Russia
9 killed in Leningrad region bus crash
A tyre blow-out led to an accident 40 miles south of St Petersburg in which a
bus travelling from Moscow was struck by an overtaking iron-laden lorry, 9
people were killed and 16 were badly injured.
30th June 2008.
|
South Africa
Brave public rescue of drowning helicopter
pilot
Prompt action by members of the public in a boat and jetski managed to rescue a
drowning helicopter pilot form his burning craft after it crashed on Sunday into
the Ebenezer Dam on the Groot Letaba River at Magoebaskloof, near Tzaneen, the
68-year old pilot has been hospitalised with a broken arm.
30th June 2008.
|
Germany
Train kills track worker in Westphalia
A track worker was killed by a train on Thursday at a work site on the line 300
metres from the station at Lunen, north of Dortmund, 9 other workers were
injured in the accident.
27th June 2008.
|
USA
Unsecured Californian worker killed in
skylight fall
A Californian worker was killed in a 10-metre fall through an unfinished
skylight at Pinheiro & Milanesio Farms in Strathmore, 60 miles southeast of
Fresno, he was not wearing a safety harness.
27th June 2008.
|
Singapore
Second accident in a week at Tuas
drydock
The Singaporean Workplace Safety & Health Council has urged local
shipyards to observe a brief cessation of work to review safety measures
and instruct workers following a fire on board the Pacific Sentinel at
Drydocks World Singapore on Tuas Crescent where a worker has been
hospitalised with 2nd degree burns.
The Tuas Shipyard was the scene of a fatal accident just last week which
saw 2 deaths and 5 workers injured.
26th June 2008.
|
USA
Fatal accident during naval handgun
training
The US Navy is investigating a fatal accident in which a 53-year old naval
reservist sustained a fatal gunshot wound during a training exercise with
9mm handguns at the Yorktown-Cheatham Annexe of the Naval Weapons Station
in Virginia.
25th June 2008.
|
Japan
13 missing after rogue wave hits trawler
Early on Tuesday rescuers were arriving 215 miles east of Cape Inubo, Chiba, to
search for 13 missing trawlermen from the 135-ton Suwa Maru No 58, a round-haul
net fishing boat which sank in high swell conditions after being struck
broadside by a large wave, 4 crewmen are known to have drowned. The boat was
deploying its floating anchor, a parachute type anchor to control drift in the
4K-metre deep sea. Although local coastguard weather reports spoke of 2m swell,
other boats report 4-5m swell conditions,1 of the 3 survivors described the boat
being hit by a 15-metre high rogue wave.
24th June 2008.
|
Philippines
Hundreds missing after Manila-Cebu ferry sinks
The search was ongoing through Sunday in rough weather for survivors following
the sinking of the Princess of the Stars ferry off Sibuyan, 200 miles south of
Manila. More than 700 passengers and 121 crew were on board the 24K-tonne ferry
of Sulpicio Lines when it sank in heavy seas in typhoon Fengshen.
A surviving crew member described the moments when the ship listed and the call
was given to don life jackets and abandon the ship. It is feared that many were
trapped below decks.
This is the worst maritime disaster since 4,340 people drowned when the Dona Paz
sank in a collision with an oil tanker off Mindoro in 1987.
23rd June 2008.
|
Mexico
12 killed in night club panic
At least 12 people died as panic broke out when police arrived at the News
Divine nightclub to pursue allegations of drug abuse and the sale of alcohol to
minors, 3 policemen numbered among the fatalities. The club, formerly known as
Bingo's, was closed last July but reopened within a month, it is licensed for
500 guests but double that number may have been on the premises.
23rd June 2008.
|
Australia
Suspended platform fails in Queensland, 2
killed
A scaffold platform collapsed at 26th storey level on the Meriton Pegasus
building on Broadbeach on Queensland's Gold Coast killing 2 workers who were
maintaining the building's external cladding, the suspended platform came away
from the building and counterweights on the platform failed, causing it to tip.
23rd June 2008.
|
Thailand
Military helicopter crash kills 10 in Yala
The crash of a UH-1H Huey military helicopter on Friday in Yala, 500 miles south
of Bangkok, has killed 10 persons on board, including a military forensics team
on the flight which was returning to the Bannang Sata military base in Yala.
21st June 2008.
|
Canada
Ministry bans shepherd hook fall arrest
equipment
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has ordered the immediate withdrawal of shepherd
hooks as a fall arrest system in workplaces following investigation of the
circumstances of a fatal accident last month in which a Hydro One worker was
killed in a 30-metre fall in Ottawa using this equipment which features a hook
attachment to a horizontal upper beam and attachment to the worker's waist.
21st June 2008.
|
Morocco
Trio jailed over mattress factory fire
A court in Casablanca has handed out 3 prison sentences in respect of the fatal
fire at the 4-storey Rosamor Ameublements mattress factory last year which
killed 55 workers.
The factory owner has been jailed for 4 years for manslaughter and criminal
negligence; the worker who casually discarded a cigarette which caused the blaze
was also jailed for 4 years; and the factory owner's son received a 2-year
prison sentence for negligence. In addition all 3 were each fined 1,000
dirhams(£70).
20th June 2008.
|
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Eufor helicopter flight crashes in central
Bosnia
A Spanish military BO-105 helicopter in the service of EUFOR crashed on Thursday
in a densely wooded area near Banja Luka, both Spanish pilots and 2 German
liaison officers were killed, the flight had taken off from Camp Butmir,
Sarajevo, but had issued a mayday call prior to the accident.
20th June 2008.
|
Canada
Worker killed during Quebec crane
dismantling
Quebec's Commission de la sante et de la securite du travail is now
investigating a fatal accident in which a Montreal worker of Grues JM Francoeur
has died in an accident during crane dismantlement at a site on Pointe Sud Road,
Nuns' Island, Verdun.
The victim was working at 26th storey level and was extracting a pin to remove a
6-metre long boom, the latter came loose and struck the crouching worker,
inflicting fatal head injuries.
19th June 2008.
|
USA
Demolition worker killed in Illinois
An Illinois demolition worker has been killed while working in a mobile
elevating work platform (MEWP) at the site of the former steel plant in Granite
City, St Louis, he was cutting metal when a section became unstable and knocked
him 7 metres down to the ground.
19th June 2008.
|
Vietnam
Quadruple fatality at southern quarry
A rock fall at the Viet Tan Rock Exploitation Private Company in Hoc Soc Hamlet,
150 miles south of Ho Chi Minh City, has killed 4 workers trapped under hundreds
of tonnes of stone. High capacity digging equipment was being used to drill at
the base of the quarry which has 35Mm³ of stone reserves when rocks descended
from higher levels, the area in Kien Giang province has been hit by torrential
rain in recent days. 18th
June 2008.
|
Philippines
2 separate fatalities at Hanjin shipyard
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Intelligence and Investigation Office is
dealing with 2 fatal accidents at the Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Inc
shipyard where an employee of subcontractor KC Tech has been crushed by a
falling ship wall bulkhead; in the other accident a crane boom killed a worker
in a lorry. 18th June 2008.
|
USA
Florida worker injured in lift shaft fall
A construction worker broke his collar bone and sustained head injuries in a
fall down an open elevator shaft at a dwellinghouse in 7th St Court East in
Ellenten, 30 miles south of Tampa, the 25-year old's 4-metre fall was from the
2nd floor of the building.
17th June 2008.
|
USA
Electrocution at Dallas sports stadium
site
An employee of JMEG Electrical of Dallas, subcontracted to Manhattan
Construction for the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium project in Arlington, was electrocuted
at the northwest section of the site, the electrician had been on a ladder and
was checking work when he contacted a high-voltage line.
As recently as Thursday 3 workers were injured at the site when a cable failed
during an operation in which a crane was assembling another crane.
16th June 2008.
|
Germany
3 killed in Bavarian light aircraft crash
A light aircraft crashed into a maize field half a mile from the Regenstauf
airfield north of Regensburg, Bavaria, it is thought that 3 people have died.
The flight had taken off half an hour earlier from Oberhub but had
contacted Regensburg indicating technical problems.
16th June 2008.
|
USA
Double electrocution in MEWP at Illinois
bridge
Two employees of Eagle Painting and Maintenance Company in a mobile elevating
work platform (MEWP) were electrocuted when their platform contacted high power
lines at a bridge on Highway 20 spanning the Fox River in St Charles, west of
Chicago, they were placing dust control sheets prior to the commencement of
sanding when the accident occurred.
14th June 2008.
|
Switzerland
Military accident on fast-flowing Bernese
Oberland river
An accident during military training on the River Kander saw 1 member of the Air
Transport Security Unit killed, 5 injured and 4 missing when 2 inflatable
dinghies overturned at Wimmis in the Bernese Oberland.
The water speed at the locus was 40m³/s, not untypical for this stretch of the
Kander.
13th June 2008.
|
Russia
Train derails in far east
A train travelling from Neryungri to Khabarovsk derailed outside Shimanovsk
station in the Amur region near the Chinese border, 60 people were injured as 10
carriages derailed.
13th June 2008.
|
Singapore
Shipyard explosion during vessel painting
An investigation is now studying the circumstances into a fatal explosion at the
Tuas shipyard of Kreuz Shipbuilding and Engineering where a painter among a
squad of 14 workers was killed in the incident during painting inside a boat.
12th June 2008.
|
France
Schoolboy footballers struck by lightning
A 12-year old boy was admitted to hospital in Marseille with a heart
attack after being struck by lightning during a football match near
Avignon, 6 other players were injured, 2 lost consciousness. 12th June 2008.
|
Ukraine
Radioactive incident at Rivne
A leakage of radioactive water occurred yesterday at the Rivne nuclear plant in
western Ukraine, it is thought that 1.3m³ of water leaked from a coolant conduit
and was hermetically held within a container, producing no external
contamination.
11th June 2008.
|
Canada
Alberta teenager killed in forklift accident
Alberta's Workplace Health and Safety office has indicated that the weekend
accident which saw a 16-year old killed at the Rona Building Centre in St
Albert, west of Edmonton, occurred when a forklift truck, on the side of which
he was riding, overturned in the timber yard.
The 2,300 Kg forklift truck is designed for a single operator and no
passenger. 10th June 2008.
|
Italy
Arrests over alleged medical misconduct
Milanese police arrested 13 doctors and a representative of the Santa Rita clinic in
Milan on Monday over allegations of fraud, injury and homicide aggravated by
cruelty in respect of unnecessary medical treatment for 90 patients and thereby
€2.5mio(£2m) illegally obtained. It
is alleged that patients' medical records were falsified to justify unnecessary
operations, 5 patients died following surgery. It is believed that phone tapping
proved a key element in the police investigation.
10th June 2008.
|
Ukraine
37 men trapped in Karl Marx mine
A gas explosion 1km underground trapped 37 miners on Sunday at the Karl Marx
mine of Orzhonakidzengol in Yenakievo. The mine had failed a safety inspection
on Thursday and was effectively closed, it remains unclear whether the trapped
workers were performing maintenance or illegal mining.
The force of the blast caused structural damage at the surface and to the
elevators and air supply system, rescuers have been constantly assessing the
shaft's structural integrity and a portable lift has been introduced.
9th June 2008.
|
Japan
Tiger kills Kyoto zookeeper
A 40-year old zookeeper was
killed at the weekend by an Amur tiger after cleaning out its cage at Kyoto City
Zoo. The cage was being cleaned for 2 tigers, it is speculated that he had
failed to observe rules regarding connecting doors to a holding pen.
9th June 2008.
|
Russia
Welding explosion kills 7 in Kaliningrad
dry dock
An explosion occurred during hot work on Friday in the container ship Yenisey at
the Baltiysk dry dock in Kaliningrad, killing at least 7 workers, another 3
workers were badly injured and 3 others were missing. The Yenesei is operated by
the Enex company of St Petersburg.
7th June 2008.
|
Poland
Methane explosion kills 4 miners
A methane gas explosion has killed 4 miners at the Borynia mine of the
Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa company in Jastrzebie Zdroj, 23 others were injured;
of 16 hospitalised, 3 have serious burns.
The accident occurred 900 metres underground during maintenance work on a shaft
wall. 6th June 2008.
|
Slovenia
Krsko radioactive leakage stirs nuclear
controversy
A faulty valve has been blamed for the leakage of radioactive water this week at
the Krsko nuclear plant, the leakage was confined to the plant building. Repairs
are expected to be completed today, with a restart planned for next week.
The Slovenian environment minister Janez Podobuik termed the incident "a minor
water leak", some European neighbours deemed it " a serious incident."
6th June 2008.
|
USA
Fatal accident investigation at Illinois
Caterpillar plant
An investigation is underway into the death of a 44-year old contract worker of
O'Brien Brothers Piping who sustained fatal chest injuries in an accident in
Building E of the Caterpillar Technical Centre in Mossville, Illinois.
5th June 2008.
|
Belgium
Nitric acid emission at Antwerp waste
disposal site
Antwerp fire crews attended an incident at the Indaver waste disposal site where
a toxic emission of nitric acid occurred on Wednesday, all staff were evacuated,
no injuries were reported.
5th June 2008.
|
Venezuela
11 Cumana cadets killed in training
exercise
An accident in which a vehicle overturned during a training exercise at
Cumanacoa, 220 miles east of Caracas, has killed 11 cadet officers of the Cumana
garrison, 21 others were injured, one of whom is in critical condition with lung
injuries.
4th June 2008.
|
France
Orsec launched following train/school bus
collision
The authorities in Haute Savoie launched the plan Orsec (Organisation de la
reponse de securite civile) following a level crossing accident on Monday in
which 7 people died and 25 were injured when a school bus and a TER regional train collided on a
level crossing at Mesinges, between Annemasse and Thonon-les-Bains.
Around 50 schoolchildren were on the bus travelling from Margencel, 6 were
killed, another 4 are listed seriously injured. France has around 19K level
crossings (40K in 1939) of which 364 are rated "worrying." 63% are located on
"voies communales", 36% on "routes departementales" and 1% on "routes nationales".
RFF (Reseau ferre de France) has an annual budget of €25m
for level crossing work, a bridge or tunnel replacement on site would cost
€3-4m.
3rd June 2008.
|
Switzerland
Diver dies at Lake Constance
An autopsy will take place today at the Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, St Gallen,
following Sunday's death of a 34-year old diver at the wreck of the steamship
Jura, which sank in 40 metres of water in Lake Constance in 1864.
2nd June 2008.
|
Slovakia
Crop spray aircraft crashes
A light aircraft crashed during crop spraying on Sunday outside Figa in Rimavska
Sobota, coming down in a residential area. It is speculated that it banked too
low and clipped power lines, the 59-year old pilot survived the accident and is
being treated in hospital.
2nd June 2008.
|
|
USA
Teenager decapitated by roller coaster at Georgia
park
A teenager on an outing with the Oakley Spring Baptist Church, South
Carolina, was decapitated at the weekend after being struck by a dipping
rollercoaster, the Batman, at The Six Flags Over Georgia park outside
Atlanta. The accident occurred within a fenced area with signage
indicating that it was a "Danger Zone" and access was restricted to
"Authorised Personnel Only." It is speculated that he may have been taking
a short-cut towards a park exit.
30th June 2008.
|
France
Live ammo mix-up at Carcassone
barracks demo
A weekend accident during a training demonstration at barracks in
Carcassone saw 16 people injured, of whom 15 were civilians and 4 were
badly injured, when a soldier discharged a number of rounds of live
ammunition instead of blanks.
30th June 2008.
|
South Africa
Earth tremor accident at gold mine
An earth tremor measuring 1.8 on the Richter scale led to a fall of ground which
killed 1 worker and injured 3 others on Thursday at Anglo Gold Ashanti's mine in
Tautona.
27th June 2008.
|
New Zealand
Whiplash fatality at Lyttleton port
An employee of Lyttleton Port Authority was killed on Tuesday night in a
whiplash accident when a taut rope securing the coal ship Devprayag snapped
under tension at Cashin Quay, the rope was still attached to the wharf as the
boat was sailing.
26th June 2008.
|
South Africa
Gold mine work suspended after fatal
accident
Pamodzi Gold has suspended all raiseline work at its East Rand sites following
the death of a worker who died in an accident after entering a discontinued work
area at No 4 shaft where the Department of Minerals & Energy has been
undertaking a safety audit.
26th June 2008.
|
South Africa
Mattress factory fire
Fire crews tackled a blaze on Tuesday at the Vita Foam mattress factory in
Industria, Johannesburg, where 200 workers were evacuated. It took 5 hours to
control the fire, some chemical containers outside exploded and 9 persons were
hospitalised, 4 with severe smoke inhalation.
25th June 2008.
|
France
Velib and Parisian cycle safety;
Ardechoise cycle deaths
A female cyclist was killed in an accident involving a lorry on the quai
Saint-Michel, Paris, the 3rd cycling death of the year in the capital and the
5th since the introduction of Velib (velos-en-libre-service) last July. Paris
has experienced a 70% increase in cycle use since 2006 but last year saw 700
cycling accidents, a 37% increase on 2006 figures.
At the weekend in the Ardechoise, Europe's largest cycling event in Lamastre in
the Ardeche, 2 cyclists were killed in the descent from Nozieres, 20 courses in
total are undertaken by 13K riders.
25th June 2008.
|
Switzerland
Schoolboy bitten by wolf at Basle Zoo
A 10-year old boy on a school outing from Freiburg to Basle Zoo was badly bitten
about the head by a wolf on Monday after falling into the 1.37-metre deep water
ditch around the wolves' enclosure, his injuries are not life-threatening.
24th June 2008.
|
Turkey
Level crossing accident kills 11
A minibus was struck by a train on a level crossing shortly after midnight at
Gaziantep, south Turkey, killing 11 of the 13 occupants, it is alleged that it
was attempting to cross against a red light.
24th June 2008.
|
China
Zhejiang railway bridge arch collapses
The steel arch of a new railway bridge spanning a new line in Whenzou, Zhejiang,
collapsed on Saturday killing at least 7 people and injuring 21 others, 3 houses
were buried under the rubble.
23rd June 2008.
|
Argentina
Player fatally injured in rugby match
A 21-year old rugby union player died at the weekend in an accident during a
match between CUBA and San Fernando in the Urba competition in Villa de Mayo. He
sustained a blow to the base of his skull during a maul and subsequently
succumbed to heart failure as he was being transferred to hospital.
23rd June 2008.
|
Singapore
Worker's soft landing in 15-metre
fall
A worker survived a 15-metre fall at the Tuas South Incinerator Plant, his
fall at the waste reception building was cushioned by rubbish, escaping
with only a leg fracture.
21st June 2008.
|
Japan
Tokyo schoolboy falls through school
roof sky light
A 12-year old schoolboy has died after falling 12 metres through a roof
skylight at Suginami Dai-Ju Elementary School, west Tokyo.
A 49-year old teacher had taken her class on to the roof for a practical
demonstration of measurement. It is alleged that she failed to inform the
school's head master about the use of the roof for this instruction and
that she failed to instruct pupils not to stand on the dome skylights.
20th June 2008.
|
USA
Fatal accident at Alabama shipyard
A 24-year old shipfitter has been killed in an accident at the Bender
Shipbuilding & Repair Company shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, he had been
operating an overhead crane but somehow became pinned between a steel
section and a wall.
20th June 2008.
|
Austria
Railway paint shop fire
Fire crews in St Polten, west of Vienna, managed to contain a fire on
Wednesday at a carriage paint shop of the Austrian Railways (OBB) in St
Polten, at one point the blaze extended over a 15x20m area of the roof, 1
fireman was hospitalised with breathing problems.
19th June 2008.
|
Canada
Ottawa worker run over by paving
equipment
A construction worker has died after being crushed by heavy plant used for
laying pavements and kerbs on a site at Britannia Road, Ottawa.
19th June 2008.
|
USA
3rd Pennsylvanian mine fatality of year
The Mine Safety & Health Administration is investigating a fatal accident at the
Harmony Mine of UAE Coal Corporation Associates outside Mount Carmel, 100 miles
northwest of Philadelphia, where a 40-year old miner has died, the 3rd
Pennsylvanian mining fatality of 2008.
18th June 2008.
|
Qatar
Immigrant worker compensated for reversing
lorry accident
At a compensation hearing in Doha a Nepalese worker has been awarded 405K Qatari
Riyals (£56,669) after being struck by a reversing water tanker lorry at a site
in the city's industrial zone in November 2005, the driver of the lorry was
fined QR5K (£700).
17th June 2008.
|
Ireland
Spectator struck by car at Donegal
rally
An 18-year old youth was killed on Saturday after being struck by a car during
the Donegal International Rally organised by the Donegal Motor Club, the
accident occurred at Garrygort near Milford where the victim was struck on the
road, initial speculation suggests no driver error.
16th June 2008.
|
Lebanon
Farmer killed when tractor hits mine
A 35-year old Lebanese farmer was killed on Thursday when his tractor ran over a
mine as he was ploughing fields at Qantara, 5 miles from the Israeli border,
another worker was injured in the accident.
13th June 2008.
|
Cyprus
Refurbished theatre's roof collapses
The roof of the 41-year old Nicosia Municipal Theatre, which hosted the Bolshoi
Ballet last week, collapsed overnight on Wednesday when the building was empty.
The building was substantially refurbished a few years ago but the light metal
roof was not replaced.
13th June 2008.
|
Chile
2-Ethylhexanol leakage leads to local
evacuation
A spillage of a toxic compound, 2-Ethylhexanol, an ethanol derivative, occurred
at the Animex plant outside Ventanas, 110 miles northeast of Santiago, a mass
evacuation of the local community took place, 25 people required treatment for
respiratory problems and skin irritation.
12th June 2008.
|
Austria
Stable owner badly bitten by stallion
A stable owner was admitted to Graz Hospital on Wednesday with severe back and
shoulder injuries after being bitten by a stallion he was leading out at his
stables in Ilz, east Steyr, he lost consciousness quickly after the incident.
12th June 2008.
|
Kenya
Politicians killed in Rift Valley air
crash
A 6-seater Cessna light aircraft crashed yesterday in the Rift Valley 85 miles
west of Nairobi, some leading political figures are believed to have been among the
casualties. The flight had taken off from Nairobi's Wilson airport and was
within 10 minutes of landing at Kericho.
11th June 2008.
|
France
Paint factory fire
A fire and explosion occurred on Monday afternoon at the Emaux de l'Atlantique
paint factory in Guyonniere, 25 miles southeast of Nantes, 1 employee was
injured. Concern was expressed about a possible drift of toxic fumes from the
3Km² plant to residential areas to the immediate northwest.
10th June 2008.
|
Germany
Rugen girl killed by unstable
gravestone at mason's yard
A 150Kg marble stone toppled and
killed a 4-year old girl on Saturday in the exhibition area of a stone mason's
yard in Bergen, on the island of Rugen.
9th June 2008.
|
Russia
Stavropol crop sprayers' plane crashes
Two workers engaged in crop spraying were killed on Sunday when their An-2
aircraft crashed in Novochernovsky, a rural location in the Trunovsky area of
Stavropol, where heavy drizzle had reduced visibility.
9th June 2008.
|
France
Attempted murder and suicide in Paris hospital
room
A septuagenarian attempted to kill his father-in-law and slit the throat of his
mother-in-law in room 38 in the Fougeres wing of the Saint-Louis hospital in
Paris on Friday afternoon. He first attempted to stab the 94-year old man who
was a patient and then the woman who was visiting. The perpetrator then
committed suicide, the attack victims are listed in critical condition. 7th June 2008.
|
Malta
Scaffold collapse in Sliema
A 6-storey high scaffold collapsed on Friday in Bizazza Street in Sliema,
injuring 3 people, 2 workers on the scaffold escaped uninjured. 7th June 2008.
|
Switzerland
Fatality in unstable Solothurn excavation
A construction worker was killed on Thursday at a dwellinghouse site at
Fulenbach, Solothurn, where he became trapped in an unstable excavation when
gravel and debris pinned him during the installation of a sewer line.
6th June 2008.
|
USA
Activated auger kills worker at San
Francisco asphalt plant
A failure to maintain lock-out mode on auger machinery has led to the death of a
37-worker at the Graniterock asphalt plant in south San Francisco. The victim
was inside an auger transporter used to move asphalt and was doing maintenance
work when the system was accidentally activated, other machines were apparently
being maintained at the same time.
6th June 2008.
|
USA
Concrete mixing pump lifted by accident,
worker killed
A 50-year old Hawaiian construction worker has been killed in an accident at a
site on Kapi'olani Boulevard, Honolulu, where a concrete mixing pump became
caught in ropes and was lifted off the ground by a crane, the pump's boom struck
the worker, inflicting fatal head injuries.
5th June 2008.
|
UAE
Hotel site ceiling pour collapse kills 6
workers
The collapse of a ceiling during a concrete pour at the site of the Lugana Beach
Hotel in Ajman has killed 6 construction workers who had gone down into the
basement to attempt to stem a leakage from the ceiling which had just been
poured.
4th June 2008.
|
The Netherlands
Lorry sheds load of gas cylinders
A lorry carrying gas cylinders shed a large part of its load on the Gouwe
aqueduct on the A12 between Utrecht and The Hague on Tuesday, a considerable
amount of vehicle damage occurred but no injuries were initially reported.
4th June 2008.
|
Bolivia
17 killed in Yungas bus crash
Recovery work was ongoing on Monday at the site of the weekend bus crash in
Yungas, 100
miles east of La Paz, where a bus of the 15 de agosto fleet left the road at
Chulumani and fell 200 metres down into a steep ravine. At least 17 people died,
the steepness and density of vegetation is making recovery work difficult.
3rd June 2008.
|
Liberia
Crush accident at Monrovia stadium
A number of spectators died at Sunday's Liberia-Gambia World Cup football match
in Monrovia where substantial overcrowding occurred as a result of forged
tickets at the Samuel K Doe 33K-capacity stadium.
Retaining barriers on one of the upper tiers failed
under pressure. 2nd June
2008.
|
India
Kerala quarry death
A worker was killed at the weekend in an accident while operating a power hammer
at a quarry in Kunnikode, Kerala.
2nd June 2008.
|
|
Vietnam
Wall collapse kills Saigon workers
A collapsing wall killed 2 workers at the weekend at the Saigon Hi-tech
Park in the No 9 District of Ho Chi Minh City, 1 other worker has been
injured. 30th
June 2008.
|
The Netherlands
Fire at Amsterdam furniture warehouse
A major fire broke out on Thursday at the Leen Bakker furniture warehouse on
Klimopweg, north Amsterdam, which led to 39 people being treated for breathing
difficulties, no cause for the accident was initially speculated.
27th June 2008.
|
Australia
Additional safety urged on swingstage
platforms
In the wake of the weekend accident which claimed the lives of 2 workers when a
suspended platform failed at 26th storey level at a Broadbeach building,
Workplace Health & Safety Queensland has issued a safety alert to all companies
using swingstage scaffold platforms to have workers attached by safety harness
to the building as well as the platform.
26th June 2008.
|
China
Shenyang fighter aircraft collide in Inner
Mongolia
Both pilots ejected safely from their Jian8 fighter aircraft following a
collision on Wednesday over the suburbs of Hohhot, 250 miles west of Beijing,
the accident happened during a training flight, both are attached to the
Shenyang Military Area.
26th June 2008.
|
Canada
Ontario company fined over harvester
fatality
At Ontario Court of Justice in Morrisburg, Weagant Farm Supplies Ltd has been
fined $100K(£50K) after pleading guilty in respect of a fatal accident at its
dealership in Winchester. On September 13th 2006, a worker was preparing a
forage harvester for delivery and had installed its crop processor and engaged
power to run it. However, unshielded feed rolls were in motion and his arm
became entangled in the moving mechanism, his upper body was drawn in and
through the cutting blades.
Ministry of Labour investigation concluded that the incident could have been
prevented if the employer had taken the necessary steps to ensure that all
motion on the harvester that could endanger a worker was stopped to prevent
movement before and during maintenance as required by section 75 of the
Regulations for Industrial Establishments. This was contrary to Section 25(1)(c)
of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
25th June 2008.
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Scotland
Electrical accident at Aberdeen NCP
A worker was admitted to the Royal Infirmary in Aberdeen on Tuesday afternoon
for treatment for facial burns after an accident with an electric cable at the
NCP car park in the city centre's Shiprow.
25th June 2008.
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Bulgaria
Labour inspector arrested over alleged
safety bribe
A female Ministry of Labour inspector has been arrested following allegations of
offering to accept a bribe in lieu of a fine from a cafe owner in Pazardzhik
regarding safety violations at the premises, allegedly making a suggestion to
accept a 2K Bulgarian Lev (£809) bribe as opposed to a statutory fine of 6K
Lev(£2,426) for the violations. The proprietor reported the incident to the
police who arrested the inspector and an accomplice who was to be the physical
recipient of the money.
24th June 2008.
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Australia
Motorised wheelchair operator fails breath
test
Queensland police arrested the operator of a motorised wheelchair with an
alleged blood/alcohol reading of 0.301, 6 times the legal limit, while slumped
in a stupor in the chair on Capt Cook Highway in Stafford, north of Cairns.
State laws bracket this mode of transport with cycles and horses as falling
under the jurisdiction of alcohol limits, the case will be heard in Cairns on
7th July. 24th June 2008.
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Austria
Worker dug out of trench collapse
Fire crews from St Polten used manual digging to free a building worker who
became trapped up to his neck in an unstable excavation on Saturday while
installing a drainage line for a house in Glinzendorf, within 30 minutes he had
been rescued and was then taken to hospital in Vienna.
23rd June 2008.
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USA
Fatal accident at South Carolina landscape site
An accident during loading equipment on to an excavator has killed a worker at a
landscaping business on Pawleys Island, northeast of Georgetown, South Carolina,
an equipment arm was accidentally activated and the swinging section struck the
45-year old worker.
23rd June 2008.
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Switzerland
Farmer killed cleaning harvester
A 65-year old farmer has died in an accident while cleaning his combine
harvester after work in Wilchingen, Schaffhausen, when he became caught in
moving parts.
21st June 2008.
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Germany
Explosion at Rheinland MZB kills
ordnance worker
An explosion at the Munitionszerlegsbetrieb (MZB) in Hunxe, in the
Rheinland district of Wesel, killed a 49-year old worker this week.
Around 15 tonnes of old ordnance is dismantled and disposed of annually at
the MZB site, the worker had picked up an old grenade from the stock pile
which exploded in his hands.
20th June 2008.
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Sweden
Elderly care issue
A recent government investigation into the care of the elderly suggested a
considerable improvement in attitude was required to met their needs. At
the weekend an elderly patient in a care home in Katrineholm, 100 miles
west of Stockholm, found herself left unaided for 10 hours in a toilet
overnight while staff were distracted and preoccupied with a social
function on the premises. In this instance the patient's robustness
ensured the only injury was to her dignity.
19th June 2008.
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Bulgaria
Aircraft overshoots runway at Burgas
An aircraft of Transeo Airlines flying from Sofia to Moscow with 207 passengers
overshot the runway on take-off early on Tuesday at Burgas airport, no injuries
were reported.
18th June 2008.
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Australia
Ferry clips school rowers on Brisbane
River
The Brisbane State High School under-16 rowing team had to be rescued on Monday
after their 8-man scull was clipped by a Citycat catamaran near the Orleigh Park
ferry terminal on the Brisbane River, the scull and rowers had to be towed to
safety as water ingress occurred, the accident is being investigated by Maritime
Safety Queensland.
17th June 2008.
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Spain
2 bull-running deaths
Two people were killed at the weekend in bull-running incidents; a 23-year old
man died after being gored by a bull during "bous al carrer" in a street in
Betera, Valencia, where a week ago a 43-year old man died in a similar event.
Elsewhere, a 76- year old man was gored by a bull in a ring in Vall d'Uxio,
Castellon.
16th June 2008.
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England
Fatal crush accident at West Midlands recycling
plant
HSE is investigating a fatal crush accident which occurred at the Sita Recycling
unit in Tipton, West Midlands, the worker is believed to have been attempting to
clear a blockage of cardboard in machinery at the rear of the premises which
handles shredding of waste paper.
14th June 2008.
|
England
Midlands company fined for worker's fall
At Solihull Magistrates Court J R Holdom Contractors were fined £2K plus £1,614
costs after pleading guilty to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations in
which a plasterer fell 4m while working on a conversion project at Rotherhams
Oak Farm Barn in Hockley Heath, a prosecuting HSE inspector commented on the
"expectation that someone falling from that height onto a concrete floor might
not survive."
The plasterer suffered broken wrists when a temporary handrail on the first
floor failed. 13th June 2008.
|
USA
Ammonia bicarbonate kills confectionery
process worker
A worker mixing chocolate in a vat at the Bloomer Chocolate Company in west
Chicago succumbed to a high concentration of ammonia bicarbonate which occurred
in the process following the addition of a powder used in the chocolate
manufacture, he was working alone at the time on the top floor of the premises.
12th June 2008.
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South Africa
Inspectors evacuate unsafe Stellenbosch
site
Labour department safety inspectors were on site yesterday at the JF Hillebrand
building on Devon Valley Road, Stellenbosch, where the first floor collapsed
during refurbishment work, killing 5 workers of La Vita Builders, among others
injured one worker had a number of fingers amputated.
11th June 2008.
|
Latvia
Fire at Riga prison
A carelessly discarded cigarette caused a fire in the smoking lounge of Riga's
Brasa prison from where the fire spread to 2 adjacent buildings comprising a
workshop and residential quarters, it is understood that a roof collapsed.
10th June 2008.
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South Africa
Cholera outbreak at illegal mine
A communicable disease control unit has been sent to Barberton, in the De Kaap
Valley 225 miles east of Johannesburg, where an outbreak of cholera has claimed
the lives of 2 persons engaged in illegal mining.
8 other positive diagnoses have been made, a number of miners have been working
and living in unsanitary conditions for a couple of weeks underground.
9th June 2008.
|
Germany
Hamburg train collides with excavator
A train struck an excavator on Line 3 between Neuwiedenthal and Neugraben in
Hamburg early on Sunday, 1 of the 2 persons on the excavator sustained a broken
shoulder, the other was uninjured. The excavator is a "Zwei-Wege" vehicle which
can also operate on the rails, work had been ongoing nearby.
9th June 2008.
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Indonesia
Search for 5 missing European divers
The Manggari Barat police and the Indonesian navy were searching on Friday for 5
divers missing west of Flores island in the Komodo National Park. The group
comprised of 3 British, 1 French and a Swedish diver, strong currents prevail in
the reef here.
7th June 2008.
|
USA
Crush accident in Delaware grain silo
A 46-year old Delaware worker was crushed to death under 20 tonnes of soybean
meal at Allens Hatchery in Delmar, he was working on a forklift when a trap door
accidentally opened, releasing the meal.
6th June 2008.
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The Netherlands
Train/truck collision in Waarland
The collision of a tow truck and a train on Weelweg in Waarland left 3 train
passengers injured on Thursday, the first carriage derailed but the driver of
the lorry managed to jump clear of the accident. 6th
June 2008.
|
Romania
Search for Slovak seaman missing in Black
Sea
The Maritime Administration has announced that an intensive sea search has been
taking place in the Black Sea for a missing seaman who fell off a Slovakian
ship, the Norden, in Romanian territorial waters 130 miles southeast of
Constanta.
5th June 2008.
|
USA
MEWP electrocution in Michigan
An employee of Campbell Electric was electrocuted while working on overhead high
power lines from a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) in Kalkaska county,
Michigan.
4th June 2008.
|
Italy
Ancona train collision
A locomotive and a regional train collided on Tuesday on the Adriatica line in
Ancona, 50 people sustained minor injuries, the impact occurred at low speed.
4th June 2008.
|
Belgium
Unstable crane in central Nivelles
An unstable crane saw a mass evacuation of the area around the former Palais de
Justice in the centre of Nivelles (Nijvel), Brabant, on Monday afternoon, the
crane was on a site adjacent to the Palais and was at risk of collapse.
3rd June 2008.
|
Russia
Miner rescued alive, 2 still missing
Although one miner was found alive on Sunday at a depth of 300 metres after
Friday's accident at a mine in Mezhdurechensk, Kemerovo Oblast, 2 others are
still missing. The bodies of 3 other victims were also recovered on Sunday, 11
survived the accident.
2nd June 2008.
|
USA
Fatality at New York mine
The Mine Health & Safety Administration is investigating a weekend accident in
which a 40-year old New York miner was crushed while working 700 metres
underground at a St Lawrence Zinc Co mine east of Gouverneur, he was on a
platform drilling into the rock face when the ceiling collapsed, pinning him
under a heavy rock section.
2nd June 2008.
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Austria
Diver's life-threatening condition
A 24-year old female diver is in intensive care in hospital after
surfacing too quickly from a depth of 30 metres while diving in the Attersee at
the "Kohlbauernaufstaz", near Unterhach, it is believed that a problem occurred
with her breathing apparatus, causing her to panic and resurface too fast.
2nd June 2008.
|
Honduras
Airbus black box found at Tegucigalpa
The black box of the Airbus A-320 which crashed on Friday at Tocantin airport
was found on Sunday, 5 people died and scores were injured when the Taca (Transportes
Aereos Centroamericanos) aircraft overshot the runway in wet conditions on a
flight from Los Angeles and El Salvador.
The Salvadorian company's aircraft was built in Ireland 7 years ago and had
completed 21,957 hours of flight time and 9,992 landings. The tight valley
conditions at Tegucigalpa and the shortness of the runway (1600 metres) at the
60-year old airport pose considerable hazards for pilots, only helicopter and
light aircraft landings are planned at Toncantin in the coming weeks which will
see larger planes divert to San Pedro Sula.
2nd June 2008.
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|
England
Machine user and manufacturer fined after
accident
An employee of Rimac Fabrications Ltd of Cannock had all fingers of
his left hand amputated by a hydraulic swaging press in June last year.
The company had failed to maintain parts of the machine, rendering
operators unprotected from moving parts, and as the employee reached into
the machine to remove an item of work, 4 fingers were sliced off his hand
when the machine was operated by another employee. Rimac was fined £5,000
with costs of £2,737. It had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient
risk assessment of the machine during the 2 years it had been on site.
Edbro Machine Tools Ltd was found to be in breach of the Supply of
Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 by failing to ensure that the machine
satisfied essential health and safety requirements relating to machine
guarding when supplied to Rimac in April 2005; it was also in breach for
failing to ensure the machine had a technical file listing the essential
health and safety requirements and other standards which were used when
the machine was designed.
30th June 2008.
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England
Accident on car wash forecourt
An 18-year old man was struck by a car and seriously injured on Monday evening
on the forecourt of the Arc Carwash in Marsh Barton, Exeter. The man, said not
to be an employee, sustained a head injury and remains in serious but stable
condition.
27th June 2008.
|
England
Rail worker dies in Lincolnshire
A contracted rail worker died in an accident at Brigg, south Humberside, on
Tuesday. No details have been given of the nature of the incident but it is
reported that the man is employed by Amalgamated Construction.
26th June 2008.
|
England
Scaffolding company owner jailed
The proprietor of a Rotherham scaffolding company has received a custodial
sentence at Sheffield Crown Court.
During January 2007, an employee of the company sustained serious injury in a
fall of 6m from a badly supported scaffold board that failed during dismantling
of a scaffold.
The proprietor was held to have not provided adequate training or equipment,
additionally he had been in receipt of a prohibition notice for the same
deficiency just over a year before the accident.
25th June 2008.
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Scotland
Scrap metal fell on workman
A man died in April last year at Peterhead harbour when a section of barrier he
was cutting fell on him. The 40-year old employee of Dales Engineering Services
Ltd was discovered dead by a colleague after being pinned between 2 sections of
steel he had just separated which were compressing his chest, the fatal accident
inquiry has found he died from traumatic asphyxia.
24th June 2008.
|
England
Epileptic fit explanation for fatal van
crash
A construction worker's van struck other vehicles and crashed, probably because
he suffered an epileptic fit at the wheel at Battle, Sussex, last August.
An inquest jury arrived at a verdict of accidental death having heard the police
report that a lack of a braking attempt indicated that sudden illness was
likely, and that the 43-year old was known to suffer and receive medication for
a recurring epileptic condition.
23rd June 2008.
|
England
Man fell 5m down stairwell
A workman carrying out joinery work on the 2nd floor of a new house in
Darlington, using a saw horse as a working platform, fell more than 5m
down a nearby unguarded stairwell, sustaining serious injuries, including
crushed vertebrae and a fractured pelvis.
His employer, Bussey and Armstrong Ltd, of Darlington, was fined
£15,000 and must pay £5,000 compensation to him.
21st June 2008.
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Scotland
Fatal accident at agricultural show
A 3-year old boy lost his life yesterday in an accident at the Royal
Highland Show in Ingliston, West Lothian.
It is unclear what occurred, but there has been speculation that he
sustained a head injury from a concrete bollard, and died a short time
later.
20th June 2008.
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Northern Ireland
Auger killed dairy worker
Craigavon Crown Court has fined a dairy company £100,000 for breaching
safety legislation. During February 2006, an employee of Glanbia Cheese
Ltd died after being crushed by an auger in a tank, a direct result of a
failure to provide the 22-year old with a safe system of work and to
prevent him accessing this dangerous part of the equipment.
20th June 2008.
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England
Autoclave blasted worker's leg
An employee of a food company eventually lost a leg after he was injured
when a pressure cooker exploded in June last year at the premises of
Authentic World Cuisine Limited in Loughborough. The accident victim also
sustained other serious injuries caused by the impact of the
equipment's circular steel door.
The company was fined £4,000, an HSE inspector commented: "I hope this
will serve as a reminder to employers and to managers who have specific
responsibility for plant and equipment, that as well as ensuring periodic
statutory examinations are made, it is equally important to ensure that
all maintenance on pressure vessels is undertaken competently and that the
protection systems are kept in good working order at all times."
19th June 2008.
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England
Farm accident victim seriously ill
A man in his 40's sustained life-threatening burns in an accident on Monday when
he and a colleague were caught in a gas explosion on a game bird rearing farm
near Beaminster, Dorset. His colleague received only minor injuries.
18th June 2008.
|
England
Woman found dead in pool
The body of an 83-year old woman was discovered in the pool of The Grand Hotel,
Swanage, on Sunday. It is reported that an employee discovered the woman who
held membership of the hotel's gym.
17th June 2008.
|
England
Confined space death in ship
It is reported that a crewman died in an incident within a ballast tank of the
Saga Rose as it berthed at Southampton on Wednesday last week. A colleague who
attempted a rescue required hospital treatment.
16th June 2008.
|
England
Pool death of 7 year-old
A 7-year old girl died following a swimming pool incident on Saturday at the
Blackwater Leisure Centre in Maldon, Essex.
16th June 2008.
|
England
Acetone vapour ignites easily
Parmeko Plc of Leicester has been fined £10,000 with £1,910 costs following an
incident in which an employee burnt his arms and legs when using acetone to
clean components at its premises during October 2007. He poured acetone
into a one litre plastic jug and was using a small brush to clean debris and oil
from transformers but its vapours ignited when they contacted a solder pot
running at up to 400°C.
An HSE inspector explained: "This incident could have been avoided if Parmeko
had put a safe system of working in place to help protect employees when
handling this sort of highly flammable and toxic substance and made employees
aware of the dangers associated with acetone".
14th June 2008.
|
England
Accidental death of roofer
An inquest at Bournemouth examining the circumstances of the death during
December last year of a 42-year old casual roofing worker has determined a
verdict of accidental death.
The deceased was working for Cladcoat Ltd of Longham, Dorset, when he fell
through a rooflight being replaced at industrial premises in Bournemouth.
13th June 2008.
|
England
Transport accident claims life of
serviceman
A Royal Marine has died in an accident at Range Road, Catterick Garrison,
Yorkshire.
The accident occurred during a training exercise when the deceased was crushed
between 2 army HGVs after alighting from his vehicle.
12th June 2008.
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Scotland
Scrapyard fatal accident
A worker in his 20's was killed in an industrial accident on Monday when he was
crushed by a section of steel he had cut with burning equipment at premises in
Bellshill, Lanarkshire.
11th June 2008.
|
Scotland
Farmer killed in incident
A farmer in his 60's has died in an accident at a farm near Mintlaw,
Aberdeenshire. One account states he was crushed against a wall by a loader
while he worked alone.
11th June 2008.
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Scotland
Explosion kills workman
It is reported that a man in his 50's has died in an industrial accident at the
premises of Ross Agricultural Services in St Cyrus, Angus.
The accident occurred on Saturday, one account states he was grinding an empty
drum when it exploded. 10th
June 2008.
|
Northern Ireland
Farmer killed by bull
A farmer was killed by a bull on Friday at his farm near Omagh, County Antrim.
10th June 2008.
|
Wales
Care home window fall death
An elderly resident of Plas Rhosnesni care home in Wrexham has died after
falling from a window. The fall occurred last Sunday, the 79-year old man died
several days later. 9th June
2008.
|
Scotland
Fatal farm accident
It is reported that a man in his 40's died last Tuesday when he was crushed by a
concrete panel while erecting a farm structure.
The accident occurred at Garvald Mains, East Lothian.
9th June 2008.
|
England
Ignored maintenance cost life
A 45-year old driver employed by Berser International Cargo Services Ltd died
when a 0.4t sliding gate fell on him as he closed it at the company's Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme
premises during March 2006.
Berser was fined £22,000 with costs of £18,000 having breached r.5(1) of the
Workplace Health, Safety & Welfare Regulations 1992.
An HSE inspector commented:
"Basic maintenance of equipment is often ignored by employers
and lives are put at risk as a result. There was a very obvious
defect on this gate that a simple visual check would have
identified. A few moments work and simple modifications would
have prevented this tragedy from occurring."
7th June 2008.
|
England
Man dies after work incident
It is reported that a man in his 40's has died following an incident at his work
at Forgemasters Ltd in Sheffield.
One account states he was hospitalised with breathing problems experienced as he
worked there last Friday. 6th June 2008.
|
England
Building collapse kills occupant
An occupant of flatted residential property situated above commercial premises
in High Street, West Bromwich, died yesterday when the roof collapsed.
Several other occupants escaped with only minor injuries, the man appears to
have been buried when the roof failed, bringing another floor down with it.
5th June 2008.
|
England
Council fined for permitting use of
dangerous machinery
Medway Council has been fined £75,000 with £6,761 costs for providing equipment
to its employees which was in an unsafe condition.
A grass mower removed an employees fingers when he attempted a repair at the
Deangate Ridge Golf and Sports Complex, investigation showed it had no routine
maintenance schedule, a missing protective shield and a safety guard underneath
damaged to such an extent as to render it useless.
None of the green-keeping staff had received any training on the safe use and
maintenance of the machinery and there were no training records or risk
assessments in existence for the use of the mower.
4th June 2008.
|
England
Vehicle maintenance danger
HSE wishes to warn vehicle repair and maintenance engineers of the circumstances
of a fatal accident on 24th May 2006 at the premises of East Staffordshire
Borough Council's Millers Lane, Burton, depot in which an employee of Dennis
Eagle Limited was crushed by a refuse vehicle while underneath it. The deceased
field service engineer was using wheel chocks that were inadequate, when the
parking brake released and the vehicle moved forwards.
Investigation found no chocks had been provided to allow employees to work
safely under vehicles so 2 pieces of brick were employed as an alternative with
fatal consequences. The company had failed to carry out a suitable risk
assessment resulting in inadequate information and instruction, supervision of
the company's field service engineers was also found to be inadequate. Dennis
Eagle was fined £166,000 with costs of £22,612.
3rd June 2008.
|
England
HSE investigates workplace death
It is reported that a man has lost his life in an incident at
the premises of Contico Europe at the Cardrew Industrial estate in Redruth,
Cornwall. 2nd June
2008.
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