The Netherlands
Painter survives power line accident
A painter in a maintenance basket survived arcing from a 150K-volt
high power line in Zevenaar yesterday, he was hospitalised with severe
burns and his condition last night was unknown. 31st May 2011
|
India
Delhi lift engineer crushed
A lift engineer died in a crush accident during maintenance work on a
lift at the Peeru Vihar premises in the Delhi Cantonment area. He
was 1 of 4 workers on site when the lift suddenly activated, crushing
him between the lift cage and wall of the shaft.
31st May 2011
|
Austria
Wasp sting led to fatal shock
A 43-year old worker died yesterday after slipping into anaphylactic
shock when he was stung by a wasp at his employer's premises in
Wartberg ob der Aist, Upper Austria.
27th May 2011
|
USA
Florida port worker dies in fall
At Port Manatee, Florida, a 43-year old worker of Labor Ready has died
in an 8-metre fall down a shaft between a ship and a load being
prepared for transfer to the ship.
27th May 2011
|
Belgium
Girl drowns in swimming pool; boy fights Malathion exposure
A 21-month old girl is reported to have drowned in a private swimming
pool on Wednesday afternoon in Angre, Mons, details of the
accident were unknown.
Meanwhile a 9-year old boy remains
in a life-threatening condition in intensive care in hospital in Ghent
after possible exposure to the insecticide Malathion, banned in the EU
since December 2007.
26th May 2011
|
Australia
Fence erector injured in fall from vehicle
An 18-year old worker is listed as satisfactory in hospital where he
was admitted with suspected spinal injuries after falling from a
stationary vehicle on Burraga Island on Shoalhaven River, New South
Wales, where he was installing an electric stock fence.
26th May 2011
|
USA
Material from bridge may have killed Tennessee barge worker
A man working on a barge under the Henley Bridge in Knoxville,
Tennessee, was killed on Tuesday, initial speculation was that he may
have been struck by an object falling from the bridge which is
undergoing refurbishment .
25th May 2011
|
Germany
Vintner killed in tractor rollover
A 71-year old vintner has died in a tractor rollover accident in a
vineyard in Bingen-Dromersheim. Workers who witnessed the accident
spoke of the vehicle veering right and then left prior to overturning.
25th May 2011
|
USA
Pennsylvanian worker's arm severed
A worker undertaking maintenance on a sand system used in the
manufacture of sand moulds had an arm severed on Monday in an accident
at R H Sheppard in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
24th May 2011
|
USA
Transport fatality at Pittsburgh site
OSHA Pennsylvania has launched an investigation into a fatal accident
in Oakland, Pittsburgh, on Monday morning in which a 60-year old man
died after his leg was run over by a construction plant vehicle.
24th May 2011
|
Slovakia
Falling museum statute injures girl
A 6-year old girl sustained life-threatening head injuries when she
was struck by a falling timber statue on Sunday in a small museum in
Medzilaborce, northeast Slovakia. It is thought that the girl may have
climbed on to the statue which then became unstable. 23rd May 2011
|
Sweden
Workers injured in stairway collapse
An accident investigation in Solna is studying the circumstances of a
stairway collapse at a new office site where 3 workers were injured in
a fall when stairs gave way on the 7th floor. 23rd May 2011
|
Argentina
22 killed in Patagonian air crash
There has been no speculation as to the cause of the crash of a Saab
340 twin-engine aircraft of Sol Lineas Aereas which saw no survivors
among the 19 passengers and 3 crew members. The flight from Cordoba
came down 15 miles southwest of Los Menucos in Rio Negro, a region of
Patagonia renowned for capricious weather conditions but there was no
adverse weather at the time of the accident. Sol have 6 Saab 340's
which can carry 34 passengers and 3 crew. The JIAAC (La Junta de
Investigacion de Accidentes de Aviacion Civil) investigation may last
3 months, some of the crash victims may have been oil workers.
20th May 2011
|
Australia
Victoria worker dies in molten phenol spray from breached pipe
The flange of a pipe containing molten phenol or carbolic acid was
breached at the Nuform factory in Laverton North, west Melbourne,
spraying a worker with the acid-based solvent. He may have swallowed
the chemical and was immediately taken to the decontamination shower
where he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest and could not be
resuscitated. Five other workers required treatment by paramedics.
20th May 2011
|
India
Sluice gate collapse kills 4 naval dock workers
Four workers died when a sluice gate collapsed at the high-security
Visakhapatnam naval dock where work on nuclear submarine development
is undertaken.
The 4 workers may have been atop the gate when it fell some 17 metres.
Naval reports spoke of routine operations being undertaken at the dry
dock when it collapsed.
19th May 2011
|
USA
Winch failed to bear boat's weight
A Massachusetts shipyard worker died when a heavy winch parted from
concrete mountings as a boat was being lowered back into the water at
Mullins Marine Service yard in Winthrop and he was crushed between the
winch and a wall. The integrity of the anchor bolts is the focus of
the accident investigation.
19th May 2011
|
Germany
Exploding fuel tank kills work experience schoolboy
A 14-year old Lower Saxony schoolboy died yesterday from severe
burns following an explosion at a garage in Stade where he was
participating in a work experience programme. He took the full blast
of the explosion of a fuel tank from a VW bus, inflicting 3rd degree
burns over half his body.
A 47-year old worker injured in the accident is undergoing treatment
in hospital in Boberg, Hamburg.
18th May 2011
|
USA
New York roads worker killed in Queens transport accident
A 59-year old New York municipal roads worker of the city's Roadway
Repair and Maintenance Division was killed yesterday in an accident
involving a Department of Transportation vehicle on Cross Island
Parkway in the Queens district of the city.
18th May 2011
|
USA
Worker killed in fall dismantling Ferris wheel
A carnival worker died and another sustained critical injuries when
they fell from a Ferris wheel being dismantled on Monday in the
parking area at the Greensboro Youth Council Carnival at Greensboro
Coliseum, North Carolina.
17th May 2011
|
Saudi Arabia
Worker crushed in cement mixer
Investigators are trying to establish the circumstances of a workplace
accident in Madina where a 35-year old Asian construction worker was
crushed in a fall into a large cement mixer. 17th May 2011
|
Canada
Falling tree kills data collector on quad bike at Alberta site
An employee in his 50's of Millennium Geomatics of Calgary has been
killed by a falling tree while riding a quad bike at a work site
several miles off Highway 16, 125 miles west of Edmonton, Alberta.
16th May 2011
|
Israel
Soldiers checked over for hydrazine exposure
Exposure to hydrazine(N2H4) saw more than 50 soldiers of the Ramat
David Israel Defence Force base admitted to Rambam Medical Centre in
Haifa, initial speculation of the accident suggested a leakage
occurred at the base. 16th May 2011
|
USA
Pressure storage reservoir explosion at Portland mill
It appears that the explosion at the Stimson Lumber Company in
Portland, Oregon, invovled a hydraulic accumulator, an energy storage
device holding hydraulic fluid under pressure, one person died and 2
were injured. 13th
May 2011
|
Gaza
2 killed this week in tunnel accidents
A man was electrocuted yesterday in an accident in an underground
tunnel near Al-Barazil, south Gaza. Earlier in the week another person
died in an accident involving a tractor close to the Rafah tunnel.
13th May 2011
|
China
5 feared dead in Liaoning demolition accident
At least 5 workers may have died on Wednesday at a demolition site in
Luyuan, Xiangcheng City, Liaoning province. One worker was confirmed
dead, 4 others were buried under the rubble of houses being
demolished, yesterday evening sniffer dogs were attempting to locate
them. 12th May 2011
|
USA
Kansas tree felling accident
A 46-year old temporary employee of Ramsey Oil has been killed by a
falling tree while felling at the rear of the premises in Hutchinson,
40 miles northwest of Wichita, Kansas.
12th May 2011
|
Sweden
Fatal accident at Stockholm rail tunnel site
The Transport Agency has launched an investigation into a fatal crush
accident which occurred yesterday at a new train tunnel site in
Stockholm where a worker died after becoming pinned under a drilling
rig which overturned as he was moving it.
11th May 2011
|
Switzerland
Worker injured using foot to clear blockage
A worker was hospitalised with a bad leg injury after using his foot
to dislodge a package wedged in machinery at a packaging plant in
Wangi, west of St Gallen.
11th May 2011
|
Poland
Glazer killed in fall from roof at new stadium
An employee of Mostostal
fell 30 metres to his death on Monday at the new National Stadium in
Warsaw, he was on a scaffold and was installing glass on the stadium
roof. This was the 3rd death at the stadium for next summer's Euro
2012, two workers died previously when a lift failed.
10th May 2011
|
France
Woman dies from injuries in fall at Vannes dry dock
A 52-year old woman died
yesterday from head injuries sustained in a fall from a boat in a dry
dock in the Chantier Naval Le Pennec in Vannes at the weekend when a supporting cradle failed, a
dock employee was also hospitalised in the accident with back and leg
injuries. 10th May 2011
|
China
Confined space accident at Shenzhen subway site
Two construction workers died in a confined space accident on Sunday
at the Daxin Station construction site in Shenzhen where the Shenzhen
Water Project Engineering Company Ltd is involved in the subway
extension site. Methane gas from sewage appears the likeliest cause of
death, 4 other workers were also injured.
9th May 2011
|
USA
Kansas worker killed in press crush accident
A worker was killed in a crush accident while operating a press at
Formation Plastics on Sunset Drive, Quinter, Kansas, colleagues
activated the emergency stop but the worker's injuries were too severe
for his survival. 9th May 2011
|
Germany
2 killed at Thuringian concrete works
Two workers aged 23 and 43 were killed on Thursday in Unit 5 of the
Heringen Universalbeton concrete products factory where 2 twenty-tonne
sections being stored prior to transportation became unstable and fell
from a hydraulic support. 6th May 2011
|
Austria
Crane falls and kills farmer
A 60-year old Salzburgerland farmer died in a crush accident yesterday
on his farm in Neumarkt-am-Wallersee when a lifting mechanism he had
attached to a lorry came down on him as he worked behind his barn. It
is speculated that a timber chock moved and caused the instability. 6th May 2011
|
Indonesia
Tangerang paint factory fire
A 38-year old worker died in a fire at a paint factory in Duku Mangga,
Legoc, 7 colleagues who survived the blaze were admitted to Al-Qadr
Hospital, Karawaci.
5th May 2011
|
USA
Falling scaffold poles kill worker at Florida arena
A 58-year old female subcontract worker was killed when scaffold poles
fell from a forklift truck near the west loading bay of the Amway
Arena, Orlando, which is being hired by Cirque du Soleil.
5th May 2011
|
Mexico
14 miners trapped after gas explosion at Coahuila pit
Fourteen miners were trapped following a methane gas explosion
yesterday at a BINSA coal mine in San Juan de Sabinas in Coahuila. A
15-year old worker who was nearer the entrance was rescued with
serious injuries, possibly with the potential amputation of both arms.
It was thought he would be transferred to a specialist hospital unit
in Monterrey.
High accumulations of gas were making it difficult to launch an
immediate rescue of the miners, possibly trapped as deep as 100 metres
underground. 4th
May 2011
|
Argentina
Concrete pour fatality in Buenos Aires
A construction worker was killed and 2 others were injured when a
partial collapse of a new building occurred during a concrete pour at
a site on Juan Bautista Alberdi Avenue in Mataderos, Buenos Aires.
On the 14th of April the Union Obrera de la Construccion raised
concerns with the Director General de Proteccion del Trabajo del
Gobierno over allegations relating to safety and hygiene.
4th May 2011
|
Austria
Roofers slide off wet surface
Two roofers were hospitalised in Bruck an der Mur yesterday when they
slid off a rain-soaked roof and fell 7 metres at the Hallen-Neubaus
site on the Bohler-Uddeholm Industrial Park in Kapfenberg.
4th May 2011
|
China
10 die in Jilin hotel fire
Ten guests died and 35 were injured in a fire at the Home Inns hotel
in Tonghua. The locus appeared to be a first-floor stairwell from
where the fire spread upwards. All the casualties were smoke-related
injuries as opposed to burns.
3rd May 2011
|
India
Workers inhaled toxic fumes at illegal plastic bag unit
A worker died and 2 were hospitalised in unconscious condition on
Monday after inhaling toxic fumes at an allegedly illegal plastic bag
production unit in the basement of a building in Kanpur.
3rd May 2011
|
|
Spain
4 survive rapid sinking of Galician fishing boat
Two fishermen drowned but 4 were rescued when the Nueva Luz, fishing
out of Malpica, Galicia, sank off Punta Langosteira, 8 miles from
Coruna.
Although the boat managed to issue a mayday, survivors spoke of the
boat overturning and going down rapidly, rescuers stressed the
importance and significance survival courses had played in the
fishermen's rescue and survival. 31st May 2011
|
Serbia
NATO bomb dug up at Fiat plant
Construction work was halted at the Fiat plant in Kragujevac when a
2-metre long bomb dating from the NATO action against Serbia in the
90's was uncovered near the entrance, bomb disposal experts from
Belgrade were to attend the incident. 31st May 2011
|
USA
Toll booth worker killed by alleged drunk driver
A 48-year old female employee of Harris County Toll Road Authority,
Texas, was killed when a vehicle struck her toll booth on North Sam
Houston Tollway, a 38-year old female driver has been charged with
alleged intoxication manslaughter, having allegedly returned a
blood/alcohol count of 0.165, double the Texas legal limit of 0.08.
27th May 2011
|
Sweden
Doctor suspended over skin cancer failings
A failure to detect 27 cases of melanoma in its early stages in
patients over the last few years led to the suspension of a doctor at
Sahlgrenska Hospital, Gothenburg. 27th May 2011
|
Germany
Welding accident at NRW recycling unit
A worker was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries yesterday in
a fall from the rear of a vehicle during hot metal work at a recycling
facility on Daimlerstrasse in Wiescherhofen, Hamm, North
Rhine-Westphalia.
26th May 2011
|
USA
Texas worker crushed by reversing lorry
A reversing lorry accident has claimed the life of a worker at
premises on Donwick Drive, Conroe, Texas. The worker had moved behind
the lorry and became crushed between the vehicle and a loading bay.
26th May 2011
|
Iran
Worker killed in explosion at Khuzestan refinery
Officials at a new refinery project in Abadan have indicated that a
gas leak caused yesterday's explosion in which a worker was killed and
25 others were injured, an inauguration ceremony performed by
President Ahmadinejad went ahead as scheduled.
25th May 2011
|
The Netherlands
Painter and site worker injured in falls from height
A painter was admitted to Rijnsdale Hospital in Arnhem on Tuesday with
serious back injuries after falling from height at a site on
Bakenbergsweg, Arnhem.
Another worker was listed in intensive care with head injuries after
falling 3.5 metres into an excavation at a site on Tulpenlaan,
Massenhoven. 25th
May 2011
|
The Netherlands
Handicapped patient badly burned in cigarette accident
A 78-year old handicapped patient of the Volckaert care home in
Oosterhout was hospitalised yesterday with 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree
burns to his upper body following a cigarette accident, staff moved
promptly to get him under a shower to immediately ease his condition.
24th May 2011
|
USA
2 killed in Louisiana confined space accident
Two subcontract workers of Performance Contractors died in a confined
space accident at the Shintech Louisiana plant, they had entered a
container to fetch tools but the nature of the chemical fumes which
overcame them was unclear.
24th May 2011
|
Turkey
Worker killed in 17-storey fall at hotel
A fall from height accident occurred on Sunday at a new hotel site in
Bursa where a 23-year old worker died in a fall from the 17th storey. 23rd May 2011
|
Belgium
Lightning may have triggered chlorine leak
A chlorine gas leakage occurred on Sunday evening at the Solvay
chemical plant in Antwerp's port area, initial speculation was of a
possible cloud-to-ground lightning strike. 23rd May 2011
|
Georgia
3 roads workers run down by lorry
An HGV driver was arrested following an accident at a work zone on the
Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze highway where 3 roads workers were killed in
a transport accident.
20th May 2011
|
India
3 plasterers killed in scaffold collapse
A temporary scaffold structure collapsed yesterday at the Meenakshi
tower in Madhapur, killing 3 workers and injuring 3 others engaged in
external plastering at 7th floor level.
20th May 2011
|
Australia
Falling lorry bed pinned mechanic
A worker was admitted to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne yesterday
with chest injuries and a broken jaw after becoming pinned under the
bed of a lorry which he was servicing at premises in Carrum, southeast
Melbourne. Prompt action by a colleague who managed to raise the
vehicle tray almost immediately may well have saved the worker's life.
19th May 2011
|
Luxembourg
Fall from height accident
A roofer was badly injured in a 5-metre fall at a site in Garnich. It
was not immediately clear whether he had fallen from a ladder or the
roof itself, nor was the extent of his injuries known.
19th May 2011
|
Spain
Electrical accident in Madrid
A worker in his late 20's was listed in critical condition yesterday
evening in the burns unit of the Hospital de La Paz, Madrid,
after contacting a high power source at a workplace on avenida de
Valdelaparra, Alcobendas, 7 miles north of Madrid. He had 1st, 2nd and
3rd degree burns to his face, thorax, hands and legs.
18th May 2011
|
China
Exploding brake system kills 2 workers changing tyre
Two workers were killed by a flying giant tyre when a pressurised
brake drum exploded as they were changing the tyre on a lorry at a
container yard on Mai Po Long Road in Lok Ma Chau, Hong Kong.
18th May 2011
|
France
Lyons crane accident
The 60-metre arm of a 50-tonne crane-mounted lorry
became unstable and toppled against a 4-storey building in Lyons
yesterday during the installation of insulation, coming to rest
against the roof.
Fire crews expressed amazement that no-one was injured and observed
the potential for a major accident had it come down on the street.
17th May
2011
|
Canada
Flying grinding wheel kills foundry worker
A worker operating a pedestal grinder at Highland Foundry in Surrey,
British Columbia, was killed when the wheel fractured and blew off at
speed, inflicting fatal injuries.
17th May 2011
|
Singapore
2 killed in flash fire during shipyard hot work
It is speculated that a flash fire occurred during hot work at the
Benoi Road Shipyard which led to an explosion, killing 2 of the 10
workers who were welding 4 barge tanks which possibly contained
residue of flammable vapours. 16th May 2011
|
UAE
Sharjah fibreglass factory fire
Fire crews used foam to fight a major blaze at a fibreglass factory in
No. 3 Industrial Area in Sharjah, no serious injuries were reported as
vigorous efforts were made to prevent the fire spreading to adjacent
premises. 16th May 2011
|
The Netherlands
Limburg scrap yard fire
A significant amount of asbestos was released into the atmosphere
yesterday in Sint Joost, Limburg, when fire broke out in a car scrap
yard. The yard also contained gas cylinders, a worker was injured
attempting to control the blaze in its initial stages.
13th May 2011
|
USA
Worker's hand trapped in press
A Californian worker sustained crush and 3rd degree burns to his hand
when it became trapped in an industrial press at ITT BIW Connectors
Systems which manufacture oil industry components in Santa Rosa.
13th May 2011
|
India
Chemical explosion in container yard
An explosion on Wednesday at the Maersk Container Freight Station in
Uran, Navi Mumbai, east of Mumbai(Bombay), has killed 1 worker and
injured 20 others, 6 severely. It is thought that a chemical reaction
and combustion occurred in plastic drums containing chemicals in the
yard. 12th May 2011
|
Bermuda
Man injured in fall from boat in dry dock
A 75-year old man was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital with head
injuries after falling from a fishing boat in the dry dock at St
George's boat slip. 12th May 2011
|
USA
Investigation into crash of
experimental aircraft
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of
an experimental Ravin 500 aircraft near Conroe Airport, Texas, which
claimed the lives of a 70-year old man and his 52-year old daughter.
The aircraft had just taken off for the Central Texas Airshow in
Temple when smoke
filled the cockpit and it was decided to attempt an emergency landing.
However, the aircraft came down in a wooded area several hundred metres short of the
runway. 11th May
2011
|
Austria
Woodworker killed in chainsaw accident
A 23-year old worker died yesterday in an accident involving a
chainsaw in Pinkafeld, Burgenland. He was cutting a large timber
section which was on the ground when he apparently lost his balance
and stumbled forward on to the activated saw.
11th May 2011
|
Italy
Giro d'Italia cyclist dies in heavy fall
Belgian cyclist Wouter
Weylandt of the Leopard Trek team of Luxembourg died in a heavy fall yesterday on the 3rd stage of the Giro d'Italia
between Reggio Emiia and Rapallo, he sustained severe head injuries in
the fall in the descent on the Passo del
Bocco. 10th May 2011
|
Japan
Epileptic crane driver faces negligent homicide charges
A 26-year old crane driver was yesterday charged with homicide by
negligence in respect of an accident on 18th April in Kanuma in which
6 school children aged 9-11 were killed when he lost control of his
vehicle. The driver has a history of epilepsy and a seizure was
allegedly the cause of the loss of control of the vehicle.
10th May 2011
|
Belgium
Gas boiler explosion on camping site
A couple in their 60's were badly burned, the man is listed in
life-threatening condition in University Gasthuisberg hospital in
Leuven, following an explosion at a camping site in Bertem.
The local firemaster speculated that a gas boiler defect caused the
explosion as the man turned on the hot water switch in the shower. 9th May 2011
|
New Zealand
Boy impaled on school fence
An 11-year old boy is listed in stable condition in Starship Hospital,
Auckland, following surgery to remove metal from his leg after he
became impaled on a fence while retrieving a ball at Liston College,
west Auckland. He may require further surgery in the coming days. 9th May 2011
|
Canada
Founds collapse kills Ottawa worker
Porch foundations gave way during renovation work yesterday at a house
on Marlborough Avenue in the Sandy Hill area of Ottawa, killing a
worker of Hoskins Restoration Services who became pinned under a heavy
concrete section. A colleague broke an ankle in the accident which saw
both men fall 4 metres. 6th May 2011
|
USA
Crush fatality at Denver freight company
An investigation was launched yesterday into a crush fatality at MTS
Freight on East 51st Street in northeast Denver. 6th May 2011
|
Germany
Reversing lorry kills NRW roads worker
A construction worker was killed yesterday by a reversing lorry on a
roads site on Highway 9 in Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia.
5th May 2011
|
Sweden
Woman and dog recovered from farm slurry pit
A woman's body has been recovered from a slurry pit at a farm near
Essunga, Vastergottland. The body of a dog was also discovered, police
have speculated that she may have attempted to rescue the animal from
the pit, from which it would have been very difficult to extricate
oneself. 5th May
2011
|
Uganda
Utility workers in Mukono transport accident
An employee of Mutco Ltd died and 2 others were injured yesterday when
their lorry carrying utility poles for electrical installation work
came off the highway on the Kampala-Jinja Road. One of the injured has
had a leg amputated and the other may lose the sight of an eye.
4th May 2011
|
USA
Crane operator's fingers severed
A Minnesota crane operator's fingers were severed during demolition
work at a site in Farden Township. His Koehring crawler crane became
unstable and tipped into the founds of a structure there. Colleagues
recovered his glove with the severed fingers and it was hoped to
complete surgical re-attachment.
4th May 2011
|
Canada
Alberta hydrogen sulphide incident
A worker died and 2 others were
injured in a sour gas leak at a natural gas site near Fox Creek,
Alberta. The workers were steaming a gas production line when
machinery they were using released gas with a high H2S content. 3rd May 2011
|
New Zealand
Female lost finger section in unguarded punch machine
At Tauranga District Court Pearce Tool and Manufacturing was fined
$60K(£29,063) plus $11,356(£5,501) in compensation to a female worker
who had a finger amputated while operating an unguarded machine.
Department of Labour investigation found that the woman was unfamiliar
with the machine and after brief training she had accidentally pressed
down on a foot pedal while trying to remove a jammed clip.
The company was found guilty under the Health & Safety in Employment
Act of operating a punch and forming machine without a guard. 3rd May 2011
|
|
Australia
Worker killed in pile driver collapse
A worker was killed in a 20-metre fall at the LU Simon construction
site in Southbank, Victoria, where a pile-driver digging rig became
unstable and the top section, close to where the worker was standing,
fell over. This was the 9th Victoria workplace fatality of 2011.
31st May 2011
|
Sweden
2 killed in helicopter training flight
Two people died when an autogyro helicopter on a training flight,
believed to have taken off from Norrtalje,
crashed at Snesslingby, 40 miles north of Stockholm. 31st May 2011
|
England
Builder fined over fall through roof
At Canterbury Magistrates' Court a Kent builder was fined £800 plus
£200 in costs over an accident on February 17th 2010 in Whitstable
where a worker broke ribs and his sternum in a fall through the roof
of a garage, the builder pleaded guilty to a breach of S.2(1) of the
Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
27th May 2011
|
England
Child's death from swinging lorry bar ruled accidental
A jury at Swindon Coroner's Court has retuned a verdict of accidental
death in respect of an accident in which a child in a pushchair died
after being struck by the swinging draw bar of a trailer detached from
an army lorry.
The driver had indicated that the shackle and safety catch to the
coupling had been checked before and after the accident and found to
be in order, the coroner said that it was difficult to apportion blame
in this case. The jury foreman asked that the attention of the
authorities should be drawn to the coupling device to prevent another
such accident. 27th May 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Transport fatality at Galway waste facility
A 26-year old Polish worker who sustained serious crush injuries in an
accident involving a vehicle at the Barna Waste facility on Headford
Road, Carrowbrowne, has died in hospital in Galway, HSA is
investigating the accident.
26th May 2011
|
USA
Iowa railway worker's arm severed
A Union Pacific railway worker had his arm severed in an accident in a
yard in Boone, Iowa, after alighting from a locomotive and being
struck by a passing train. He was hospitalised in Des Moines with
serious injuries.
26th May 2011
|
England
Electrical explosion outside Derby council offices
The HSE is to investigate an accident yesterday outside the Saxon
House council premises on Friary Street, Derby, where one person
sustained minor burns in an electrical explosion.
25th May 2011
|
France
Boy dies after accident in shop
A 5-year old boy died in hospital in Lyons yesterday, he had sustained
serious facial and head injuries when 2 heavy packages fell on him at
the Leroy-Merlin shop in Valence on 14th May.
25th May 2011
|
England
Petrol fumes led to campsite accident
A Workington coroner has ruled a verdict of accidental death in the
case of a 15-year old youth who died on a camping trip in Great
Clifton on 22nd July last year.
He and 3 friends had taken along petrol in a bottle to help light a
camp fire but the bottle leaked at night and the youth, who had a
history of asthma, succumbed from the fuel fumes which were retained
on the groundsheet. Paramedics at the locus spoke of an overwhelming
smell of petrol trapped on the groundsheet, the others were treated
for dizziness and skin burns from the petrol.
24th May 2011
|
England
Worker's fingers severed in machine with overridden safety device
At Buxton Magistrates' Court Crimped Paper Works were fined £15K plus
£3,956 in costs over an accident in which a maintenance fitter lost 3
fingers and a thumb section when his hand became trapped in a reel-fed
paper machine at its Chapel-en-le-Frith premises. Investigation found
that a safety device had been overridden, the company pleaded guilty
to a breach of r.11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998.
24th May 2011
|
Austria
Worker injured using leg to clear timber blockage
A timber works employee in St Georgien was hospitalised in Salzburg
on Saturday with head and thigh injuries after being injured trying to
clear a blockage in timber processing machinery, having climbed over a
protective railing. 23rd May 2011
|
France
Fall from ladder at swimming pool site
A worker was hospitalised in Firminy with a broken arm and leg in a
fall from a ladder at the swimming pool site in Monistrol-sur-Loire.
23rd May 2011
|
USA
Forklift crush accident at Indiana plant
An Indiana worker was killed on Thursday in a crush accident at the
Fairfield Manufacturing plant in Lafayette where he became pinned
between a trailer and a forklift in an unloading bay, another worker
sustained an arm injury.
20th May 2011
|
Iceland
Postie injured in dog attack
A female postal worker is recovering from a broken leg and bites to
her abdomen after being attacked by a Dalmatian dog during her round
in Mosfellsbaer, 8 miles east of Reykjavik.
20th May 2011
|
England
Farm company fined over combine harvester driver's electrocution
At Salisbury Crown Court Velcourt Ltd of Herefordshire was fined £120K
plus £45K in costs over the electrocution of a combine harvest
operator in Forest Lane Field, Chute Farm, Ludgershall.
On 6th August 2007, the grain discharge extension of the harvester
contacted overhead power lines, when the 21-year old driver stepped
down he received a 6.3K-volt shock. The judge observed that
information relating to the dangers of power lines was freely
available and should have been highlighted to an inexperienced combine
driver.
HSE investigation found a failure to inspect, monitor, supervise or
audit health and safety management at the farm. The company pleaded
guilty to a breach of S.3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act
1974. 19th May 2011
|
Germany
Timber wall falls on Bavarian workers
A worker sustained life-threatening injuries and 2 others broke arms
and legs when a 6x5m timber wall weighing 300Kg collapsed on the
workers at a site in Peiting, Upper Bavaria. A crane was need to lift
the timber off the injured workers.
19th May 2011
|
The Netherlands
Worker falls into scalding water
On Tuesday a maintenance worker fell into a container of 90ºC hot
water at Vleeswarenfabriek Hapert premises in Zwartven, North Brabant,
and was hospitalised in critical condition with severe burns.
18th May 2011
|
USA
Falling metal leaves Illinois worker badly injured
A 24-year old Illinois worker was hospitalised in Milwaukee yesterday
with a severe leg injury after metal fell on his leg at the Wells
Manufacturing Company in Woodstock.
18th May 2011
|
England
Engineer's arm was amputated in conveyor rollers
Tameside Magistrates' Court fined Ascot Doors £10,500 plus £4,100 in
costs over an accident in January 2009 in which a 34-year old
maintenance worker's sleeved arm snagged on a conveyor he was
repairing at the Curry's store on Snipe Retail Park, Ashton under
Lyne, pulling his arm through rollers and resulting in an emergency
amputation. 17th
May 2011
|
Russia
Chlorofluorocarbon incident at ice rink
A criminal case is expected to be
launched over an accident at the Energia ice rink in Novosibirsk where
16 children were hospitalised after being exposed to the
chlorofluorocarbon, freon gas, used as an ice agent at the rink.
Almost all the children have completed a full recovery.
17th May 2011
|
England
AAIB investigates Tiger Moth crash in Dorset
The pilot and passenger of a Tiger Moth biplane were seriously injured
when it came down in a field at Witchampton, Dorset, yesterday. The
flight had taken off from Compton Abbas airfield, the cause of the
accident was not immediately known. 16th May 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Girl dies in fall from bouncy castle
An 8-year old girl has died in Waterford General Hospital from head
injuries sustained in a fall from a bouncy castle at the weekend in a
garden at Cul na smear, Colligan. 16th May 2011
|
Vietnam
Explosion at frozen food depot
A worker has died and another was injured in an explosion at a frozen
food depot at Tan Cang-Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City.
13th May 2011
|
Canada
Tree felling equipment was unsecured during repair work
At Ontario Curt of Justice in Moosonee, Moose Band Development
Corporation was fined $65K(£41,449) and Daak Enterprises Ltd was fined
$35K(£22,319) over a breach of Ontario Regulation 213/91 Section 108.
On 13th March 2007, a new power line being built for a diamond mine
north of Attawapisket saw Moose hired to fell trees, with Daak
providing a feller buncher, a cab on crawler tracks with a sawing head
attached to a moveable arm. Daak also provided the operator. When a
problem occurred with the vehicle saw, a repair squad from Moose
arrived but a worker became trapped between the feller head and tracks
and was killed. Ministry of Labour investigation found that the arm
and head of the feller were not secured to prevent movement during the
repair. 13th May
2011
|
Australia
Untrained worker lost leg in forklift accident
At Perth Magistrates' Court Beds Plus and Flexi Staff were fined $80K
(£52,269)and $40K(£26,135) respectively over an accident in which a
British national was injured while operating a forklift truck and had
the lower section of a leg amputated.
In March 2008, the worker had been using the forklift to deposit at
height and had failed to lower the forks as he approached a roller
door, the forklift toppled in the collision and as he jumped clear he
became pinned under the vehicle.
He was on a working holiday in Western Australia and had no experience
or qualification to use the machinery, having received only brief
instruction from a supervisor in the store in Kewdale.
12th May 2011
|
New Zealand
Farm worker falls on to PTO
A South Island dairy farm worker was admitted to Southland Hospital
after falling from a trailer and being caught in a power takeoff
driveshaft between a tractor and the trailer carrying a unit spraying
weeds on a lane near the farm in Riverton. Concerns over potential
bacterial infection mean that he may have to undergo surgery. 12th May 2011
|
England
Company fined over adapted forklift accident
At Yeovil Magistrates' Court Metaltech Precision Ltd was fined £5K
plus £4,940 in costs over an accident on 28th July 2009 in which a
worker broke an ankle and a knee in an accident at its Yonder Hill
works. He was guiding angle irons placed on an extension to a forklift
when it became unstable and overturned.
HSE investigation found that the adaptation had been made in-house and
had not been properly tested and that there was no training for the
operator or supervisors in the safe lifting procedures for heavy loads
of angle iron.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of S.2(1) of the Health &
Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
11th May 2011
|
Canada
Arborist escapes electrocution
A 20-year old worker survived potential electrocution after contacting a power
source while trimming high cedar hedging on a ladder in Roche Place,
Ottawa, he is listed in stable condition in hospital.
11th May 2011
|
English Channel
Injured fisherman airlifted to hospital
A 47-year old crew man of
the fishing boat Testarossa sustained significant injuries to his
thorax in a fall on the boat yesterday morning 100 miles north of
Ouessant, he was subsequently airlifted to the Cavale Blanche hospital
in Brest where his condition is unknown.
10th May 2011
|
Germany
Car hits unsafe load
In an accident yesterday morning around 6.30 in Wittlich, Rhineland, a
female car driver was injured when her vehicle struck 2 heavy steel
sections which were deposited across the highway by a forklift truck
awaiting transfer to a lorry.
10th May 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Car dealership fined over amputation accident
Car dealership Rice Roddy Ltd of Dundalk was fined €20K(£17,559) over
an accident in July 2009 in which a 32-year old car salesman had a
section of his leg amputated when a car display ramp fell and crushed
his foot.
The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety
of an employee and failing to identify and assess hazards and risks in
the workplace. 9th May 2011
|
Thailand
Chlorpyrifos poisoning implicated in hotel death
Police are to continue an investigation into the possibility that over
exposure to pest control chemicals may have led to fatalities among
visiting tourists. Independent investigation of a hotel room in Chiang
Mai where a visiting tourist died 3 months ago allegedly discovered
traces of the potentially lethal toxin chlorpyrifos used to control
bedbugs. The finding of high concentrations after room cleaning would
have pointed to heavy usage of the chemical.
9th May 2011
|
Scotland
Hot work accident led to ship fire
Fire during hot work on the Bahaman-registered bulk carrier Yeoman
Bontrup on 2nd July last year at Glensanda Quarry, Loch Linnhie,
spread to the engine room and led to the crew having to evacuate the
ship. The locus had been close to the bottom of a conveyor belt used
for loading cargo, MAIB investigation found the cause of the accident
to have been the ignition of the belt by hot debris from the cargo
discharge hopper repair work.
The investigation commented on a "degree of complacency" in the crew's
attitude to safe working practices during hot work jobs and a lack of
smoke alarms for early detection of fire.
6th May 2011
|
India
Unstable wall kills tiler
A worker has died and another was badly injured, possibly losing the
sight of an eye when a wall collapsed at the RTO compound near Subhash
Bridge, Ahmedabad. The workers were tiling but the wall became
unstable as they tried to open a timber gate in the middle of it.
Police are seeking a third party, who allegedly absconded, in
connection with subcontract work. 6th May 2011
|
Belgium
Rubber rolls off forklift and kills worker
A worker died yesterday at Ravago Plastics in Arendonk when a heavy
bale of rubber weighing between 500 and 800Kg fell from a forklift
truck.
5th May 2011
|
Morocco
Missing Spanish fisherman's body found
On Wednesday the body of a fisherman missing overboard from the
Carmina, which fishes out of Barbate, was discovered on the beach at
Nador, 50 miles west of Melilla, carried from the Bay of Cadiz by
strong currents in the straits. He had been missing since 28th March
and identification was found on his body which was in an advanced
state of decomposition.
5th May 2011
|
Belgium
Instructor and pupil killed in flying lesson
A 53-year old flying instructor and a student were killed on Tuesday
when their twin-engine light aircraft crashed in a field at
Bettincourt in Waremme(Borgworm). The flying lesson had taken off from
Brustem Airfield, Saint-Trond(Sint Truiden), it is unknown whether
mechanical failure or human error caused the accident.
4th May 2011
|
Germany
Burns accident at curtain factory
A 35-year old production worker was hospitalised with burns injuries
when a bleach mixture exploded in the colouring unit at the ADO
curtain manufacturing plant in Aschendorf.
4th May 2011
|
England
Cumbrian girl dies in horse accident
A coroner's court in Cumbria will investigate the death of a 13-year
old girl who has died in Royal Lancaster Infirmary after sustaining
severe chest injuries after being trampled by a horse she was tending
in a field in the Garsdale valley.
Police report no suspicious circumstances. 3rd May 2011
|
Scotland
Perthshire boy injured in go-kart accident
A 10-year old Perthshire boy underwent surgery for head injuries in
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, following an accident in which he lost
control of an EZ Rider battery-operated go-kart which ran off a dirt
track into a ditch on private land near Whitehills Farm, Auchterarder. 3rd May 2011
|
|
England
HJ Heinz guilty of safety offence
A 65-year old employee of HJ Heinz Company
Ltd sustained a serious hand injury in an industrial accident at its
Kitt Green plant in Wigan during April 2008.
The employee was making a metal part for a packaging machine at the
time. He was using emery cloth to polish the part on a metal-working
machine which was rotating, but his gloved hand was pulled in,
resulting in him losing a finger and sustaining nerve damage to two
others.
An HSE official commented: "The risk of emery cloth being pulled into
rotating metalworking machines is well known. Manufacturing companies
should make sure employees are following the latest health and safety
guidance on this issue."
Heinz, of Hayes, Middlesex, had breached r.3(1)(a) of the Management
of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and r.9(1) of the
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. It was fined
£20,000 plus £4,496 costs.
31st May 2011
|
England
Workers exposed to risk of 20 metre fall
A contractor has been prosecuted and fined having failed to meet legal
requirements in respect of working at height on a project at the
Madison Apartments in Trafford during May 2009.
Two men working for P&R Structural Glazing Ltd, engaged by Options
Properties Ltd of Manchester to fit glass balconies to the properties
in the newly-built apartments, had for some time been working on
scaffolding, but this was removed by Options Properties, leaving them
with just a harness attached to a guardrail to stop them falling to
the ground below. The unacceptably risky work was discovered by an HSE
official who immediately issued Prohibition Notices on both companies,
requiring them to stop work immediately.
Options Properties admitted breaching r.4(1) of the Work at Height
Regulations 2005 by failing to ensure that the work was properly
planned and supervised and carried out in a safe manner. It was fined
£18,000 plus costs of £4,115.
31st May 2011
|
England
Worker perished in Rochdale fire
It has been confirmed that a body has been found within the remains of
the Sartex Quilt and Textiles Ltd building in Rochdale following
Wednesday evening's fire at Norwich Mill. Four other people escaped.
27th May 2011
|
England
Exposures led to allergic reactions
Millbrook Furnishing Industries Ltd has been fined £27,000 plus
£25,000 costs for failing to control or assess certain substances used
at its Calmore Industrial Estate, Southampton, premises between August
2006 and April 2008.
An employee experienced anaphylactic shock after using an isocyanate
adhesive and being exposed to wood dust. HSE investigation found that
Millbrook failed to assess the risks, take preventive measures and
implement a programme of health surveillance. With local exhaust
ventilation deemed inadequate by visiting inspectors, enforcement
notices were served and a prosecution instigated as a direct result of
the employee, who had become ill, contacting HSE in October 2007.
27th May 2011
|
England
Landowner ignored Prohibition Notice
A landowner has been prosecuted after he failed to comply with the
terms of a Prohibition Notice concerning a dangerous car park at The
Burrows in St Ives during February 2008.
The car park was adjacent to a valley slope with a steep 30-metre drop
to houses below, HSE issued the notice preventing pedestrian and
vehicle access 5 metres from the edge of the slope, and Improvement
Notices requiring suitable protection from falls.
The potential risk was realised when, on 6th August 2009, emergency
services were called to the site because a car was spotted hanging
over the edge of the slope.
The landowner pleaded guilty to breaching S.3(2) and 33(1)(g) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was given a custodial
sentence of 9 months for breaching S.33(1)(g).
26th May 2011
|
England
Ship's master convicted for being over
alcohol limit
A man who was master of the vessel Lady Elizabeth owned by K&S
Cruises has been convicted at Truro Crown Court in the wake of his
arrest by police on 17th August last year with a blood alcohol reading
of 4 times the permitted level.
The skipper, who awaits sentencing, claims he only drank vodka after
he had moored the vessel.
26th May 2011
|
England
Serious industrial accident at Sussex
scrapyard
A worker was severely injured yesterday morning after becoming trapped
by the legs in a car crushing machine.
He required to be cut free by emergency services personnel at the
premises in Westfield near Hastings.
25th May 2011
|
England
Guard died in office
A self-employed security guard was
discovered lying on the floor of an office on the 2nd storey of a
semi-derelict building in Mitcham, London, having died from carbon
monoxide poisoning.
The 37-year old had been provided with a petrol-powered electricity
generator by Precis Holdings Ltd to power a portable heater and
lights, as there was no electricity supply to the building. The
generator was positioned in a nearby room, Precis was managing the
refurbishment of the building.
HSE deemed that Precis Holdings failed to ensure that the generator
provided for their use was safe and without risks to the health of the
security guards. The security company manager had failed to ensure the
generator was not used within the building and did not carry out a
risk assessment for the 24-hour presence of guards on site.
Precis Holdings Ltd of Westminster admitted breaching S.4(2) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £60,000 with
costs of £24,515. The security company manager pleaded guilty to
breaching S.3(2) of the same Act and was fined £30,000 with costs of
£15,000.
25th May 2011
|
England
Company failed to manage tank
inspections adequately
Solvent Resource Management Ltd of Maidenhead, Berkshire, has admitted
breaching r.4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations
1999 in connection with an incident in March 2009 in which a tank
collapsed and released 340 tonnes of hazardous and flammable solvent
and contaminated waste water.
A steel tank which had been damaged by internal corrosion collapsed
onto a retaining wall.
The company had failed to put in place suitable and effective measures
to manage its tank inspection programme according to contents and use,
and was fined £150,000 plus costs of £20,000.
24th May 2011
|
Wales
Care home death could have been
avoided
An 89-year old resident at Deevale Homecare and Services Ltd's
Headlands Nursing Home in Llangolen died of suffocation after
her upper body had slid down to the floor between the bed mattresses
and bed rails where she had become trapped in August 2008. The
deceased had suffered a similar incident 3 weeks earlier but no
alternative bedding arrangements were made.
Investigation established that employees had not been provided with
adequate training on the safe use of bed rails and in particular the
risk of entrapment. There was an absence of a suitable and sufficient
risk assessment covering the use of bed rails and no system of
inspection, monitoring and maintenance.
Deevale pleaded guilty to breaching S.3(1) of the Health & Safety at
Work etc. Act 1974, and r.3(1) of The Management of Health & Safety at
Work Regulations 1999 and was fined £70,000, with £21,818 costs.
24th May 2011
|
England
HSE alerted to dangerous roof work
The proprietor of AB Tile
Protection of Middlewich, Cheshire, has been fined £260 plus £3,275
costs after admitting breaching r.6(3) of the Work at Height
Regulations 2005. The offence came to court after a member of the
public alerted the HSE in September 2010 to an employee power-washing
the sloping roof of a semi-detached house in Hyde without anything in
place to prevent him falling from the slippery pitched surface.
23rd May 2011
|
England
Man freed from farm machinery
A man in his 20's was injured and required to be freed
from a silage conveyor after his arm became trapped in it.
The accident occurred on Thursday at a farm near Whitchurch,
Shropshire. 23rd
May 2011
|
England
Man injured in accident at High
Wycombe estate
A man is reported to be seriously injured after being struck by an HGV
at High Wycombe Industrial Estate yesterday morning.
One account states he was attaching a cab to the trailer when it moved
and ran him over, the vehicle coming to rest at the bottom of a slope
where it blocked a road.
20th May 2011
|
England
MAIB report on collision at
Portsmouth
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has reported on the collision
of the high speed craft, Norman Arrow, with fixed fendering at
Portsmouth International Port in March last year.
The investigation found that a lack of operational procedures for
manoeuvring in port with respect to limiting wind speed and relative
direction and the use of tugs was a contributing factor. It also
cited poor bridge ergonomics; ineffective bridge team management and
use of equipment; and design limitations restricting the view of
bridge personnel of objects close to the vessel.
No injuries were sustained on the vessel which is one of the largest
high speed craft in the world.
20th May 2011
|
Scotland
Legionnaires' Disease claims 3rd life
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde says a further 2 cases of Legionnaires’
Disease have been confirmed as investigations into an outbreak of the
disease in the Glasgow area continue.
The latest 2 cases takes the total number of individuals confirmed as
having the disease to 9, three of whom have died. Two of the cases
have already recovered and have been discharged from hospital.
Seven of these cases are from the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health
Board area and 2 of the confirmed cases are within Lanarkshire Health
Board area.
No common source of the bacteria has thus far been identified.
19th May 2011
|
England
Firm put employee on to roof
Raicam Clutch Ltd of Leamington Spa has been fined £5,000 with £4,952
costs after admitting breaching r.4(1) of the Work at Height
Regulations 2005 following an accident in which an employee who had
gone on to the roof fell 3.5 metres.
He had been asked to do so by management who were concerned about a
leak on the flat roof of the premises, but he fell when he caught his
foot on a cable and resultant injuries prevented him from working for
4 months. He had no fall protection or prevention measures to stop him
falling.
19th May 2011
|
England
Pool death accidental
A 7-year old girl who drowned at Maldon District Council's Blackwater
Leisure Centre in Maldon, Essex, did so accidentally a Coroners' Court
in Chelmsford has determined.
On 14th June 2008, the girl was rescued from the bottom of the pool by
a lifeguard but could not be resuscitated. The centre is operated by
Leisure Connections.
18th May 2011
|
England
Unsafe excavation work put Kent
company in court
A failure to plan, manage and monitor excavation work on a Surrey
construction site resulted in a fine for principal contractor
Churchill Properties (Southern) Limited of Westerham, Kent. A
groundwork subcontractor engaged by it was also prosecuted over the
unsafe excavation work.
The poor standards came to light when an HSE inspector visited the
site in Oxshott, Surrey, during May 2010. Construction work was
underway to the retaining basement walls of two new houses but the
inspector believed there was a significant risk of the excavation
collapsing, or materials from the excavation walls falling and
injuring workers and this resulted in the issue of a Prohibition
Notice to stop work on the site. This was followed by an Improvement
Notice to ensure that future construction work was adequately planned,
managed and monitored.
HSE instigated a prosecution of both companies on the basis of a
deemed breach of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
2007, the principal contractor for failing to plan, manage and monitor
the excavation work being carried out on its construction site; the
subcontractor, Moseley Green Services Limited, for failing to take all
practicable steps to ensure that the excavation work did not put
workers in danger from the excavation collapsing.
At Staines Magistrates' Court Churchill Properties (Southern) Ltd
admitted breaching r.22(1)(a) of the Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £2,800 plus costs of
£2,917. Magistrates noted that Churchill Properties has had previous
enforcement action taken against it at another site. Moseley Green
Services Ltd of Bordon, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to breaching r.31 of
the same Regulations and was fined £2,800 with costs of £2,917.
18th May 2011
|
Scotland
Man killed in Fife as he felled
tree
A man died following an accident on Saturday morning at a farm near St
Andrews. The deceased, in his 60's, was reportedly struck by a falling
tree. 17th May 2011
|
England
Slabs toppled on worker
A company director and his company have been fined in connection with
an industrial accident in which a worker became trapped and injured by
a toppling 2.5t pack of stone slabs.
The director who was prosecuted had directly supervised the accident
victim as he unloaded pallets from a vehicle when the slabs fell,
trapping him against another pallet. The worker's injuries
necessitated many months of medical treatment which may affect his
employment prospects.
The director admitted breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £5,000 plus costs of £2,079. His
company, M & R Granite and Marble Ltd of Hayes, Hillingdon, admitted
breaching the same Act and was fined £5,000 plus costs of £2,079.
17th May 2011
|
England
Steeplejacks £100,000 fine
Central (High Rise) Ltd of Nottingham has been prosecuted and fined in
connection with 2 separate industrial accidents, one which had fatal
consequences for a 52-year old employee who fell through an open
grating in a platform at Sutton Bridge Power Station.
On 14th August 2009, 2 Central employees were performing maintenance
on the rocks below Nottingham Castle when one experienced an
uncontrolled descent, falling between eight and ten metres to the
ground and breaking a bone in his back.
Investigation established that the injured
worker had used the wrong equipment in the castle accident and Central
had failed to ensure the work at both accidents was conducted safely.
Central must also meet £32,000
costs. 16th May
2011
|
England
Fairground ride owner's maintenance
failure
A fairground operator failed to make sure not only that the main
system to keep passengers safely in one of his rides was properly
serviced, but also that back-up could be used for long enough to stop
the ride safely if the main system fails.
An 11-year old girl suffered a head injury when a secondary safety
measure, her lap belt, failed and she was thrown from a ride at Pype
Hayes Park in Birmingham in April 2009. The lap belts in the ride cars
were poorly maintained and most were so badly damaged they were unusable.
The proprietor admitted breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £10,000 plus £2,708 costs.
16th May 2011
|
Wales
Serious industrial injury at
recycling centre
It is reported that a worker in his 50's has suffered an arm
amputation as he worked at Neath Port Talbot (Recycling) Ltd in
Crymlyn Burrows. One account states he was working with a colleague on
maintenance work on Wednesday morning.
13th May 2011
|
England
Near miss as cinema collapsed
A demolition company failed to take adequate steps to ensure a cinema
in Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, was demolished safely. The building
fell on to the A587 during rush hour on 17th June 2010, narrowly
missing a passer-by.
Gaskells Demolition Services of Bootle
failed to set up an adequate exclusion
zone and failed to apply to the council for temporary road closures.
The company admitted breaching r.29(1) of the Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations 2007 for which it was fined £5,000 plus £3,000
costs. 13th May
2011
|
England
Quarry ignored Prohibition Notice
The proprietor of Freemac Aggregates, who operate a quarry at Baston,
Lincolnshire, failed to comply with a Prohibition Notice relating to a
poorly maintained and inadequately guarded sand and gravel plant and has
been prosecuted. He received the notice in June 2009, but when an
inspector revisited 2 months later the plant was still in use and
guarding that had been fitted to comply with the Notice had been
removed.
The proprietor was in breach of r.11(1)(a) of the Provision and Use of
Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £7,500 plus costs of
£3,437.
12th May 2011
|
England
Aerospace company's preventable accident
A 53-year-old employee of Meggitt
Aerospace had 3 fingers and his thumb amputated after his left hand
was crushed in a cooling press at the company's site in Shepshed.
He
was making aircraft components and was removing a round mould without
handles from a press when its platen moved up, trapping his hand.
Meggitt Aerospace Ltd based at Bournemouth International Airport,
Christchurch, Dorset, admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £14,000 plus costs of
£6,758.
The 12 presses had no individual controls, were old, and not well
maintained. The mould being used had no handles to help with removal,
so there was no safe system of work in place for unloading the
presses. 12th May
2011
|
England
Saw severed worker's fingers
An employee of play equipment manufacturer Record RSS, a subsidiary of
Playpower UK Ltd, lost parts of 4 fingers to a circular saw last
year at its premises in Selby.
He was using the saw to cut discs used for playground mini-roundabouts
when it kicked back, pulling his hand across the blade. He had fixed a
disc to the worktable, but as the blade came into contact with the
disc it kicked back and pulled both the disc and his hand across the
rear of the blade.
HSE deemed that the company had not set a safe system of work for this
task, and the method adopted was inherently unsafe, given the lack of
assessment, managerial oversight and supervision.
Playpower UK Ltd of Surrey, admitted breaching S.3(1) of the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £4,700 plus £2,382
costs. 11th May
2011
|
England
Contractor lacked competence
A judge gave his opinion that a contractor was not competent to design
and build a loading platform at Bembridge Marine, Isle of Wight, which
was the site of an accident in which a worker fell through a gap after
a panel moved and opened. The man, aged 21, fell 3.5 metres sustaining
a head injury that proved life-changing.
The number of clips used to hold the floor panels in place was fewer
than that recommended by the British Standards on walkways and stair
treads, and there was no other means of preventing the panels from
moving sideways.
The principal contractor admitted breaching S.3(2) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Portsmouth Crown Court and was fined
£2,250 plus costs of £1,000.
11th May 2011
|
England
Needless asbestos exposure at
sheltered house
Abbott and Mason Building and Joinery Contractors Ltd of Mansfield has
been fined £20,000 plus costs of £5,741 for breaching r.7, 8, 11(1),
16 and 24(1) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 in connection
with work to renovate a bathroom at the home of a 96-year old woman in
West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.
Asbestos insulation board had been used to box in pipework behind the
bath, and when this was disturbed the occupiers possessions, including
clothing and furniture, were contaminated with asbestos fibres.
An HSE official stated that the firm had showed a "wilful disregard
for the health and safety of its employees and the public."
10th May 2011
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England
Scaffolder and company fined
A self-employed scaffolder has been fined after a passing HSE
inspector observed him balancing without a fall-arrest harness on
scaffold members at a height of 8 metres.
The scaffolder, who was contracted to Giant Scaffolding Ltd on a site
in Hastings, was fined £750 with £643 costs after admitting a breach
of r.4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Giant Scaffolding Ltd of Battle, Sussex, pleaded guilty to a
breach of the same regulation and a breach of S.20(2)(j) of the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £15,000 with costs of
£5,000.
10th May 2011
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Scotland
Legionnaires' Disease
investigation in Glasgow
Five cases of Legionnaires' Disease in Glasgow has prompted a number
of bodies to discover if there is a new source of the infection in the
city.
The HSE and Health Protection Scotland are involved in this work
but so far no common link between patients has emerged.
One patient has died, another is
listed
critical, both previously suffered underlying health conditions.
9th May 2011
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England
Developer operated dangerous site
A property developer who incurred prohibition notices over the
dangerous conditions on its site in Bowden, Greater Manchester, has
been fined £10,000 plus £4,792 costs.
Prestige Homes Construction Company Ltd of Manchester was the subject
of HSE inspections and subsequent notices between May 2008 and August
2009. Inspectors deemed the conditions were unsafe because of open
edges around foundations, large amounts of rubble and dangerous
scaffolding. It was in breach of r.6(3) of the Work at Height
Regulations 2005 and r.27(1) of the Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations 2007.
9th May 2011
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England
Worker paralysed by fall
A cable installer working on a scissor lift with two colleagues tying
cables into overhead trays fell 8 metres when they collapsed, knocking
him out of the lift. He suffered severe spinal injuries and is
paralysed from the waist down.
The accident occurred on 25th January 2007 at premises in Manor Royal
Industrial Park, Crawley, where Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil Ltd had
been subcontracted to design and build the mechanical and electrical
systems in a number of new buildings.
An HSE official explained how the accident could have been prevented
if the company had ensured all parts of the cable tray system had been
properly designed and installed, including how it was attached to the
building. During the work, components were failing or showing signs of
failure, but the company took no action.
Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil Ltd admitted breaching S.2(1) and 3(1)
of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined
£120,000 plus costs of £81,927.
6th May 2011
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England
Manufacturer's poor electrical safety
Oldham kitchen equipment manufacturer Townfield Manufacturing Ltd has
been fined £10,000 with £3,979 costs following a trial at Trafford
Magistrates’ Court in Sale.
It was found guilty of 2 breaches of S.33(1)(g) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974, having failed to comply with improvement
notices issued in respect of dangerous electrics. Inspectors found
cracked socket casings, exposed conductors and live wires on a visit
to its premises in Mount Pleasant Street. Inspectors also took issue
with the lack of heating in its workshop where employees worked with
coats and gloves in the absence of a working heating system.
6th May 2011
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Scotland
Worker in quad bike accident
A farm worker has been injured on Colmslie Farm near Galashiels. It is
reported he sustained serious back injuries in the incident involving
a quad bike and was airlifted to hospital yesterday morning.
5th May 2011
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England
Man electrocuted
A man in his 40's has died after he was electrocuted in the service
tunnels underneath the former St Lawrence's Hospital in Bodmin, a
property in the ownership of Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust.
The incident occurred on the
afternoon of April 25th, a companion raised the alarm.
5th May 2011
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England
Worker fell through fragile roof
A worker instructed to access a fragile barn roof on a farm at Ugley,
Hertfordshire, fell through it and landed 5 metres below, sustaining
multiple injuries. He and a colleague had been standing on scaffold
boards at the time, brushing the asbestos cement roof without fall
prevention equipment.
The farm owners admitted breaching r.9(2) of the Work at Height
Regulations 2005 and were fined £8,000 in total plus costs of £2,083.
4th May 2011
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England
HAVS failure at Land Rover
Land Rover has been prosecuted and fined £20,000 plus £60,606 costs
after admitting its failure to control the risks arising from the use
of vibrating hand tools, in particular the use by 2 employees in the
weld destruct section at Lode Lane, Solihull, where air chisels were
used to undo welds.
Two cases of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) had been reported in
December 2006, vibrating hand tools were being used across the plant
with a lack of assessment and management of risk. Further work,
including a health surveillance operation, uncovered other cases of
the condition.
Land Rover had no system in place to measure how long each employee
spent using the tools or the levels of vibration, it admitted
breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
4th May 2011
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England
Labourer fell 6 storeys
During December 2008 a self-employed labourer fell 18 metres from a
roof down an unguarded light well, resulting in broken bones in his
back, a broken arm, pelvis and rib, a punctured lung and internal
injuries. He has so far been unable to return to work.
The project on which the accident victim worked was one of restoration
at Abingdon Villas in Allen Road, Kensington, London, its principal
contractor Triton Building Restoration Ltd. Triton had subcontracted
the restoration of a cast iron fire escape and external repair and
painting to Fire Escape Ltd. An HSE official commented that "companies
should ensure that safety precautions to prevent falls from height are
monitored to ensure that they are not removed where access to work at
height is still possible."
Triton Building Restoration Ltd of Merton admitted breaching
S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined
£5,000 plus £11,339 costs. Fire Escape Ltd of Croydon admitted
breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was
fined £3,500 plus £11,300 costs.
3rd May 2011
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England
Manager died at machine
A maintenance manager was struck by a steel barrier while carrying out
maintenance on a rubber mixing machine, receiving fatal head injuries.
The barrier had been stored vertically and unsecured against rubber
compound powder containers.
Employer, Cannon Automotive Limited of Tottenham, London, had failed
to assess the risks and implement a suitable and sufficient safe
system of work for the maintenance of the mixer, placing it in breach
of S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which it
was fined £20,000 plus costs of £13,100.
3rd May 2011
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