today (Friday) medics plan to check his brain function. 31st July 2009.
|
England
Forklift death preventable
At Spalding Magistrates' Court Trackline, an earth moving equipment
manufacturer, has pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety
legislation in respect of a fatal accident at its Bourne depot in
August 2007 where a worker died in a forklift truck rollover.
The forklift driver had been attempting to negotiate a tight
passageway of no more than 2 metres and he attempted to raise the
forks to avoid a chassis. An entanglement ensued, causing the forklift
to become unstable.
The court heard that there were no linear demarcations for chassis
storage and an HSE inspector commented that risks were "not well
controlled" and that there was a failure in supervision.
Sentence will be passed at a later date at Lincoln Crown Court.
31st July 2009.
|
USA
Iowa roads worker killed after
reversing into utility pole
An Iowa roads worker engaged in pavement replacement work in southwest
Des Moines has died in an accident after being struck on the head by a
snapped utility pole against which he had reversed his vehicle.
30th July 2009.
|
Sweden
Company fined over robotic
machine accident
A fine of 25K kronor(£2,037) has been levied against a company in Balsta over
an accident in which a worker was badly injured when robotic machinery
used to lift heavy rocks activated and inflicted serious injuries.
30th July 2009.
|
France
Farmer knocked unconscious dies
in water accumulation
A farmer died in an accident in a field at Vieillevigne in Loire-Atlantique
yesterday during maintenance work on a water supply system for his
stock. As he was replacing piping, a section under pressure detached
and struck him on the head, he fell unconscious and drowned in a pool
of issuing water.
29th July 2009.
|
USA
Kansas worker killed in fall
from MEWP
Investigation is underway into the death of a worker who has died in a
fall from a MEWP(mobile elevating work platform) at Johnson Controls
in north Wichita, Kansas.
29th July 2009.
|
India
Jharkhand worker dies in water
tank collapse
A newly constructed water tank collapsed at a site in Gamahirah,
Saraikela, on Monday evening, killing an Usha Martin worker and
trapping 2 others.
Prior to the collapse cracks had appeared and the tank was palpably
listing. 28th July
2009.
|
Canada
Worker hit by falling concrete
during Montreal flyover work
CSST(Commission de la sante et de la securite du travail) is
investigating an accident on Monday in which a worker sustained
serious head injuries after being clouted by a 30x10cm section of
falling concrete while working with an electric drill to peel away
concrete from a support pillar under Montreal's Turcot Exchange. The
worker, who was wearing head protection, is an employee of DJL,
subcontracted to the Quebec Transport Department.
28th July 2009.
|
South Korea
Falling framework kills 5 at
rail site
A steel frame spanning a bridge deck at a railway construction site in
Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, collapsed on Saturday evening, killing 5
construction workers underneath it.
27th July 2009.
|
New Zealand
Company fined over employee's
disabling accident
At Palmerston North District Court a fine of $55K(£21,925) has been
levied against Computer Transport Services who pleaded guilty to
breaches of health and safety legislation in respect of an accident in
February 2008 in which a 19-year old employee sustained injuries which
left him tetraplegic.
He had been loading a lorry when a 250Kg load became unstable and fell
on him, the company has already paid him $120K(£47,840) in
compensation. 27th
July 2009.
|
USA
Worker dies in sulphur exposure
A worker's body was found by colleagues in a rail wagon on the
outskirts of Beaumont, Texas, on Thursday, the local fire department
attending the incident indicated a presence of sulphur in the wagon
and that it was probably an industrial accident.
24th July 2009.
|
Germany
Brandenburg supermarket roof
collapse
The roof of the Rewe supermarket in Falkensee, northwest of Berlin,
collapsed shortly after closing time, only the manager was on the
premises when the 1,000m² roof caved in, fire crews rescued him from
his office.
The 4-year old building is sited on the Am Akazienhof estate on
Bahnhofstrasse which was developed just 6 years ago.
24th July 2009.
|
Rep of Kiribati
33 feared drowned in inter-atoll
canoe capsize
The capsize of a 17-metre long double-hulled canoe, which was carrying
55 people from Tarawa to the Maiana Atoll 35 miles south, has led to
15 drownings and 18 people missing, the capsize occurred during an
attempt to rescue a crew man who had fallen overboard in rough seas in
south Kiribati( formerly the Gilbert Islands).
23rd July 2009.
|
India
Worker killed by falling steel
at New Delhi Metro site
A chain lifting a steel section failed during positioning of the
section by crane at the Ashok Park site of the New Delhi Metro in the
Punjabi Bagh district of the city, leading to the death of a worker
who was positioning the section manually and was struck by the falling
steel.
This was the 3rd accident, and the 2nd fatal accident, on the
site of the Inderlok-Mundka line in the last 10 days.
23rd July 2009.
|
Baltic Sea
Search for missing yacht
race skipper abandoned
The Danish navy has reported that the search for the sailor missing
overboard during the Baltic Sprint Cup competition is being scaled
down as she could not now be expected to have survived after falling
from the DDHH Cross-Match yacht between Bornholm and Sweden.
The 54-year old skipper was climbing the mast to attend to a damaged
sail when she fell overboard, wind speeds were 4/5. The competition,
which involves 5 legs between Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Latvia and
Poland has been abandoned with a view to completing a reduced format
on Friday. 22nd July 2009.
|
Luxembourg
Divers rescued at Lultzhausen
Frogmen of the Protection Civile managed to save the life of a female
diver who encountered difficulties while diving at a depth of 20
metres on Plage 1 in Lultzhausen. The group comprised of 4
divers, 2 who dived to a depth of 40 metres and the 2 at 20 metres.
When the woman began to panic in poor visibility her mouthpiece
disengaged, a colleague who resurfaced quickly to raise the alarm
required oxygen therapy. The female diver was successfully
resuscitated. 22nd July 2009.
|
Morocco
4 killed in Casablanca air crash
It is believed that 4 people have
died in the crash of a light tourist aircraft from Portugal which came
down near Casablanca Tit Mellil Airport, the pilot having lost control
of the aircraft less than a mile from the airport. The flight had come
from Portugal with a stopover at Tangier.
21st July 2009.
|
Italy
Explosion at Livorno steelworks
An explosion at the Lucchini steelworks in Piombino, Livorno, when
molten steel in a container contacted water left 6 workers
hospitalised, the most seriously injured with chest injuries.
21st July 2009.
|
Spain
Driver killed in recycling lorry
crush accident
An employee of recycling company FCC(Fomento de Construcciones y
Contratos) was killed in an accident on Saturday evening in Escuny
Street in the Sants-Montjuic district of Barcelona, when he became
crushed between the chassis and the hydraulic mechanism of the
recycling lorry he was driving.
20th July 2009.
|
Canada
Ontario company fined over press
accident
Ironworks company Bon Ferro Inc has been fined $90K(£49,357) at St
Catherine's Court, Ontario, after being found guilty under Section
25(2)(a) of the Health and Safety Act in respect of a fatal accident
in which a worker died after being struck in the neck by flying metal
from a punch press.
On December 1st 2007, the welder was setting up a punch press when the
accident occurred, Ministry of Labour investigation found that the
cycling press was in the wrong mode, the worker having not been
trained for this press.
The company was found to have failed, as an employer, to provide
information, instruction and supervision to the worker in the safe
operation of the press.
20th July 2009.
|
Egypt
Balkan tourists killed in bus
crash
A bus crash on the Hurghada - Luxor highway near Safaga has left a
number of Serbian tourists, travelling with Perla Turs of Novi Sad,
dead. It is believed that 17 tourists were on the excursion, variable
local reports have indicated 9 or 11 dead following the collision with
a lorry. 17th July
2009.
|
Denmark
Girl found unconsciousness under
firefighting foam at harbour festival
An investigation is underway into an accident at a festival in
Bonnerup Strand, East Jutland, where a girl was found unconscious in a
layer of anti-flammable foam sprayed by Grenaa fire crews as part of
the entertainment. A number of people slipped and fell, the girl was
resuscitated and transferred to hospital.
17th July 2009.
|
France
Fatal explosion at Total plant
An explosion at the Total plant in Carling-Saint-Avold in eastern
France left 2 workers dead and 6 injured on Wednesday, the incident
occurred in an area where ethylene and propylene is produced.
16th July 2009.
|
Austria
WW2 bomb found on Vienna railway
site
Austrian bomb disposal units were called to the Austrian Railways (OBB)
site in Matzleindorf Platz in Vienna when a heavy plant vehicle came
across a 250-Kg WW2 bomb on Wednesday.
16th July 2009.
|
Paraguay
Shop owner killed in Pedro Juan
Caballero
An Asian shop owner has been shot dead by 2 armed assailants while
resisting robbery in his store in Pedro Juan Caballero near the
Brazilian border.
15th July 2009.
|
Belgium
Man killed in cultivator
accident
The procurator fiscal in Liege has been given a report of a fatal
accident on Monday in which a man's leg became trapped in a motorised
cultivator in rue Florent Bochinville, Vottem, he died from multiple
injuries to his leg, arms and thorax.
14th July 2009.
|
Austria
Lorry's loose load strikes
pedestrians in Vienna
Two pedestrians waiting to cross the road were badly injured when a
sand-blasting machine mounted on the rear of a lorry detached itself
and swung loose, striking them to their severe injury on Monday
morning in Matzleindorf Platz, Vienna. The driver, who was coming from
a cemetery in Trieste Strasse, was unaware of the incident but became
aware of the situation when a second incident occurred further on, no
one was injured on this occasion. 14th
July 2009.
|
Bangladesh
Gas pipe explodes at rice mill
A gas pipeline exploded under pressure in a weekend accident at Bari
Auto Rice Mills in Joypurhat, a female worker is known to have died
and 5 others were badly injured.13th July 2009.
|
The Netherlands
Worker dies following confined
space accident
A worker died yesterday in hospital 2 days after falling into a waste
tank at a company in Everdingen, 3 men were working at the time of the
accident and were overcome by the atmosphere. The 2 other workers in
hospital are now listed out of danger, fire crews had to cut into the
tank to complete the rescue. 13th July 2009.
|
Switzerland
Youth's legs severed in Nyon
station
A 17-year old youth had both legs severed under a moving train in Nyon
yesterday after falling between the train and the platform, it is
believed he was speaking to a passenger through a window on which he
was hanging as the train pulled out.
10th July 2009.
|
USA
New Jersey worker killed in
confectionery vat
A 29-year old worker at the Lyons & Sons confectionery plant in Camden, New Jersey,
has died after losing his balance on a platform and falling into a 2.5m deep
mixture, striking his head against a mixer arm in the fall.
10th July 2009.
|
France
Suspended prison sentence for
nurse in patient bath scalding
A court in Caen yesterday delivered a verdict of involuntary homicide
in the case of the death of a 79-year old care home patient who died
from burns injuries, a 48-year old female nurse received a 6-month
suspended prison sentence.
On 18th April 2007, a bath had been run for the patient at the
Saint-Jacques et Saint Christophe premises in Cesny-Bous-Halbout,
Calvados, and the patient was left in it unattended for 30 minutes,
sustaining scalding from which she died 3 weeks later.
The patient's family received €38K(£32,841)
in compensation, the nurse may appeal the sentence.
9th July 2009.
|
Malta
Nurse wins ladder fall back
injury case
A nurse who pursued the medical authorities after falling from a
ladder at the Paola Health Centre on 30th October 1999 has won
€31,446(£27,181) in
compensation. She had climbed a ladder to access a file at height and
fell 1 metre during the descent.
In court the medical authorities contended that she had failed to
provide concrete evidence of physical damage but the court ruled that
the employer had failed in its duty as an employer to ensure the
safety of its employees and provide a safe system of work. The damages
awarded took account of a permanent disability of 10%.
9th July 2009.
|
Germany
Train hits tractor on Schleswig
Holstein level crossing
A train carrying 200 passengers
collided with a tractor on a level crossing on Tuesday at Reecke on
the Hamburg-Lubeck line, 5 people were injured.
The tractor driver managed to jump clear as the approaching train
applied emergency braking, the tractor burned out and the train was
unable to continue. The crossing is served by semi-automatic barriers
and red lights. 8th
July 2009.
|
Baltic Sea
Swedish freighter grounds after
engine failure
Engine failure caused the 191-metre long Swedish freighter Transpulp
to run aground on a sandbank off Priwall, Travemunde, on Tuesday
morning as it was close to completing its trip from Finland to Lubeck,
several tugs were required to re-float the RoRo container vessel now
under inspection in Travemunde.
8th July 2009.
|
Indonesia
Gas cylinder explosion kills
airport weather man
An exploding gas cylinder has killed a meteorological worker in an
office at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makasser, South Sulavesi .
7th July 2009.
|
Guyana
Cuyuni miner killed in unstable
excavation
The Department of Labour is expected to launch an investigation into
the death of a 21-year old miner at the Surinamo mine in Mazaruni
where a sandbank collapsed on him during excavation work, breaking his
neck. 7th July
2009.
|
Japan
Osaka game parlour fire leaves 4
dead
A fire in a game parlour on the 1st floor of a 6-storey building in
the Konohana district of Osaka has killed 4 customers and left 19
others injured. 6th
July 2009.
|
Belgium
Flanders helicopter crash
A 50-year old helicopter pilot was badly injured on Sunday in a crash
in Nazareth, East Flanders, where his helicopter, which had taken off
from Deurle, came down in a maize field, the full extent of his
injuries are not known.
6th July 2009.
|
New Zealand
Forestry death in remote North
Island area
An investigation is being launched into a forestry worker's death in a
remote area of the country in the Rangitoto ranges, east of Te Kuiti,
Waikato. 3rd July
2009.
|
USA
Bricklayer killed in Ohio
scaffold collapse
A scaffold collapse at the new IGS Energy gas supply premises in
Dublin, Ohio, has led to the death of a brick-layer and injuries to 2
colleagues working at the site.
3rd July 2009.
|
China
4 drown in tourist raft capsize
A raft carrying 7 tourists and 5 crew has capsized on the Qingshuihe
river in Xingyi, Guizhou province, 2 of the tourists have drowned and
another 2 are missing. The mountainous nature of this stretch of the
river made rescue access difficult.
2nd July 2009.
|
USA
MEWP fatality at West Virginia
hire depot
A MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) fatal accident occurred at
United Rentals in Pleasant Valley, West Virginia, where a 48-year old
worker died when an aerial lift on which he was positioned collided
with a crane as he was reversing the MEWP out of the depot which
leases work platforms.
2nd July 2009.
|
Italy
Broken axle may have caused
Viareggio derailment
It is speculated that a broken axle may have caused the derailment of
the 14-wagon freight train in Viareggio yesterday. Although 16 people
were listed dead in the liquefied gas explosion following the train
derailment, this figure is expected to rise given the dozens of
seriously injured people. One wagon derailed, pulling 4 others with
it, the subsequent explosion saw 5 buildings demolished.1st July 2009.
|
France
Fishing boat collision in good
weather
The Me-Thi-Na and Condor fishing boats from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
collided 2 miles off Sables d'Olonne at 8am on Tuesday. The Condor
sank in 12 metres of water but the crew was picked up by the other
boat which limped back to port. Visibility was good and winds were
light at the time of the collision.
1st July 2009.
|
|
England
Worker crushed by digger at
Wilts road site
A serious accident occurred in Wiltshire on Thursday at a road works
site on Ditteridge Road between Box and Colerne where a worker was
crushed by a trencher machine at the site where a new gas main is
being laid. 31st July 2009.
|
England
Worker killed at Leeds recycling
unit
HSE is investigating the death of a 48-year old worker on Tuesday at
the LSS Waste Management facility on Knowesthorpe Lane, Leeds. 31st July 2009.
|
Canada
Train runs over track worker's
foot
A Canadian Pacific track maintenance worker was hospitalised on
Wednesday after a train ran over his foot in Ingersoll, Ontario,
details of the accident are unknown.
30th July 2009.
|
Germany
Speeding tractor overturns on
bend
A tractor rollover accident has left 4 Black Forest farm workers badly
injured when the vehicle overturned after being driven too fast into a
bend in Ihringen on Wednesday.
30th July 2009.
|
Jamaica
Rollover fatality at Kingston
Wharf
A casual employee of Kingston Container Terminal was killed in a
vehicle rollover accident on Tuesday morning at the Kingston
Wharf.
29th July 2009.
|
Canada
Farmer dies in fall from ladder
in grain bin
A 26-year old Saskatchewan agricultural worker has died in a fall from
a ladder inside a grain bin at a remote rural location 60 miles
northwest of Moose Jaw where a number of workers were engaged in
clearing grain from the internal walls of the bin. It is not known if
he died from injuries in the fall or from suffocation in the residual
grain. 29th July
2009.
|
England
Investigation into Notts
colliery death
HSE and UK Coal are investigating a fatal accident at Thoresby
Colliery, Nottinghamshire, where a 47-year old haulage worker died
when steel piping being delivered in a new deep soft seam close to the
pit bottom became unstable and rolled from the vehicle, the victim was
1 of 4 workers engaged in the task.
28th July 2009.
|
Sweden
6 die in west Stockholm
apartment block fire
Six persons, including 5 children, died in a weekend fire in an
apartment block on Kuddbygrand in Rinkeby, in the "Vasterort" area of
Stockholm. The locus appeared to have been on the building's ground
floor, the victims are believed to have been attempting to escape from
a loft apartment, 4 died of smoke inhalation after becoming trapped in
smoke-logged stairwells.
27th July 2009.
|
Latvia
Acetone cyanolhydrin leakage in
Riga port
Investigators have been studying the circumstances of an accident
involving the leakage of acetone cyanolhydrin from a shipping
container in Riga which prompted an evacuation of residents and a
suspension of traffic on the Daugava River pending the pumping of the
chemical into safety containers.
27th July 2009.
|
Sweden
Ferries collide in dense fog
The car ferry MS Gotland and the high-speed ferry HSC Gotlandia
collided in dense fog on Thursday morning as they approached Nynasham
harbour, 5 passengers were hospitalised, it was speculated that some
had fractures.
24th July 2009.
|
USA
Worker crushed by robotic equipment
A 40-year old woman employee of Golden State Foods of Industry, Los
Angeles, has been killed in an industrial accident
involving robotic packaging equipment. She was
attempting to remove a blockage in boxing machinery when it activated on Tuesday morning.
23rd July 2009.
|
Japan
Engineers succumb to sulphuric
atmosphere in school canteen
Two engineers have been found dead in a high sulphuric gas atmosphere
in Nakashina Elementary School in Ishiwaka where they were carrying
out maintenance work, their bodies were found close to machinery in
the school canteen. Initial speculation has precluded the notion that
chemistry experiments may be linked to the accident.
23rd July 2009.
|
Switzerland
Youth killed on parachute
training course
An 18-year old youth has died in a parachute accident during a jump on
a training course, his body was recovered from a field at Werdthof,
near Biel.
The Sphair-Fallschirmkurse is given by a civil provider and leads to a
parachute jump licence or army qualification. Jumping is undertaken
after a 2-week course in theory and practice.
Less than a week ago a trainee parachutist died in a fall in Germany
after colliding with another trainee on a Conseil International du
Sport Militaire course.
22nd July 2009.
|
England
Yorks farming death
It is reported that a 55-year old farmer was crushed to death by an
unstable
bale of hay yesterday in a field near Scorton, Yorkshire.
22nd July 2009.
|
Northern Ireland
Pony kills man at show
An elderly man attending the Castlewellan Agricultural Show in County
Down died in an incident on Saturday in which a pony bolted and kicked
the 89-year old man.
21st July 2009.
|
Russia
Driver fatigue speculated in
Tomsk bus crash
At least 9 people died and 37 were hospitalised, 8 listed in critical
condition, when a bus travelling from Tomsk to Yarovoye overturned at
Ordynskoye early on Monday. Initial speculation has been of the
driver, who emerged unscathed from the accident, falling asleep at the
wheel. 21st July
2009.
|
England
Teenager dies in Brands Hatch F2
accident
An 18-year old driver has died as a result of injuries sustained
during a Formula 2 race at Brands Hatch on Sunday. He crashed into the
Sheene Curve after a loose tyre from a rival's car, which had crashed
into a barrier, struck him on the head.
After his condition was stabilised at the track he was transferred to
Royal London Hospital where he died.
20th July 2009.
|
Rep Ireland
HSA investigate motorcycle race
death
The HSA is investigating a fatal accident in which a motorcyclist in
his 30's died while participating in the Kells Road Race at
Crossakiel, County Meath.
20th July 2009.
|
USA
Motorist died in ammonia
leakage
The National
Transportation Safety Board is conducting laboratory tests of a hose
which breached and caused a fatal leak of ammonia which killed a
passing motorist who drove through the vapour in Swansea, South
Carolina, last week, and left her vehicle after it stalled. The
accident happened near to Tanner Industries, it remains unknown
whether the hose belonged to the company or a haulier.
20th July 2009.
|
Switzerland
Aargau abattoir worker injured
as cow bolts
A 37-year old abattoir worker sustained serious head injuries in an
accident on Thursday when a Scottish Highland cow broke loose and
cleared 2 fences in its bid for freedom in Kolliken, Aargau. The
worker had attempted to head it off as it ran down the main road in
the direction of Oberentfelden, it was finally rounded up behind the
Mobel-Pfister premises in Suhr some miles away.
17th July 2009.
|
Zimbabwe
Accident figures to be read in
adjustment with economic activity
Figures for workplace fatalities and accidents for the first half of
the year are 27 and 1,317 respectively, and appear to show reductions
from previous years; 60 and 3,335 in 2008; 72 and 6,117 in 2007; 81
and 6,369 in 2006; but Zimbabwean economic activity has been variable
over the period. The mining sector has accounted for the majority of
workplace accidents.
17th July 2009.
|
USA
Heavy culvert kills Nebraska
worker during loading
A fatal accident occurred during the loading of concrete culverts on
to a lorry at Presco Sales & Service, 4 miles west of Wayne, Nebraska,
where a worker died when a section rolled off and over him.
16th July 2009.
|
Malta
Worker wins
€125K
for disabling cable whiplash injury
A worker who suffered a disabling arm injury in a cable whiplash
accident 7 years ago has been awarded €124,528(£106,911).
On July 24th 2002, Enemalta subcontracted White Bros Ltd to
move a transformer to a hospital. A crane of Polidano Service Station,
being operated by a White’s employee, was positioning the transformer
when a cable snapped, hitting an Enemalta employee on the arm,
inflicting an injury with 33% permanent disability. The court found
White and Polidano jointly responsible, White having failed to verify
the condition of the hired crane, with Polidano paying 66% of the
fine. 16th July
2009.
|
England
Handgrinder inflicted neck
injury at Lancs works
A 54-year old Lancashire worker underwent emergency surgery on Tuesday
at Rochdale Infirmary following an accident earlier in the day at
Carter Origin Ltd in Spotland, Rochdale, where he sustained a serious
neck injury while using a handgrinder.
15th July 2009.
|
England
Manual handling death recorded
as accidental
A coroner in Exeter has instructed a jury to return a verdict of
accidental death in the case of a 65-year old warehouse manager who
died following a fall during manual handling work at Hamblys on the
city's Bramble Hill Industrial estate.
A heavy package was to be unloaded from a delivery lorry, and with the
forklift vehicle undergoing maintenance it was decided to improvise
the unloading by reversing a flatbed vehicle against the lorry and
attempt to handle the load manually. A partial disintegration of the
packaging occurred, causing the manager to lose his balance and fall,
sustaining a head injury which deteriorated rapidly during the day.
15th July 2009.
|
France
Boy's arm reattached following
laundrette accident
Surgeons have reattached the arm of a 7-year old boy which was
completely severed in an accident n a laundrette in Grenoble, medical
bulletins on Monday indicated that the boy's life was no longer in
danger.
The boy had put his arm into the machine, of Belgian manufacture
dating from the 1980's, while it was working.
14th July 2009.
|
Scotland
Fireman dies in floor collapse
at Edinburgh bar
A 35-year old fireman died yesterday when a structural collapse
occurred as Lothian and Borders Fire Service was tackling a blaze at
the Balmoral Bar in Dalry Road, Edinburgh.
The fire appears to have started in the basement after the premises
had closed, around 20 people were rescued from flats above the bar. 13th July 2009.
|
Germany
Plane hit car at Bavarian air
show, all survive
Only remarkable good fortune prevented casualties when a light
aircraft crashed into a car at an air show in Grossostheim,
Aschaffenburg, on Sunday. The pilot of the single-seater double-decker
plane was performing looping but flew too low in one circle, clipping
a grain field and failing to regain altitude. He struck a car with 3
occupants on an approach road to the airfield, the pilot and all 3 car
occupants escaped with light injuries. 13th July 2009.
|
England
Roof fall death ruled
misadventure
A Bradford jury has returned a verdict of misadventure in the case of
the death of a 58-year old contract worker of BJ Duct in a 13-metre
fall through the roof at Heritage Ceramics in Brighouse. The
accident occurred during duct moving and repair of the
asbestos/concrete sheet roof. An HSE inspector noted that better roof
access could have been used, namely a stair tower rather than a
ladder, and that a walkway should have been erected with safety
netting below the roof.
10th July 2009.
|
England
Textile mill
worker's crush death in baler ruled accidental
A Bradford jury has returned a verdict of accidental death in the case
of a textile worker who was crushed inside a baler at Westwood Yarns.
He was cleaning the inside of the baler which compresses wool when the
machinery activated. He had used a ladder to access the baler, upon
which a sensor activated the baler. A circuit breaker switch which
would have prevented the activation was found to be broken.
Yorkshire police interviewed a colleague who had allegedly given the
worker cursory instruction on the task and manslaughter charges were
being considered but were not proceeded with.
9th July 2009.
|
England
School gate pole blew through
car window in Totnes
A school catering worker cheated serious injury or death when a
4-metre long metal pole of a car park barrier was blown against
her car as she drove through the gate at King Edward VI Community
College in Totnes, shattering the windscreen and passing through the
passenger seat and door panel.
9th July 2009.
|
England
Company fined over improvised
repair with forklift
Simpsons Malt Ltd of Tweed Valley Maltings, Tweedside Industrial
Estate, Berwick, has been fined £10K plus £5,884 in costs after
pleading guilty to a breach of S.2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work
etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure so far as was reasonably practicable
the safety of employees during the repair of a roller shutter door at
the entrance to the food store/fertiliser department. On 6th October
2007, a worker was injured in a fall from the forks of a forklift
truck while attempting a repair of the door.
8th July 2009.
|
Wales
Umpire killed in cricket ball
accident
In a freakish sports accident a 72-year old cricket umpire officiating
at the Swansea-Llangennech match of the South Wales Cricket
Association at Swansea's St Helen's ground died from head injuries
after being struck by a ball thrown an estimated 40 metres by a
fielder in the outfield.
8th July 2009.
|
England
Manager crushed by falling glass
An office manager died when a crate containing glass fell on him in
April 2006.
An inquest into his death at Roadway Container Logistics Ltd (RCL), of
Stourton, Leeds, returned a narrative verdict, citing failures in
safety procedures, training and monitoring of policy.
The deceased was observing the unloading of the crate when it became
unstable, it crushed him when he attempted to stop it falling.
7th July 2009.
|
USA
Fatal monorail accident at
Disney World
A 21-year old driver of a monorail train was killed in the early hours
of Sunday when it collided with a stationary train on the Epcot track
at Disney World, the collision occurred at the Transportation & Ticket
Centre. 6th July
2009.
|
Ukraine
Tourists afflicted by food
poisoning
A party of 75 people, including 65 children, was hospitalised in Lviv
with severe food poisoning as they travelled home from a holiday at
the Perlyna Karpat spa in the Carpathians, becoming rapidly ill as
they travelled from Uzhgorod to Kiev by train.
6th July 2009.
|
UK
Seafarer fatigue study
A €3.78m European Commission-funded 'Project Horizon' involving
academic institutions and the shipping industry is to examine the way
in which fatigue affects the cognitive performance of ships’
watchkeepers. The goal is to produce a fatigue management toolkit for
the industry and recommendations for improving work patterns at sea.
60 deck and engineer officers will be taking part in the project, with
their performance being measured by researchers as they undertake
typical watch keeping duties on simulators over a succession of
seven-day periods. Scientific methods will be used to measure fatigue
levels and any resulting degradation in performance during a wide
range of regular onboard operating conditions.
3rd July 2009.
|
England
Trent Valley rail track accident
verdict
A jury at Stafford Crown Court has delivered a guilty verdict against
3 railway maintenance workers regarding an accident in 2004 in which 2
railway track workers died after being struck by a road rail vehicle
reversing at speed on the Trent Valley Line at Hednesford, Staffs. The
trio were found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of themselves
and others, 2 of them were cleared of endangering the safety of rail
passengers. Their employer, VG Clements Ltd, was acquitted of failing
to ensure the safety of employees and non-employees. All had pleaded
not guilty to the charges, sentencing will take place in September
when Network Rail and Carillion Rail will also be sentenced.
3rd July 2009.
|
England
Fatal fall at bank
An investigation is underway into the death of an employee at the HBOS
offices in Lovell Park Road, Leeds, where he died in a fall from
stairs. 2nd July
2009.
|
Gulf
Suspension of summer midday site
work sees accidents fall
During the summer months construction sites in Bahrain and the UAE
must close for up to 4 hours during the sweltering midday heat or face
impositions of fines and administrative penalties.
Bahrain is now in its 3rd year of the mandatory site closure from
midday to 4pm in July, August and September, with 50 inspectors
mobilised to seek out violations which can cost a company $700 per
worker on site, 500 companies faced sanctions last year.
In the UAE sites must close between 12.30 and 3pm daily in July and
August or face fines ranging from $2-8K and a withdrawal of work
permit processing for up to 1 year. When the midday closure scheme
began in 2007, accidents fell by as much as 50% compared with the
previous year. 2nd
July 2009.
|
England
Runaway Mersey Rail train
derails
Network Rail is investigating an accident yesterday in which a runaway
3-carriage electric train of Mersey Rail derailed on the northern line
at Walton Junction, the train had been powered down and no one was on
board. 1st July 2009.
|
Rep Ireland
Plane and ground vehicle near
miss at Dublin Airport
The Irish AAIU (Air Accident Investigation Unit) has released its
initial report into a near miss at Dublin Airport at 3am on May 29th
in which a Thomson Airways Boeing 757-200 travelling from Egypt came
close to hitting a driver-operated lawnmower on runway 10.
The tractor was inside the runway edge lighting as the plane landed,
its wing passing over the vehicle. Grass-cutting had been discontinued
1 hour earlier in deteriorating visibility.
The report recommends that all vehicles requiring to operate near active
runways should have airband VHF radios for ground control and control
tower frequencies. They should also have flashing yellow beacons and
transponders.
The Irish Aviation Authority responsible for air traffic control
indicates that a new control system for aircraft and ground vehicles
is being commissioned and should be fully operational in the autumn.
1st July 2009.
|
|
Wales
Blind cord incident kills boy
A boy aged 1 has died following an incident at a house in Nefyn,
Gwynedd, on Wednesday evening. It appears that he became
entangled with a blind cord. 31st July
2009.
|
England
Incident at fairground ride
A partial structural failure of a fairground ride on the Central Pier
in Blackpool has resulted in 2 persons requiring treatment for minor
injuries.
31st July 2009.
|
Wales
Boy's 6-metre fall
It is reported that a boy aged 10 fell from the roof of a disused
building in Saltney, Flintshire, on Saturday evening. He was taken to
hospital where he has been described as seriously ill. 30th
July 2009.
|
England
Shovel loader reversed over worker
John Stacey and Sons Ltd has been fined £60,000 with costs of £29,061
at Winchester Crown Court in connection with an incident at the
company’s Tadley site on 1st June 2007 where an employee was run over
and died 5 days later.
The deceased, along with 2 colleagues, was hand-sorting waste
(totting) with a 4th worker, helping them when the driver of a skip
loader asked the 4th worker to get into a shovel loader and tip over
one of the skips. The worker did so and in the process reversed over
the deceased.
An HSE inspector explained : "The practice of totting had only been
going on at the company for about 2 weeks prior to the incident and
they had not recognised that by doing this people were being
unnecessarily exposed to the risk of vehicles moving around them with
nothing to protect them."
30th July 2009.
|
England
Landlord prosecuted for poor gas
appliance maintenance
A landlord who did not take steps to adequately maintain a gas
appliance at one of his properties has been fined £2,500 plus £2,000
costs by Worcestershire Magistrates.
On 16th March 2008, tenants at a residential property in Worcester
required hospital treatment for carbon monoxide exposure because of
several defects which had developed in a gas boiler through lack of
inspection and maintenance.
29th July 2009.
|
England
Unguarded machine removed
worker's finger
TC Industries of Europe Limited, London, has been prosecuted and fined
£5,000 with £1,357 costs after failing to ensure the safety of their
employees working at the stacker unit of a Moline saw.
On 25th May 2008, an employee lost a finger and crushed another as he
worked with a pick and place transfer unit to stack parts. On one
occasion he reached up to activate the limit switch with his right
hand while resting his left hand on the unguarded carriageway for
balance. As a result the drive wheels of the pick and place unit ran
over his left hand, inflicting the severe hand injury.
An HSE Inspector explained: “The injured man was working on an
unguarded part of the machine and what makes this case all the more
serious is the fact that the company had previously been advised of
the need to provide a guard for the machinery".
29th July 2009.
|
England
Work experience pupil badly
burned
A 15-year old boy received 25% burns to his abdomen and limbs while on
a work experience placement last Thursday at Castlefield Works in
Radcliffe, Lancs.
One account states he was burning waste at the time of the incident
and that a prohibition order was served on the employer after the
incident.
28th July 2009.
|
England
Company fined over legionella
Kepak Ltd, meat processors of Bamber Bridge, Lancs, has been fined
£25,000 with £20,000 costs for permitting significant levels of
legionella to colonise its hot and cold water systems, resulting in 2
employees contracting Legionnaires' disease in September 2006.
Significant levels of legionella were found to be present at a
pressure washer hose point, an apron wash shower point, and a pressure
washer header tank. The tank was fed by hot and cold water and
supplied water to 3 pressure washer hose points in and around the
process area. 28th
July 2009.
|
England
Slurry pit death
A boy aged 8 has died after he was found in a farm slurry pit. He was
taken from the farm near Brosely, Shropshire, to hospital where he
could not be revived.
27th July 2009.
|
England
Cheshire workers died in
confined space
Two employees of Bodycote HIP of Macclesfield, its Works Manager and
Maintenance Engineer, died in a July 2004 incident after they entered
a concrete-lined pit into which argon gas had leaked from a large
pressure vessel. The pit’s oxygen alarm system was switched off and
the ventilation system was not running.
Investigation found that the company failed to undertake a proper risk
assessment for entry into the confined space. Although they had
implemented a safe system of work and permit to work procedure, they
had not properly trained the employees in their use, or ensured that
these systems and procedures were being followed through their
auditing procedure.
Bodycote HIP Ltd of Macclesfield,
Cheshire, pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown Court and was fined
£533,000 and ordered to pay costs of £200,000.
27th July 2009.
|
Wales
Gas fitter guilty of
manslaughter
A gas fitter from Brecon, Powys, has been convicted of the
manslaughter of 2 women who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in
Brecon in December 2006. He had failed to service the equipment
properly.
The convicted man was also found guilty of health and safety offences,
his accreditation permitting him to service the type of heating system
involved had lapsed 3 years before he undertook the work.
24th July 2009.
|
England
Man fell to his death
In May 2005, a 49-year old worker fell 10 metres through a fragile
roof light of a Wigan DIY store and died later in hospital.
His employer, CRN Contracts Ltd of Birkenhead, was deemed by the court
not to have provided adequate supervision of the work. Boards should
have been used to cover the fragile roof lights, and protect the area
around the perimeter of the roof. The company also failed to cordon
off the floor under the section of roof it was working on to protect
the public from the work.
CRN was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,086 at
Manchester Crown Court.
24th July 2009.
|
Wales
Welsh farmer's accidental death
An inquest jury has determined accidental death, having learned of the
circumstances of the death of a 75-year old Anglesey farmer who was
found with severe crush injuries in a calving shed in March 2008.
The deceased had visited the shed to check on a new-born calf but had
failed to return, a pathologist opined that the cow may well have
charged him head-first, this being consistent with the severe injuries.
23rd July 2009.
|
Scotland
Workman electrocuted
An electrician has died in an accident on Monday afternoon while
working at Cafe Ecosse in Elgin, Moray.
One account states the 48-year
old was working at a dishwasher at the time.
22nd July 2009.
|
Scotland
3 drown in fishing accident
A commercial fishing vessel, Aquila, overturned on Monday afternoon
off Kilmorlie, Ardnamurchan, drowning 3 of its 4 crew.
Seas were moderate at the time and
their has been speculation that nets may have snagged on the seabed,
causing the vessel to overturn.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency reports that none of the 4 men were
wearing lifejackets.
22nd July 2009.
|
Wales
Walker trampled by cows
A woman aged 63 was trampled to death on Saturday afternoon while
walking dogs with a companion.
The incident occurred near the National History Museum, St Fagans in
Cardiff, on land owned by The Earl of Plymouth. 21st
July 2009.
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England
Worker left paralysed
A workman was rendered paralysed by
a 3-metre fall on a refurbishment project in Birkenhead in April 2005.
He was removing joists from a ceiling without the use of safe platform
when he fell, injuring his back.
Employer, Property People (NW) Ltd of Bromborough, Wirral, was fined
£92,000 with costs of £11,404 at Liverpool Crown Court. The company
had breached the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, additionally,
the injury was not reported as required by law.
21st July 2009.
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Scotland
Oil worker's body found dead in water
An employee of the Wood Group who disappeared from the Shell Brent
Delta oil installation 117 miles northeast of Shetland has been
recovered from the water beneath the platform.
No further information is available at present concerning the
incident,
Aberdeen Coastguard had received a call from the Platform at 11.32am
on Friday informing them of the missing person, he was last seen an
hour earlier.
20th July 2009.
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England
Man critical after industrial
accident
It is reported that a man sustained serious crush injuries in an
accident on Saturday at business premises in Gedney, Lincolnshire.
20th July 2009.
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Scotland
Worker seriously injured
It is reported that a workman in his 50's has been badly injured on a
demolition site accident at Albert Quay, Aberdeen, yesterday
afternoon.
17th July 2009.
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England
Workman was entangled in machinery
Stoke Forgings Dudley Ltd has been fined £5,000 with £4,103 costs at
Dudley Magistrates Court following a June 2008 accident in which an
employee working on a 6-Spindle Drill became entangled in a
neighbouring drill, after his clothing got caught up in the moving
parts.
He broke his wrist and thumb, dislocated his shoulder, required an
extensive skin graft on his forearm, and also damaged nerves and
tendons in his forearm.
Stoke Forgings pleaded guilty to breaching r.3 of the Management of
Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and r.11 of the Provision
and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
An HSE official commented that the worker should have been protected
by fixed guards around the dangerous parts of the machinery and he was
lucky to have escaped with the injuries he had.
17th July 2009.
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England
Dramatic failure of platform at
Midland tower block
Two workmen required to be rescued
through the window of a tower block flat yesterday after the gantry
platform they were working on partially collapsed.
Residents of the Heath Town, Wolverhampton, block were moved out of
the building until the gantry can be stabilised.
16th July 2009.
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England
Manslaughter convictions for
London builders
Two builders were convicted of
the manslaughter of a 15-year old who died in an accident in April
2007. The deceased was a casual labourer who was crushed under a wall
being demolished in Hadley Wood, Enfield, and had been left with a
colleague to work unsupervised and untrained at the wall which was
known to be dangerous.
No risk assessments were prepared and no welfare facilities provided,
sentencing takes place next week. 16th
July 2009.
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England
Refuse collection vehicle death
A man has died after being crushed by a compaction unit in a refuse
collection vehicle in Brighton.
There has been speculation that the man, in his 30's, entered a bin at
flatted residential or commercial property and was discovered at a
waste recycling facility in Newhaven.
15th July 2009.
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Thailand
Schoolboy drowns
accessing unsecured pool pumping system
An investigation is underway in Pattaya into the death of a 14-year
old English schoolboy, a pupil at an international school, who drowned
in an accident at the Pattaya Water Park. His body was found in the
pump room of the pool, it is believed that he had been swimming on the
bottom of the 1-metre deep pool and removed an unlocked grating vent
and was subsequently drawn into the pumping system.
14th July 2009.
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England
Crane driver critically injured
in Soton docks accident
A crane driver sustained life-threatening injuries in an accident at
Southampton Container Port on Monday when the boom of his crane
collapsed over the NYK Themis ship which was being loaded
by No 6 crane.
14th July 2009.
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Scotland
Scottish Prison Service censured
Following 2 incidents during August last year at HM Prison Barlinnie
in Glasgow the Scottish Prison Service has been censured at a meeting
in HSE's Glasgow office.
The incidents involved finger entrapments
in a vibrating mould table in a concrete
workshop,
a risk assessment for the machine was not
updated after modifications were made to it.
The Service submitted
details of significant improvements to managerial systems implemented
following the accidents in which 2 breaches of safety law were deemed
to have been incurred.
13th July 2009.
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England
Power cable accident
A 16-year old youth is seriously ill in a Birmingham hospital after
contacting railway overhead power cables in a fall from a bridge.
The
incident occurred in Stone, Staffs, on Friday evening, he is being
treated at a burns unit.
13th July 2009.
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England
Fatal industrial accident in
County Durham
It is reported that a man in his
50's died at the premises of ThyssenKrup in Newton Aycliffe, the
account states he received crush injuries in an incident involving a
press on Tuesday.
10th July 2009.
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England
Wembley death fine
PC Harrington Contractors Ltd of Grays Inn Road, London, has been
fined £150,000 with costs of £25,203 for safety law breaches related
to an incident in January 2004 in which a platform became dislodged
during a lifting operation, causing it to fall and hit 2 workers,
killing one and seriously injuring another.
Both men were working on the building of the concrete superstructure
of Wembley Stadium at the time. 10th
July 2009.
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England
Tyre explosion puzzle
No conclusive cause of the explosion of a tyre in July 2008 which
killed a worker on a former airfield near Sudbury was available to an
inquest jury sitting in Bury St Edmonds.
The 27-year old deceased man had been changing tyres on a vehicle at
the time of the explosion which broke his neck while he worked for his
father's business.
The inquest determined an accidental death.
9th July 2009.
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Scotland
Angus farm worker seriously ill
after fall
It is reported that a worker has sustained a fractured skull in
a fall on Monday from a trailer at a farm outside Invergowrie, Angus.
His condition is given as serious but stable.
8th July 2009.
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England
Worker overcome by gases
It is reported that a worker died
last month following an incident on a farm near Blandford, Dorset.
He was working at a farm's anaerobic digester when he was overcome, a
colleague was also affected but made a recovery.
8th July 2009.
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England
Crane collapses on building
A crane has collapsed on a block of residential flats in Tabley
Street, Liverpool. Its operator was taken down from the roof into
which the crane became embedded and was taken to hospital.
The incident occurred yesterday, no residents are reported injured.
7th July 2009.
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England
Tractor deaths
The HSE is investigating 2 fatal accidents involving tractors.
In Scales, near Barrow, on Thursday a man in his 30's died after
becoming trapped by a tractor on a farm.
On Friday 26th June, a woman died after an accident occurred in North
Cadbury, Somerset, in which a tractor overturned.
6th July 2009.
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England
Shop worker murdered
A man working in a shop in Winton,
Salford, was shot dead on Saturday evening. The assailant made off in
a car, a number of arrests have been made.
6th July 2009.
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Scotland
Machine amputated worker's
fingers
A malfunctioning Endoline tape
packaging machine removed 3 fingers from a worker who was attempting
to repair it in June last year. The machine started up suddenly, a
safe isolation procedure was not available.
Belcher Food products Ltd of Prestwick was fined £30,000 for what an
HSE official called "an entirely foreseeable and preventable
accident."
Three months before the accident, HSE inspectors told the company they
must have a procedure in place to ensure machinery could be properly
isolated while being repaired, but this advice was not acted upon. 3rd
July 2009.
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Scotland
Car park death
A woman has been fatally injured in
an accident at the Sainsbury's retail outlet in Loanhead, Midlothian.
The woman, who was accompanied by a 3-year old child, was run over and
trapped by a private car as it reversed on Tuesday afternoon.
2nd July 2009.
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England
Man crushed by forklift arm
The driver of a telescopic forklift truck was crushed between the descending
arm and side of his vehicle on 18th September 2003 at the Davyhulme
Waste Water Treatment Works in Trafford, Greater Manchester. One of
the vehicle’s cab windows, which normally acted as a guard, had been
damaged some weeks earlier and was entirely missing, it is believed
the deceased man leant out of the cab window and came into contact
with the joystick, causing the arm to descend on him.
MB Plastics Ltd of Warrington, the deceased's employer, was fined
£150,000 with costs of £24,323, it did not have a system for formal
regular inspections of the plant.
Principal contractors Birse Water Ltd, (now trading as Birse
Integrated Solutions Ltd) of Cheadle Hulme, was fined £50,000
with costs of £41,073, it failed to implement its own systems and
failed to properly monitor what MB were doing, failing in its
supervisory role.
1st July 2009.
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