Bulgaria
16 tourists run over by bus with
brake failure
Brake failure is speculated as the cause of Thursday's bus crash near
Yambol, southeast Bulgaria, in which 16 tourists making their way on
foot to the Bakadzhik mountain were struck by the oncoming 30-year old
charter bus.
29th May 2009.
|
USA
Electrocution during rewiring at
SC Wal-Mart store
A 24-year old maintenance worker was electrocuted on the roof of the
Wal-Mart store on North Fraser Street, Georgetown, South Carolina,
where he was introducing wire into conduit in a cavity for a new
sensor.
29th May 2009.
|
New Zealand
Keeper killed by tiger at
wildlife park
A zookeeper has been killed by a white tiger during the cleaning of an
enclosure at Zion Wildlife Gardens in Whangerei, 125 miles south of
Auckland. Two keepers were in the enclosure when the tiger pounced,
staff were unable to secure his safe release from the animal.
Earlier this year the victim had been a rescuer himself when a
colleague was attacked by the same tiger, on that occasion the victim
survived with only knee injuries.
28th May 2009.
|
USA
Worker's legs crushed during
paving work in Massachusetts
A highway worker of Brox Industries paving company has been admitted
to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston with severe leg injuries
after being struck by machinery which transfers asphalt from lorries
into paving machinery at a site in Peabody.
28th May 2009.
|
Turkey
Hospital fire led to 8 intensive
care patient deaths
An outbreak of fire at the Sevket Yilmaz hospital in Bursa has led to
the death of 8 patients who were being treated in the intensive care
unit. The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical
problem in the scanning department, the intensive care and paediatric
units were worst affected when smoke and fumes entered the ventilation
system, some died in the unit, others from loss of power to their life
support system during evacuation.
27th May 2009.
|
Scotland
Fruit farm fined over picker’s
electrocution
Thomas Thomson (Blairgowrie) Ltd has been fined £9K, and its managing
director £1,800, after pleading guilty to a failure to carry out an
adequate risk assessment and provide a safe system of work in respect
of an electrocution accident in which a 26-year old Polish fruit
picker died after contacting an 11Kv overhead cable.
Polytunnel erection adjacent to the power lines had attracted an
advisory warning from an employee of Scottish Hydro Electric, the
proprietor reported passing this on to his staff. Investigation of the
accident suggested the lack of a safe corridor either side of the
cables, the fruit picker had been carrying a number of metal sections
vertically when the accident occurred.
27th May 2009.
|
Morocco
Crowd surge kills 11 at Rabat music
festival
A throng of music festival spectators panicked when a wire fence
collapsed and crushing ensued at the Mawazine festival in Rabat's Hay
Nahda Stadium leading to 11 deaths and severe injuries for many
others, some listed in critical condition.
Some people had scaled the fence which failed to bear their weight,
then the crowd surged in panic. The festival had originally been
planned for the city's Moulay el Hassan Square but was switched to the
stadium to accommodate a larger crowd. 26th May 2009.
|
USA
Michigan farm worker killed in machine
accident
A 29-year old Michigan farm worker has died in a machinery accident at
Scenic View Dairy Farm in Ganges after his clothing snagged and drew
him into a rotating shaft between a tractor and a mixer trailer. 26th May 2009.
|
Indonesia
East Java plane crash leaves 98
dead
A C-130 Hercules crashed in East Java with the loss of at least 98
lives after coming down in a residential area and bursting into flames
4 miles from the Iswahyudi base. The flight from Jakarta was carrying
11 crew and 98 military personnel. 21st May 2009.
|
USA
New York worker survives fall on
Brooklyn site
A construction worker of Bovis Lend survived a fall of several storeys
on Wednesday at the site of a 170-metre high tower block of Clarett
Group in Brooklyn, landing on scaffold. His injuries were unknown.
21st May 2009.
|
Philippines
Landslide kills dozens of gold
miners
A mudslide at a gold mine encampment has buried at least 26 miners and
injured a further 19 in the village of Napnapan, 570 miles south of
Manila.
The area around Mt Diwata has experienced heavy rains recently and is
connected by one narrow road to the nearest town, presenting problems
getting heavy plant to the accident scene.
20th May 2009.
|
Finland
Care worker held over patient
death allegations
A 58-year old home care worker is being held in custody in Helsinki
over allegations relating to the deaths of 4 elderly female patients
in the Helsinki area and the alleged attempted murder of 7 other
patients, the incidents occurring between 2004 and 2009.
On Tuesday, a court in Helsinki
delivered a life sentence to a 27-year old nurse who was found guilty
of the murder of a mentally ill patient in Ylojarvi in 2007 by
administering excess insulin injections and also guilty of the
attempted murder of an 8-month old baby.
20th May 2009.
|
Singapore
Gul Road lorry accident kills 4
workers
At least 4 workers travelling in a lorry to work at Tuas were killed
when their vehicle was involved in an accident in Gul Road on Monday
morning, 7 other passengers have been hospitalised. 19th May 2009.
|
China
Hunan viaduct demolition
accident
The collapse of the weakened viaduct structure on Hongqi Road,
Zhuzhou, killed 9 people and left 16 others injured when a 200-metre
long section borne by 8 pillars collapsed after partial explosion by
demolition workers ahead of a planned full demolition this week.
Local police have announced 9 arrests in connection with the incident. 19th May 2009.
|
USA
Demolition worker killed after
tower fell wrong way at Hawaiian site
The body of a contract worker of AG Transport of California was
recovered from under tonnes of rubble when the demolition of a
40-metre cooling tower went wrong at a site on Campbell Industrial
Park, Honolulu. The contractors had been hired by Hawaiian Cement
Company to carry out the demolition. While 2 workers were engaged in
preliminary weakening work to facilitate the collapse by cable, the
structure became unstable, and fell to the left of its intended line
of collapse. 18th May 2009.
|
Costa Rica
Trainee pilot lands instruction
plane safely on San Jose street
A student pilot managed to land a light aircraft on the Circunvalacion
highway in San Jose without injury to himself or a car driver, the
roof of whose vehicle he clipped prior to touching down safely. The
21-year old pilot reported engine failure 20 minutes after take-off
from an instruction centre at Pavas airport at the weekend, however
the aircraft, owned by IACA(Instituto Aeronautico Centroamericano), is
of a type designed specifically for training and for effecting
emergency landings . 18th May 2009.
|
Australia
Worker buried in unstable
excavation at NSW equestrian site
A 4-metre deep excavation for a pool for training horses at an
equestrian site in East Maitland, New South Wales, became unstable and
collapsed with 3 workers inside. The earth ingress buried one
worker, another worker who was trapped from the waist down was rescued
and transferred to hospital in Newcastle where his condition was
listed as serious. It is believed that they were constructing walls
for the 4-metre wide, 25-metre long pool when the instability
occurred. 15th May 2009.
|
Senegal
Derailment near Mali border
leaves 5 dead
At least 5 people have died and 37 were injured when 4 carriages of an
international train travelling from Bamako in Mali to Dakar derailed
between Bala and Goudry in the eastern Senegalese province of
Tambacounda where the poorer condition of the track accounts for a
higher incidence of accidents. 15th May 2009.
|
Russia
5 dead in Volgograd CO accident
Defective ducting in an apartment block on Olympiiskaya Street in
Volgograd has led to a carbon monoxide incident which has claimed 5
lives and has seen 4 other residents hospitalised. 14th May 2009.
|
Japan
Workshop owner dies in lift
accident
The proprietor of Shop Okuno in Shizuoka has died in an accident
involving an elevator on the 2nd floor level of his workshop after his
head became trapped between the elevator doors and the lift shaft.
14th May 2009.
|
India
Chemical plant explosion leaves
2 dead
An explosion at the Thomas Baker (Chemicals) Private Ltd chemical
factory on Marine Drive in Thane, northeast suburb of Mumbai (Bombay),
on Tuesday has left 2 workers dead, one is believed to be the
production manager.
13th May 2009.
|
USA
Roofers injured in MEWP accident
at Nebraska air base
A mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) became unstable during
maintenance work on Tuesday at the Nebraska Air National Guard
headquarters in Lincoln, causing 2 roofing contractors to fall from a
height of 7 metres where they were performing maintenance work on a
refuelling hangar. Both men were injured, the extent of their injuries
was unknown. 13th May 2009.
|
China
9 fishermen feared dead in
Yangtze estuary collision
The capsize of a Zhejiang fishing boat close to the Yangtze estuary in
Shanghai killed 1 fisherman and has left 8 missing after it was struck
on Monday by the 120-metre long Thai vessel MV Sea Utility which was
making for the Philippines. The Thai ship failed to stop but was later
traced by Chinese authorities. 12th May 2009.
|
USA
Worker hit by train in New York
rail yard
A CSX Transportation worker has been killed after being struck by a
goods train while working on a train in the CSX Transportation rail yard in Selkirk,
a southern suburb of Albany.
12th May 2009.
|
Russia
Major gas explosion in Moscow
A gas pipeline fractured and exploded early on Sunday on Ozyornaya
Street near Moscow's Circular Road producing the worst fire incident
in the city since WW2. Fire crews battled the blaze for 15 hours, 5
people are reported to have been injured with burns of 10-20%.
11th May 2009.
|
Italy
Rome gas explosion kills 2
residents
At least 2 residents died in a gas explosion in Casal Brunori, Mostacciano,
southwest Rome, 3 others were critically injured in Sunday's
accident. 11th May 2009.
|
Ukraine
Gaming hall fire leaves 10 dead
Fire at a Metrojackpot gaming hall on Gagarin Avenue, Dnipropetrovsk,
has killed at least 10 people, including 2 female staff members. A
further dozen people are listed in serious condition from smoke
inhalation and burns.
The premises are located on the first floor of a 5-storey residence,
it is believed that an electrical problem in a slot machine may have
started the blaze. It is alleged that some escape routes had been
blocked by machines.
8th May 2009.
|
Canada
Nova Scotia farmer fined over
manure pit drowning
At a court in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a farmer has been fined $25K(£14,223) and
ordered to complete 160 hours of agricultural community service after
pleading guilty to a violation of provincial worker-safety laws in
respect of the death of a teenage worker who drowned in a manure pit
at Bellands farm in Middle Musquodoboit in August 2006.
The teenager was operating a tractor to clear manure from a barn to
the pit into which the vehicle overturned. At the time of the accident
a barrier protecting the pit had been damaged and was removed pending
replacement. The judge also accepted in mitigation of the employer
that the worker had not been fully fit for work on the day of the
accident. 8th May
2009.
|
USA
Vineyard worker dies after arm
severed in machinery accident
A 48-year old Washington vineyard worker has died following an
accident while replacing a fan on crop spraying equipment at Upland
Vineyard on US Grape Road between Sunnyside and Granger, Washington.
His arm had been partially amputated after becoming caught in the fan
blade and he also sustained abdominal injuries.
7th May 2009.
|
Denmark
Tree rot safety audit after
fatal accident in Copenhagen
Copenhagen municipal authorities are conducting a safety audit of
trees for rot following the death of a man who was killed by a falling
tree while sitting in his car in the Faelledparken park of central
Copenhagen, at least one other tree has come down in the high winds
but no injuries occurred.
7th May 2009.
|
Ukraine
Cave-in traps 9 Donetsk coal
miners
Rescue operations were ongoing yesterday to reach 9 miners trapped by
a rock slide at a depth of 585 metres underground at the
Novodzerzhynska coal mine in Dzrerzhynsk, in the Donetsk region, where
118 miners in total were underground, 14 at the locus from where 5
made their own way to safety.
6th May 2009.
|
USA
Worker crushed in ice machine at
Massachusetts seafood plant
A Massachusetts fish factory worker has died in a crush accident
involving ice-manufacturing machinery at Northern Wind Inc's seafood
processing plant in New Bedford.
6th May 2009.
|
France
Light aircraft crashes on Loire
high ground
Two people have died after a tourist light aircraft crashed on Monday
morning at an altitude of 1300m in the Haut-Forez above Montbrison,
the aircraft had taken off from Berre in the Bouches-du-Rhone
department and was making for Vichy airport.
4th May 2009.
|
Russia
Death by negligence charge over
Irkutsk gas explosion
A criminal case alleging causing the deaths of 2+ persons by
negligence (Article 109 part 3 of the Russian Federal Criminal Code)
has been opened in Irkutsk following the deaths of 8 residents when a
gas cylinder exploded in a 2-storey apartment housing 30 people on
Almaznaya Street in the city's Pervomaisky district.
4th May 2009.
|
Tanzania
10 feared dead in Dar es Salaam
armoury explosion
The explosion of an ammunition armoury at the Mbagala Army Barracks on
the outskirts of Dar es Salaam is being described as accidental, 5
people are known to have died and 5 servicemen are still unaccounted
for. The force of the explosion collapsed a number of adjacent
properties and shrapnel flew as far as half a mile away.
1st May 2009.
|
|
Malaysia
Workers trapped at Selangor
demolition site
A major rescue operation is underway to reach at least 6 workers
trapped at the site of the demolition of the Jaya Supermarket
(formerly known as the Jaya Shopping Centre) in Petaling Jaya's
Section 14, 1 other worker has been confirmed dead. It is believed
that 9 workers and a number of excavators were on site when the
building became unstable and the roof collapsed. 29th May 2009.
|
India
Access problems compound
Bangalore fire incident
An outbreak of fire at Raviraj Agarbathi Industries on Magadi Road, KP
Agrahara, Bangalore, killed 2 workers on Thursday, all other 13 staff
members managed to escape the blaze. Access through the warren of
narrow streets added to the firemen's labours, and such
agarbathi(incense and perfume products) works should have 3
access/exit points, these premises featured just one.
The deceased workers died from
smoke inhalation. 29th May 2009.
|
Australia
Machinery falls on worker in
industrial cage
A Queensland worker has sustained serious crush injuries to his legs
and pelvis after an 8-tonne piece of machinery fell during loading at
premises in Mining Street, Bundamba. His life was saved by the fact
that he was inside a protective industrial cage at the time, however
the severity of his injuries has left him in critical condition in
Ipswich Hospital. 28th May 2009.
|
Italy
Triple confined space fatality
in Sardinia refinery
The inhalation of toxic gases killed 3 maintenance contractors who
became trapped on Tuesday in the desulphurization unit of the Saras
refinery in Sarroch, 15 miles from Cagliari, the refinery has been
idle during a maintenance programme. At least 1 of the workers died
attempting a rescue of a stricken colleague, 2 other contractors
survived the accident and are being treated in hospital in Cagliari
27th May 2009.
|
UK
MCA tackles smaller fishing
craft and seafarer fatigue
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has indicated that its new team of
fishing boat inspectors will include a unit dedicated to the
inspection of craft less than 27 metres in length and promises "
prompt and tough action" for failure to comply with safety standards.
There will be a focus on tackling seafarer fatigue in conjunction with
a “critical look at work/rest records.”
27th May 2009.
|
Greece
Rebreather diving accident
concerns
The death of a National Geographic diver from decompression sickness
after ascending too rapidly while filming at the wreck of the
Britannic off Kea, 150 miles south of Athens, has raised concerns over
possible rebreather safety. The latter accounted for 2 diving deaths
in the US last week, a 42-year old male who lost consciousness at a
depth of 38 metres some 30 miles east of Barneget, New Jersey, and a
49-year old male who died off Gloucester, Massachusetts, his body
recovered 2 days later. A 60-year old female teacher also died last
week in accident off the Brazilian coast. 26th May 2009.
|
Australia
Worker fell into corrosive liquid vat
after safety walkway removed
Darwin Magistrates Court has fined Rio Tinto Alcan $185K(£90,889)
following its guilty plea to a breach of the Mining Management Act in
respect of a burns accident at its Alcan Gove refinery in Arnhem Land,
Northern Territory. A worker sustained burns to 25% of his body after
slipping into a pool of highly corrosive liquid, the accident occurred
while a safety walkway had been removed for maintenance work. 26th May 2009.
|
Serbia
Accident highlights need for footbridge
The issue of an adequate crossing of the railway line at Pozega
Station has been focussed by the life-threatening burns injuries
sustained by a schoolboy who contacted a 25Kv live power source while
scrambling over one of a line of stationary wagons, he was with other
pupils and a teacher at the time of the incident.
26th May 2009.
|
USA
Transport fatality at Missouri
reservoir project
A female worker of Ozark Constructors has died in a transport accident
at the Taum Sauk Upper Reservoir Rebuild project of Ameren UE,
southeast of St Louis. She was using equipment to blast concrete clear
of dirt and dust when she was struck by a lorry.
21st May 2009.
|
South Africa
Seismic events lead to 3 gold
mine deaths
A series of seismic events measuring 1.5 on the Richter Scale has led
to Gold Fields closing its Kloof mine west of Johannesburg where 3
miners have died in separate incidents.
21st May 2009.
|
Spain
Maintenance worker fatality at
Catalan fairground
A 55-year old maintenance worker from El Catllar was killed in an
accident on Tuesday morning after being run over by a roller coaster
at the Port Aventura theme park in Salou, Tarragona, the accident
occurred prior to public admission.
20th May 2009.
|
Denmark
Pupil reverses over driving
instructor
A 53-year old female driving school instructor has been badly injured
when a 17-year old pupil reversed against her while undertaking
tuition at the Hammerum driving centre in Herning, north Jutland,
where instruction takes place in an off-road area.
20th May 2009.
|
Uganda
High pressure leak burns 5
cement workers
An accident during the attempted clearance of a blockage in a cyclone
pipe connecting to a kiln at Tororo Cement Ltd, in eastern Uganda 150
miles from Kampala, led to a serious burns accident which saw 5
workers badly burned when a leakage under high pressure occurred, 2 of
the workers in the St Anthony Missionary Hospital are listed in
critical condition.
19th May 2009.
|
Germany
Worker scalded to death in empty
food vat
It remains unclear whether a lock-out device failed or was bypassed in
connection with the fatal accident at the Eraso food factory in Lubeck
where a worker was scalded to death inside a soup vat. Once the lid
closed, steam would automatically be introduced as part of the
vessel's disinfection. 19th May 2009.
|
Russia
First of missing tourists
recovered from Vilve river
The body of 1 of 6 tourists missing on a catamaran trip down the Vilve
River in the Perm region was discovered on Sunday near the point where
the Yamburg-Yeletsk2 gas pipeline crosses the river bed, the body
found was that of a 35-year old male. 18th May 2009.
|
Austria
Boy bitten by wolves at zoopark
A 2-year old boy is being treated in hospital in Linz for arm injuries
after being bitten by wolves when he pushed his arm through a fence of
the wolves enclosure at Wildpark Enghagen on Sunday. 18th May 2009.
|
USA
Ammonia leak kills 2 Kentucky
maintenance workers
Inhalation of ammonia following a leakage of anhydrous ammonia at
American Cold Storage in Louisville has killed 2 Kentucky maintenance
workers, fire crews required specialist rescue gear, the density of
the vapour initially afforded little visibility.
15th May 2009.
|
Rep Ireland
Tractor rollover accident at
Dublin quarry
HSA is investigating a fatal tractor rollover accident during
landscaping work at a quarry in Naul, county Dublin.15th May 2009.
|
Japan
2 car occupants killed after
container fell from lorry
Police in Nagoya have arrested a 60-year old HGV driver on Wednesday
and laid alleged negligence charges against him following an accident
in the city's Minato ward where a 12-metre long shipping container
fell from the rear of his vehicle during braking, crushing a car and
killing 2 of the 3 occupants.
14th May 2009.
|
Canada
Absence of locking pins led to
fatal crush accident
An Ottawa court has fined TDL Spring and Suspension Specialists Inc
$120K in respect of breaches of health and safety which contributed to
the death of a 45-year old worker at its Hawthorne Road premises in
Ottawa. The worker was repairing the tyre of a recycling vehicle which
featured lateral bins, 1 of which had been raised to facilitate access
to the wheel. Ministry of Labour investigation established that
locking pins to brace the bin were not in place and the bin fell
accidentally, pinning the worker between the bin and tyre.
14th May 2009.
|
USA
Prisoner dies in prison farm
tractor accident
A prisoner has died in a workplace accident at the Caledonia Prison
Farm in Tillery, North Carolina, during the coupling of a trailer to a
tractor. It is believed that the prisoner was killed by the reversing
tractor, foul play is not suspected.
13th May 2009.
|
USA
Florida lift engineer killed
A fatal accident has occurred at a building in Century Village, west
of West Palm
Beach, where a maintenance engineer died in a lift shaft after his
head became stuck in an elevator on which he was working.12th May 2009.
|
Russia
6 killed in Irkutsk helicopter
crash
A Bell helicopter crash in the Malyshkino area of Irkutsk has caused 5
deaths, including the governor of Irkutsk.
12th May 2009.
|
USA
Teen killed in forklift rollover
at Nebraska meat manufacturer
A teenage worker has died in a forklift rollover accident at
Progressive Protein on South 26th Street in Omaha, Nebraska.
The 17-year old was operating the forklift on a ramp when it
overturned, the Fair Labour Standards Act permits 17-year olds to
operate forklifts in agriculture only, operators must be 18 years or
older in other
industrial sectors.11th May 2009.
|
Ukraine
Crimean cavers rescued from
rising water
Divers were called in to assist with the rescue of 5 cavers who became
trapped by rising water at the Krasnye Caves in the Crimea on Sunday
where heavy rains saw water levels rise by as much as 2 metres in the
caves accessed by a 30-metre long chamber. 11th May 2009.
|
USA
Transport fatality at Indiana
recycling facility
An employee of VIM Recycling Inc has been killed in a transport
accident at the facility in Elkhart, Indiana, where he was engaged in
timber mulching at the rear of the premises when he succumbed to
severe head trauma after either being struck by an excavator loading
hardwood into a grinder or by the falling timber.
8th May 2009.
|
Malaysia
Expansion of safety officer
training
Malaysia's Deputy Human Resources Minister has announced that a
committee will be formed to train safety officers for projects
exceeding 20million Malaysia Ringgits(£3,771,450), with a monitoring committee being used to
inspect projects under RM 20 million(£3,771,450).
Malaysian employers are being urged to embrace the country's Zero
Accident Stimulus Programme, especially manufacturers, a sector in
which 45% of accidents involve machinery and 25% involve tools
and equipment. 8th
May 2009.
|
Austria
Severed thumb accident induces
fatal shock for farmer
A 65-year old farm worker has died of a heart attack following shock
when his thumb was severed during wood cutting on a farm in Tragwein.
He was using machinery to split wood when he slipped, and in an effort
to regain balance by grabbing for the machine’s lever, he contacted
the blade instead. Although he managed to raise the alarm himself, he
then lost consciousness and died within an hour of the accident.
7th May 2009.
|
Australia
Confined space death in Victoria
service station LPG tank
A maintenance worker has died in a confined space accident while
working on the valves and piping of a 16K-litre underground LPG tank
at a Utd Petroleum service station on Macarthur Street, Ballarat, 2
passing members of the public acted promptly to pull him out of the
manhole by the legs but he succumbed to the toxic atmosphere where gas
was believed to be leaking.
7th May 2009.
|
Canada
Electrocution during gutter
installation
WorkSafe BC is investigating an electrocution at a house site in White
Rock, 15 miles south of Vancouver, during the installation of metal
guttering which contacted an overhead 14Kv power line, 1 of the 2
workers handling the long section of guttering survived the accident.
6th May 2009.
|
Australia
Paint vapour and hot work led to
confined space explosion
A SafeWork South Australia prosecution has resulted in a total fine of
$72K(£36,897) against Diesel and Marine Services who pleaded guilty to
2 breaches of health and safety regulations in respect of a confined
space explosion accident in which a painter and welder were injured
when welding sparks ignited paint vapour in the hold of a fishing boat
in Port Lincoln in May 2006, no risk assessment or provision for
ventilation had been made.
6th May 2009.
|
USA
Ohio landfill unit accident
An Ohio landfill worker had a fortunate escape on Monday morning when
his arm became caught in a conveyor system feeding a compacting unit
at Rumpke Landfill in Colerain, east Ohio, hospital checks revealed no
fractures. 4th May 2009.
|
Baltic
5 fishermen missing after Polish
trawler sank
Only a defective life raft and a buoy have been found in the search
for 5 Polish crewmen missing in the Baltic Sea after their trawler
sank off Bornholm Island. Danish, Swedish and Finnish maritime
services have been undertaking a joint search operation. Sovaernets
Operative Kommando(SOK), Danish Naval Operational Command, reports no
mayday was issued by the trawler, pointing to a rapid sinking.
4th May 2009.
|
USA
Transport fatality at
Connecticut garage
A Connecticut man died in an apparent accident on Thursday having been
found trapped under a vehicle in the parking area of a car repair unit
on Tolland Street, East Hartford. The victim was neither an employee
of the premises nor owner of the vehicle which was unoccupied.
1st May 2009.
|
Canada
Company fined over
subcontractor's fall from height death
At Ontario Court of Justice, Toronto, Brook Restoration Ltd was fined
$150K(£85,001) after pleading guilty to failing to ensure that every
employer and worker on a project in Yonge Street, Toronto, complied
with full protection measures as set out in Ontario Regulations 213/91
Section 26.1(2). On January 17 2007, a young worker of subcontractor
Ontario Roofing & General Contracting Services Ltd died in a 42m fall
from a roof canopy while clearing snow during a restoration project in
Yonge Street, his safety harness being unconnected to any anchor
point. At an earlier hearing on October 3rd last year the
subcontractor pleaded guilty to failing as an employer to ensure that
a worker was protected by a method of fall protection under Section
25(1)(c) of the Regulations. Two supervisors pleaded guilty to the
same charge under Section 27(1)(a).
1st May 2009.
|
|
France
Roofer killed in 4-metre fall
Late on Thursday afternoon a roofer was killed in a 4-metre fall
on to concrete formwork at a site in Pordic, he was pronounced dead at
the scene of the accident. 29th May 2009.
|
Italy
Crew abandon sinking fishing
boat under tow
The Italian fishing boat Giuseppe Castano sank under tow from the
Italian warship Casiopa which had responded to a mayday when the boat
began to ship water. Emergency pumps were rigged up on the fishing
boat, 1 of which failed, and the rough seas began to pose problems
transferring fuel to the pumps. The crew then had to abandon the
fishing boat which has sunk 15 miles east of Lampedusa after the tow
rope was cut. 29th May 2009.
|
England
Worker raised on pallet on truck
forks
A prosecution resulted after 2
passing HSE inspectors witnessed a man accessing work at height by
standing upon a pallet supported by the raised forks of a forklift
truck. The workman was the employee of Eazyphone Ltd of Macclesfield
who was fitting a CCTV bracket in March last year, the company was
fined £6,000 with costs of £2,285.
An HSE official explained: "It is clearly unsafe for anyone to carry
out work at height by standing on a pallet raised on a forklift truck.
The Eazyfone employee was lucky not to have fallen and been seriously
injured or killed. This demonstrates the need for companies to carry
out suitable and sufficient risk assessments to ensure that a safe
system of work is in place. This should include providing training for
employees, and carefully planning and supervising the work.
The method that was used was badly thought out and unsafe. This case
should remind employers of the importance of working safely at
height."
28th May 2009.
|
England
Electric tool fell into lacquer
sparking Essex workshop fire
Substantial fire damage occurred in the furniture workshop of
Nostalgic Pine on Benfleet's Manor Trading Estate when an electric
sander accidentally fell into a pot of furniture lacquer. Although the
proprietor retrieved it quickly, it was still connected to a live
source and a subsequent fire could not be prevented. 28th May 2009.
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Denmark
Ex-zoo keeper mauled in tigers’
enclosure
A former zoo keeper of Naestved Zoo, south Zealand, was mauled to
death and partly eaten by tigers after accessing the tigers‘ enclosure
and igniting straw there. The victim had left his job some months
earlier after beginning treatment for a mental health condition.
27th May 2009.
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Scotland
Man badly injured in industrial
accident
A man received serious burns following an electrical accident at
the premises of Nordbord in Dalcross, north of Inverness, on Sunday
morning. 26th May 2009.
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France
Dangerous WW2 bomb found on Breton site
Bomb disposal units from Caen had to perform an emergency detonation
of a 250Kg WW2 bomb late on Monday afternoon after it was discovered
during earthworks for the new town hall at Hardinvast, south of
Cherbourg, the condition of the chemical detonator was causing great
concern. 26th May 2009.
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Australia
Queensland office worker dies
after gale-blown metal breaks window
A director of estate agents Bayliss & Samra Commercial has been killed
by a wind-borne flying metal object which came through the window of
his 1st floor office on Elkham Avenue, Surfers Paradise, in stormy
conditions.
It appears that the wind tore a section of awning from its mountings,
initially the worker was covered in glass shards and subsequently
experienced cardiac arrest.
21st May 2009.
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Malta
Crane collapse in St Julian's
A crane collapsed during concrete hoisting on Wednesday at a high rise
development on Sacred Heart Avenue, St Julian's(San Giljan), north of
Valetta, falling on to a media building on Birkirkara Road, bringing
down high power lines, but no reports of injuries were received.
21st May 2009.
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China
Golf cart rollover death at Hong
Kong golf club
A rollover accident involving a golf cart at the Kau Sai Chau public
golf club on an island off Hong Kong's Sai Kung coast has led to the
death of a 52-year old club worker, 2 others riding in the cart
escaped with minor injuries.
20th May 2009.
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USA
Electrocution during power
washing at Illinois plant
A worker who was power washing the Performance Plus building on
Illinois Route 1, north of Mt Carmel, Illinois, was electrocuted when
contact was made with overhead high power lines.
20th May 2009.
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England
Worker killed by falling gate on
Cheshire estate
An employee of S Cooper & Sons was killed by a falling heavy metal
gate on the Winsford Industrial Estate where it rents premises on Road
Three. The accident occurred at the junction of Road Three and Road
One where Melwall Developments own a building. The worker died in
hospital from his injuries. 19th May 2009.
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Rep Ireland
Dublin workplace death
investigation
HSA and Gardai have each launched investigations into a workplace
death at premises on an industrial estate on Dublin's Citywest Avenue. 18th May 2009.
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USA
Machine fatality at Idaho sugar
plant
Fire crews in Nampa, southwest Idaho, have had to work in a very
restricted space to recover the body of a worker killed in a machine
accident at Amalgamated Sugar, the operation took just over 90
minutes. 18th May 2009.
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New Zealand
Caustic burns accident
The Department of Labour is investigating a burns accident involving a
60-year old worker who has been hospitalised in Christchurch on
Thursday after being sprayed by caustic powder at Canterbury Meat
Packers in Ashburton.
15th May 2009.
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Australia
Fall injuries prove fatal for
dry dock worker
The worker who fell 4 metres from a boat on to a concrete surface at a
dry dock in Hemmant, east Brisbane, at the weekend has now died of his
injuries.15th May 2009.
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Rep Ireland
"Improperly founded" case
acquitted by Dublin court
A Dublin court has acquitted a metal worker of charges of breaching
health and safety legislation in the case of a fatal accident in which
a worker was killed by a falling section of steel at the Gallery Quay
site on Dublin's Pearse Street on March 14th 2005. The defendant, a
fabricator with OMC Engineering, had been arrested on suspicion
of reckless endangerment but the acquittal came on the first day of
the trial, the judge saying the case was "improperly founded."
Emergency access framing was being erected on the roof of the
apartment block when a 2-metre long L-section fell and struck another
worker at ground level.14th May 2009.
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England
Tiredness contributed to
grounding on Dover Strait sand bank
A joint report by the Bundesstelle für Seeunfalluntersuchung and the
Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the grounding of the
German-flagged vessel LT Cortesia on the Varne sand bank in the Dover
Strait in January 2008 has recommended enhanced navigational training
and a stricter observance of working hours, tiredness having been
identified as a factor in the accident.
"The serious marine casualty is due to misconduct on the part of the
chief officer. The traffic situation was not correctly assessed and as
a result of a number of wrong decisions the LT Cortesia ran aground on
the Varne Bank."
"There are legitimate indications that, on the day of the incident,
after just six days on board, the chief officer was overtired and/or
limited in his actions.
"The response to call from the Dover Traffic Service and the failure
to recognise that the ship had run aground would, for example, only be
explained by overtiredness."
"Ultimately, from a navigational point of view, the ship ran aground
as a result of two main factors: the crew's inadequate voyage
management system skills and the resulting incorrect settings,
particularly in relation to the Depth Contours, the Chart Alarms and
the Depth Alarm settings; and the resulting errors of judgement being
made, which were caused by the Chief officer and/or the bridge team
disregarding conventional navigation."
When 20 alarm bells rang out the chief officer attributed this to
engine problems, and the crew had also failed to identify a warning
lightship and marker buoys.
14th May 2009.
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USA
Transport accident on Florida
site
A construction worker was severely injured on Tuesday after either
falling or being knocked off a bulldozer which subsequently struck
him, inflicting chest injuries at a site on Jewett Lane in Sanford,
Florida. It is believed that a van also featured in the accident, the
worker's condition was initially giving cause for concern but latterly
was responding to treatment in hospital in Orlando.
13th May 2009.
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Northern Ireland
Polish caver rescued after 20
hours in Fermanagh cave
A successful rescue was achieved by the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation
of a Polish caver trapped for 20 hours in a crevasse 80 metres
underground at the Pollprughlish cave in County Fermanagh, 2
colleagues managed to raise the alarm of the caver's plight.12th May 2009.
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Wales
Coroner rules on Powys tractor
rollover death
A Powys coroner has ruled accidental death in the case of a farming
contractor who died following a tractor rollover accident while liming
on a gradient in Llanbrynmair in Powys on 18th September 2007. The
worker was pitched from the tractor which rolled 3 times and died in
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital following air ambulance transfer. 12th May 2009.
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Canada
Falling formwork kills Calgary
worker
Falling formwork being hoisted by a crane at a multi-storey
development in Calgary has killed a 27-year old worker who was
assisting the crane operator with the hoisting. 11th May 2009.
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Russia
Far East seamen killed in
separate incidents
Two seamen have died in separate incidents in Russia's far East.
A fire on the Engineer Nechukhrin trawler of the Volna fishing company
killed a crew member at Nevelsk on the southwest coast of Sakhalin on
the Sea of Japan, while a seaman of the Beloyarsk tanker
refuelling Kamchatsky fishing boats has been lost overboard in the Sea
of Okhotsk. 11th May 2009.
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England
Crush death deemed preventable
at Milton Keynes plant
At Aylesbury Crown Court Avery Dennison Materials UK Ltd of London has
been fined £50K plus £50K costs following a fatal crush accident in
June 2005 at its Milton Keynes Distribution Centre in Brudenell Drive
where a worker became crushed between a 1-tonne roll of paper and a
paper slitting machine, the company pleading guilty to breaching
S.2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
An HSE Inspector said: "Avery Dennison Materials UK Ltd had an
unblemished health and safety record until this incident. This case
shows that being lulled into a false sense of security by the fact
that an incident has never occurred before can prove fatal.
"This preventable fatality shows the need for rigorous risk
assessments. Employers must consider and assess how heavy loads with
the potential for serious injury are moved and restrained. We would
urge senior managers in such large organisations to remain vigilant in
order to ensure a good health and safety culture is maintained and
that necessary precautions are put in place to protect workers from
injuries and even death."
8th May 2009.
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Ukraine
2 killed in training flight
crash
A Ukrainian instructor and an Equatorial Guinean trainee pilot were
killed on Thursday when their X-32 Bekas aircraft experienced engine
failure and crashed on take-off at the state flight academy in
Kirovograd. 8th May
2009.
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Croatia
Zagreb policeman killed, others
critically injured in bank shoot-out
A policeman was shot dead and 4 others were injured during an armed
bank robbery at the Raiffeisen Bank in the Sesvete district of Zagreb,
1 of the injured officers is listed in critical condition, 2 alleged
bank robbers have been arrested.
7th May 2009.
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USA
Fatal trench collapse at Texas
water tower site
A subcontract worker has been killed in the collapse of a 5-metre deep
unstable excavation at the site of a new water tower in Arlington,
Texas. 7th May
2009.
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Russia
Helicopter clips frigate deck
during Baltic trials
All 5 crew members of a Ka-27 Helix helicopter have survived a crash
into the Baltic Sea when their craft's blades clipped the deck of the
Yarolsav Mudry frigate during its sea trials. The accident occurred
during take-off and landing drills, the helicopter clipping the
vessel, then hitting the deck and falling into the sea.
6th May 2009.
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Canada
Transport fatality at Manitoba
quarry
Workplace Safety and Health has been informed of a fatal accident in
which a 57-year old driver died after being thrown from his vehicle in
a gravel quarry 55 miles north of Winnipeg.
6th May 2009.
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Austria
Train/lorry collision on
Salzburg level crossing
A local train of the Pinzgau railway and a French lorry collided on an
open level crossing 500 metres east of Piesendorf station on Monday
morning, 15 people were injured, 1 is listed in serious condition in
hospital in Salzburg. The train was travelling at 25mph, the lorry was
heading for the Senoplast factory, sight lines at the crossing afford
100m clear aspect in both directions. 4th May 2009.
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England
"Safe Stop" to avert baling
machinery accidents
Two cases of accidental death were recorded at Stafford Coroner's
Court in respect of the deaths of 2 Staffordshire farmers in baling
machinery accidents, one drawn into baling machinery near his farm,
the other struck by a section of baling machinery at a farm near
Abbots Bromley. HSE regards such accidents as preventable by following
the "safe stop" procedure - apply the handbrake, controls into neutral
and deactivate the engine. These should be applied prior to leaving
the driving seat and if anyone approaches the machinery or is working
on the tractor or machinery.
Of 36 baling accidents investigated between 1996 and 2006, 5 proved
fatal, the rest featured serious injury such as amputation. Earlier
this year HSE launched the "Make the Promise, Come Home Safe"
campaign, urging farmers to make the promise of returning home safely
from work a priority.
4th May 2009
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Scotland
Falling theatre light focussed
on lack of risk assessment
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court Blueparrot Production & Events of Edinburgh
was fined £2K after pleading guilty to a breach of r.10(1) of the Work
at Height Regulations 2005 when a child in a wheelchair was injured in
an accident in June 2007 when a light fitting fell from the balcony at
a production in Portobello Town Hall. The light stands had been raised
above the edge of the balcony for stage projection but were
inadequately secured. An HSE inspector observed: "Thankfully the
injuries to the children were minor however it was just sheer luck
that no-one was killed. If an adequate risk assessment has been
conducted, this would have highlighted any potential problems and this
incident could so easily have been avoided.”
1st May 2009.
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Scotland
Circular saw sparked fire
It is speculated that flying sparks from a circular saw caused
yesterday's fire at the site of a new health centre in Ferry Road,
Renfrew, which led to a 10m x 3m foam partition igniting, fire crews
controlled the incident within 2 hours.
1st May 2009.
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England
PUWER prosecution
International Automotive Components
Group Ltd of Coleshill, Birmingham, has been fined a total of £3,200
with £2,636 in costs having breached r.20 of the Provision and Use of
Work Equipment Regulations 1998 in the circumstances of an industrial
accident.
It failed to ensure that the single bay of tool racking used for the
storage of service tools was stabilised by clamping or otherwise where
necessary for the purposes of safety. It was in August 2008 at its
Southwick, Sunderland, premises that an employee sustained multiple
fractures when the rack collapsed and trapped him as he used an
overhead crane to unload tools from the rack. 29th May 2009.
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England
Care homes unannounced inspections
A series of unannounced inspections of care homes in the Yorkshire and
northeast region is to begin shortly with a focus on safety and health
risks for residents and workers.
Issues relating to hot water, hot surfaces, unguarded windows,
Legionella, manual handling, latex, bed rails and migrant workers will
feature and are being conducted by HSE and Local Authority officials.
28th May 2009.
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England
Site dumpers continue to feature in
accidents
In May 2008 on a site in Warfield, Berks, a demolition labourer was
operating a skip-loading dumper on which he had received no formal
training or instruction. The dumper overturned, trapping the employee
underneath it, and he sustained serious injuries to his foot as a
result.
Employer Shorts Group Ltd admitted breaching S.2 (1) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Maidenhead Magistrates Court, and it
was fined £5,000 with costs of £1,773.
An HSE inspector commented: "Site dumpers are involved in around a
third of construction transport incidents, causing many deaths and
serious injuries, particularly to drivers. Skip-loading dumpers in
particular are known to be comparatively unstable machines and are
known to overturn in certain circumstances, creating a significant
risk if they do so. Given this, HSE has produced clear guidance on
training and safe operation of site dumpers, and therefore we expect
trained and competent operators at all times."
27th May 2009.
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England
Farmer killed accidentally
An inquest into the death in December last year of a farmer has
determined accidental death. The 48-year old farmer had entered a
grain silo to clear a blockage on a farm at Danby and was overcome by
the gaseous products of fermentation, having ventilated the confined
space for only 15 minutes rather than the required 24 hours. The
adoption of other protective measures such as forced ventilation would
have prevented the tragedy.
26th May 2009.
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Wales
Child fell from garage ramp
A garage has been fined after an accident in which a child passenger
in a car, which had been raised up on a ramp, fell from the vehicle,
sustaining facial injuries.
Pentre Motors Ltd was fined £6,000 with £4,000 costs.
An HSE inspector explained: "Our investigation showed that Pentre
Motors Ltd failed to identify the risks associated with vehicle ramps,
in particular the risk of allowing children to remain in a vehicle
once raised from ground level. Clearly in this case, the car should
never have been raised on the ramp with two children asleep in the
rear. Falls from height often result in serious injury as was the case
here and it is for employers to ensure they take all reasonable
practicable step to prevent this from happening."
26th May 2009.
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England
Suffolk factory death
A worker in his 60's has died in an industrial accident at Copdock,
Suffolk. The deceased is an employee of HG Gladwell & Sons Ltd who
manufacture animal feed and pet food, the accident on Tuesday involved
machinery. 21st May
2009.
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Northern Ireland
Boy, 2, dies at farm
A two-year old boy died in an accident on
a farm at Mullaghslin, County Tyrone. HSENI is investigating Monday's
incident which involved a lorry.
20th May 2009.
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England
Inflatables inspector prosecuted
The HSE issued a prohibition notice on a man who inspects play
inflatables after investigation of his work at Watton, Norfolk, and 2
other locations. The man admitted 3 counts of breaching the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in connection with his certifications.
Several deficiencies noted with the inflatables showed that the
inspections were not carried out in accordance with the relevant
British & European Standard. This standard is not the law but
following it would usually be sufficient to demonstrate compliance
with the law.
HSE says he was not registered with any of the recognised authorities
for the Inspection of Play Inflatables and Amusement Devices (such as
PIPA and ADIPS) nor did he demonstrate his competence in any similarly
accepted manner.
19th May 2009.
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England
Fire service college fire incident
More than £1m of damage has been incurred in an outbreak of fire
at a workshop within the Fire Service College at Moreton in Marsh,
Gloucestershire.
Saturday morning's outbreak destroyed 11 appliances, it was contained by the local firemen.18th
May 2009.
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England
Workman who fell through rooflight
opening is paralysed
Fine Construction UK Ltd of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, has been fined
£15,000 with costs of £8,092 over an incident on 22nd February 2008
at a site in Popes Lane, London W5, in which a builder fell 3.3
metres.
The worker was involved in building an extension to a domestic
property when he fell through a rooflight void.
No boarding covered the rooflights and there was no crash deck
underneath to limit the impact of a fall.
18th May 2009.
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England
Man lost leg in accident
A worker was left with a permanent disability after his leg was
amputated as a result of an industrial accident at an agricultural
contractor's rented premises at a farm in Drakelow, Derbyshire, in
October 2007.
Pete Mellor Ltd of Burton on Trent was fined £12,000 with costs of
£2,500, its employee was repairing a forklift truck which involved
removing the counterbalance weight. The 1.8- tonne weight was not
supported and it fell off, landing on a self-employed worker who was
walking past at the time, crushing the man's left leg which had to be
amputated below the knee.
An HSE official explained: "The incident resulted from an unsafe
system of work. The weight was not supported during removal and the
person carrying out the repair had been given insufficient information
and instruction. Also, the injured party was allowed to walk through
the work area. A risk assessment for the job was not carried out. A
suitable and sufficient assessment would have addressed all of these
issues and a man may not have been left with a life-changing
disability."
15th May 2009.
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England
Injured fairground toddler dies
A 2-year old has died after he was injured when struck by a fairground
ride on Tuesday. The incident occurred at a fairground sited in
Ducketts Common, north London, it is reported that the boy left a
bouncy castle unobserved and managed to pass barriers and access the
ride's tracks.
14th May 2009.
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England
Forklift truck injures Yorks boy, 12
A boy sustained serious leg injuries at the weekend when he was struck
by a forklift truck. It has been speculated that the truck may have
run out of control down an incline at the premises of M&G Stone
Supplies in Keighley, Yorkshire.
13th May 2009.
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England
Kent school pupils injured by falling
service duct
Twelve pupils of Minster College, Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, were
injured by falling ducting yesterday morning as they sat in an
examination hall. Four had more serious back, neck and head injuries,
according to Kent Fire Service lives could have been lost had the
ducting not fallen between rows of desks.
13th May 2009.
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Scotland
2 dead in Argyll confined space
incident
Two men have died and another has
been treated in hospital after what has been described as a confined
space incident aboard a barge moored in Loch Creran, north of Oban, on
Scotland's west coast.
The incident occurred yesterday morning, the barge is operated by
Scottish Sea Farms. 12th May 2009.
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England
Tower Bridge lift incident
Six persons being carried by the Tower Bridge lift in its north tower
have been injured after it suddenly fell 3 metres yesterday.
One account states that the injuries
included one broken leg and a broken ankle. 12th May 2009.
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England
MEWP incident at project
A worker has sustained life-threatening
injuries after becoming trapped between the platform of a mobile
elevating work platform and a structure. The incident occurred on a
project at Sizewell in Leiston, Suffolk.
11th May 2009.
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England
Risk assessment failure led to accident
St Bede's Catholic Science College of Boston has admitted failing to
plan work properly and failing to give its contracted builders proper
instructions for work involving the removal of an oil tank.
On 7th September 2007, sawdust had been used to soak up waste oil from
the tank but when the builders cut up the tank with an angle grinder
sparks set it alight and a worker was burned.
The school was fined £2,000 with costs of £900, R Harvey Builders of
Boston admitted failing to carry out a risk assessment and were fined
£1,000 with £800 costs.
11th May 2009.
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England
Yorks farm worker dies in
tractor incident
It is reported that a farm worker has died after becoming trapped
under the arms of a tractor he was repairing. Yesterday's incident
occurred in a building of the farm at Thurgoland, Yorkshire.
8th May 2009.
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England
Man fell 10 metres to his death
Laing O'Rourke Construction South Limited of Dartford has been fined
£135,000 with costs of £18,313 for breaching the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974 resulting in a fatal accident in August 2004 at its
site on the Jemstock Project on the Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets.
The deceased steel worker fell through a hole previously covered by
plywood. Investigation found that risk assessments and method
statements had been carried out, but weekly and monthly checks,
identified as necessary by these assessments, were not being
adequately carried out. The hole had been covered inadequately with
poor quality plywood, and managers on site were not aware of this, nor
who had covered it.
7th May 2009.
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England
Girl choked by scarf
The operator of a Go-Kart circuit, the Traq motor sports circuit in
Mitcham, in the London Borough of Sutton, has been fined £13,000
including costs after prosecution for a number of safety lapses that
reduced standards there and which permitted the choking of a 13-year
old girl whose scarf became entangled in a cart's rear axle.
Despite warnings from the enforcing authority rear axles remained
unguarded and protective clothing was not worn by drivers. 7th
May 2009.
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England
Nightclub ejected man to his
death
A 21-year old patron of the Birmingham nightclub Luminar Oceana Ltd
fell to his death after he was ejected by staff into an enclosed car
park in February 2007. His 4-metre fall came as he climbed a wire
fence, an informal arrangement for the gates to be opened to allow him
to leave failed to be implemented.
The club owners were fined £85,000 plus costs. 6th May 2009.
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England/ Wales
Tanning salon incident
New guidance for England and Wales intended for the salon tanning
trade has been published by the HSE. The guidance should help avoid
such incidents as that which occurred recently in Port Talbot, South
Wales, in which a 10-year old girl sustained severe burns following 16
minutes of exposure at unmanned premises.
Key changes to the previous guidance bring recommendations that
under-18s do not use sunbeds and that all coin-operated salons are
supervised by trained staff.
6th May 2009.
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England
Ladder incident
A man has fallen to his death from a
ladder being used on a house being built in Kidderminster. The
incident occurred on Friday, the deceased was declared dead on arrival
at hospital. 4th
May 2009.
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England
Staffs fatal accident inquest
An inquest jury has determined accidental death after considering the
events surrounding the death of a 46-year old man crushed under an
excavator as he worked on its hydraulics on 7th March last year. The
deceased became trapped under the arms of the machine which were not
propped at the time.
1st May 2009.
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