India
Confined space accident kills 2
sewerage workers in Rajasthan
A confined space accident has killed 2 workers excavating a sewerage
pipeline in the Pratap Nagar area of Jaipur, both victims were working
for a subcontractor to the local Housing Board and were part of a team
of 8 workers attempting to clear a blockage. They had excavated to a
depth of 4 metres when 2 were overcome by the atmosphere, a 3rd worker
lowered by rope in an attempted rescue also lost consciousness but was
responding to treatment in hospital.
31st March 2009.
|
Belgium
Electrical fire at west Flanders
piggery
An electrical malfunction led to a fire on Monday at a piggery on
Prins Leopoldstraat in the Zuienkerke district of Nieuwmunster in
which 283 of the 300 pigs died.
31st March 2009.
|
Germany
Major evacuation to detonate 6
WW2 bombs
An evacuation of more than 15K residents in Langenhagen, Hannover, was
necessary on Sunday to deal with 6 unexploded WW2 bombs, 2 of which
were located in industrial areas, the other 4 in residential areas.
One of them with a detonator in particularly dangerous condition
proved problematical for the detonating team.
30th March 2009.
|
Australia
Worker injured clearing machine
blockage
A Victoria worker was badly injured while apparently trying to clear a
blockage in machinery at the Ink Corporation acoustics parts factory
on South Park Drive, South Dandenong, while the equipment was still
activated. He was trapped in the machinery for more than an hour.
30th March 2009.
|
UAE
Telecom worker killed in
unshored trench in Dubai
An unshored excavation collapsed at a site on Al Safa Road near the
station in Dubai on Thursday, killing a telecommunications worker
engaged in cable laying, a colleague survived the accident with
injuries. 27th
March 2009.
|
South Africa
Transport fatality at platinum
mine
The Department of Minerals & Energy is investigating a transport
fatality at the Pilansberg mine of Platmin where a contract worker of
MCC Contracts was hit by a vehicle. 27th
March 2009.
|
Australia
NSW rail site crane accident
kills worker, another loses leg
A 2-tonne section of steel rails fell during hoisting by crane at an
Australian Rail Track Corporation site in Telarah, New South Wales,
where 1 worker was killed and another lost a leg. The rails were
attached to a set of sleepers as part of a prefabricated section but
the 12-metre sections of rail parted from the concrete, Abigroup is
upgrading the track for the rail corporation. 26th
March 2009.
|
Bulgaria
Set collapse injures rehearsing
actors in Sofia theatre
Wednesday evening's performance of Carlo Goldani's "Arlecchino
servitore di due padroni"(A Servant of Two Masters) at the Ivan Vazov
theatre in Sofia was cancelled after a section of the stage set fell
on the cast during rehearsals, 2 members of the company are recovering
in the city's Pirogov Medical Institute from broken ribs and arm
injuries. 26th
March 2009.
|
Japan
US Marine killed, 2 injured in
Okinawa explosives accident
A US Marine was killed and 2 colleagues were injured in an explosion
close to Camp Schwab on Okinawa within a training area there, the 3
servicemen belong to an explosives handling unit. 25th
March 2009.
|
The Netherlands
Amsterdam school playground
supervisor stabbed
A school dinner break supervisor was stabbed to death at Willemspark
Primary School in south Amsterdam on Tuesday afternoon, an incident
witnessed by a number of children in the playground. It is thought
that he was employed by a seniors' agency. 25th
March 2009.
|
China
12 dead after roof collapse at
chemical plant site
A 10-metre high roof collapsed on Monday at a building under
construction at the Jianfeng Chemical Company's storage facility in
Chongqing, 11 workers died and 1 is missing under the rubble. 24th
March 2009.
|
Sierra Leone
Leaking pipeline explosion
killed 10 in Freetown
It is thought that 2 employees of oil company Safe- con were among the
10 fatalities in a pipeline explosion in Freetown where locals were
collecting petrol leaking from a pipe during unloading from a Russian
tanker. Police had been firing tear gas to clear the crowds when an
ignition occurred, such syphoning of leaking fuel has been an ongoing
problem in this area of Freetown. 24th
March 2009.
|
Russia
4 die in crush at Sverdlovsk
disco
The Sverdlovsk Regional Prosecutor's office is considering laying
charges of causing death by negligence following 4 fatalities in a
crushing accident at a disco in the Kapella trade and information
centre in Pervouralsk at the weekend. The premises had been leased by
a company called Gollivud who were sponsoring the event. It is
believed that the attraction of free entry for early arrivals saw a
large crowd gather, 1 man and a trio of 16-year old girls died in the
crushing. 23rd
March 2009.
|
South Africa
Surf academy teenager killed in
shark attack
A teenager with the Iliza-surf academy has been killed in a shark
attack off Second Beach, Port St Johns, the National Sea Rescue
Institute has reported an increased shark presence in the area, there
has been speculation that sewage and effluent from the Umzimvubu River
may be linked to the increased shark activity.
23rd March 2009.
|
Russia
Pilot instructor killed in L-39 crash in Krasnodar
All L-39 training aircraft have been grounded by the Russian Air Force
pending investigation of the death of a pilot instructor of the
Krasnodar Higher Military School for pilot training whose aircraft
came down during a training flight near Kuschevskaya airfield,
Krasnodar, southern Russia.
20th March 2009.
|
China
Gas incidents in Shanghai
The Shanghai Gas Company has indicated that damage described as “heavy
burden“ cracked neighbourhood gas pipes during work on the Suzhou
Creek flood barrier, causing a gas seepage from the fractured pipes
into a house on Suzhou Road South which led to the deaths of 2
residents. Elsewhere, in the Sangjiang district of the city, a workman
responding to a call of a possible gas leak by concerned residents was
killed in an explosion, probably creating an ignition source when he
pressed the doorbell.
19th March 2009.
|
Canada
Accident at Ontario paper
recycling plant
The Ministry of Labour in Ontario has been informed of an accident on
Wednesday at the paper product and recycling plant of Paper Fibres Inc
in Mississauga which has left a worker with serious injuries.
19th March 2009.
|
Uruguay
Cleaner killed in mixer accident
at dairy cooperative
A 26-year old cleaner was killed in an accident on Tuesday at the
Conaprole (Cooperative Nacional de Productores de Leche) dairy
cooperative in Soriano when a colleague inadvertently activated an
industrial food mixer he was cleaning, Conaprole is Uruguay's 2nd
largest private company.
18th March 2009.
|
Germany
Hamburg lab worker quarantined
after Ebola virus accident
A female staff member of the Bernard-Nocht Tropenistitut in Hamburg
has been quarantined in an emergency mobile treatment unit after
an accident last Thursday in which she was pricked by a needle while
working with the Ebola virus in a high security unit and with
protective clothing. Symptoms can become manifest from 2 to 21 days
after infection, no symptoms were apparent as of yesterday. The Ebola
strain being worked with would prove fatal in 90% of cases.
18th March 2009.
|
USA
Falling limestone kills Indiana
stone worker
An unstable section of limestone rock measuring 5m x 2m has killed a
worker at the Victor Oolitic Stone Company in Bloomington, Indiana. 18th March 2009.
|
Australia
No safe system of work in finger
amputation accident
A fine of $20K(£9,364)has been levied against Bradken Resources who pleaded guilty
to a breach of section 19(1) of the Occupational Health, Safety and
Welfare Act 1986 for failing to provide a safe system of work in
respect of an accident at its Kilburn foundry in September 2006 where
a worker’s fingers were crushed under a heavy metal casting. A worker
had tried to place a chock under the raised end of a 300 Kg
casting during lowering on to a work surface but the chock rolled
away, trapping his fingers, 1 of which was amputated. Investigation
established that no safe system of work was documented for the task,
such as by gantry crane, and training was minimal. The company now
deploys forklift trucks to move castings. 17th March 2009.
|
USA
Iowa care home fined over
indifference to sexual abuse allegations
New Homestead Care Centre has lost its appeal against a fine of $7K(£4,973),
being deemed to have “displayed indifference and disregard to resident
care and safety” through an unwillingness to investigate and pursue
allegations of sexual abuse by a male nurse against elderly patients,
cited by inspectors in Guthrie, Iowa, and a failure to report them to
the state. 17th March 2009.
|
Sweden
Moving jack kills worker at OKG reactor
A maintenance worker was killed on Sunday when a jack malfunctioned
during work in the turbine hall of reactor 3 of OKG (Oskarhamns
Kraftgrupp) in Oskarhamn, southeast Sweden. The reactor is 1 of 3 at
the site and is out of commission for maintenance from 1 March - 30
May this year. 16th March 2009.
|
USA
Electrical fatality at Tennessee
plant
A fatal accident occurred at the weekend at the Line Power
Manufacturing Corporation in Bristol, Tennessee, where a worker was
killed during the testing of electrical equipment at the plant which
manufacturers mining and industrial power-generation equipment.
16th March 2009.
|
Canada
Oil helicopter with 18 on board
crashes into sea off Newfoundland
An S-92 Sikorsky helicopter of Cougar Helicopters with 18 people on
board crashed in the Atlantic yesterday 55 miles southeast of St
John's, Newfoundland, while flying to the Sea Rose and Hibernia oil
platforms on the Grand Banks 190 miles from St John's. One person was
rescued, 1 has died, a search was ongoing through Thursday night for
the other 16 missing persons, who would be clad in survival suits with
locator beacons. The helicopter, which had reported mechnical
problems, was returning to Newfoundland when it sank in windy
conditions and with 3-metre high waves.
13th March 2009.
|
Austria
Crash helicopter had new engine
A police officer is listed in life-threatening condition, another has
serious injuries, in an accident in which an Ecureuil helicopter
crashed in Deutschlandsberg, Styria, the pilot died in the accident.
The 22-year old helicopter was largely refurbished 2 years ago, and a
new engine had been installed within the last fortnight, with only 9
hours flying time completed since this installation.
13th March 2009.
|
Vietnam
Crane operational errors caused
Ho Chi Minh bridge collapse
The Vietnamese Ministry of Transportation has indicated that it was
crane operational errors which led to the collapse of the
under-construction Cho Dem Bridge in Ho Chi Minh City this week, 1
worker was killed in the accident, another has serious head injuries.
The Department has temporarily suspended river traffic.
12th March 2009.
|
Japan
16 seamen missing after tankers
collide in Pacific
The collision of 2 cargo ships in conditions of poor visibility off
Izu Oshima island on Tuesday has left 16 seamen of a South Korean
steel-laden ship missing.
As rescuers arrived at the location 70 miles south of Tokyo there was
no sign of the ship, presumed sunk, all 19 crew of the other ship, a
Panamanian-registered tanker carrying cars, are reported safe.
11th March 2009.
|
China
Arrests in wake of Luxinju gas
incident
A number of arrests were made on Tuesday in connection with the
accident on Monday at the Luxinju mine of Juneng Coal Mine Co Ltd in
Jungar Banner, Inner Mongolia, where 6 miners died from gas poisoning.
The head of the mine, 2 deputies and the mine’s safety inspector were
all arrested, all mines in Jungar Banner have now received work
suspension orders pending safety audits.
11th March 2009.
|
Uganda
Lake Victoria plane crash leaves
11 dead
At least 11 people, including 4 Russian crew members, are feared dead
following the crash of an Ilyushin aircraft in Lake Victoria, some 6
miles south of Entebbe from where it had taken off with a cargo of aid
for Somalia. Although it struck a fishing boat on Lake Victoria, it is
believed that no fishermen were killed.
10th March 2009.
|
Russia
4 unsupervised children die in
Irkutsk house fire
Investigators from Irkutsk are studying the circumstances of a house
fire at a single-storey property outside Angarsk in which 4 children
died, it is alleged that the parents were absent at the time.
10th March 2009.
|
New Zealand
Student dies in bridge fall on
extracurricular course
A Massey University female student was killed in a 20-metre fall in
Manawatu Gorge while participating in a course organised by the
university's Alpine Club. The club had hired a contractor, Crag
Adventures, to organise a bridge swing for 100 students which involved
jumping from Ballance bridge near Woodville harnessed into the swing
and attached to a rope to swing under the bridge.
9th March 2009.
|
Turkey
Helicopter crash kills 2 pilots
A Cobra helicopter crashed near Pinarbasi, Kayseri, claiming the lives
of both pilots on board the flight which had departed from an air base
in Malatya. 9th
March 2009.
|
Russia
6 dead, 1 missing in Far East gas explosion
At least 6 residents died in a gas explosion on Thursday in a 2-storey
house in Vozdvizhenka, in the Primorsky region, 1 person is still
listed as missing, 7 other occupants survived the incident.
6th March 2009.
|
Japan
Solvent caused fire in switched-off reactor
It is speculated that the use of an organic solvent led to Thursday's
fire at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant of the Tokyo
Electric Power Company in Niigata, an incident which left the worker
with facial burns. He was working in an underground chamber which
cools the No1 reactor, 1 of 7 taken out of operation following the
July 2007 earthquake.
6th March 2009.
|
Mexico
Confined space incident claims 6
lives
A confined space accident in an improvised underground tunnel killed 6
people this week in San Jose Rincon, 4 of the victims included 2
construction workers, a paramedic and a fireman attempting the rescue
of 2 adventurers, in their 60’s, in search of a presumed cache of
hidden treasure under the former Hacienda de San Onofre.
The tunnel, whose entrance was barely 4 metres wide, ran for 50 metres
in length, 15 metres underground. To remove accumulations of water a
fuel-powered pump was being used by the treasure seekers, which would
have led to a build-up of fumes.
During the Mexican Revolution of 1910-17/20(the Francisco Madero
uprising) many padrones abandoned their ranches and it was rumoured
they buried their wealth, the Hacienda de San Onofre was home to a
wealthy mining family.
5th March 2009.
|
USA
HGV driver killed in fall from
lorry ladder
An HGV driver was killed in a fall from a ladder mounted on the side
of his lorry during its filling with soybeans at a farm in DeKalb
County, Georgia.
5th March 2009.
|
Singapore
Nitric acid spillage claims 4
lives
The nitric acid spillage at Chemic Industries in Tuas has now claimed
a 4th victim who succumbed to his 70% burns in Singapore
General Hospital, 3 other workers had died earlier. A 5th
worker with 4% burns is expected to make a full recovery.
The Manpower Ministry has implemented a full stop work order pending
completion of an investigation into the incident which occurred when a
modest amount of nitric acid leaked from a flange joint during
maintenance of a heat exchanging unit.
4th March 2009.
|
Dem Rep Congo
Separate mining accidents at
Katanga pits
Katanga Mining Ltd has reported 2 separate fatal accidents at its
Kamoto underground mine and its open-pit mine on the edge of Kolwezi
in Katanga province. In the former a miner was killed by a rock fall
from the roof, in the latter a landslide crushed a miner.
4th March 2009.
|
Japan
Worker's body found in
compressed paper bale
The body of a 69-year old part-time worker has been found in a bale of
compressed waste paper at a paper-processing mill in Kiyosu, Aichi,
although it is presumed a workplace accident police have yet to rule
out foul play. 3rd
March 2009.
|
Serbia
Bulgarian train's freight
exceeds radioactive levels
The Inspectorate for Environmental
Protection has reported that it turned back a load of scrap metal at
Dimitrovgrad(Caribrod) station, in the Pirot district of Serbia, as it
was travelling by rail from Bulgaria to Macedonia after it encountered
unacceptably high radioactive emissions from 1 of the 14 wagons
carrying 54K Kg of iron from the Rovotel Steel plant in Sofia.
3rd March 2009.
|
USA
Vintage aircraft test flight
crash kills 2 in California
The Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating a fatal
accident which occurred at the weekend in California where a
single-engine Mooney classic aircraft crashed during a test flight
from Rio Linda airport, coming down to the west of the airport,
killing both the pilot and an accompanying mechanic.
2nd March 2009.
|
Romania
Thick foam carpet helps with
emergency landing
Ground crews at Timisoara airport prepared a dense surface of foam for
an emergency landing of a SAAB-2000 flight of Romanian company
Carpatair with 4 crew and 47 passengers flying from Chisinau,
Moldova, after it had reported technical problems with its front
landing gear. After circling for 90 minutes to deplete fuel, a safe
landing was accomplished, no injuries were reported.
2nd March 2009.
|
|
Canada
Toronto worker's arm severed
cleaning food machinery
In the early hours of Monday a worker at Food Directions Inc on
Melford Drive, east Toronto, had his arm severed while cleaning the
extruder mixer of pasta manufacturing equipment,
attempts made to reattach it yesterday at the Western
Hospital are believed to have been unsuccessful. 31st
March 2009.
|
China
Maintenance worker killed on
Jinan Railway line
A man, believed to be a maintenance worker of Jinan Railway, was
killed by a bullet train travelling from Qingdao to Beijing on the
track just beyond Weifang Station in Shandong.
31st March 2009.
|
USA
Boy,12, killed by metal falling
from forklift
A 12-year old Indiana boy was killed by a heavy metal section which
came off a forklift truck in transit at the Upright Iron Works Inc
family enterprise in Griffith, south Chicago, the boy sustained fatal
upper body injuries after being pinned by the falling metal.
30th March 2009.
|
USA
Falling garden material kills
retail worker at Nebraska store
A 24-year old retail assistant was killed in an accident on Saturday
at Menards DIY store in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, when 2 large bundles
of garden material fell on him in the yard at the premises.
30th March 2009.
|
Russia
HGV/bus collision in Vladimir
kills 20
It is speculated that a lorry driver may have fallen asleep in
yesterday's accident involving a head-on collision with a bus in the
Petushinsky district of Vladimir Region, 60 miles east of Moscow. The
lorry crossed over from its lane into the path of the bus travelling
from Ulyanovsk to Moscow, 20 people died and 4 were injured. 27th March
2009.
|
Canada
Ontario forklift driver killed
by collapsing wall
A forklift truck driver has been killed when a section of wall
collapsed at waste recycler HGC Management in Brantford, Ontario, it
appears that he became pinned between the vehicle and the wall prior
to the collapse. 27th March
2009.
|
Turkey
Helicopter with politician
crashes in east Turkey
A helicopter returning from a political rally in Kahramanmaras
crashed near Haci Omerli in eastern Turkey on Wednesday, it is
believed that there were 6 people on board, including a politician.
The flight came down in snowy conditions, the location making
rescuers' task more difficult. 26th March
2009.
|
Uruguay
Driver charged over death of
passenger in fall from livestock lorry
The driver of a Rimar SRL livestock lorry has been charged with
culpable homicide(non-custodial) following the death of a man who fell
from the lorry which was carrying an estimated 300 visitors back from
a rock concert in Durazno, Uruguay's MTOP (Ministerio de Transporte y
Obras Publicas) had specifically banned the use of such vehicles for
transporting people from these events. 26th March
2009.
|
Luxembourg
Maintenance worker falls 4m as
plank breaks
A worker fell 4 metres on Tuesday at a site in Bissen where a plank on
which he was standing broke as he was fitting conduit at a building
there, the extent of his injuries in hospital at Ettelbruck remains
unknown. 25th March
2009.
|
Canada
Winnipeg worker killed by heavy
paper bale
A falling bale of recycled paper has killed a 45-year old worker at
Western Scrap Metals Inc in North Point Douglas, Winnipeg, the
accident happened during unloading from transport.
25th March 2009.
|
Japan
FedEx plane crashes in possible
wind shear accident
Wind shear, when the direction and speed of the wind can alter
suddenly, may have played a part in Monday's crash of an MD-11 FedEx
cargo aircraft which crashed on Runway A of Narita Airport in a flight
from Guangzhou in China. Both pilots died in the fiery accident, the
aircraft had a cargo of flammable liquid. Winds in the Tokyo area were
gusting to 45mph, with wind shear possible to an altitude of 600
metres. 24th
March 2009.
|
USA
Teenager lost arm in laundry
washing machine accident
It remained unclear whether surgeons managed to successfully reattach
the lower arm of a 13-year old who was the victim of an accident at a
community laundromat on Portland Avenue, Rochester, New York, at the
weekend. He was using a coin-operated front-loading washing machine
and it is speculated that he thought he heard the machine pause during
its cycle but when he opened the door and reached in the machine
reactivated, his arm becoming wrapped in the contents and severing
above the elbow. Although he experienced significant loss of blood, it
was believed that he would survive the incident.
24th March 2009.
|
China
Miners trapped in flood at pit
with stop work order
Flooding at a private mine in Sanjiaotang in Hunan has left 13 miners
trapped, 2 managers have absconded from the scene. According to the
Changning Coal Industrial Bureau the mine had been closed by the local
work safety administration on 7th March but had restarted without
authorisation. 23rd
March 2009.
|
Austria
Paint vapour explosion during
hot work
A fire and explosion occurred during welding in a workshop in
Laipersdorf, Burgenland, on Sunday. Painting had taken place recently
and an amount of paint thinner was lying in a pail, it is speculated
that the vapour ignited. Although the explosion blew out the workshop
door, no worker was seriously injured.
23rd March 2009.
|
Australia
Fall from height death at Billiton site
Construction work has been suspended at the Newman iron ore site of
BHP Billiton following the death of a 45-year old contract worker of
the John Holland engineering group in a fall from height, Western
Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum is investigating this
accident.
20th March 2009.
|
Canada
Transport fatality on Ottawa site
A 19-year old worker distributing salary advice slips to colleagues of
Colautti Construction Ltd has been killed in a transport accident at a
housing site in Kanata, west Ottawa, where he became caught between 2
large plant vehicles.
20th March 2009.
|
New Zealand
Head injuries kill Canterbury
worker in machine accident
A machine accident has killed a worker at RX Plastic Ltd in Tinwald,
on the outskirts of Ashburton, Canterbury, where it is believed that
his head became trapped in machinery.
19th March 2009.
|
Malaysia
Fatal accidents as cranes fail at different sites
Accidents involving cranes claimed lives at 2 different sites on
Tuesday. A concrete pillar being lifted from a lorry fell through a
site office cabin at Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur, killing a manager
at work at a desk; while at a site near Kampang Damansara Bestari a
crane failed during the lifting of concrete to the 30th storey of a
high rise building under construction, the falling load killing a
worker on the ground.
18th March 2009.
|
South Africa
Fall of ground kills gold miner
Work has been suspended at Anglo Gold Ashanti's Moab Khotsong mine
where a fall of ground has killed a miner.
18th March 2009.
|
Yemen
Saudi airliner in emergency
landing at Sana’a
A malfunctioning control panel forced a Saudi Airlines aircraft flying
from Jeddah to Johannesburg with 98 passengers and crew to make an
emergency landing at Sana‘a International Airport on Monday when
instrumentation indicated that a fire had broken out in a luggage
area. The alert proved to be a false alarm but engineers spent 6 hours
rectifying the fault while an alternative aircraft completed the
flight.
17th March 2009.
|
Russia
Structural collapse kills Moscow fireman
A Moscow fireman was killed during firefighting at the former Krasny
Proletary plant in the south of the city at the weekend. A partial
collapse of the roof occurred at the site which was functioning as a
warehouse on Malaya Kaluzhskaya Street.
16th March 2009.
|
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Methane explosion at Zenica mine
The Bosnian Federal Ministry of Energy & Mining has reported that a
methane explosion has killed 1 miner and left 6 others injured at the
weekend, the accident occurred at a depth of 600 metres at Zenica, 42
miles north of Sarajevo, where there are 4 coalmines and 1 open-cast
mine. The cause is initially being attributed to oxidisation with
flammable amounts of methane.
16th March 2009.
|
USA
Texan crane operator killed by
falling steel
A 56-year old crane operator has been killed by a falling 5-tonne
steel section in an accident at the Delta Steel mill in Forth Worth,
Texas.
13th March 2009.
|
Canada
Ontario maintenance worker’s arm
hit by falling press
An Ontario maintenance worker is being treated for serious arm
injuries in Hamilton General Hospital following an accident at Port
Colborne Drop Forge, Port Colborne, Lake Erie, where a 3-tonne press
fell on it during maintenance work, his condition is listed as serious
but stable.
13th March 2009.
|
South Africa
Fire at Sasol’s Secunda plant
A fire on Wednesday at the Sasol Tankfarm West petrochemical plant in
Secunda, Mpumalanga, left 3 workers injured, 2 listed in serious
condition. Fire crews contained the blaze quickly, but the cause
remained unknown.
12th March 2009.
|
USA
Electrician killed in
Pennsylvanian mine
An electrician of TP Electric Inc has been killed in an accident at
the Poland Mine in Dunkard, Pennsylvania, where a forklift truck
knocked over a scissors lift on which he was standing.
11th March 2009.
|
Malawi
3 killed in wall collapse at nut
factory
A structural collapse at a warehouse of the Mbandanga Macadamia Nut
Company in Thyolo has seen 3 workers killed, 2 died at the locus,
another died later in hospital following an amputation of his leg. 12
workers survived the accident, some treated for fractured limbs, it
has been speculated that heavy machine vibration may have contributed
to structural weakness of the walls.
11th March 2009.
|
Egypt
20 seamen missing in the Red Sea
A cargo ship carrying 5,600 tonnes of glass from Egypt to the United
Arab Emirates sank near Safaga on Monday, although 6 crew members were
picked up by helicopter a further 20 Sudanese, Indian and Pakistani
seamen are missing.
10th March 2009.
|
India
Fire in unlicensed Amritsar
firecrackers factory
An electrical malfunction occurred on Monday in an allegedly
unlicensed firecrackers factory on the outskirts of Amritsar, 2 teenage
workers died in an ensuing fire and explosion, it is believed that
large quantities of firecrackers were being stored on the premises in
breach of safety regulations.
10th March 2009.
|
USA
Dragline kills Louisiana lignite
miner
A large dragline with a 77m³ bucket used to expose coal in surface
mining has killed a worker who became caught in its tracks at the
Dollet Hills Mining Company near Mansfield, Louisiana, where soft
lignite coal is mined for the 650-megawatt Cleco-Swepco Dolet Hills
Power Station. 9th
March 2009.
|
Serbia
Ammonia spillage
The failure of a compressor safety valve led to an ammonia spillage at
the Vino Zupa factory in Aleksandrovac where 9 workers were
hospitalised. 9th
March 2009.
|
Turkey
Falling steel kills Kocaeli shipyard worker
A falling section of sheet metal killed a shipyard worker on Thursday
during lifting by a winch at Kocaeli, this was the first fatal
accident there since shipbuilding began in the Kocaeli Free Zone 4
years ago.
6th March 2009.
|
Slovenia
Mass WW2 grave found at Lasko mine
A mass WW2 grave under concrete with 750 bodies has been found at the
Barbarin Trench mine near Lasko, Slovenian TV has indicated that the
pit was covered in 1942, with the Slovenian Labour and Family Ministry
speculating that as many as 12K people were killed there, and at other
sites in Kosnice and Celje. Forensic tests suggest many were thrown in
alive.
6th March 2009.
|
Germany
2 people still missing in
Cologne buildings collapse
Work was ongoing throughout Wednesday, with concrete being poured in
an attempt to stabilise the site around the collapse of the City
Archives building in central Cologne. Adjacent premises also
collapsed, with 2 people still reported missing. The instability meant
that rescuers could not expect to access the area to locate the
missing people until Thursday morning at the earliest. Although the
cause of the collapse remains unclear, the site is very close to the
new north-south line linking the Central Station to the metro.
5th March 2009.
|
Belgium
Worker killed at recycling unit
On Wednesday afternoon a worker was killed in an accident at the Comet
Sambre metal recycling plant in Chatelet where he was crushed under a
crane, he died shortly after fire crews managed to free him.
5th March 2009.
|
Switzerland
Player dies during handball
international
The 20-year old captain of the
German U-21 handball team collapsed and died during an U-21
international match with Switzerland in Schaffhouse, he captained
German 1st Division side Dormaga.
5th March 2009.
|
France
Nonagenarian Breton farmer
killed in tractor accident
A 91- year old farmer was found dead late in the evening under the
bucket attachment of his tractor which he had been trying to repair on
his farm at Goazilouet, 30 miles north of Lorient.
4th March 2009.
|
USA
Crane accident on Houston Ship
Channel
A swinging crane winch killed a worker on a barge on Tuesday at the
IPC Terminal on the Houston Ship Channel in the east of Harris County,
Texas, the crane was mounted on the barge.
4th March 2009.
|
Spain
Andalucian chair-lift accident
At least 23 people were injured on Monday when a section of the Emile
Allais chair-lift at Borreguiles in the Sierra Nevada fell, it has
been speculated that prevailing strong winds produced excessive cable
vibration which loosened fittings to a pillar. The Plan de Castrofe
Local was deployed, some of the injured were hospitalised, having
fallen 8 metres.
3rd March 2009.
|
Uruguay
Falling wall pins worker
A 2-metre high wall collapsed at a site on highway 101 northeast of
Montevideo trapping a site worker, colleagues used a door as an
emergency stretcher to save time in getting him quickly to hospital in
Pando, 10 miles northeast of the capital.
3rd March 2009.
|
USA
New Mexico railroad worker
killed during shunting
An employee of Burlington-Northern Santa-Fe railway has been killed in
an accident on Saturday in Yeso, New Mexico, during shunting of wagons
into a side line, it remains unclear how he fell under the moving
wagons. 2nd March
2009.
|
|
Rep Ireland
Falling goods kill customer at
Dublin DIY store
Falling fencing from a shelf killed a customer at the B & Q store on
Belgard Road, Tallaght, south Dublin, a staff member narrowly escaped
injury in the incident being investigated by HSA.
31st March 2009.
|
Ivory Coast
Wall collapse leads to 19 deaths at football match
More than 19 spectators are feared dead after a wall collapsed at the
weekend World Cup qualifying match between Ivory Coast and Malawi in
the Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. It is thought that the wall
collapse sparked panic and an ensuing crush incident.
30th March 2009.
|
USA
Ejected timber kills Florida
machine man
A 4-metre section of timber ejected from a planer machine at Spanish
Trail Lumber in Cypress, Florida, inflicting fatal upper body injuries
to a 48-year old worker there.
30th March 2009.
|
Malta
Site worker killed in 3-storey
fall
A construction worker died in a fall on Thursday into a shaft at a
newbuild site in Zerafa Street, Gharghur, northeast Malta, falling
from 3rd storey level. 27th March
2009.
|
USA
Paver killed by reversing plant
on Californian road site
An employee of Bay City's Paving & Graving has been killed by a
reversing construction vehicle while working on the California
Department of Transportation's Atwater Boulevard project at Highway 99
in Atwater, he was working in a crouched position out of line of sight
of the reversing driver. 27th March
2009.
|
Austria
Accidents at sites in Vienna and
Salzburg
A Polish construction worker was killed in a fall from the 3rd storey
of a building on Vorgartenstrasse in the Leopoldstadt district of
Vienna on Wednesday.
In the old quarter of Salzburg an electrician sustained multiple
fractures in an accident when a temporary lift fell 9 metres at a
house on the corner of Judengasse and Waagplatz. 26th March
2009.
|
Wales
Retailer fined over finger
accident
Tesco has been fined £22K plus £7K in costs after pleading guilty to
an accident in which a store assistant lost a finger while attempting
a manual repair on equipment at its Haverfordwest store. He had been
using a Mastermover machine to move roll cages, but a mechanism was
malfunctioning. The company admitted breaching the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure equipment was efficiently
maintained, failing to provide adequate training and neglecting a duty
to ensure the health and safety of an employee.
25th March 2009.
|
England
London council fined over
scaffolder's electrocution
Camden Council has been fined £40K plus £16K in costs in respect of
the electrocution of a scaffolder on the Mayford estate in September
2006 when he contacted the live casing of a faulty light, the earth
cable of which had been cut.
The council had neglected to inspect its lighting fittings on the
estate. 25th March
2009.
|
Italy
Jail sentences of 62 years for
Tunisian staff over plane crash with wrong fuel gauge
An Italian court on Monday handed out 10-year prison sentences to a
pilot and co-pilot, and 9-year prison sentences to the managing
director and the technical manager of Tuninter, a subsidiary of
Tunisair, in respect of the crash of a twin-engine ATR-72 flight from
Bari to Djerba in August 2005 which saw 16 of the 39 people on board
killed. Investigation by the Italian national agency for air transport
safety, ANSV(Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo), found that
an incorrect fuel gauge, that for the older ATR-42, had been fitted to
the plane on the day before it crashed. When the flight arrived in
Bari the faulty gauge led the crew to believe that 3K litres of fuel
were in the tank, thus only 240 litres were added to top up for the
return flight. When the tanks ran to empty, the flight came down in
the sea 18 miles from Palermo. Additionally, the head of maintenance,
the chief mechanic and the maintenance team leader received 8-year
prison sentences, 2 other members of staff being acquitted of all
charges. All were tried in absentia and will appeal the sentences.
24th March 2009.
|
England
NE recycling plant fined over
fatal accident
The Alex Smiles Ltd recycling plant was fined £15K plus £5K costs at
Newcastle Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaching the Health &
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 over the death of a worker killed by a
vehicle at the Sunderland plant, the prosecution accepting that the
violation by the company did not contribute to the worker's death.
At an earlier hearing a plant operator employee had admitted a charge
of manslaughter by gross negligence, with sentencing to follow.
24th March 2009.
|
USA
Transport crush accidents in
Georgia
A refuse collector of Curbside Waste Systems has been killed after
being pinned against the rear of a bin wagon by a car on Georgia
Highway 138 during his round in Conyers, Georgia. In Tifton, Georgia,
a mechanic has been killed when a lorry under maintenance rolled back
on him at Yale Lift Trucks of Florida and Georgia.
23rd March 2009.
|
Japan
Ice fishermen fall through
melting ice on Hokkaido lake
Unusually mild weather and temperatures of 7ºC, typically mid-April,
have contributed to the deaths of 2 ice fishermen at the weekend who
fell through thin ice some 350 metres offshore on Lake Saroma in
Yubetsu, Hokkaido. Some others managed to get out and back safely to
the shore. 23rd
March 2009.
|
England
Forklift rollover accident at Teesside mineral company
A forklift rollover accident has left the driver with serious leg
injuries in an accident yesterday at industrial mineral company
Minelco on the Bowesfield Industrial Estate, Stockton. One lower leg
was badly crushed, his condition is listed as stable in the University
Hospital of North Tees.
20th March 2009.
|
Australia
Painters’ platform collapse
leaves NSW worker in intensive care
A scaffold supporting a painters' platform collapsed during work at
the Brookfarm building on the Byron Bay Arts & Industry Estate, New
South Wales, one worker fell 5 metres and sustained fractures and a
punctured lung and is on a life-support system in hospital.
19th March 2009.
|
USA
Rollover accident at Michigan fire damage site
A Michigan worker has been killed in a rollover accident involving an
articulated tractor which he was operating to remove debris from a
fire damage site on St Clair Street, Port Huron, it is not thought he
was a municipal employee.
18th March 2009.
|
India
Workers abscond after load falls at Chennai site
An estimated 50 tonnes of steel fell when a cable hoisting them by
crane snapped at the flyover site on Telephone Exchange Road in
Ambattur, Chennai, killing 1 member of the public and 5 others who
were passing below. It is alleged that the workers absconded, police
have indicated they are to arrest the crane operator.
18th March 2009.
|
England
Fire during demolition of Yorks
abattoir
A major fire broke out at a former abattoir on Station Road, Thirsk,
during cutting work with an oxy-acetylene torch on Monday, no injuries
were reported at the site which has already been partly demolished.
17th March 2009.
|
Spain
Unstable Civil War explosives led to amputations
An accident during handling of former Civil War ordnance has left 2
persons in Eibar in the Basque region requiring amputations when
155mm-diamter shells exploded, 1 of the victims has lost an arm and
sustained 70% burns, the other lost a hand and has 30% burns to his
arms and face.
Local police, Ertzaintza, have reported that quite a number of 70-year
old shells are requiring handling by explosives experts on the
premises.
16th March 2009.
|
China
Ammonia leakage at pharmacy
plant
A fractured pipe at the Shenghuaxi Pharmacy Company Ltd in the Nan‘an
district of Chongqing led to an ammonia leakage which has killed 1
worker and left another seriously injured.
13th March 2009.
|
Serbia
Gas train derailment
A freight train transporting propane-butane gas for BNG Belgrade
derailed in Batajnica en route between Novi Sad and Belgrade. The
tanks were found to be undamaged and it was possible to transfer the
gas to replacement tanks.
13th March 2009.
|
New Zealand
Record fine for
recyclers’ amputation accident
A record fine of $100K(£36,932) plus $76,900(£28,401) compensation for
a workplace accident has been levied against Taranaki Recyclers in
respect of an accident at its New Plymouth premises in April last year
in which a worker had amputations to both legs following an accident
involving a baler press.
The Department of Labour’s prosecution termed the company’s health and
safety policy “ad hoc”, lacking hazard identification.
12th March 2009.
|
Australia
Painters’ suspended platform
fails at Sydney site
A painters‘ suspended platform became unstable at a site in east
Sydney on Tuesday, 1 painter fell to his death while the other was
rescued, hanging in his safety harness 20 metres above ground at the
Marouba Seals Sports Community Club where it was being lowered. Later
in the day a crane being used to secure the site collapsed, the driver
escaped this accident with minor injuries.
11th March 2009.
|
Sweden
Tenant’s body lay unnoticed for
a year
The body of a male tenant in his 60‘s discovered in an apartment in
Forserum, Smaland, may have been decomposing for as long as a year
since his death which passed unnoticed in the small town of 2K people.
His car was parked outside and he was known to have resided elsewhere
for periods. Local police have ruled out criminal intent.
11th March 2009.
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Child dies after school bus
overturns
A school bus carrying 46 children and 6 adults overturned in
Zljebovi, 1 child has died and 25 others have been hospitalised in
east Sarajevo with serious injuries.
10th March 2009.
|
Canada
Fine over accident at Ontario
tube works
A fine of $90K(£49,724) plus a 25% surcharge was levied against structural
steel tube manufacturer Atlas Tube Inc of Harrow, Ontario, in respect
of a crush accident involving a 21-year old temporary worker on
September 26th 2006. He was pinned by 4,335Kg of steel, having entered
an area where steel was being transferred on a conveyor belt. Ministry
of Labour investigation established that the area's perimeter gate was
unlocked and there was no warning sign in the vicinity. The company
pleaded guilty as an employer to failing to take every precaution
reasonable for the protection of a worker.
10th March 2009.
|
England
Detached HGV tyre kills man in
West Sussex
A bouncing detached wheel from a passing lorry inflicted multiple
injuries to a man awaiting a lift by the A26 in Arundel, West Sussex,
he was struck by 1 of 2 detached wheels. He died later from the
multiple injuries; compounding the accident, his father-in-law
collapsed and died when told of the incident.
9th March 2009.
|
Japan
Naval officers may be prosecuted
over fishermen's deaths
The Yokohama District Prosecutor's Office will this week meet with the
Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office to decide whether charges of
alleged professional negligence should be laid against 2 Maritime
Self-Defence Force officers following the collision last year of a
destroyer and fishing boat which saw 2 fishermen killed. On February
19th 2008, the destroyer Atago collided with the 7-tonne fishing boat
Seiroku Maru. In January this year Yokohama Marine Accident Tribunal
blamed the Atago for the collision, both officers having sighted the
fishing boat but neglected to proceed with adequate observations and
take appropriate action to prevent the collision.
9th March 2009.
|
India
Roofer killed in fall at Delhi airport site
A subcontract roofer of M/S Yongman was killed in a fall from the roof
at Indira Ghandi International Airport on Thursday where Delhi
International Airport Ltd is developing the new Terminal 3 building.
6th March 2009.
|
Russia
Diesel spillage kills 2 at Urals site
A spillage of diesel fuel at the LUKOIL-Permnefteorgsintez
hydrotreater unit in Perm has killed 2 workers and left another badly
overcome by the fumes which were detectable over a wider area.
6th March 2009.
|
Wales
Company fined over plant
accident
At Swansea Crown Court Randalls Groundworks Ltd has been fined £38K
after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc
Act in respect of an accident at a site in Pontarddulais where a
3-tonne road roller slid off an embankment into an excavation, the
operator managing to leap clear at the last moment.
5th March 2009.
|
England
Worker impaled in fall during
media installation
An employee of Virgin Media is listed in serious but not
life-threatening condition in Derriford Hospital after falling more
than 2 metres from a ladder at a house on Wilton Street, Plymouth, and
becoming impaled on a railing spike.
5th March 2009.
|
USA
Granite slab falls on worker in
Oklahoma City
A worker, believed to be the son of the owner, was killed by a falling
granite section at Midwest Tile, Marble & Granite Inc in Oklahoma
City, he succumbed in hospital to his severe injuries.
4th March 2009.
|
Germany
Fire in Black Forest sawmill
Fire in a sawmill in Auggen, in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district
of Badem-Wurttemberg, left a 46-year old worker badly injured on
Monday. Fire crews battled the blaze for 2 hours, the building housed
a large volume of timber and other combustible material.
3rd March 2009.
|
France
11-year old girl killed in ski
accident
An 11-year old girl has died in a accident while skiing with a
group at the Neige et Soleil resort in Bramans, in the Savoy region,
she was on the red piste above the Val-Cenis station when she struck a
tree. 2nd
March 2009.
|
USA
Raised boom contacts power line
during goods delivery
A worker of Gaston's Tree Service was killed in an accident in
Gainesville, Florida, at the weekend after a vehicle he was driving
contacted an overhead power line on NW 91st Street. He was depositing
a load of forest bark and had decided to pull forward to facilitate
the unloading. At this point the raised boom contacted the 1.44kV
line. A fire ensued, either this or electrocution claimed his
life, rescuers could not reach him in the cab.
2nd March 2009.
|
|
England
Wilts animal park closed by virus
Longleat's monkey jungle visitor attraction has been closed to the
public for the time being following a case of Simian B herpes being
discovered in a monkey.
The HPA and HSE are monitoring the situation, the virus is
transmittable to humans and can be fatal.
31st March 2009.
|
Wales
Race circuit death
The collision of 2 motorcycles at the Anglesey Circuit at Ty Croes
resulted in the death of one rider and minor injuries for the other.
The accident occurred on Sunday afternoon, there has been speculation
that the deceased may have become ill and caused the collision, HSE
are investigating.
31st March 2009.
|
England
Business partner fined over
ladder fall
A partner in the Beechdean Dairies partnership has been fined a total
of £11,000 at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court following an incident
where a worker fell from a ladder at its North Dean High Wycombe
premises on 19th June 2007.
An employee was felting a link roof and filling in gaps between the
link roof, freezers and walls, when the ladder he was standing on
slipped or toppled and he fell, breaking both his wrists.
30th March 2009.
|
Scotland
£333,000 fine for Kirkcaldy
manufacturer
An employee of
Forbo-Nairn Limited died on September 18th 2007 when a 600kg
skip on a hoist descended on top of him. A computer crash had resulted
in a reboot which had the effect of lowering the skip silently to its
default position at ground level. The company was fined £333,000 for
breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, an over-ride
system for the hoist would have prevented it defaulting to danger. 27th March
2009.
|
England
Construction site death in
central London
A worker, aged 30, died last Thursday on a commercial development site
in Swan Lane, central London. One account states that the accident
involved a mobile elevating work platform. 26th March
2009.
|
Scotland
MAIB reports on Fraserburgh
fishing crew fire deaths
A Marine Accident Investigation Branch report into the deaths of 3
commercial fishermen as they slept on board the fishing vessel Vision
II in Fraserburgh last August concludes that the fire may have been
ignited by a cigarette or a faulty heater. The fire alarm did not
function because it had no power supply, a fire door closing mechanism
was disabled and none of the deceased had the benefit of safety
awareness training.
The investigation identified a number of concerns: the fitting out of
the vessel; its operation; self-certification; and inspection. It also
highlighted the increased number of foreign crews living on board
fishing vessels in harbour, without the consequent safety aspects
being assessed. 26th March
2009.
|
England
Scaffold member hit pedestrian
During work in May last year at the
Metro Public House on The Burges, in Coventry City Centre, a scaffold
pole fell from a height of 5 metres, striking and injuring the leg of
a passing pedestrian. Scaffolders had placed the pole temporarily
against a rail just before it fell, a colleague positioned to prevent
people entering the area below the structure had failed to intercept
the injured female passer-by.
Sky Scaffolding (Midlands) Ltd of Warwick was fined a total of
£4,000 with costs of £1,761 at Coventry Magistrates' Court after
pleading guilty to breaching r.10(2) of the Work at Height Regulations
2005 and r.3[1](b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999.
25th March 2009.
|
Wales
Farming death
It is reported that the HSE is
investigating an incident which occurred on Saturday in which a woman
was killed in an accident on farmland at Llandysul,
Cardiganshire.
The incident involved collision with an agricultural vehicle.
24th March 2009.
|
England
Dumper truck accident fine
A. Carpenter & Sons (Builders) Ltd
of Shanklin, Isle of Wight, have been fined £7,000 with costs of
£5,728 at Newport Magistrates' Court for breaching the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 over an incident in November 2007 in which
an employee overturned his small skip-loading one-tonne dumper truck
on a site in Wootton, Isle of Wight.
The employee injured his leg, he had not been trained to operate this
kind of truck and the risk assessment for the activity was deemed
inadequate, He had been negotiating a slippery slope on an awkward
route at the time.
23rd March 2009.
|
Wales
Scaffolding collapsed on to rail tracks
The collapse of a 52-metre-long 3-lift scaffolding structure on to the
rail lines at Aberystwyth in February 2005 had the potential to cause
serious injury and loss of life. The structure had been erected at a
building site next to the rail terminus and only good fortune
prevented any injury.
Two companies, C. Sneade Ltd of Garthmyl, Powys, and their contractors
MW Scaffolding Ltd of Glanyrafon Industrial Estate, Llanbadarn Fawr,
were fined, the former £10,000 with £20,000 costs, the latter £8,000
plus £6,700 costs.
Neither company had undertaken the required design calculations for
the freestanding, untied, scaffolding nor inspected it at the required
time intervals and occasions.
20th March 2009.
|
England
Woman dies at Northants paper
plant
An accident investigation is underway at Merley Paper Converters of
Corby where a woman has died in a workplace accident.
19th March 2009.
|
England
Firefighters tackle city centre
fire
More than 70 firefighters tackled
yesterday afternoon's blaze at a 5-storey building in Chancery Lane,
central London.
Reports state that work was ongoing on the roof at the time, flames
engulfed the roof and 5th floor, the property is used by the Ministry
of Justice.
19th March 2009.
|
England
CO fatal accident at Kent fast food outlet
A 16-year old female worker at the Erith Fried Chicken takeaway in
Bexleyheath has died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, a
17-year old male worker is listed in critical condition in hospital.
Some paramedics and 4 others also received treatment at the scene and
in hospital.
18th March 2009.
|
England
Worker's arm disappeared into machine
Last September, an employee of Kingspan Ltd, of Greenfield Business
Park Holywell, Flintshire, was feeding a sheet of steel into a
lock form machine when his gloved left hand became caught in the front
rollers, pulling his lower arm into the machine and fracturing and
crushing it.
Kingspan was fined £3,500 by Scarborough Magistrates with costs of
£1,949 after pleading guilty to an offence under r.11(1) of the
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
An HSE inspector explained: "A metal guard for the front rollers had
apparently previously been taken off to help line up the sheets to go
into the machine. The company removed the rollers and fitted a new
clear plastic guard immediately after the accident, but if the
situation had been properly planned and controlled effective guarding
would have been in place at all times."
18th March 2009.
|
England
Miner's death 'misadventure'
A rock fall at the Cleveland
Potash mine in Teesside on April 19th 2007 killed a 24-year old miner
as he installed roof bolts. It remains unclear exactly what occurred
and a Coroner's Court jury determined a misadventure verdict.
The deceased man was discovered in an area that was unsupported in
front of the bolting equipment and no reason for him taking up this
position could be established by investigators.
17th March 2009.
|
England
Fatal accident on London site
A construction worker died last week in an accident on a site in
Hampstead. The deceased was employed as a carpenter and died in the
incident in which a crane is reported to have toppled
and crushed him.
16th March 2009.
|
England
Elderly woman injured by scaffolding
It is reported that an elderly woman has been injured by a falling
scaffolding structure in Byker, Northumbria. The structure was erected
at a retail property being refurbished, strong winds at the time may
have been a factor.
16th March 2009
|
England
Worker's ladder was unsecured
Scandinavian Log Cabins Direct Ltd of Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire, has
been fined £500 with £500 costs after an employee fell and fractured
his pelvis in a workplace fall in August 2007. Whilst working to
construct a log cabin, a scaffold platform was temporarily removed and
the accident victim used a ladder to access work at 3 metres height.
As he did so the unsecured ladder slipped and he fell to the concrete
below. The 48-year old had worked without the benefit of a proper risk
assessment and supervision.
13th March 2009.
|
England
Worker was crushed by granite
slabs
The employer of a man crushed to death in November 2005 at a Hounslow
stoneyard has been fined £4,000 with £2,000 costs at the Old Bailey.
The deceased, along with colleagues at Stoneville (UK) Ltd, was
unloading granite slabs and tiles from a shipping container which held
8 wooden crates. After the first 3 crates had been removed he and
another colleague climbed inside the container to unload the large
granite slabs. Some slabs became unstable and fell towards the centre
of the container, trapping the accident victim between the falling
slabs and a bundle of granite that was secured inside the container.
Stoneville had failed to conduct a risk assessment, investigation
found that there was a camber on the road which caused the load on the
trailer to destabilise and lean towards the yard.
12th March 2009.
|
England
Accident investigation at Staffs
workplace
Investigation is ongoing into the workplace death of an employee of
recycling contractor Verdant while collecting recyclable material at
Rugely on 26th February. Verdant is contracted to Cannock Chase
District Council, the deceased 18 year-old worker was struck by a
vehicle during kerbside loading work.
11th March 2009.
|
England
Resident electrocuted
A man was electrocuted in his garden on Monday in an incident
involving power distribution equipment it is reported. The incident
occurred in Billinghay, Lincolnshire.
|
New Zealand
Boy dies in fall through shading
at school garden
A 13-year old boy has died and another received serious head injuries
in a 4-metre fall when shade sail cloth spanning a rock garden failed
at Westpark Primary School in Hastings where they had been jumping on
it. 10th March
2009.
|
England
Work experience
risk assessment failure
Hockmeyer Motors Ltd, operators of Holdingham Garage, Sleaford, have
been fined £15,000 with £9,000 costs in connection with a January 2008
incident in which a school student suffered burns from a fire-ball
which melted the plastic print of his t-shirt onto his skin. The fire
was caused by brake fluid which ignited after being sprayed onto a
running engine by a colleague.
An HSE inspector commented: "This incident left a young man
hospitalised, and could have been avoided if the company had assessed
the risk associated with such habitual use of the solvent and
implemented appropriate risk control measures to reduce identified
risks. Work experience pupils are viewed as employees for the purposes
of health and safety legislation, yet they are often more vulnerable
than a company's trained and qualified employees.
It is therefore imperative that if companies contract to have work
experience pupils from local schools they update any risk assessments
to take into consideration this particularly vulnerable group of
employee.” 10th
March 2009.
|
Northern Ireland
Worker's crush injury
It is reported that a worker was admitted to intensive care in
Coleraine hospital following an accident on Friday. One account states
he was working on a commercial vehicle at premises in Maghera, Co.
Londonderry. 9th
March 2009.
|
England
Hoist acident
An elderly woman from Thornham, Rochdale, receiving adult care from
Rochdale Council died following an incident involving a hoist being
used in her bedroom.
The incident which resulted in her fall occurred in January, HSE is
investigating. 9th
March 2009.
|
England
Supply mix up led to electric shock
South Eastern Electrical Plc of
Hainault has been fined £50,000 with costs of £20,000 at Basildon
Crown Court having been found guilty of breaching of S.3(1) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of an
accident on 23rd July 2006 in which a groundworks contractor sustained
an electrical shock and consequent injury at a supermarket in Southend,
Essex.
Work was being done on 4 lighting standards and an assumption was made
that all 4 standards were supplied from the one source, however, one
of them was not isolated from its supply. The injured man came into
contact with this supposedly isolated cable, rendering him unconscious
and causing him to sustain burns.
No circuit diagrams had been
available, no attempt had been made by South Eastern Electrical to
produce a diagram by surveying each column to identify its point of
supply and no written permit to work system was in place.
The 4th column was supplied by a separate distribution board that had
not been isolated and was also controlled by a light sensor. When the
electricians had initially tested the supply there had been sufficient
daylight to prevent the supply being switched on. However, during the
replacement work, the level of light decreased to such an extent that
the sensor energised the circuit.
6th March 2009.
|
England
Electrocution death in Midlands
It is reported that the worker in his 40's who received an 11kV shock
when his lorry-mounted grab contacted an overhead cable
last month has since died.
The incident occurred at a property in Badsey, east of Evesham,
Worcestershire.
5th March 2009.
|
England
Scrap yard fatal accident
It is reported that a man in his 60's has died following an accident
at a vehicle breaker's premises in Awsworth, Nottingham.
The accident occurred on Thursday, one account states he sustained
crush injuries from under a raised vehicle.
4th March 2009.
|
England
Suspected CO poisoning of 2 men
Steps are being taken to discover if 2 men who were found dead at a
residential property in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, have
succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The pair were found on Thursday last week in the flatted property
owned by Willow Park Housing Trust, post-mortem examination proved
inconclusive as to the cause of death.
3rd March 2009.
|
England
Electrician fell in cage
An electrician suffered a broken wrist, severe bruising, concussion
and was unable to work for more than 8 months after falling 2.5 metres
in a man-carrying cage supported by the forks of a telescopic
materials handler.
The electrician, who was not an employee of developers Wynbrook Ltd of
Nottingham, was working at a site in Wragby Road, Lincoln, in October
2007. The equipment was hired by Wynbrook but the driver had not
been trained in the use of the cage, and had failed to secure it
to the forks. The occupants of the cage had not worn harnesses to
secure themselves to it, the driver was unaware the telescopic handler
had a safety pin in the cab to prevent the forks from accidentally
being dropped.
Wynbrook was fined £10,000 plus £3,362 costs.
2nd March 2009.
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