Australia
Caustic soda incident burns cleaner
A 25-year old man is listed in stable condition in the burns unit of
Royal Brisbane Hospital following a chemical explosion at the Cooroy
Chinese restaurant.
He had been cleaning the kitchen with a sodium hydroxide solution
which, when poured down a drain, produced a heat-generating chemical
reaction when mixed with water. The worker has lost 3 layers of facial
skin and has 3rd degree burns to his arms.
30th July 2010
|
India
Overloaded debris pipe falls on site workers
Two contract workers have been killed when a pipe taking debris from
the upper floors of the new HCL Technologies building under
construction in Sholinganallur, Chennai(Madras), fell and crushed them
when brackets clamping it to the wall failed.
An engineer and a subcontractor have been arrested over allegations of
negligence that the pipe was being overloaded.
30th July 2010
|
Pakistan
152 killed in Margalla air crash
All 146 passengers and 6 crew members of an Airblue flight from
Karachi to Islamabad are feared dead after it crashed in a gorge in
the Margalla Hills near Islamabad yesterday, local weather conditions
were of fog and heavy rain.
29th July 2010
|
The Netherlands
Amsterdam snack bar fire
Fire broke out yesterday in the Snackland snack bar on the Damrak,
Amsterdam, spreading up to the Hotel Damrak Inn directly above it. No
injuries were reported. 29th July 2010
|
Saudi Arabia
Lufthansa cargo MD-11 crashes at Riyadh
An MD-11 Lufthansa cargo aircraft crashed and broke in two upon
landing at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, both pilot and
co-pilot were hospitalised with minor injuries. Prior to landing the
pilot had reported a fire in a cargo hold, smoke was seen coming from
the plane as it landed.
28th July 2010
|
USA
Ohio roofer killed in crush accident
An
employee of Terik Roofing Inc has died in
an accident at Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility in
Circleville, Ohio, where he was working with machinery to remove
shingles on a roof.
A blockage occurred and after he left the machine to attempt to clear
the blockage, the machine engaged gear and moved forward, pinning him
against a metal container.
28th July 2010
|
Romania
Military exercise helicopter crash kills 7 near Brasov
Seven people, including 4 pilots, 2 engineers and a Romanian national,
are believed to have died when their CH-53 helicopter, participating
in the Blue Sky 2010 exercises, crashed yesterday in the mountainous
region around Brasov.
Apart from the Romanian victim, all other fatalities are believed to
be Israelis, the exercises have been taking place since 18th July. The
terrain has made rescuers' work difficult. 27th
July 2010
|
India
4 roads workers killed by car at Delhi site
Four employees of the public works department were killed and 4 others
were injured at a roads site in south Delhi on Monday morning when
they were struck by a car whose driver absconded from the scene near
the Safdarjung flyover.
27th July 2010
|
USA
Missing worker fell into waste compactor
A worker who had been reported missing for 3 weeks is now believed to
have died after falling into a waste compactor at One Niagara, New
York state. A surveillance video appears to have captured the incident
in which a maintenance worker fell into the self-contained compactor
unsighted by colleagues.
27th July 2010
|
Germany
Tunnel crush kills 19 at Duisburg parade
A crush accident in an access tunnel to the Alten Guterbahnhof park
area in Duisburg led to 19 deaths and 342 injured at the Love Parade.
It was estimated that the Alten Guterbahn area could accommodate 500K
people but an estimated 1.4mio attended Saturday's event. The 40-metre
long, 15-metre wide tunnel was the principal access, the incident is
believed to have occurred towards the end of the event as people were
coming and going, crushing ensued as panic broke out in the narrow
tunnel.
26th July 2010
|
Belgium
Trainee nurse stabbed by psychiatric patient
A trainee female nurse is recovering from an assault by a patient in a
psychiatric unit in Blegny, Liege, where she was stabbed in the back by the
patient who had returned from the unit's restaurant and regarded the
nurse's presence in his empty room as an unwarranted intrusion.
26th July 2010
|
Switzerland
MGB derailment in Wallis leaves 1 dead, 42 injured
Three carriages of the Glacier Express of the Matterhorn Gotthard
Bahn(MGB) derailed on a bend short of Fiesch on Friday afternoon, an
accident which claimed the life of 1 passenger and left 42 others
injured, 12 listed in serious condition.
The train was travelling at relatively low speed with 210 passengers
travelling between Brig and Oberwald when the derailment occurred on a
gentle bend. The 3 carriages which derailed were first class, the last
2 overturned. Track maintenance work had been undertaken in recent
days.
24th July 2010
|
China
Dalian fireman drowns in oil slick
A fireman has drowned in an oil slick at Dalian where fire crews have
been tackling an incident caused when pipes burst and an explosion
occurred where a Liberian tanker was unloading petrol. He was clearing
a blockage in a fire pipe drawing sea water to douse flames when a
wave unbalanced him. Although the water was only 20cm deep at that
time, his state of relative exhaustion had rendered him too weak to
escape to safety.
23rd July 2010
|
Australia
Mechanic crushed under failed jack
A mechanic has died in a crush accident in a workshop on Handley
Crescent, Dandenong, southeast Melbourne, where a trolley jack failed
while he was servicing a 4-wheel drive vehicle, this was the 14th
workplace death in Victoria this year.
23rd July 2010
|
USA
Grinding machine severs worker's foot
A 22-year old worker had a foot severed
after it became caught in a grinding machine at Republic Plastics in
McQueeney, Texas.
22nd July 2010
|
Spain
Police probe Andalusia plane crash
The Guardia Civil is investigating a fatal
crash in which a Piper Cherokee light aircraft crashed on the Camino
de Gatera, Villamartin,
Cadiz at 4am yesterday. The local airport is not open for night
flights, nor was any flight plan forwarded to Seville. The victim had
landed in Villamartin and checked in to the adjacent Antigua Estacion
hotel. The time of the accident has led to speculation that the
incident may have been related to crime, the area is known to have
aircraft landing from Morocco with narcotics. 22nd July 2010
|
Canada
Accident at Alberta roads site
A 27-year old lorry driver is listed in critical but stable condition
after being struck by the wheel of a road roller at a road resurfacing
site in Clairmont, southwest Alberta. He was cleaning his vehicle at
the time and attempted to leap inside to avoid the oncoming roller at
the passenger side.
21st July 2010
|
USA
Ohio worker's foot crushed by falling steel wire
A worker has been hospitalised in Dayton, Ohio, after his foot was
crushed by a 5K lb roll of coiled steel wire which fell on his leg at
the Hobart Brothers ITW metal filler plant in Piqua.
21st July 2010
|
India
SPAD rail crash leaves 67 dead
Sixty-seven people died and 90 were injured when the Uttarbanga
Express struck the Vananchal Express as it was leaving platform 4 in
Sainthia station, West Bengal.
Initial speculation suggested a SPAD(signal passed at danger) incident
but the general manager of Eastern railways had not ruled out
sabotage, expressing "doubts as to the cause of the accident."
20th July 2010
|
France
Passenger killed in Charente-Maritime air crash
An MCR light aircraft crashed at 8am on Monday near Medis aerodrome,
Royan, the passenger died in the accident but the pilot survived with
serious injuries. The cause of the accident, which occurred in good
weather, is unknown.
20th July 2010
|
USA
Worker killed in transport conveyor
A workman died during the unloading of materials from a rail train
hopper wagon onto a conveyor belt on a lorry at East Commerce Street,
Tyler, Texas, at the weekend. He appeared to
have become trapped at the higher
end of the conveyor system. 19th July 2010
|
Australia
Steel falls on worker as soft sling fails
A steel section being hoisted by soft slings fell when a sling failed
and killed a worker at the site of a new desalination plant in
Adelaide. It was unclear why the slings were being preferred to chains
for the lifting. 19th July 2010
|
The Netherlands
Demolition fatality in Arnhem
On Thursday a worker was killed by a falling concrete section during
demolition work at a site on Kortestraat, Arnhem. 16th
July 2010
|
Australia
Billiton fined over fatal accident
At a South Australia Industrial Court an industrial magistrate fined
BHP Billiton $76K(£46,626) plus $20K(£12,270) in compensation over an
accident at its Olympic Dam operations in December 2007 where a worker
inside a humidifier was killed by a fibreglass spray nozzle which fell
14 metres, the magistrate in his summary said that the company had
failed to maintain a safe system of work. 16th
July 2010
|
Russia
Boy died during non-traditional medical treatment
The Prosecutor General's Investigative Committee is studying the
circumstances of the death of a 4-year boy who died in Sergeyevka, 80
miles north of Vladivostok, during non-traditional medical treatment
from a shaman. The boy had apparently suffocated and was found at the
end of his treatment by an ethnic Korean healer in an allegedly prone
position.
A pathologist's report is awaited by the authorities. 15th
July 2010
|
France
Fire at Pompiers barracks
Seven people were injured when a fire broke out in a room on the 2nd
floor of the Bitche fire brigade premises in the 19th arrondisement of
Paris. 15th
July 2010
|
Spain
Madrid workplace deaths up 10%
A 46-year old worker died yesterday in an 8-metre fall from a
MEWP(mobile elevating work platform) when a section of a crane fell
against it at the La Sendilla industrial area on avenida de las
Palmeras in Ciempozuelos, Madrid, the 52nd workplace death in the
capital this year, a 10% increase on last year's commensurate figure.
Last Thursday a worker was electrocuted at a site in the city's
Alcobendas. 14th
July 2010
|
USA
Farm workers died in fall into silo
Two teenage Michigan farm workers died when they fell into a molasses
feed silo at a farm 4 miles southwest of Middleville, they were using
a power-washer to clean the 4-metre high silo when the accident
occurred. 14th July
2010
|
Saudi Arabia
Stowaway found dead in aircraft wheel bay
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation has announced that a
maintenance worker inspecting the landing gear of a Nas Air Airbus 320
discovered the body of a dead 20-year old Lebanese national who had
hidden in the wheel bay of the aircraft flying from Beirut
International Airport. 13th July 2010
|
USA
Transport accident at Illinois mine
The Mine Safety and Health Administration imposed a temporary closure
order at the Willow Lake mine of Peabody Energy in south Illinois
pending investigation of a fatal accident in which a worker died after
being struck by a shuttle car some 4 miles underground. 13th July 2010
|
USA
Electrocution at Disney site
An electrician of Buena Vista Construction Company was electrocuted
during the installation of a temporary transformer connecting power
supply to a platform at Disney's ESPN's Wide World of Sports site in
Florida. 12th July 2010
|
Germany
Crocodile's walkabout in Frankfurt
A 3-metre long crocodile
escaped from the reptile display at the 'Land of Reptilen' show in
Frankfurt and was spotted by an alert passing driver at 5.30am on
Saturday near the Honsell bridge in the Ostend district of the city, 3
staff managed to re-capture the 170Kg reptile without further
incident. 12th July 2010
|
Turkey
Rescuers strive to reach trapped miners
A major rescue operation was ongoing yesterday at the Kale private
coal mine in Kesan, Edirne, where 3 miners were trapped after a
cave-in 1,020 metres underground. Water was being pumped in the
extinguish flames and the miners were instructed to move to a safer
area where additional air was being introduced. Rescuers were
optimistic of a
successful outcome.
9th July 2010
|
Russia
Children and instructor drown at Sea of Azov camp
Five Muscovite schoolchildren have drowned at a summer camp in Yeisk,
Krasnodar, on the Sea of Azov, an instructor at the camp has also
drowned in an attempt to rescue them. Two children were rescued but 1
remains unaccounted for. The accident occurred in a zone not
authorised for bathing on account of strong currents, the children
having been taken on a boat excursion to the Yeisk island spit
separating the river and sea. Three instructors allegedly tested
positive for alcohol.
9th July 2010
|
Panama
Dredger worker killed
A construction worker of Belgian company Jan de Nul has died in an
accident while working on the dredger Marco
Polo on Gatun lake at the Atlantic
end of the canal where expansion work is ongoing.
8th July 2010
|
UAE
Falling concrete kills site workers
Two construction workers of Al Futtaim Carillion have died in a crush
accident involving falling concrete sections at the Yas Mall project
being developed by Aldar in Abu Dhabi.
Last year falling objects accounted for one fifth of construction site
deaths in the emirate.
8th July 2010
|
Egypt
Construction company bus driver
guns down colleagues
Six workers died and a further
16 were injured when the driver of an Arab Contractors construction
company bus opened fire with a rifle on passengers of his vehicle at
Meniel Shiha, 12 miles south of Cairo.
7th July 2010
|
Malaysia
DOSH seeks to halve accident rate in a decade
At the opening of the northern zone's Occupational Safety & Health
Carnival 2010 in Kepala Batas, Penang, on Tuesday, the director general of the
Department of Occupational Safety & Health targeted a workplace
accident ratio of 3 cases per 1,000 workers by 2020, emulating the UK,
USA and Japan. Current Malaysian workplace
accident ratio is 6 per 1000
workers. 7th
July 2010
|
USA
Bolting horses kill Iowa parade spectator
An elderly spectator was killed
when 2 horses bolted at an Independence Day parade in Bellevue, Iowa,
23 others were injured, 4 of whom were listed in critical condition.
6th July 2010
|
Bhutan
Accident driver had no licence
A Gelephu court has fined Bhutan Engineering 100K Ngultrum(£1,413)
plus a total of 195K Ngultrum(£2,755.35) compensation costs over an
accident in which a worker was killed in a crush accident when a lorry
rolled back and pinned him against a compressor. A project manager
and an engineer were each fined 3K Ngultrum(£42-39), the latter allowed the
driver to operate the lorry in the knowledge that he had no driver's
licence. 6th July
2010
|
Wales
Girl killed in sliding gate accident
A 5-year old girl died from crush injuries after being caught in an
automatic sliding gate yesterday at premises in Brook Court, Bridgend. 5th July 2010
|
UAE
7 killed in 3 scaffold accidents
Seven workers have died in 3 separate scaffold collapse accidents in
Sharjah this last week.
Two died in the first accident at Al Nahda, 4 were killed at Sahara
and 1 died and 3 were injured in the most recent scaffold collapse
when support cables failed, police
have indicated that the scaffold was neither secured nor fixed
properly to the building. 5th July
2010
|
Canada
Quebec roads worker killed
Quebec Workplace Health and Safety is investigating a fatal accident
which took place at a road site in Outaouais on Thursday where a
construction worker was killed by a reversing lorry at a new off-ramp
for Highway 50 near Papineauville. 2nd
July 2010
|
Germany
Ethylene oxide escape at BASF plant
An escape of ethylene oxide at the BASF plant in Ludwigshafen saw 6
workers injured yesterday, 2 of whom required hospitalisation.
2nd July 2010
|
Spain
Explosion at Guardia Civil explosives handling workshop
A 61-year old second lieutenant of the Guardia Civil reserve died in a
building collapse following an explosion yesterday in the basement of
a building at the Colegio de Guardias Jovenes in Valdemoro, Madrid, 12
others were injured.
The buildings house a modest amount of explosives, allowing practical
workshops in the deactivation of explosive material. It has been
reported that explosives were not being handled at the time of the
explosion and subsequent fire.
1st July 2010
|
Russia
Fire at Moscow defence premises
Fire broke out yesterday on the top floor of the 7-storey Concern PVO
Almaz-Antey anti-aircraft defence industrial design and production
premises on Leningradsky Prospekt, north Moscow, no reports of
injuries were immediately available. 1st July
2010
|
|
Turkey
Tourist missing after boat sinks
A Spanish tourist is missing in the Mediterranean after fire broke out
on the Kayhan-9 boat sailing from Marmaris to Fethiye and it sank, all
18 tourists and 5 crew took to the water and all but 1 were rescued by
the coast guard.
30th July 2010.
|
Australia
Recycler fined over transport accident
In an Industrial Magistrates' Court in Brisbane One Steel Recycling
has been fined $120K(£69,246) over a fatal accident at Mackay harbour
on 7th October last year in which a female worker was killed by a
lorry.
She had been sweeping up scrap metal which had been dropped from
overhead magnets and buckets into bins on a lorry for transport, and
was sweeping under the lorry when it drove off.
30th July 2010.
|
USA
Worker killed in fall onto conveyor
A worker has died after falling onto a conveyor belt system at
Evergreen Nursery, San Diego.
The conveyor system was connected to a mulching machine and as the
worker was attempting to jump from the machine to a vehicle he fell,
his arm caught in the conveyor, pulling him forward and pinning his
head. 29th July 2010.
|
Moldova
Baby's baptism death probed
Police have been investigating an Orthodox church priest over
manslaughter allegations following the death of a 6-weeks old baby
following a baptism.
The baby was thrice immersed, the priest should be holding the nose
and mouth, but shortly afterwards haemorrhaged from the nose and mouth
and later died.
29th July 2010.
|
Greece
Car workshop explosion on Crete
An explosion in a ground floor car workshop in a commercial and
residential block in Iraklio, Crete, has killed the proprietor and
left his wife with critical injuries, 10 other people were injured,
some with serious burns, as the flames reached 1st floor level.
28th July 2010.
|
Switzerland
Rodelbahn safety
Concern is being expressed over the lack of mandatory safety checks on
Swiss "rodelbahn", toboggans which ride on tracks, especially in the
light of 3 recent accidents in which a woman died and 2 children were
injured. On Sunday a child's foot
was pinned in an accident.
28th July 2010.
|
USA
Falling plate pins Pennsylvanian workers
Two workers were injured in an accident on Monday at Americold
Logistics in East Manchester, Pennsylvania, where a deck plate moved,
one of the workers was injured in coming to the assistance of the
trapped colleague. 27th July 2010.
|
Kenya
Methanol hooch kills
17
At least 17 people were reported to have died on Monday after
consuming illicit hooch laced with methanol at a drinking den in the
Kibera Laini Saba area of Nairobi.
27th July 2010.
|
Japan
5 rescuers die in helicopter crash
Five people died when a Saitama prefectural government helicopter
crashed on Sunday during a mission to rescue a climber on a mountain
in Chichibu. The AS365 Eurocopter helicopter was being piloted by 2
Honda Airway Co pilots, of the 7 on board the flight only 2 rescuers,
who had been lowered to the ground, survived.
The crash occurred 2 miles south of Route 140's Karisaka tunnel,
with local weather conditions good the cause of the accident remains
unclear. 26th
July 2010.
|
Russia
Methane explosion kills Kemorovo miner
A methane gas explosion in the Krasnogorskaya coal mine near Kemorovo
left 1 miner dead and 2 with serious burns injuries, there were 66
underground when the explosion occurred. 26th
July 2010.
|
USA
Worker's legs severed in auger accident
A worker has died after falling onto an auger in a cement mixer which
severed both his legs at a site on the Belle Lago
community
in San Carlos Park, Florida, where
a new swimming pool was being built.
23rd July 2010.
|
Australia
Explosion kills boat repair worker
Workplace Health & Safety is investigating a fatal explosion at the
Alufab boat repair unit in Paget, Queensland, where a worker died in
the accident while repairing a boat.
23rd July 2010.
|
Austria
Drivers race level crossing lights
A lorry driver narrowly escaped being killed on Wednesday as he
attempted to negotiate the Saag railway
crossing between Portschach and Velden in Karnten. He had misjudged
the red light and found that the barrier on the far side of the
crossing had descended before his lorry could clear the crossing. The
train driver saw the stranded lorry and braked hard, the lorry driver
managed to jump clear just prior to the collision. This was the 4th
such level crossing incident this month in which a red light has been
similarly misjudged.
22nd July 2010.
|
Sweden
Scandinavian aircraft in near miss
Statens haverikommission(Swedish Accident
Investigation Board) is investigating the near miss over Ostersund of
a Finnair and SAS aircraft, both aircraft were cruising at 11Km and at
one stage were just 300m apart.
22nd July 2010.
|
France
Cotes d'Armor farmer killed in baler accident
Late on Tuesday afternoon a 52- year old farmer died in an apparent
crush accident involving a round baler at Fontaine Perrio, Plourhan, a
witness also spoke of smoke issuing from the scene, the farmer may
have been tackling a technical malfunction.
21st July 2010.
|
Singapore
Company failed to adhere to demolition plan
Loh Bros Pte Ltd has been fined $60K(£28,595) over a fatal crush
accident on 12th October 2007 at the demolition site of Asia Chambers
on McCallum Street where a section of concrete fell on the 17th floor
and collapsed lower floors, killing a worker in the basement.
The company was deemed to have failed to take reasonably practicable
measures to ensure workplace safety and health which caused a worker's
death. Ministry of Manpower investigation discovered a failure to
clear accumulated debris regularly from the 17th storey and a failure
to adhere to a demolition plan and erect props on the 14th and 15th
storeys prior to demolition on the 17th storey.
21st July 2010.
|
Belgium
Fatal accident at Antwerp wharf
A 46-year old Antwerp docker was killed on Monday when material fell
during loading on to a ship at Vrieskaai in the harbour, 2 colleagues
aged 41 and 45 were injured in the accident. 20th
July 2010.
|
Austria
Cladding fell off Turkish aircraft landing in Vienna
A section of cladding fell from the engine of a Boeing 737 of Turkish
Airlines as it landed at Wien-Schwechat Airport, no injuries occurred
during the incident which has been under investigation.
20th July 2010.
|
China
33 killed in mine fire and shipyard explosion
A coal mine fire and a shipyard explosion killed at least 33 workers
at the weekend.
The electric cable fire occurred at the Xiaonangou mine in Sangshuping
township in Hancheng, Shaanxi, where 28 died.
The explosion at the Tongfang Jiangxin Shipbuilding yard in Hukou
killed 5 painters of subcontractor Jingcheng Industrial Company.
19th July
2010.
|
Canada
Unsecured demolition fell through roof gap
At the Ontario Court of Justice in Cornwall, Paris Holdings and
Sergerie Mechanical were fined $60K(£40K) and $50K(£33,333)
respectively after pleading guilty to a breach of Ontario Regulation
Section 26.1(2) in failing to ensure workers had adequate protection
from falling.
On August 22nd 2008, 5 workers were removing corrugated metal decking
and insulation from a storage building roof at an old paper mill
demolition site on 2nd Street West, Cornwall, when a worker fell 8.5
metres through a gap and was seriously injured. Investigation found
that the workers were wearing safety harnesses but they were not
connected to safety lines securely attached to roof anchor points.
Three days after the incident inspectors found 4 secured safety ropes
added to the scene which had been ordered not to be disturbed. A
supervisor was fined $6K(£4K) after pleading guilty
to a breach of the Occupational
Health & Safety Act Section 51(2) by interfering with and disturbing
the scene of a critical injury without the permission of Ministry of
Labour inspectors. 19th July 2010.
|
USA
Transport accident at Maryland roads site
A lorry driver of Dansville Hauling Corporation was killed on Thursday
at a road resurfacing project on Pennsylvania Avenue, Forestville,
Maryland, where he was struck by a reversing lorry as he was standing
beside his own vehicle.
16th July 2010.
|
England
Steeplejack fell through rotten timber
The Cedars Steeplejack (Midlands) Ltd has been fined £6,600 plus
£4,774 in costs over an accident on 12th August 2008 in which a worker
fell 6.3 metres during work to clean the bell chamber at the Church of
St Peter in Lenton, Lincs.
Two workers accessed the spire via the staircase and were using
scaffolding planks to stand on. However, they were laid on rotten
floorboards which failed, a worker cracked vertebrae, broke his pelvis
and sustained internal injuries in the fall.
The company pleading guilty to breaching regulations 4(1)(a) and
4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regs 2005 in not assessing the risks
from work in the bell chamber and not selecting the right equipment to
ensure it could be done safely.
16th July 2010.
|
Indonesia
Guide and climber missing on Sumatra
A search is ongoing for a missing European tourist and his guide who
were climbing to the summit of Sumatra. Another guide has raised the
alarm, the search is focussed on the jungle area of Mt Hujon.
15th July 2010.
|
Belgium
Roof collapse during judo class
A partial roof collapse occurred during severe weather
conditions on Wednesday at a sports centre in
Geldenaken(Jodoigne,Djodogne), Waals Brabant, where 150 youths were
attending judo practice. Eight people were seriously injured, another
15 had lesser injuries. 15th July 2010.
|
Turkey
Fatal accident at Black Sea quarry
A dynamite explosion at a stone quarry in Guvenlik, north Turkey,
triggered an accidental rock fall in a separate area which killed one
worker and injured 2 others on Tuesday.
14th July 2010.
|
Bahrain
Body may have been moved after fatal accident
A fatal accident investigation is underway into the apparent
electrocution of a masonry worker who died when live electric cables
contacted a scaffold on which he was working in the Manama suq. There
have been allegations that his body was moved and found 30 metres from
the locus. 14th
July 2010.
|
France
Family without life jackets drown in Garonne
Three family members drowned and a 6-year old boy is listed in
critical condition in hospital after their boat sank in the vicinity
of the bridge spanning the Garonne in Auvillar, 55 miles northeast of
Toulouse.
The cause of the accident remains unknown, neither life jackets nor
flotation aids were being worn. 13th July 2010.
|
USA
Driver unaware of colleague under farm vehicle
A farm worker of Root Brothers Farms of Albion, New York, was killed
when he was run over by a flat-bed vehicle he was under when a
colleague inadvertently drove it away, unaware of his presence below. 13th July 2010.
|
France
Girl run over on beach during equestrian training
A 3-year old girl was badly injured and was in an induced coma after
being run over by a bolting horse and sulky during training on
Merville-Franceville beach at the weekend, the trainer was also
injured in the accident.
Beach rules are that horses should not be exercised at the bathing
area between the first-aid stations. 12th July 2010.
|
Australia
Worker injured at Townsville race track
A cleaner at the Sucrogen Townsville 400 V8 Supercar race track has
been hospitalised in Townville with a fractured skull after being
pinned against a car by a reversing lorry at the Reid Park
venue.
12th July 2010.
|
Slovakia
Fatal press accident at Korean car plant
A South Korean national has been killed in a crush accident at the
Mobis car plant in Teplicka nad Vahom, Zilina region. The incident
occurred in a press shop where a mould for bumpers was being tested. A
guard or protective mechanism on the press apparently failed or broke
loose and the Korean, who was standing close to the press, was
crushed by it.
9th July 2010.
|
USA
Ohio welder killed in roof collapse
A section of roof of the Fremont Company's sauerkraut factory, 40
miles southeast of Toledo, collapsed during hot work to replace
support columns, 1 welder died and 3 others were injured.
9th July 2010.
|
England
Inquest into death of man trampled by cows
An inquest opens today(8th July) in Wisbech into the death of a
47-year old Cambridgeshire man who was found dead in a field at
Leechmere Farm, Fordham, having been apparently trampled to death by a
herd of cows, the HSE is to investigate it as an industrial accident.
8th July 2010.
|
England
Worker injured in hospital fire
A maintenance worker is being treated in hospital in Birmingham for
serious burns following an accident in which an aerosol canister
ignited while he was working at Ledbury Community Hospital in
Herefordshire. 8th
July 2010.
|
Romania
12 killed in Air Force aircraft crash
Twelve people died and 2 were injured when an Antonov An-2
single-engine military aircraft of the Aurel Valicu training school in
Boboc crashed shortly after take-off from Tuzla Airport. It is believed that the 2 survivors had managed to jump
clear prior to the fiery impact.
Included among the fatalities are the school's commanding
officer.
7th July 2010.
|
Malta
Valetta worker falls down shaft
A workman was injured in a 1-storey fall into an open shaft at the
Parish Hall, St Dominic Street, Valetta, on Tuesday afternoon, the
cause of the accident and the extent of his injuries were unknown.
7th July 2010.
|
Denmark
Freight wagon fire
A freight wagon fire at Holbaek Station led to 3 people being
hospitalised with breathing difficulties on Monday, the blaze also
spread to an adjacent building controlling traffic on the Oddsherred
and Hong-Tollose Rail lines. Fire crews were concerned that toxic
materials may have ignited.
6th July 2010.
|
China
Bus fire kills 24 steel workers
A bus fire in Wuxi has claimed the lives of 24 steel workers of
the Xuefeng Steel Company.
6th July 2010.
|
Austria
Surgeon amputates wrong leg
A doctor has been suspended and charges of injury by negligence are
being considered in Innsbruck following an accident at St Johann
Hospital in the Tyrol where a 91-year old female patient had the wrong
leg amputated, the diseased leg was amputated a few days later.
5th July 2010.
|
Belgium
ULM crash at Hasselt
An instructor and student pilot of a ULM(ultra leger motorise) light
aircraft died when it crashed on Sunday evening at the Aero Kiewit
airfield at Hasselt. It appeared to encounter technical problems
shortly after take-off and, in attempting an emergency landing,
crashed into an earth embankment. 5th July 2010.
|
Argentina
Plumber survives 18m fall
A plumber survived an 18-metre fall into an empty shaft at the site of
a building under construction on Independiencia Street in the Nueva
Cordoba barrio in Cordoba.
The unharnessed tradesman lost his balance while working on a
ventilation duct, some timber sections helped break his fall. He is
being treated in the city's Hospital Transito Caceres de Allende
for
minor fractures.
2nd July 2010.
|
Malta
Spectator run down by racing sulky
A spectator at the Mnarja sulky races, in which horse-drawn 2-wheel
single seat carts race along the Rabat-Siggiewi Road, has been killed
after straying beyond the crowd barriers.
The accident
occurred at the Saqqajja end of the road
when he apparently stepped out to look at a sulky which had passed and
was then struck from behind by another coming up fast. Despite police
and crowd control warnings some spectators come over from behind the
crash barriers.
2nd July 2010.
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USA
Boatman missing in Potomac
A Virginia worker is missing, feared drowned, in the Potamac River
after a steel-hulled work boat normally used to push barges sank in
rough water during testing pile-driving equipment. The accident
occurred 2 miles north of the Governor Harry W Nice Memorial Bridge on
US 301. A colleague managed to swim ashore, neither worker was clad in
a life jacket. 1st July 2010.
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|
England
Workman's brain damaged by fall
A 28-year old man's sight, hearing and personality have been affected
by an industrial accident whilst he was involved in the demolition of
a building in Carlisle in 2008. He was a casual labourer and lacked
the skill for this work. His injuries were sustained in a 6-metre fall
through the roof of the industrial building.
Two brothers, trading through companies, were fined a total of £13,000
plus costs of £12,000 for their failures to plan the work and meet the
requirements of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
30th July 2010.
|
Turkey
Tourists' deaths
investigated
A 9-year old British girl has drowned when a white-water raft carrying
12 tourists overturned on the Dalaman river in southwest Turkey, her
body was found later among rocks.
Turkish authorities continue to investigate the death on Saturday of a
50-year old man who fell to his death from a tandem parasail at
Antalya.
One account states that he fell from an altitude of more than 40
metres when his harness failed. 30th July 2010.
|
England
London restaurant owner fined over mouse infestation
At Southwark Crown Court the owner of the Kam Tong, Hung Tao and Kiasu
restaurants in Bayswater, London, was fined £30K plus £18,131 in costs
and received an 8-mth jail sentence suspended for 2 years after
pleading guilty to charges of rodent and cockroach infestation.
Inspectors even managed to capture film of a mouse jumping from a bowl
of food being prepared for a customer. 29th July 2010.
|
USA
Illinois postie's van hit on level crossing
An investigation has been opened into the death of an Illinois postman
whose van was struck by a Canadian National goods train on a rural
level crossing near Papertown, Jefferson county. 29th July 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Dublin hospital kitchen fire
Seven units of the Dublin Fire Brigade attended a fire yesterday in
the kitchens of the Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, no cause of the blaze
was immediately known.
28th July 2010.
|
Austria
Child fatally injured on school farm visit
An investigation is being launched imminently into the death of a
7-year old Salzburg child who died in hospital recently 5 weeks after
being injured by a falling metal pole during a school excursion to a
farm in Eichet, Grodig. 28th July 2010.
|
Jordan
Unstable structure collapse in Amman
The collapse of a wall at a 6-storey building under construction in
Dahiyat Al Yasmine, Amman, killed 1 worker and injured 3 others. It is
alleged that last week work inspectors of the Greater Amman
Municipality visited the site and found structural cracks and issued a
stop-work order which was not observed. 27th July 2010.
|
England
Dangerous electrical
installation brings heavy fine
The owner of a fast food shop in Levenshulme, Greater Manchester, has
been fined £4,000 plus £4,759 costs after a Manchester Council
inspector visited the premises and discovered dangerous wiring
practices and fittings connecting the shop with the neighbouring
premises.
The proprietor was also fined under food safety law for mouse and
cockroach infestation. 27th July 2010.
|
Scotland
Moray camp site fire leaves 5 injured
A fire in a timber chalet at Beechtree Caravan park in Keith, Moray,
has left 2 campers listed in critical condition in hospital in
Aberdeen, 3 others were seriously injured.
The cause of the fire remained unclear. 26th July 2010.
|
Norway
4 Ukrainian rafters drown in river in spate
Four Ukrainian rafters drowned on Saturday after encountering
difficulties on the River Sjoa north of Lillehammer. The tour party of
13 was using six 2-man rafts, 3 of which overturned in the swift flowing
water of the river in spate.
Local sports organisers reported no contact from the visitors who had
brought their own rafts. This section of the river is considered too
dangerous by locals, especially in
spate. 26th July 2010.
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England
Boy fell from ride at Essex show
An accident investigation has been ongoing into the incident in which
a 3-year old boy fell to the ground from the Sky Diver ride, a ferris
wheel with seats that rise during the ride at Dagenham Town Show, the
boy has been recovering at home.
23rd July 2010.
|
Serbia
Roofer killed in fall at car factory
A 25-year old subcontract worker has died in a 20-metre fall from the
roof of the Fiat car plant in Kragujevac.
23rd July 2010.
|
Scotland
Hi-rail machine hits stationery train
A rail worker was hospitalised when his
track excavator Hydrex machine struck a stationery goods train laden
with steel pipes, the Hydrex was travelling from Aviemore to Inverness.
22nd July 2010.
|
England
Workman drills through cable
A workman in his 20's has been badly injured after he inadvertently
drilled through a cable while undertaking refitting work at the Strada
restaurant in Finsbury, London.
He was taken to hospital with burns immediately after last Friday
afternoon's explosion and fire, his injuries are not life-threatening.
22nd July 2010.
|
England
Cavers rescued
Two cavers were safely rescued after becoming trapped by rising
floodwater in Swinsto Pot in the N Yorks Kingsdale system, their
rescue was effected through the Kingsdale Master Cave's main entrance.
21st July 2010.
|
Australia
Crane lorry comes off bridge
The driver of a lorry-mounted crane has been hospitalised with spinal
injuries in Townsville, Queensland, after his vehicle came off Jack
Philps Bridge spanning Terry Creek 20 miles east of Collinsville.
21st July 2010.
|
Malta
Man falls down lift shaft
A 30-year old British national was listed in critical condition with
head injuries after a 3-storey fall yesterday down a shaft in an
apartment block on il-Kurazza Street, Qawra.
20th July 2010.
|
Greece
Tractor rollover fatality
An 80-year old farmer has died in a tractor rollover accident when he
lost control of the vehicle which left the road near Flamouria, his
wife who was also riding on the tractor survived with minor injuries.
20th July 2010.
|
Albania
Bus crashes 400m down ravine
A bus crash 90 miles north of Tirana has left 14 people dead and 16
injured, 4 of whom are listed in critical condition.
In severe weather conditions the bus left the road and fell 400 metres
down into a steep ravine. The precise number of passengers on board
was not known. 19th July 2010.
|
England
Forklift broke worker's leg
Pirelli Tyres Ltd has been fined £9,000
plus £4,282 in connection with an October 2009 industrial accident in
which a 62-year old contractor was struck from behind by a pallet
being carried by a forklift truck as he walked through the curing
department of its Dalston, Carlisle, premises.
Investigation found the forklift truck drivers’ vision was frequently
obscured because their loads had to be lowered to avoid overhead
obstructions, and that a previous risk assessment identified that the
area should be a pedestrian-free zone.
19th July 2010.
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Wales
Fingers were severed in unguarded machine
Encon Engineering (Wales) Ltd of Caerphilly has been fined £8K plus
£2K in costs after pleading guilty to a breach of health and safety
legislation in respect of an accident in which a worker had 4 fingers
severed and the top of a thumb detached while working at an
inadequately guarded machine to mill titanium plates, 3 fingers were
surgically reattached.
16th July 2010.
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England
Finger severed in modified machine
At Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates' Court Building Adhesives Ltd of
Trentham was fined £10K plus £4K in costs over an accident last July
in which a worker had a section of finger amputated while working on
an internal distribution hopper. He was loading fabric bags of rubber
into the hopper when his hand caught in the screw conveyor, a fixed
guard had been replaced with an incorrectly fitted interlocked guard.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 11(1) of the
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs 1998. An HSE inspector
described it as "an incident waiting to happen." 16th July 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Fishermen winched to
safety
The fishing boat Celtic Dawn was towed into Castletownbere yesterday
after taking in water and getting into difficulties 20 miles southwest
of the town.
Three fishermen were lifted off the boat by a Shannon helicopter, the
captain remained on board to man the pumps, the mayday was also
responded to by naval ships.
15th July 2010.
|
England
Essex car wash fined over ECLI breaches
At Southend Magistrates' Court car wash company Prowash Systems Ltd
was fined £6,750 plus £1,000 in costs over a failure to produce a
current Employers' Liability Insurance certificate upon the visit of a
Health & Safety Awareness officer at the premises in Rayleigh, Essex,
in December 2009. The company was issued with an ECLI "notice to
produce" but failed to comply with this notice and failed to attend a
subsequent HSE interview.
The company failed to attend court and in its absence was found guilty
of 5 breaches of S.1(1) of the Employers' Liability (Compulsory
Insurance) Act 1969 for failing to hold ECLI and S.4(2)(b) of the same
act for failing to produce this on request.
15th July 2010.
|
South Africa
East Rand site building collapse
A construction worker died and 2 others were hospitalised with serious
head injuries yesterday when a partial collapse of a building occurred
at a site in Benoni, East Rand.
14th July 2010.
|
Austria
Recycling plant fire
A major fire broke out yesterday at a recycling unit in
Langmannersdorf, St Polten. The facility is authorised only to accept
paper but there have been allegations that plastic and other materials
were also being handled there. 14th July 2010.
|
England
Crane barge grounds near Goole
On Monday morning Humber Coastguard was informed that the crane barge
Panurgic II had grounded in the River Ouse 4 miles east of Goole. One
crew member was evacuated by helicopter but the master and other
crewman remained on board the vessel which was listing at 30°. 13th July 2010.
|
Canada
Drum weld fails at Alberta well
Two Syncrude oil workers were hospitalised when an overhead drum weld
failed at the Mildred Lake plant in north Alberta, causing a release
of hydrogen sulphide and ammonia. The incident occurred in an
upgrading area of the plant where sulphur and nitrogen are removed
from bitumen. 13th
July 2010.
|
Rep Ireland
Helicopter's marathon flight to rescue seaman
The engineer on a Norwegian fishing boat was successfully rescued from
the vessel out on the Rockall bank by the Sligo coastguard Sikorsky
helicopter which had to undertake a 224 nautical mile journey at the
extreme end of its flying range.
The crew availed themselves of refuelling facilities on the Sedco 711
rig on Shell's Corrib gas field on both legs of the trip, as well as
unloading as much gear from the helicopter as possible. The winch-up
of the unwell worker was completed in 5-metre sea swell conditions.
12th July 2010.
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Rep Ireland
MCIB reports on McLinghi accident
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has reported on the
capsize of the McLinghi off Coney Island, Cork, on 5th December 2008
where a passenger drowned. No passengers were wearing life
jackets or personal flotation devices which were offered by the
captain, contrary to Pleasure Craft regulations 2005.
The boat had left Schull for Coney in darkness but when the outboard
engine stalled, the boat was swamped as it drifted. The report found
that a decision taken to turn the boat, some crew started to row, was
critical, as it was then swamped in high winds and swell when it could
have been anchored. It also found that the boat lacked flares and a
VHF radio. 12th July 2010.
|
England
Machinery accident at Anglian plant
A man in his 60's is listed in serious condition in Addenbrooke's
Hospital, Cambridge, after being airlifted there after his hand became
trapped in machinery in an industrial accident at Whittington, East
Anglia. 9th July
2010.
|
South Africa
7 killed at gold and platinum mines
Seven miners have died in 3 separate accidents in 24 hours. A gold
miner died at the Anglo Gold Ashanti mine at Tau Lekoa in Northwest
province; 5 died in a fall of ground at the Marikana mine of Aquarius
Platinum in Rustenburg; and a miner was also killed in a fall of
ground at an Impala Platinum mine. 9th July
2010.
|
England
Unstable material fell on yard worker
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, TS(UK)Ltd has been fined
£130K plus £10,588 in costs in connection with a crush accident in
which 55 bags of polypropylene each weighing 45Kg fell from a pallet
around which a Portuguese worker was sweeping in the factory yard in
Middleton. He died of his injuries.
An HSE inspector commented on the company's lax attitude to health and
safety, with not a single employee trained in first aid.
8th July 2010.
|
England
Anglian farmer fined over chainsaw accident
The owner of Hill Farm, Leiston, has been fined £1,600 plus £1,400
costs after pleading guilty to a breach of S.2(1) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Lowestoft Magistrates' Court. The court
heard that a farm worker had been working with a chainsaw when an
overhead cut branch fell and brought the chainsaw down on his elbow,
cutting an artery and tendon. Investigation found there to be no work
assessment for the task and, although the worker had previous
experience of the chainsaw, he had not been trained in its use.
8th July 2010.
|
Northern Ireland
Girl electrocuted in tall tree climb
Following an inquest into the electrocution of a 6-year old girl who
had climbed a tall elder tree near to high power lines, Northern
Ireland's senior coroner is to write to the Minister of Trade &
Enterprise asking for the introduction as soon as possible of
legislation relating to a defined safety zone between tree tops
and canopy and electric cables.
The girl had managed to scale the tree in Ballymagroarty, Londonderry,
which Northern Ireland Electricity officials said was "unclimbable."
NIE had inspected the tree just 4 months prior to the accident during
its 5-year programme of the inspection of trees adjacent to power
lines. 7th July 2010.
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England
Anglian farm fined over crush death
At Norwich Crown Court farm and haulage company Pearn Wyatt & Son was
fined £21K plus £52K in costs having admitted a breach of S.2(1) of
the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at an earlier hearing in
respect of a fatal crush accident in a field at Grange Farm,
Snetterton.
A worker had been dumping manure from a tipper trailer when the
drawbar broke, crashing forwards through the rear of the tractor into
the cab. Investigation found the trailer had not been adequately
maintained and was unsuitable for handling solid manure.
7th July 2010.
|
Scotland
Fish farmer hurt in fall
A fish farm worker was admitted to Western Isles Hospital with
serious head injuries after falling overboard at a fish farm in
Scourie, near Kinlochbervie. 6th July 2010.
|
Wales
Comet prosecuted in manslaughter case
The electrical retailer Comet Group plc
has been prosecuted in connection with a fatal fall from height in
which the employer of the deceased was jailed for 2½ years.
The 33-year old worker was working for Wrexham Roof Services Ltd in
June 2007 at the Mount Street store when he fell through a fragile
rooflight to the floor 8 metres below, sustaining injuries which
proved fatal 5 days later.
An HSE inspector commented: "Comet failed to ensure that its
contractor had taken steps to prevent falls through the fragile roof
lights, ultimately leading to the death of a worker. This incident
could have been avoided if the roof lights at the Wrexham store had
been protected and the deceased had been provided with appropriate
safety equipment." 6th July 2010.
|
Scotland
Chlorine leak at Aberdeen pool
Hazardous chemical advisers attended an incident at the David Lloyd
club in Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon following a report of leakage
from a chlorine tank, a member of staff was hospitalised at Aberdeen
Royal Infirmary. 5th July 2010.
|
England
Fatal accident revealed safety weakness
at companies
Logistics company Exel Europe Ltd and Imperial Tobacco Ltd have been
prosecuted after a fatal accident exposed failings in their provisions
for health and safety.
On 7th September 2007, a 42-year old heavy goods driver with Exel was
collecting a loaded trailer from Imperial Tobacco's Lenton Industrial
Estate premises in Nottingham. His intention was to attach the trailer
to his cab, but as he was doing this the lorry gradually rolled
forward, trapping him between the front of the vehicle and a building,
inflicting fatal injuries.
Investigation revealed that drivers working for both Exel and Imperial
did not routinely apply the trailer brakes to make sure the vehicles
were safely parked, and that some drivers had not been properly
trained or assessed. Additionally, no checks had been carried out to
monitor the use of trailer brakes in the yard. Both companies had
identified the risk to workers but had failed to implement control
measures, placing drivers, other employees, visitors and third party
contractors at risk.
Exel Europe Ltd of Milton Keynes admitted breaching S.2(1) and
S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined
£80,000 with costs of £31,000.
Imperial Tobacco Ltd of Bristol also pleaded guilty to breaching
S.2(1) and S.3(1) of the 1974 Act for which it was fined £80,000 plus
£35,800. Nottingham. 5th July 2010.
|
The Netherlands
Tug sinks in Maas boat collision
Two seamen were rescued from the Maas yesterday when their tug sank
after a collision with a freighter at Brockhuizen, a dog missing from
the tug could not be found. 2nd July 2010.
|
Greece
Patient loses infected eye
One of the patients who contracted endophthalmitis following cataract
surgery at a clinic in Serres(see story 29th June) has had to have a
diseased eye removed at the AHEPA Hospital in Thessalonika, 1 of the 4
doctors at the private clinic has been suspended.
2nd July 2010.
|
Scotland
Farmer jailed over tractor trailer accident
At the High Court in Edinburgh a 58-year old farmer was jailed for 2
years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in
respect of a fatal accident on the A95 near Ballindalloch Post Office
in Moray when his defective tractor trailer detached on a bend and
struck an oncoming vehicle whose driver was killed. Investigation of
the trailer found it to be in "very poor condition."
1st July 2010.
|
England
Sussex company fined over unsecured site accident
Construction company PIB (UK) of Brighton has been fined £30K plus
£6,500 in costs after pleading guilty at Lewes Crown Court to
breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in
respect of a fatal accident at a site on Buckingham Road, Brighton.
On 29th June 2008, a member of the public accessed the unsecured
construction site where house refurbishment and flat conversion was
being undertaken, and tripped over an unprotected edge, falling 2.4
metres into a basement courtyard where he was later found dead.
One of the company's directors was fined £15K plus £3,465 in costs
after pleading guilty to a breach of r.20(1)(a)(b)(c) of the CDM Regs.
2007. Another director was fined £30K plus £6,500 in costs after
pleading guilty to a breach of S.37(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974, and was barred from holding directorship for 5
years. 1st July 2010.
|
|
Scotland
Interim RAIB report on Raigmore
incident
The Rail Accident Investigation
Board's preliminary investigation of last week's accident near
Raigmore, Inverness, found there was no evidence that the condition or
operation of the railway's signalling system contributed to the
accident. A railway maintenance machine ran away with the operator
onboard down a 1 in 60 gradient, colliding with a stationary train and
pitching the operator out with serious injuries. The machine had run
through a red light and out of an area of track closed for engineering
work. 30th July 2010.
|
Scotland
Accident at Fife timber
yard
It is reported that an employee at Kingdom Timber Engineering's
premises in Kirkcaldy has been taken to hospital following an
industrial accident yesterday. One account states he was struck by
falling timber. 30th July 2010.
|
England
Fatal accident at Sheffield
forge
An employee of Doncasters Precision Forgings in Sheffield has died
following an industrial accident yesterday morning. 29th July 2010.
|
England
Quarry operator fined
On 30th October 2009, a trainee wheel
loader operator was transporting sand from a stockpile at North Cave
Quarry operated by Humberside Aggregates and Excavations Ltd when the
access ramp edge he was driving on gave way. The machine overturned
and plunged almost 5 metres because there were no edge protection
barriers in place. The trainee was injured and was hospitalised for 2
days.
The company was fined £30,000 plus £10,590 in costs for breaching the
Quarries Regulations 1999. 29th July 2010.
|
England
Diver dies off Cornwall
A diver died on Sunday after being retrieved from the water in Gerrans
Bay off Falmouth.
One report states the man in his 60's was found by his diving
companions trapped in fishing nets. 28th July 2010.
|
England
Safer cemetery in Harrogate
Harrogate Borough Council has reported that it has made safe in excess
of 1,000 monuments at its Harlow Hill cemetery.
The Council, following a fatal accident 10 years ago, has been
reinstating around 300 stones each year. 28th July 2010.
|
England
Farm worker escapes
electrocution
A farm worker avoided almost certain electrocution by sitting in his
tractor and not jumping down after he brought down power cables,
setting the vehicle alight.
The incident occurred last Thursday in Bedingham, Norfolk, the 11Kv
cables were brought down after the tractor collided with a pole.
27th July 2010.
|
England
Shopkeeper assaulted in robbery
A 64-year old shopkeeper has been stabbed by two assailants in his
shop in Pelsall near Walsall.
His injuries, multiple stab wounds, are not reported as
life-threatening. 27th July 2010.
|
Scotland
Vessel gas incident lands
workers in hospital
An incident on Saturday morning on board the vessel Oriela, berthed at
Clipper Quay in Aberdeen harbour, resulted in 3 persons being admitted
to hospital, two of them reportedly suffering the effects of exposure
to hydrogen sulphide.
26th July 2010.
|
England
Paving machine crushed worker's
leg
A delivery driver carrying out
relief road work was clearing material from the front of a surface
paving machine when his foot became trapped and crushed between a
speed bump and a bar at the front of the machine.
His lower leg required to amputated, given the severity of the injury.
The incident took place in Monkton
in Heathfield, Somerset, on 29th August 2008, the injured worker's
employer, John Wainwright & Co Ltd, was fined £10,000 plus £8,015
costs.
An HSE official commented: "Although the surface paver is a
slow-moving machine, it is not safe for anyone to work in front of it
while it is in motion as it can be noisy, making communication
difficult, the machine was in motion and the driver had limited
forward visibility because of the way the machine was designed."
26th July 2010.
|
Wales
Falls from height danger at site
Gee Construction Ltd of
Basildon has been fined £10,000 with costs of £4,514 in connection
with fall from height risks discovered by an HSE inspector at a site
at which it had principal contractor duties at Castlegate, Caerphilly,
during October 2009. Shortcomings including unguarded lift shafts and
inadequate edge protection to prevent workers from falls.
Gee had also previously received 2 prohibition notices for work at
height issues in 2008 and 2009, and the company admitted breaching
r.6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at Caerphilly
Magistrates Court.
23rd July 2010.
|
England
Robot struck worker
An engineer who entered the enclosure of a manufacturing robot at the
Castle Bromwich premises of Dura Automotive Body and Glass Systems UK
was struck and badly injured in May 2008. He had entered for the
purpose of viewing its operation. Investigation established that the
practice of entering the enclosure was common practice. The risk
assessment for the work was also deemed insufficient.
An HSE official explained: "There was a culture of violation in this
factory and it is very sad that it took an almost fatal accident for
the company to identify this."
Dura was fined £30,000 plus £20,000 costs, the company has now
installed large viewing panels.
23rd July 2010.
|
England
Distribution centre death in Norfolk
A man in his 60's has died in an industrial accident at the Kings Lynn
depot of Lynn Star Distribution.
The accident occurred yesterday morning, the deceased died at the
scene following the accident involving a vehicle.
22nd July 2010.
|
England
Wind flipped 85m long scaffolding
On 18th January 2008, an 85-metre long scaffolding structure in Jedburgh Street, Middlesbrough, overturned and collapsed in high winds.
Fortunately workers who had used the structure as a working platform
for at least 5 days before the incident were elsewhere, however it
could have collapsed at any time, creating a significant risk to
workers and members of the public.
The scaffold was inadequately secured to the houses
and was missing elements used to stabilise it, the proprietor of B & J
Scaffolding of Redcar was fined £4,000 plus £2,500 costs.
22nd July 2010.
|
England/ Wales
Coach accidents
A man in his 70's has died in an accident
in Torquay after falling as he negotiated the stairs of a coach on
Monday evening.
In Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, a woman in her 80's was injured by a
reversing bus as she waited to climb on. It is reported she slipped
and was trapped under the wheels and required to be freed and
airlifted to hospital.
21st July 2010.
|
England
Handbrake error led to man's death
An 85-year old farmer died when he was struck by a lorry which had
rolled down a hill at a farm in Barwick-in-Elmet, Yorkshire, in April
last year.
An inquest coroner reported a verdict of accidental death after it
could not be determined who had been responsible for the braking of
the lorry.
21st July 2010.
|
England
Hand was severed
Surgeons managed to reattach the hand of a worker which was ripped off
as he worked at a lathe in June last year at his employers, Condor
Solutions of Peterlee. He was polishing a rotating metal shaft on a
lathe using emery cloth when his right gloved hand came into contact
with the lathe’s rotating shaft and cutting tool, at which point his
hand was ripped off.
Conder admitted breaching r.11(1)(a) of the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £15,000 plus £2,759 costs.
20th July 2010.
|
England
Danger with pneumatic energy
A woman working at a foil food carton press got help from a colleague
when it jammed. Her colleague opened the protective guards stopping
the machine automatically, but the pneumatic system retained stored
energy, causing part of the machine to snap upwards and injure the
female worker’s hand, removing 3 fingers. A separate manual process
would have been needed to ensure the pneumatic energy had been
dissipated before trying to get the blockage out of the machine.
I2R Packaging Solutions of Telford was fined £10,000 plus £5,677
costs.
An HSE official explained: “Adequate safety mechanisms, to discharge
the pneumatic energy automatically rather than manually, could have
prevented this incident from occurring. While the machine had some
protective guards and safety mechanisms in place, it seems they were
not adequate to prevent danger to operatives during processes such as
clearing blockages. This was an incident waiting to happen.”
20th July 2010.
|
Scotland
Road painters injured
A car struck 2 workmen and failed to stop as they were painting lines
on the A92 near Ladybank, Fife, in the early hours of Friday.
One of
the men was released from hospital but the other is listed in critical
condition, one account
states they are employed by Ringway.
19th July 2010.
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England
Power gate incident
A 7-year old boy was injured when he
became trapped in power gates in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, on
Friday evening. He received treatment for leg injuries in hospital.
19th July 2010.
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England
Electrocution incident in
Norfolk
It is reported that a man has died following an incident in which a
vehicle contacted overhead power cables in Terrington St Clement
yesterday morning.
16th July 2010.
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England
Lift shaft fall at Beds mill
A worker working on a lift system at the premises of Bowmans in
Ickleford has sustained head injuries in a fall down the shaft. He was
airlifted to hospital in Cambridge.
16th July 2010.
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Wales
Ferry investigation
The Marine Accident and Investigation Branch has been notified of the
circumstances of the accident on board the Fastnet Line's MV Julia in
which a crew member was crushed by a hydraulic door around midnight on
Monday as it sailed between Swansea and Cork.
The injured man was airlifted to hospital with a suspected broken
pelvis. 15th July
2010.
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England
Farmer died months after accident
An inquest in Barrow into the death of a farmer in his 50's who was
struck and injured by a falling hay bale in September 2007 has
determined that he died accidentally. He sustained head injuries and
died around 11 months later of infection.
The deceased, along with colleagues, had been unloading bales from a
vehicle on the highway between Torero and Broughton prior to moving
them in to the farm when one of three bales fell from the lorry and
struck him. 15th
July 2010.
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England
Industrial accident at Lancs
power station
It is reported that an employee of EDF Energy died last Friday evening
following a fall from height accident at its Heysham 1 reactor site.
14th July 2010.
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England
Injured pedestrian's appeal
upheld
The Court of Appeal has overturned a previous judgement and ruled that
Newham Council failed to meet a duty owed to a pedestrian injured in a
motor vehicle accident by failing to cut back bushes in the central
reservation of Stretford High Street which obscured her view.
Newham Council must compensate her for 25% of her losses even though
she crossed against the lights and was substantially at fault for the
accident.
The Court held that the duty was still owed despite her negligence,
the duty being owed to all road users, even if negligent.
14th July 2010.
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England
Incident at Water Park
A 15 year old girl who was critically ill after being retrieved from a lake
at the Cotswold Water Park in Ashton Keynes, Gloucestershire, on
Sunday has since died. 14th July 2010.
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England
Cyclist injured by hedge cutter
A passing cyclist has now lost his foot which had to be amputated
following an incident in which he was injured by the blades of a
tractor-driven hedge cutter.
He appears to have been injured in a fall from his cycle on Tuesday
afternoon as the employees of a Council contractor were operating
adjacent to the B4579 in Oswestry, coming into contact with the
machinery. 13th July 2010.
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Scotland
Caravan park incident
It is reported that a man
sustained serious leg injuries after becoming trapped under a
residential caravan in Kirkcudbright on Thursday afternoon.
He was freed by emergency services and airlifted to hospital from the
site near Gatehouse of Fleet.
12th July 2010.
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England
HPA fined for E.coli lapse
Several employees of the Health
Protection Agency were exposed to the risk of infection of E.coli O157 in an incident in October 2007 as they worked at the
Centre for Infections in Colindale. An amount of the bacteria spilled
onto the floor of the site waste discard facility as it was being
disposed of.
Investigation disclosed that the HPA had failed to assess the risks
involved in the transfer and disposal process of the Hazard Group 3
waste. It had not properly trained employees involved in this work to
ensure it was carried out in accordance with standard operating
procedures, and some of the equipment was identified as
defective 18 months prior but no action was taken to rectify this.
HPA was fined £25,000 plus £20,166
costs. 12th July
2010.
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England
Inflatable incident injured students
It has emerged that 3 students were injured last Friday afternoon when
a 10-metre high inflatable slide escaped its moorings and overturned
at Selby College in Yorkshire. One account stated that one student was
rendered unconscious but all 3 were later released from hospital with
only minor injuries.
9th July 2010.
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England
No risk assessment before fall from
roof
During October 2006, an 18-year old
apprentice was removing the ridge from a metal sheet roof when a sheet
he was standing on buckled, causing him to fall to the ground below.
The employee of Randell and Janes Roofing Specialists Ltd of Cwmann,
near Lampeter, had no training in using roof ladders, his supervisor
had no health and safety training and they worked with no specific
risk assessment.
The employer was fined £2,000 plus £1,500 costs.
9th July 2010.
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Scotland
Firefighter injured
A Lothian and Borders firefighter is in a stable condition in hospital
following the collapse of part of the burning greenkeeper's shed
at Eyemouth's Gunsgreen Hill golf club yesterday morning.
His injuries are not reported as life
threatening. 8th
July 2010.
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England
Accidental death of infant girl
A Loughborough inquest jury has
returned a verdict of accidental death after considering evidence
about the death of a 15-month old girl in January this year following
an accident at racing stables in Leicestershire.
The infant slipped from her father's grasp when he was lifting her
down from his tractor cab. She fell, striking her head on a step and
died later in hospital.
8th July 2010.
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Scotland
Farm worker dies in accident
A farm worker in his 70's has died in an accident on a farm near
Pitlowie in Perthshire.
The incident occurred on Monday evening, the deceased had to be
released by emergency services after his tractor apparently overturned
on an incline. 7th July 2010.
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England
Diver dead
A diver has died after getting into
difficulties off Portland Bill, Dorset. One account states he surfaced from a
depth of 60 metres in an uncontrolled manner. He was airlifted to
hospital but was declared dead. 7th July 2010.
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England
Farm fined over telehandler misuse
At Bridlington Magistrates' Court farm company R J Baker & Co
Ltd has been fined £3K plus £3K costs over an accident at Bainton
Heights Farm in May 2008 in which a
worker fell more than 3 metres and sustained fractures, the accident involved the misuse of a telehandler and allowing work from an unsafe grain bucket.
The worker had been raised in the bucket attached to a telehandler but
a guardrail at the front was effectively useless. He was clearing
guttering but fell through the open space when the bucket was
inadvertently tilted by its operator. The company pleaded guilty to
breaching r.6(3) of the Work at Height Regs 2005.
6th July 2010.
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Northern Ireland
Recycling plant accident
A fatal accident investigation is ongoing at Emerald Isle Recycling in
Randalstown, Antrim, where a worker died on Friday when a mobile
conveyor belt fell on him at the plastic recycling unit.
6th July 2010.
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England
Transport death in Midlands
A man in his 40's died following an industrial accident on Thursday at
premises at Coombswood Business Park in Halesowen, Worcestershire.
Accounts state that he was trapped and crushed between a forklift
truck and an HGV. 5th July 2010.
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England
Farmer injured
A farmer working with a tractor required to be airlifted to hospital
after he suffered a severe arm injury on Wednesday. The man, in his
50's, was working at the farm near Ulpha, north of Broughton in
Furness, Lancs. 5th July 2010.
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England
Teenager injured by rotovator
A 17 year-old worker had to be freed by emergency services after his
leg was trapped by a rotovator he was using last Friday on a Persimmon
Homes development at East the Water in Devon.
He was airlifted to
hospital where surgeons operated to save his leg.
2nd July 2010.
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England
Laser pen assault on driver
A bus driver has required hospital treatment after a laser pen was
directed at his eyes as he drove in North Shields.
He complained of
blurred vision after the incident on Saturday evening.
2nd July 2010.
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England
Fatal industrial accidents in
Lincolnshire and Northants
A 24-year old man has died in a
fire and explosion on Tuesday at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in
Killinghome, Lincs. Two workers were also treated for minor injuries.
A worker died following an incident on the premises of Saica Pack in
Thrapston, Northamptonshire, last Wednesday, 23rd June. He was
employed there by a contractor. 1st July 2010.
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England
Girl dies after Manchester power
gate accident
A 6-year old girl has been fatally injured in an accident on Monday
evening involving powered gates at the entrance to residential
property near Maine Road, Moss Side, Manchester. 1st July 2010.
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