Spain
Workers killed dismantling
Rolling Stones set
Two workers, a 38-year old Spaniard and a 44-year old Dutchman, have
died in a 10-metre fall while dismantling the stage and scaffolding
for the Rolling Stones concert in Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium,
it is speculated that the workers may have removed a critical section
of the structure in error. 30th June
2007.
|
Switzerland
Czech HGV driver fails breath
test
A 50-year old Czech lorry driver gave a 2.18 promille blood alcohol
reading yesterday afternoon after being stopped by police on the
Gotthard pass near the Seelisberg tunnel, he had allegedly knocked
down a speed signal which subsequently damaged other traffic using the
A2.
29th June
2007.
|
USA
Tractor fatality in
Pennsylvanian orchard
A Pennsylvanian farm worker has died in a tractor accident while
spraying fruit trees at Boyer Nurseries and Orchards in Biglerville, 5
miles north of Gettysburg, he was run over by the tractor,
investigation is ongoing into how he came to alight or fall from it.
28th June
2007.
|
|
Pakistan
Fears for fishermen in Arabian
Sea cyclone
Fishing cooperatives in Karachi are expressing fears for the safety of
15 fishing boats unaccounted for as cyclone Yemyin battered the Sindh
and Baluchistan coasts after forming in the Arabian Sea 150 miles
south of Karachi. Sea surges of 7-8 metres were expected along the
Baluchistan coast where hundreds of people are reported missing.
27th June
2007.
|
|
France
Disney ride death attributed to
natural causes
The death of a 13-year old Spanish schoolgirl on Monday on the
RockNRoller Coaster ride at Disneyland Paris has been attributed to
natural causes following Tuesday's autopsy.
Investigation found neither technical nor human malfunction and the
ride was scheduled to reopen later in the day.
Last month a young Macedonian girl experienced pinching of a nerve in
the nape of her neck and transient leg paralysis for several hours
after a trip on the Space Mountain ride. 27th June
2007.
|
Cambodia
Plane crashes in jungle
Search and rescue teams were last night at the site of the crashed
AN-24 aircraft of PMT Air which came down in jungle area near the
coastal town of Kampot, 80 miles southwest of Phnom Penh, contact with
the aircraft was lost 5 minutes prior to its arrival at Sihanoukville
from Siem Reap.
It is believed that it carried a crew of 5 Cambodians and 1 Russian,
with 13 South Korean and 3 Czech national passengers, search was
focussed on Kom Chhay mountain. This air link only reopened in January
this year, the accident represents the worst Cambodian aviation
incident since 65 people died in a crash a decade ago. 26th June
2007.
|
Switzerland
Cement mixer detaches from lorry
Three occupants of a van were injured yesterday when a cement mixer
detached from the rear of a lorry in transit on the Rickenbach-Mullwil
road in the Lucerne canton, fire crews had to cut the victims free
from the van's collapsed cabin, all have been hospitalised, one is in
serious condition. The mixer was not of a fixed type, and could be
detached through an aperture. 26th June
2007.
|
Romania
Carpathian bear kills American
tourist
A female Brown Bear killed an American tourist in a trekking party at
the weekend in Romania's south Carpathian mountains, the incident
occurred near the Caraiman hut in the Bucegi mountain range, the party
is believed to have comprised of 3 Americans, 2 Israelis and a
Romanian guide.
Some 5k Brown Bears inhabit Romania's mountains, attacks on humans are
being noted with growing frequency. 25th June
2007.
|
China
Shanghai river collision leaves
23 tourists dead
The collision of a freight ship and the steamer Shikumen on the
Huangpu river in Shanghai has left at least 23 tourists dead and many
others injured, the collision was head-on in a busy stretch of
waterway plied by tourists boats, tugs and floating restaurants.
25th June 2007.
|
Spain
Youth killed by collapsing
basketball frame
A 16-year old visiting Swedish boy was killed yesterday when a
basketball frame fell on him while playing at Las Maravillas college
in Arroyo de la Miel, a district of Benalmadena.
23rd June 2007.
|
USA
Worker killed in elevator shaft
fall
A fatal accident during the installation of an elevator in Enderlin
City Hall, 45 miles southwest of Fargo, North Dakota, claimed the life
of a worker of CS DuBois Construction Inc of Fargo, initial
investigation suggests that a guard rail he stood on failed to support
his weight as he stepped from a ladder to access scaffolding, causing
him to fall 7 metres into the shaft.
22nd June 2007.
|
Ireland
HSA pressed for military truck
legislation
The Irish PDFORRA (Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative
Association) wants the HSA (Health and Safety Authority) to pass
safety legislation for army vehicles in the wake of an accident this
week in Longford which saw 14 soldiers hospitalised following
collision with another vehicle on the Cavan-Granard road as they were
returning to their Cavan base from an Athlone firing range.
The Gardai and the Defence forces are already investigating the
accident, the Association is pressing for the introduction of seat
belts in trucks and other safety measures, since 2005 the Army has
restricted the travel of soldiers in trucks except for training and
operational activities. 22nd June 2007.
|
USA
9 Carolina firemen killed
fighting warehouse blaze
The collapse of the burning roof of the furniture warehouse, Super
Sofas, in Charleston, claimed the life of 9 South Carolina
firefighters on Monday night, the Charleston Fire Department has a
complement of 237 firefighters. Prior to the collapse, the fire crews
had rescued 2 employees, the incident represents the highest loss of
American firefighter life since the 340 deaths in New York on
September 11th. 20th June 2007.
|
India
Wall falls on workers at cotton
mill
A female labourer died and 6 males were injured when a wall collapsed
at a cotton mill in Thammampatti, near Salem, 200 miles southwest of
Madras, earth excavations in connection with the construction of a new
unit were taking place and are believed to have led to the
instability, 2 of the injured are in serious condition. 19th
June 2007.
|
Malawi
Cessna crash kills 5 Brits and
Canadian pilot
The crash of a Cessna 2006 light aircraft on a sight-seeing flight at
the weekend in northern Malawi left 5 British tourists and the
Canadian pilot dead, local villagers found the debris in a ravine,
recovery teams from Lilongwe, from where the flight departed, were on
site yesterday. 18th
June 2007.
|
Hungary
Bus hits Polish pilgrims
One person died and 28 were injured in Hungary on Saturday morning
when a bus struck a party of Polish pilgrims from Medjugorje in
Bosnia-Herzegovina. 18th
June 2007.
|
Italy
Fatal accident highlights need
for Sardinian rail upgrade
Yesterday's rail accident just beyond Bortigali in Sardinia in which 3
people died highlights the need for upgrading of the Nuoro-Macomer
stretch of network, which has seen less of the development undertaken
on the Cagliari, Porto Torres and Olbia connections( brought up to
Italian national network standards) since its opening in 1889. A goods
train and a regional commuter train collided between Bortigali and
Biron, leaving 3 dead, including a driver (45), an Italian commuter
(50) and a female Swiss tourist (28) travelling on a British passport,
4 injured passengers are being treated in Ghilarza Hospital.
16th June 2007.
|
China
Authorities tackle scandal of
slave labour
Thousands of Chinese police have been tackling the issue of slave
labour in local coalmines and brick works in the central provinces of
Shanxi and Henan where adults, and at least 1,000 children, some
younger than 8, have been working in conditions akin to slavery,
lodged in premises behind wire and grilled windows. Thus far around
450 people have been freed, many in emaciated and beaten condition, 1
proprietor arrested has allegedly admitted to beating a victim with a
shovel on account of underperformance. It is further alleged that a
brick work owner in Shanxi is the son of a leading Communist Party
member. 16th June 2007.
|
Nigeria
Accident kills 28 top policemen
Twenty eight members of Nigeria's Mobile Police Corps were killed
yesterday after their bus collided with a lorry on a country road in
Benue state, the lorry's 5 occupants also died in the accident, the
police officers from one of Nigeria's elite groups were returning from
a work assignment in Bayelsa state.
15th June 2007
|
Spain
Turkish HGV driver too drunk for
breath test
Police in northeast Spain found a Turkish lorry driver to be so drunk
he slipped into an alcoholic coma before he could take a breathalyser
test. He had pulled out from an overnight rest area just south of the
French border, and had mounted the pavement before joining the N-11
highway. Police eventually caught up with him in La Jonquera, but he
lost consciousness and fell to the ground and was transferred
immediately to Figueras Hospital. He has been charged with alleged
reckless driving and allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
14th June 2007.
|
France
Fire at sugar refinery
Fire early yesterday afternoon partially damaged a Tereos sugar
refinery at Lillers, 30 miles south of Dunkirk, no injuries have been
reported, the cause of the incident has yet to be established.
14th June 2007.
|
Philippines
Retail assistant killed by
exploding grenade
A teenage shop assistant was killed in the accidental explosion of
ordnance in a second-hand shop in Quezon, Manila, the victim had come
across a rocket-propelled grenade and had unwittingly applied blunt
force to the ordnance, causing it to explode, 5 others in the shop
were injured. 13th June 2007.
|
New Zealand
Timber outlet conveyor belt
fatality
A conveyor belt accident has claimed the life of a 42-year old worker
at the Pinepac retail timber outlet in Whenuapai, Waitakere, north
Auckland, it is speculated that the victim may have attempted to clear
a line blockage and became caught and dragged down under grating for
through processing. 13th June 2007.
|
Austria
Worker survives 10-metre fall
A 47-year old Polish construction worker survived a 10-metre fall
yesterday at a building site on Hartacker Street in the Dobling
district of Vienna, the accident occurred at 1pm, the victim was
transferred to Vienna's general hospital, Wiener Allgemeine
Krankenhaus (AKA), where his condition remains unknown.
12th June 2007.
|
Bosnia-Herzegovina
US pilgrims in coach crash
18 Americans on pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, were
hospitalised with a range of fractures yesterday after their bus was
in a collision with a lorry in Tracin, 25 miles south of Sarajevo.
12th June 2007.
|
Kenya
Wall collapse kills 14 in
Nairobi
The collapse of a boundary wall in a slum area of Nairobi has now
killed 14 residents, further bodies were recovered on Sunday at the
site where the 2.5m-high wall fell on temporary accommodation, the
wall was erected in 1988 by Pansiba Ltd. 11th
June 2007.
|
USA
Worker killed in scaffold fall
in Indianapolis
A malfunctioning scaffold at the site of Indiana's largest mall, the
Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis, saw 2 workers fall 10 metres,
leaving 1 dead and the other critically injured. The scaffold was
suspended on an outer wall and it is believed that a support pin had
become loose and the 4 men on the structure may have been attempting
to repair it when a cable snapped. 11th June
2007
|
Belgium
Chlorine gas leak at paint plant
A leakage of chlorine gas yesterday hospitalised 22 workers at the
Arlo paint factory in Rotem, 70 miles east of Brussels, the incident
appears to have been caused after hydrochloric acid and bleach were
mixed in a container, the Medische Interventieplan Limburg was
activated as all 185 staff were evacuated, 6 of the injured were
described as in serious condition but none life-threatening.
9th June 2007.
|
Italy
Car ferry fire in Tyrrhenian Sea
Investigators are studying the cause of a fire yesterday on the car
ferry, Flash, which had just sailed from Capri for Ischia, the ship
managed to return to Capri's Marina Grande, the incident saw 4 of the
130 passengers and 1 crew member treated for smoke inhalation.
Additional concern was expressed that its mooring was in close
proximity to a petrol pump. 8th June 2007.
|
France
Legionnaires' disease in Paris
hospital
L'Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris has indicated that 3 cases of
legionnaires' disease have occurred since January at the Georges
Pompidou European Hospital (HEGP), 2 men of 77 and 78 and a female of
86, one of the males has died. 7th June 2007.
|
Russia
Watchdog seeks powers to control
risky mines
On Wednesday Russian technical and nuclear watchdog Rostekhnadzar
applied to the state Duma for powers equal to courts to allow it to
suspend mining operations anywhere palpable risk was perceived, this
would involve amendments to the state Code on Administrative
Violations. 7th June 2007.
|
China
Managers arrested after mine
explosion
Three managers and a supervisor of the Niheling coal mine in Shanxi's
Jingle County have been arrested following a gas explosion there which
left 13 miners dead, the mine was operating with a legal license.
6th June 2007.
|
South Africa
Rock fall kills gold miner
A gold miner engaged in drilling has been killed in a rock fall while
working 2,600 metres underground at level 40 of No 1 shaft in Gold
Fields Driefontein mine near Carletonville; earlier this week mud
ingress killed 3 miners down the Parldekrall shaft at the Rustenburg
mine of Anglo Platinum. 6th June 2007.
|
Indonesia
Dragon kills 9-year old boy
The death of a 9-year old boy by a Komodo dragon in the Komodo
National Park, 1,900 miles east of Jakarta, is reckoned to be the
first such fatality in a third of a century.
The boy had gone into bushes for the toilet when the attack occurred,
a relative repairing fishing nets in a nearby village tried to fend
off the 3-metre long giant lizard. The island of Komodo is home to
some 4K lizards which can weigh up to 25 stone.
5th June 2007.
|
Canada
Steel beam pulls worker down
An Ontario construction worker is recovering from a range of lower
limb fractures sustained in an 8-metre fall at the site of the new
Kingston Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre, he was secured to a
steel beam which fell and dragged him off the beam on which he was
standing, it is alleged that a crane was involved in the incident.
5th June 2007
|
Zambia
Stadium crush leaves 12 dead
Crushing at the end of the weekend African Nations Cup football match
between Zambia and Congo-Brazzaville in Chililabombwe, 280 miles north
of Lusaka, left 12 spectators dead and dozens of others injured. The
Zambian authorities had ruled the national stadium in Lusaka unfit to
host such a match, thus the venue was switched to the northern copper
mining town close to the Democratic Rep of Congo border, many of
the injured have been treated in the Konkola mining hospital.
4th June 2007.
|
|
Germany
Driver dies in fall from
Eurocity engine cab
Investigators are studying the circumstances of the death of a train
driver who fell from the engine cabin of a Eurocity express yesterday
travelling from Budapest to Berlin.
The victim apparently fell from the train at a speed of 75mph, his
body was found 200m from Lichterfelde-Sud station by the tracks.
Investigators found the cabin door open and a door safety lock switch
disengaged. Normally a driver would be alerted to this switch
activation, failure to respond within 30 seconds results in automatic
braking. This train braked automatically in this fashion some 600m
beyond the driver's fall, no other injuries were reported.
2nd June 2007.
|
|
USA
Hydraulic malfunction kills
Michigan lorry driver
A Michigan lorry driver was killed when a hydraulic malfunction
occurred in a colleague's lorry, causing it to lose its load of gravel
and partially collapse on to the cabin of the victim's lorry, the
accident occurred close to the Eastwood Town Centre in Lansing.
1st June 2007.
|
|
Yemen
Landslide leads to munitions
dump explosion
Heavy rains produced landslide conditions yesterday which caused the
explosion of an ammunition dump at the base of Mt Noqom, southeast of
the capital, Saana. Earlier this week 15 people died and 35 were
injured when shelling struck a petrol station in Souq al-Lail, in the
northern province of Saada where the Zaidi Shiite minority
predominates. It appears that the Yemeni army was targeting a wider
local area, the Zaidi 3-year uprising in Sunni-predominant Yemen
resumed in January. 1st June 2007.
|
|
Germany
Fires in separate power plants
Investigators in Schleswig-Holstein in north Germany are trying to
establish the cause of fires which affected the power stations at
Brunsbuttel and Krummel in the last 48 hours.
The fire in Brunsbuttel is believed to have been caused when an
electrical fault condition led to smouldering and an oil leakage
ignited. The fire at Krummel in Geesthacht is being linked to a
possible fault in the major transformer through which coolant ignited,
conditions were too hot on Friday to establish this with any
certainty. 30th June
2007.
|
France
Mountain tragedy
Five members of a climbing party died on the ascent of the 3,400-metre
Cime du Vallon in the Ecrins massif of the French Haute-Alpes when 1
of the party apparently slipped and lost his balance, dragging the
remainder of the roped party downwards, conditions were relatively
good at the time for what is regarded as a straightforward climb. 29th June
2007.
|
Malta
Fireworks factory explosion
An explosion occurred on Wednesday evening at the St Helen's fireworks
factory in the village of Gharghur, in the Madliena area of Malta, at
least 1 worker was hospitalised, his condition remains unknown. 28th
June 2007.
UPDATE. One worker's body has now been recovered from the debris, 5
are still missing. 29th June 2007.
|
Sweden
Navy rescues stricken yacht crew
in Baltic storm
The Swedish Navy came to the rescue of the 7-man crew of a Russian
catamaran in serious difficulties yesterday in a storm in the Baltic
Sea 20 miles off Ystad, the craft's engine had failed as winds were
gusting at 50mph and 8-metre high waves prevailed. 28th June
2007.
|
|
Chile
Andean bus passengers rescued at
snowy mountain pass
Fifty passengers on an Ormeno international bus which left Buenos
Aires for Lima on Sunday have been rescued in a joint operation after
their bus became trapped in snow in north Chile near San Pedro de
Atacama after negotiating the Jama pass at Jujuy. The 53rd squadron of
the Argentine Gendarmeria Nacional report having virtually completed
the rescue of the passengers, mostly Peruvian, but also including a
South African, Ecuadorian and Venezuelan, as well as a couple of
stranded lorry drivers. 27th June
2007.
|
|
Cayman Islands
Worker's fingers reattached
Three fingers of a Cayman Islands joiner have been successfully
reattached by surgeons in Miami following an accident using a table
saw at premises on Boilers Road near George Town's waterfront area. 27th June
2007.
|
Iran
Drama at construction site
Rescuers successfully freed 13 construction workers yesterday trapped
in a tunnel under a collapsed section of the new Teheran-Tabriz
motorway project, rescuers maintained constant contact with the
trapped workers. 26th June
2007.
|
Iceland
Visitor gets too close to geyser
A Polish visitor was left with 2nd degree burns to his feet after
getting too close to the Strokkur geyser in southern Iceland, although
a park ranger's remit includes this area his duties focus also on the
Gullfoss waterfall, no warden is on site at Strokkur nor are there any
emergency contact facilities. 26th June
2007.
|
Yemen
Unstable guard kills oil worker
A Yemeni security guard described as psychologically unstable killed a
foreign national oil worker who had just arrived at the weekend at the
Occidental Petroleum Corporation airstrip in Shabwa province, 300
miles south of Saana, 2 British workers and an American were believed
to have been injured in the incident. 25th June
2007.
|
USA
Whiplash cable accident severs
girl's feet on amusement ride
A 13-year old girl's feet were severed in an accident on Thursday
while riding on the Superman Tower of Power ride at the Six Flags
Amusement Park in Louisville, Kentucky, initial investigation suggests
a frayed cable snapped and recoiled against her legs. Such fixed-ride
parks are not regulated by federal government, local regulations vary
from state to state. 23rd June 2007.
|
Belgium
Workers find WW1 gas bombs on
refuse site
During work at a refuse depot yesterday at no 80 rue Capelle in the
northwest Belgian village of Ten-Brielen, Comines-Warneton, workers
came across a number of gas bombs believed to date from World War 1,
specialists have been called in and the security zone established will
remain in place through the weekend.
22nd June 2007.
|
Japan
Falling sign clouts woman
A woman passer-by was left with serious head injuries this week when a 5m-wide
advertising board fell 3m and clouted her on the head as she was
entering the Italian Tomato restaurant of the Il Vigore chain on Ome
Kaido near the Shinjuki railway station in Tokyo.
22nd June 2007.
|
USA
Grounds worker dies under
overturned tractor
A man in his 60's, an employee of Farmingdale State College, Suffolk
County, New York, died on Tuesday when his tractor ran out of control
down a 20m grassed embankment. He was thrown from its seat and crushed
when it fell on top of him.
The tractor was towing a mower when it somehow failed to negotiate a
bend at the top of the embankment, perhaps causing the earth to give
way beneath it. 21st
June 2007.
|
Japan
Boiler explosion kills spa
workers
Three female employees of the Shiespa spa in Tokyo's affluent
Shibuya-ku district were killed yesterday when a boiler exploded in
the hot-spring section of the annexe at the premises, the victims were
in a staff locker room on the first floor above the annexe, 2 other
women and a passer-by were injured in the accident.
20th June 2007.
|
USA
Vehicle kills worker at Atlanta
airport
Investigation is ongoing into a fatal crush accident at
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta, in which a
construction worker was apparently run over by a vehicle where the new
international terminal is being built. 19th
June 2007.
|
France
Crush accident kills roadside
recovery mechanic
A roadside recovery mechanic was killed yesterday when a car he was
repairing at a rest area on the A4 motorway near Brumath, 12 miles
north of Strasbourg, fell on him, inflicting fatal crush injuries.
18th
June 2007.
|
Guyana
Motorised canoes crash
The collision of 2 motorised canoes on the Oyapock river on the
Guyana-Brazil border left 1 European tourist dead and 3 others badly
injured at the weekend. 18th
June 2007.
|
The Netherlands
Handicapped woman lay dead for
weeks
Dutch authorities are investigating how a handicapped woman lay dead
in her home for as long as 3 weeks in Amsterdam's Anton Waldorpstraat.
16th June 2007.
|
Germany
Drunks force plane to abort
take-off
A German pilot aborted his take-off from Nuremburg for Mallorca on
Thursday when staff could not control a party of inebriated males aged
22-50, 13 people were ejected and local police are talking of possible
fines of £25K and payment to the airline, the flight departed after a
2-hour delay. 16th June 2007.
|
United Arab Emirates
Scaffold collapse kills 2
workers
The collapse of a scaffolding structure at the Al Quoz, Dubai,
construction site has led to the deaths of 2 workers of Ginco
Contracting Company, 26 others were injured when the structure failed
at 7th storey level.
15th June 2007.
|
Sweden
Unsafe carriage of Polish fruit
harvesters
Swedish police are considering bringing charges of gross negligence
against a farmer and a lorry driver following the discovery of 78
Polish fruit harvesters travelling in the rear of a lorry on the
motorway near Kalmar on the southeast coast, the group was being
transported between strawberry fields in southeast Sweden.
14th June 2007.
|
Switzerland
Worker falls into excavation
Investigators arrived on site yesterday at Pfeffingen, Basle, where a
construction worker fell 3.5 metres into an excavation at a site on
Grubelackersweg around midday, his condition in hospital remains
unknown. 13th June 2007.
|
China
Officials jailed over botched
bridge contract management
Two municipal officials from Bujia have received jails terms of 18 and
12 months over incompetence in managing a bridge contract in which the
structure collapsed during construction, leaving 12 persons injured.
Investigation established that the officials, responsible for road
management and supervision, had failed to inspect the certificates of
a purblind contractor who was awarded the contract, the latter then
altered his project plans without seeking subsequent professional
approval. 12th June 2007.
|
USA
Teen's arm amputated after lorry
overturns
Surgeons required to amputate the arm of the 17-year old passenger of
a cement lorry which overturned on the Palmetto Expressway in Hialeah,
northwest of Miami, the victim was pinned against a road barrier. The
lorry had no passenger accomodation in terms of seating or seat belt,
the teenager was seated on a plastic garden chair.
11th June 2007.
|
Indonesia
Scaffold collapse kills 2
workers at troubled site
The collapse of a scaffold erected by PT Ascot at the One Pacific
Place building site in south Jakarta saw 2 workers killed and 2
injured. In a separate incident a crane sling broke and workers had to
break windows to escape from a suspended cabin. At the end of May a
security guard was killed when a crane collapsed at the same location.
11th June 2007.
|
Taiwan
Fall kills worker dismantling
sodden canvas
A worker fell to his death yesterday from the 10th storey of a
building near the main railway station in Taipei City during attempts
to dismantle a large canvas advertising spread, it is speculated that
recent adverse weather had caused the canvas to become very sodden.
9th June 2007
|
Finland
Fire closes Finnish reactor
Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) reported that it had to close
reactor Olkiluolo 2, one of Finland's 4 nuclear reactors, following a
fire yesterday attributed to turbine bearing problems, in-house fire
crews dealt with the incident.
8th June 2007.
|
USA
Electrocution at BP texas
refinery
A contract worker of AMEX Electrical Services was electrocuted this
week doing maintainance work on an idled residual hydrotreater at the
BP(L) refinery in Texas City. 7th June 2007.
|
Canada
Transport fatality in loading
bay
The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating a transport accident
at the premises of Southwood Graphics in Mississauga, west of Toronto,
in which a 48-year old worker was killed by a reversing vehicle in a
loading bay area. 6th June 2007.
|
Sweden
Celebrating students tumble off
floats
In the Scandinavian tradition of celebrating high school graduation
many students took to the streets of Stockholm yesterday in floats,
however there were 2 instances of guard rails failing and tumbling
students being injured, 7 fell in the Ostermalm district and 8 in
Sankt Eriksgatan, at least 1 student sustained a fractured limb.
6th June 2007.
|
Sierra Leone
Shuttle helicopter crash claims
24 lives
As many as 24 people are feared dead in the crash of an Mi-8
helicopter of Paramount Airlines transporting Togolese sporting
officials between Freetown and Lunghi international airport in Sierra
Leone, the Russian pilot is believed to have survived the accident,
the shuttle flight usually takes around 7 minutes.
5th June 2007.
|
USA
Machinery fatality in Chicago
plastics plant
A fatal accident occurred yesterday morning at the R Popernik & Co
plastics plant on West 59th Street in southwest Chicago, it is
believed that a worker became trapped in machinery.
5th June 2007.
|
Ukraine
Roof collapse kills 4 miners
A roof collapse yesterday at the Yubileinaya mine in Krivoi Rog, north
of Odessa in southern Ukraine, has killed 4 miners and left 1 other
seriously injured during the dismantling of a drilling rig at a depth
of 1,100 metres, the mine is located in one of the world's richest
iron-mining regions. 4th June 2007.
|
Malta
Scalding injuries at power plant
The explosion of a valve in a boiler feed pump during maintenance work
left 7 workers injured at the Enemalta power plant near Grand Harbour
in Marsa, south Malta, boiling water issued from the boiler, 1 worker
is in a burns unit, 2 others were in intensive care in St Luke's
Hospital. 2nd June 2007.
|
|
France
Fire in prison workshop
An accidental fire in a workshop at the Saint-Quentin-Fallavier prison
in the Isere region left 2 firemen and a warder requiring treatment
for smoke inhalation, an electrical malfunction caused the fire.
1st June 2007.
|
|
USA
Worker killed in fall from
gantry
A Californian subcontract worker of Jenson Mechanical died this week
in a 25m fall from an internal gantry while undertaking maintenance
work on a rock conveyor belt at the National Gypsum Company plant on
Canal Boulevard, Richmond. 1st June 2007.
|
|
Angola
TAAG aircraft crashes in
northern Angola
Six people died when a Boeing 737 of Angola Airlines (TAAG) with 78
people on board crashed yesterday at M'Banza Congo, 190 miles north of
Luanda, it is believed to have encountered difficulties on landing and
overshot the runway, hitting a house.
The EU has withdrawn landing facilities for TAAG in Europe on safety
grounds. 29th June
2007.
|
USA
Steam burn incident at Maryland
works
The Mine Safety and Health Administration is studying the
circumstances of a burns accident at St Lawrence Cement in Hagerstown,
northwest Maryland, where a 58-year old maintenance worker sustained
critical burns when steam issued while he was servicing equipment. 28th June
2007.
|
Germany
Mountaineer survives fall and 48
hours in Zugspitz crevasse
The Zugspitz Mountain Rescue Service reports the safe rescue of a
34-year old Bavarian mountaineer who was a discovered 2 days after
falling 20 metres into a glacier crevasse, the man from Landsberg am
Lech was suffering from hypothermia but otherwise uninjured. 28th June
2007.
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USA
Michigan utility worker fatally
crushed
An employee of Michigan utility, Consumers Energy, was involved in a
fatal crush accident on Tuesday afternoon in Caledonia, 12 miles
southeast of Grand Rapids, the crew were apparently engaged in
unloading an off-road vehicle to reach inaccessible power lines when
the accident occurred near the Davenport University campus. 27th June
2007.
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USA
Refuse compacter kills worker
The Washington Department of Labour and Industries is investigating a
fatal accident on Monday which claimed the life of an employee of
Dick's Hamburgers in Spokane where the victim was killed in an
accident involving a waste compacter at the rear of the East 3rd
Avenue premises. 27th June
2007.
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France
Gas cylinder kills resident
An exploding gas cylinder destroyed an apartment in the village of
Dompierre-Becqincourt, 23 miles east of Amiens, northwest France, an
81-year old woman was killed and her 80-year old husband is in
critical condition in hospital. 26th June
2007.
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Russia
Helicopter pilot's body found
off Ozerki
The body of a missing helicopter pilot has been found in the Gulf Of
Finland, an AS-355 craft of Balt Avia airlines crashed near the coast
at the weekend, other passengers were treated for injuries. 26th June
2007.
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Austria
Wall collapse during demolition
injures worker
A 34-year old demolition worker sustained serious injuries when a 2m²
section of wall fell on him on Saturday during demolition work at an
empty warehouse in Schwertberg, Perg, 15 miles east of Linz.
25th June 2007.
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Japan
Fire kills octogenarian farming
couple
An 82-year old rice farmer and his 78-year old wife died in a fire at
the weekend while burning off dead grass on their rice plantation in
Oshu, Iwate, 300 miles north of Tokyo.
25th June 2007.
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USA
Worker injures legs in combine
harvester
A 23-year old harvester sustained leg injuries this week during pea
harvesting for Lakeside Foods plant in Plainview in a combine
harvester in a field 2 miles north of Elgin, northeast of Rochester,
Minnesota, the accident occurred in the early hours of the morning.
22nd June 2007.
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India
15-year old surgeon's son
performs caesarean
An Indian surgeon and his 15-year old son face possible criminal
charges and being struck from the medical register after the 15-year
old was allegedly allowed to perform a caesarean operation in Tamil Nadu, the
baby was born alive. 22nd June 2007.
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New Zealand
Rail worker killed by
train
A man working for the New Zealand rail infrastructure company Ontrack
has been killed when a passing train struck a crane being used to move
rails near Huntly in Waikato.
It appears he was pushed from his position on the trackside by the arm
of the crane and into the path of the goods train.
21st June 2007.
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Switzerland
Performer killed in stage
collapse
A 45-year old female operatic performer has died in a 6m fall when a
section of stage collapsed during rehearsals at Geneva's Grand
Theatre Opera House, the victim fell into an open area below the
stage. 20th June 2007.
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USA
Earthworks cause wall collapse
on Oklahoma site
Instability occurred during earthworks at the Lawton Transit Mix
concrete facility in Lawton, 75 miles southwest of Oklahoma City,
which led to a wall collapsing and killing 1 worker and injuring 2
others, concrete sections weighing in excess of 2 tonnes fell on the
victims as well as earth being moved. 19th
June 2007.
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Germany
Light aircraft crash kills 3
bound for Sweden
The crash of a 4-seater light aircraft travelling from Holland to
Sweden on Saturday left 3 people dead, the plane was one of 3 which
had touched down at the Seedorf military airfield on account of bad
weather. When the 3 took off again, 2 of them arrived at the next stop
in Lunenburg and immediately reported the other one missing.
Investigation found that it had come down in wooded terrain in
Rotenburg-an-der-Wumme in Lower Saxony. 18th
June 2007.
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Pakistan
Speeding train derails, 13 dead
At least 13 people are feared dead following the derailment of a train
which failed to negotiate a bend and fell into a gorge near South
Waziristan travelling from Waziristan to Dera Ismail Khan, 185 miles
northwest of Islamabad, dozens of others were injured, the accident is
being attributed to excessive speed.
16th June 2007.
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South Africa
Immigrant strays into lion
enclosure
A Zimbabwean national has been killed by a lion after straying into a
lion enclosure on a Limpopo game farm after crossing the border into
South Africa with a relative, the other man evaded death by climbing a
tree. 15th June 2007.
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USA
Plant kills operator at landfill
site
A Californian bulldozer operator was killed by his vehicle at the
Richmond Sanitary Services landfill site on Parr Boulevard, North
Richmond, the 64-year old operator had left his driving position and
stepped on to the treads, but the vehicle continued to move forward
and he either fell or was run over after stepping down.
15th June 2007.
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Belize
Skipper's death investigated
A Belize-flagged cargo ship has been detained in the Spanish enclave
of Cueta on the north Moroccan coast after the death of the skipper
was reported to the port authorities, the ship has arrived from the US
and is docked at the Puntilla quay. 14th June
2007.
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USA
Chicago slater electrocuted
Electrocution has claimed the life of a slater of Trela Roofing
engaged on retiling a property in Oak Lawn, southeast Chicago, it is
speculated that equipment he was using contacted or induced arcing
from 3 nearby ComEd power lines close to the northwest corner of the
property, 8 workers were atop the building, no other injuries are
reported. 13th June 2007.
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The Netherlands
Maintenance work fire in
hospital
Fire broke out yesterday during lift maintenance work on the third
floor of the Lukas hospital in Apeldoorn, 200 patients had to be
evacuated as considerable smoke-logging occurred in the north wing.
Gelre Hospitals, who manage the Lukas as one of four in the region,
report no injuries, with patients able to return to the wards later on
Monday evening. 12th June 2007.
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Philippines
Ferry fire kills 5 people
At least 5 people died yesterday when fire engulfed the ferry MV
Cataleen-D off Palawan Bay, Mindoro, the ship had sailed from Manila
on Saturday evening for Coron, Palawan, when fire was reported in the
cargo area at 5am Sunday. As the fire raged out of control, the ferry,
owned by San Nicolas Shipping Lines of Manila, made for the coast,
around 240 passengers and crew were on board.
11th June 2007.
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Australia
Fatal lifting accident on
Victoria farm
A 58-year old woman died yesterday on a farm in Castlemaine after
being struck in the cabin of a tractor by a heavy metal section being
raised by the tractor's hydraulic front forks. A metal gantry had been
loaded on to the forks and the woman apparently engaged the wrong
lever, causing the forks to rise and the gantry to slip into the open
cabin. 11th June 2007.
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France
Cargo ship and yacht collision
A yachtsman is in the Cavale Blanche hospital in Brest with serious
head injuries after being struck by the collapsed mast of the yacht
yesterday following a collision with an Italian cargo ship north of
Ouessant, the 3 other crew of the yacht were uninjured.
9th June 2007
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Austria
Fire at St Polten tech college
A technical defect caused a boiler to malfunction and overheat
yesterday morning in the heating distribution system workshop at the
HTL technical college in St Polten, west of Vienna, fire crews
required to use breathing apparatus to control the blaze, no injuries
were reported. 7th June 2007.
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France
Radiotherapy fatality
A 5th patient of a group of 24 who allegedly received incorrect
radiotherapy at the Jean Monnet hospital in Epinal between May 2004
and August 2005 has died. 6th June 2007.
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Australia
Lorry ramp crushes worker
A 43-year old worker became Victoria's 15 workplace fatality of the
year when he sustained fatal crush injuries during the attempted
loading of a bulldozer on to a lorry at the Lilley's Lane Quarry in
Terang, 140 miles west of Melbourne, it is speculated that he was
removing safety chains from the lorry's ramp and was crushed by the
ramp. 5th June 2007.
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USA
Arborist electrocution
An arborist was killed when arcing occurred from high voltage lines
during trimming of tree canopy in Kendallville, northeast Indiana.
5th June 2007.
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Japan
Helicopter blown to ground on
mountain
A 58-year old helicopter pilot of Toho Air Service Company of Tokyo
was hospitalised yesterday in serious condition when his aircraft
crashed during the transportation of a snowplough from Mt Okuhodaka,
300 miles west of Tokyo, to Takayama, a powerful gust of wind
behind the craft caused him to lose control. 5th
June 2007.
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Somalia
Pirates board Danish cargo ship
Danish cargo company H Folmer & Co has indicated that its vessel,
Danica White, with a crew of 5 Danish seamen, was boarded by armed
pirates some 240 miles off the east African coast, a resurgence of
piracy has taken place in this area in the first half of this year.
4th June 2007.
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India
Fatal accidents in steel plant
It is believed that 2 separate fatal accidents occurred over the
weekend in the Jindal Stainless Steel Plant in the Kalinga Nagar
Industrial Estate in Orissa, one apparently involved a fatal
electrical accident. 4th June 2007.
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Bulgaria
PSV driver arrested drunk and
unlicensed
Police in the town of Montana, 60 miles north of Sofia, yesterday
arrested a PSV driver of Gregory Transport Company who failed a
blood/alcohol test, the driver who had been banned from driving in
April was fined 300 Bulgarian Leva(£104.20). 1st
June 2007.
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Norway
Tunnel roof bolts inadequate
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration alleges that bolts securing
roof sections in the Hanekleiv road tunnel measured only 70cm, 30cm
short of the mandatory 100cm required for bolting into the mountain
wall.
The PRA has been investigating this week the collapse of 2 sections of
concrete measuring 3.5m x 5m, the sections were retained by just 2
bolts with the wall inadequately secured by supports during the
concrete pour. 1st June 2007.
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Wales
Man fell 8m to his death
The failure to fully assess risks and to provide suitable training
contributed to the June 2004 industrial accident in which a workman
fell from height through a fragile roof and sustained fatal injuries
as he worked to install a new grain drying system on a farm in West
Wales.
Employer Enidvale Ltd, trading as B.K. Grain Handling Engineers, of
Marlborough, Wiltshire, admitted breaching the Management of Health
and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for which it was fined £20,000 and
ordered to pay costs in excess of £8,000.
Raymond Bros, owners of the farm, was found guilty of breaching the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, in relation to risks to safety
of their employees, and was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of
£15,000.Risk assessment
After the prosecution, an HSE Inspector commented: "Working at height
is extremely dangerous, as this case has so tragically demonstrated,
and it is imperative that employers carry out proper risk assessments,
and ensure their staff are adequately trained to work at height.
Unfortunately, this remains something that too many employers fail to
take into consideration, and I hope the fines in this case will serve
as a warning to employers to put into place proper systems and
safeguards to prevent death or injury to their workers."
30th June
2007.
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England
Faulty vehicle tail lift caused
passenger's death
Three parties, Hartlepool Council and two taxi operators (one
subcontracted by the other) have admitted breaching health and safety
legislation in the circumstances of the death in an accident of an
85-year-old wheel chair passenger who fell from a Council-provided
dial-a-ride vehicle's tail lift and sustained what proved to be fatal
injuries.
He died when he reversed his chair on to the platform but a defective
stop plate failed and he fell 1m on to the ground. The Magistrates
deemed all three had failed in a duty to ensure public safety, in
particular the maintenance of the equipment, the Council was fined
£10,000, the taxi operators £5,000 and £300 respectively. 28th June
2007.
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England
Falling tree branch kills boy on school
outing in Norfolk
A boy aged 10 visiting Felbrigg Hall near Cromer has been struck and
killed by a falling tree branch.
Three other children were injured in the incident on Tuesday
afternoon, the property is run by the National Trust. 27th June
2007. 2007.
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Scotland
Lifting operation seriously
injures worker
A man sustained what are reported to be severe head injuries when a
lifting operation went badly wrong at the Doosan Babcock engineering
plant in Renfrew.
According to one account a piece of very heavy equipment became
unstable when it was being lifted and struck him. 27th June
2007.
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England
Technician worked on
equipment that was not isolated
A Walthamstow inquest jury has determined a verdict of accidental
death after considering evidence concerning the demise of a technician
in an industrial accident in July 2006 at the Hollywood Bowl in
Barking, East London.
The 34-year-old was cleaning the 10-pin bowling equipment and was
crushed when it activated, something only possible because it had not
been isolated from its source of power. 26th June
2007.
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England
London shop front collapse
injures 2
Two men, believed to be father and son, sustained multiple injuries on
Saturday when a Putney bakery shop frontage collapsed on top of them.
The older man is being treated for head and spinal injuries.
25th June 2007.
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England
Fatal industrial accident at
recycling site
A man has died in an industrial accident involving workplace transport
at the Trowbridge, Wiltshire, recycling premises of E J Shanley and
Son Ltd.
The deceased was struck by a reversing skip vehicle.
23rd June 2007.
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United Kingdom
Euro Week 2007 campaign focuses
on MSDs
The 2007 Euro Week campaign, run by the European Agency for Safety and
Health at Work, this year has the theme of 'lighten the load', the
campaign sees the UK's HSE join with employers and unions to take
steps to reduce the country's most common cause of occupational ill
health.
The campaign is to be waged as usual across all EU states, the UK
Health and Safety Minister commented: "MSDs have been a priority for
the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and government for the last
decade. They remain a common cause of sickness absence with 1.02
million cases in 2005/06 that resulted in 9.45 million work days lost.
This means that each person suffering took an estimated 17.3 days off
work equating to an annual loss of 0.41 days per worker. Providing
in-depth practical training for safety representatives and focusing on
the importance of worker involvement is vital in driving down MSDs.
All workers have a right to work in places where all significant risks
to their health or safety are properly controlled."
22nd June 2007.
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England
Wiltshire site death
It is reported that a construction worker was fatally injured
yesterday in an accident as he worked at the Red Oaks Primary School
in Swindon.
The account states he was struck by a site vehicle.
21st June 2007.
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USA
Water-skier dies in accident
A Welsh water-skier was fatally injured last week in a training
accident on Lake Mead, Las Vegas.
He fell from his skis at an estimated speed of 80mph, fracturing his
neck on impact with the water it is believed.
20th
June 2007.
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England
Teenage construction worker
electrocuted after risk assessment failure
A 19-year-old worker died in May 2004 when the concrete pump he was
working on came into contact with an 11kV overhead power line at a
site in Bala. A colleague escaped uninjured, investigation found
Permanent Flooring Ltd of Bagillt, Flintshire, and R.L. Davies and Son
Ltd of Llysfaen, Conwy, both operating on the site, had failed to
conduct proper risk assessments. Each was prosecuted and fined under
the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, an HSE Inspector
commented: "Each year there are around 1000 incidents involving
electric shock at work, and about 30 of these have resulted in
fatalities. In Wales alone, there have been several cases whereby
construction workers and others have been severely injured or killed
after coming into contact with high voltage electricity, so it is
imperative that employers ensure their staff and contractors are
protected by carrying out a full risk assessment of the site before
work starts. Household voltages are enough to kill, but in this case
the voltage involved was nearly 50 times greater. Overhead power lines
can be switched off if the operators are given sufficient notice, but
if this isn't possible, they should be consulted on safe systems of
work." 20th June
2007.
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England
Crane counterweight injures workman
A man fractured both legs when a crane counterweight overturned and
fell on him on Sunday on a construction site in Newcastle. According
to one account the crane was being taken from the site of the new
Great North Museum.19th
June 2007.
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Wales
From spaghetti to porridge
A Dutch HGV driver has been convicted of dangerous driving after
police spotted him consuming a saucepan of spaghetti while he drove
along the A55 in Flintshire, operating the steering wheel with his
knees. The man admitted the offence, Prestatyn Magistrates sentenced
him to 8 weeks in prison and a one-year driving ban.19th
June 2007.
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Scotland
Quad bike fatal accident in
Scotland
It is reported that a farm worker in his 30's died following an
accident involving a quad bike last Thursday.
The accident occurred on a farm near Duns, Berwickshire.18th
June 2007.
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England
Construction site death in Herts.
It is reported that a construction worker was struck and killed by
earth-moving equipment on Wednesday while working at the Tyttenhanger
Landfill Site in Colney Heath, Herts.16th
June 2007.
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England
Insecure scaffolding structure killed
4-year-old
A 4-year-old girl died in August 2001 when an insecure scaffolding
structure erected at flatted property in Bromley collapsed after it
became unstable when other children climbed on it.
At Croydon Crown Court, Tone Scaffolding Services of Croydon, and the
scaffolder who erected the structure, were fined £35,000 with costs of
£20,000, and £5,000 with £7,500 costs respectively for breaching the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, a senior HSE official
underlined the need to make sure that structures are properly tied in,
or otherwise stabilised, to prevent collapse, and this information
communicated to site personnel.
16th June 2007.
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England
Death prompts warning on transportation
of welding gear
Following initial investigation of the circumstances of the death in
May of a driver in an explosion within the vehicle he was driving
along Front Street, Wolsingham, County Durham, HSE has issued his
employer, Ward Bros Plant Hire Ltd of Darlington, with a Prohibition
Notice preventing the carriage of acetylene cylinders in closed
vehicles until a number of specific precautions have been taken. HSE
urges others who transport this equipment to urgently review the
adequacy of precautions taken to control risk.
Adequate ventilation
HSE's Head of Operations in the North East of England said: "Whilst
the investigation continues, it is important that all users of
oxy-acetylene equipment review their cylinder transport arrangements.
Instruction and training of employees in safe operation, including
regular checks of equipment condition and functioning, are needed to
prevent any releases. In addition such gases are best transported
properly secured in an open vehicle; if an enclosed vehicle is used,
it should have adequate ventilation."
15th June 2007.
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England
Company prosecuted for inadequately
guarding equipment
Newhey Carpets Ltd of Rochdale has been fined £1,600 with £1,324 costs
after pleading guilty to a breach of the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998 at Trafford Magistrates Court.
The prosecution related to an incident in August 2006 in which a
female employee became entangled in the revolving parts of a
carpet-beaming machine which inflicted severe injury to her arm and
shoulder. Investigation found the equipment's guarding was not fixed
or interlocked and the trip wire was not in the correct position.
An HSE Inspector explained: "The employee was injured after she became
caught in accessible rotating machinery. After the incident, her
jacket was found caught in a projecting large metal pin attached to
the machinery. Her injuries were serious enough, but the consequences
of this incident could have been far worse. This case graphically
illustrates that companies should ensure that all their machinery is
adequately guarded for the safety of all employees.” 15th June 2007.
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England
Teacher survives 8m fall
A school teacher in her 50's has sustained leg fractures and other
injuries in a fall while at the Malvern Hills Outdoor Centre in
Worcestershire. The incident occurred on Sunday, it appears she fell
from a platform attached to a tree, officials from Worcestershire
County Council, the enforcing authority for the centre, are
investigating.
Yesterday, in another fall from height accident, a building worker
sustained serious injury when he fell 15m from a scaffolding structure
erected at Colmore Row in Birmingham. 14th June
2007.
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Wales
Man dies at Welsh power station
A workman has died after falling from a platform at the Aberthaw power
station in South Wales.
The incident occurred on Sunday, construction and maintenance work is
currently in progress at the coal-fired plant.
13th June 2007.
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England
Building collapses in London trapping
man
The 4th and 5th floors of a
5-storey office building undergoing renovation work in Dean Farrar
Street, Westminster, collapsed yesterday afternoon trapping one
person, reported to be a workman.
Debris dropped on to the street below, the incident had the potential
to claim many lives according to the police who say the HSE is to
investigate the circumstances. 13th June 2007.
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Wales
Workman dies days after
industrial accident
HSE are to determine whether the subsequent death of a workman
following an industrial accident 4 days earlier is a direct result of
the event.
The deceased was employed by a contracting company engaged on work at
Comet's Wrexham retail outlet, he died while attending hospital prior
to surgery. 13th June 2007.
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United Kingdom
UK safety chief calls for
board-level leadership | |