Canada
Miner buried under potash spillage
A 28-year old Saskatchewan miner died in an accident on Saturday when
a potash ore container cracked and its contents buried him at the
Mosaic mine in Esterhazy, 150 miles east of Regina.
The mine has 2 shafts descending 1,000 metres, the bins are located on
the surface where raw ore is stored pending process.
30th November 2009.
|
Bangladesh
Dozens drown in overloaded ferry sinking
At least 45 people drowned when the overloaded ferry MV Coco-4
experienced water ingress and sank near Nazirpur on the river
Tentulia, 150 miles south of Dhaka, the ferry's capacity was for 665
passengers, as many as 1,000 may have been on board.
On Sunday attempts were being made to reach bodies trapped in cabins
and the hold of the overturned boat.
30th November 2009.
|
South Africa
Worker killed in fall from roof at Joburg site
A 56-year old construction worker died on Thursday in a fall from the
roof of a building in Commonwealth Road in the Springs area of
Johannesburg which left him impaled on a fence.
27th November 2009.
|
Canada
Worker killed by container at Nova Scotia dock
A fatal accident is being investigated at a hydraulic loading dock at
Maritime Steel & Foundries in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, where a worker
was struck by goods during unloading.
27th November 2009.
|
USA
Virginia utility worker electrocuted in ladder accident
At a site in Arlington, Virginia, 2 utility workers attending a water
main fracture on Wednesday contacted an overhead power line with their
ladder, 1 of the workers was electrocuted, another sustained serious
injuries. 26th
November 2009.
|
Greece
Petrol chainsaw explosion kills worker
A worker has died in an explosion involving a petrol-driven chainsaw
while cutting roof beams at a property in Geliniatika, in the
municipality of Xylokastro, Corinth.
26th November 2009.
|
USA
Transport fatality at Illinois
recycling site
A fatal accident occurred at the Resource Management waste processing
site in Chicago Ridge on Tuesday morning where a worker died after
being struck a by a forklift truck.
25th November 2009.
|
Canada
Company fined over manual handling accident
In court in Ottawa Marble Unlimited was fined $50K(£28,434) after
pleading guilty to a breach of health and safety regulations in
respect of an accident last year in which a worker broke an arm
handling heavy marble sections.
On May 7th 2008, marble and granite slabs weighing in excess of 440Kg
were standing in A-frame racks when a worker attempted to stand one on
end. However, the weight of it caused instability and pinned him back
against another rack.
The company pleaded guilty to failing as an employer to ensure that
the slabs were removed from the racks in a manner that did not
endanger the safety of employees.
25th November 2009.
|
Italy
Air Force training flight crash leaves 5 dead
The crash of a Brigata Aerea C-130 aircraft as it approached a
military airfield near Pisa killed 5 crew members on Monday, it is
believed the accident occurred during a training flight.
24th November 2009.
|
Russia
Ammunition depot explosion
An explosion at an ammunition depot of the 31st Navy in Ulyanovsk
killed 8 workers handling shells for transportation and disposal, 2
other personnel have been hospitalised.
24th November 2009.
|
Japan
4 killed in Tokyo restaurant kitchen fire
A fire broke out during grilling over charcoal in the Ishiri-tei
restaurant in Tokyo's Koenji district at the weekend, resulting in the
deaths of 2 chefs and 2 customers.
The flames licked up and caught a cloth ornamental design, spreading
quickly to the ceiling on the 1st floor premises of a 5-storey
building. 23rd
November 2009.
|
Switzerland
Man survives encounter with Berne bear
A man is being treated in hospital in Berne for injuries after
entering the city's Barenpark (bear enclosure). It remains unclear why
he entered, the new fence of 1.3m is 20cm higher than the old one.
23rd November
2009.
|
China
Explosion kills scores of miners
At least 92 miners died and a further 21 were missing following an
explosion at the Xinxing coal mine of Heilongjiang Longmay Mining
Holding Group, 250
miles east of Harbin. Of 528 underground at the time, 415 managed to
escape the accident which left others contending with CO poisoning,
burns and fractures.
22nd November 2009.
|
USA
Generator explosion at Texas power plant
A subcontract worker of Sulzer Ltd was struck on the chest by a door
which blew out in an explosion during maintenance work on a generator
at the PSEG(Public Service Electricity & Gas) power plant in Marion,
Texas, a colleague is also being treated for facial injuries.
20th November 2009.
|
Canada
Alberta worker injured in fall through school roof
A 25-year old worker is being treated for a fractured skull in
Foothills Hospital, Calgary, after falling through an opening in the
roof of Percy Pegler Junior High School in Okotoks.
20th November 2009.
|
USA
Tennessee utility worker electrocuted
A lineman of Bristol Tennessee Essential Services died yesterday in an
electrical accident while working up a power line pole in Bluff City.
19th November 2009.
|
Singapore
Burnt rope failed worker's security in lift shaft fall
A lift company owner and a foreman were each fined $50K(£21,586) in
court in respect of a fatal accident on August 7th 2007 at the old
Ocean Building where a worker fell 13 storeys to his death down a lift
shaft. The worker had been dismantling the lift's guard rails for
lowering by pulley but fell from the lift carriage when a rope
securing him failed. The rope had previously been damaged by fire, the
foreman had allegedly tied the burnt ends together. The lift company
owner was fined for failing to stop the work when no barriers were
present and 2 lifelines were missing.
19th November 2009.
|
Myanmar/Burma
50 drown as ferry hits oil barge
As many as 50 people are feared drowned following the collision of the
Nay Myo Tim Kyi ferry and the oil barge Dana on the Ngawun River, 30
miles from Pathein. Burmese officials in Ayeyawaddy division have
reported 31 dead and a further 19 missing.
18th November 2009.
|
USA
Florida worker drowns in tractor rollover
A 37-year old female farm worker of Big Lake Planting has died after
her tractor rolled into a canal by US Highway 98 in Palm Beach county,
Florida, it is speculated that the vehicle was travelling too close to
the edge of an embankment when the accident occurred.
18th November 2009.
|
Namibia
3 killed in Windhoek plane crash
The crash of a Cessna Caravan aircraft of South African company
Aviation at Work has killed 3 people, 1 person survived the accident.
The flight, operated by Angolan Airnav, had taken off from Eros
Airport, Windhoek, for Angola but failed to achieve altitude, coming
down on veld between Prosperita and Cimbebasia.
17th November 2009.
|
Gaza
Electrocution and
injuries in tunnel accidents
In 2 separate accidents on Monday in tunnels close to the Egyptian
border a man was electrocuted in an accident 20 metres underground; in
a tunnel in Rafah 4 people were injured in a partial cave-in.
17th November 2009.
|
Bulgaria
Missing tourist teacher’s body
found
Search parties have located the body of a teacher missing on a trip
for tourism teachers near the Mount Bonev area. The 42-year old
teacher was on a trip organised by Tourist Association
Trapezitsa-1902, the group was based in a Vasil Levski mountain hut.
17th November 2009.
|
South Korea
10 died in Busan shooting range fire
Fire in an indoor shooting range in Busan has killed 10 visitors to
the premises, located on the 2nd floor of a 5-storey building.
Investigators have indicated that 7 of the dead were discovered in a
room just 10 metres from an exit point, it is believed that the locus
of the blaze was a lounge area in the premises.
16th November 2009.
|
Serbia
Car plant fire
Fire crews contained a blaze at the Zastava car factory in Kragujevac
within an hour on Sunday, no immediate cause of the accident was
available.
16th November 2009.
|
China
7 fishermen missing after East China Sea collision
Seven fishermen are missing off Dachen Island, Zhejiang, after their
boat, the Minxiayu 706, collided with a cargo ship CAIM OCEAN, 2
fishermen were rescued in sea conditions which were locally poor.
16th November 2009.
|
Australia
Two children drown in separate public pool incidents
Workplace Health and Safety is investigating 2 separate drowning
accidents this week involving children in public swimming pools.
A 6-year old boy who was found under the water close to the water
slide at the Newmarket Olympic Pool,Brisbane, has died and earlier in
the week a 5-year old girl drowned at the Goodna Aquatic Centre.
13th November 2009.
|
Cyprus
Transport fatality on site
An electrician working at a site in Limni in Polis Chrysochous has
died after a lorry struck his van at the site.
13th November 2009.
|
Canada
Machinery accident at Alberta oil well site
A machinery accident has claimed the life of a 26-year old worker
during maintenance work at the Sifton Energy oil well site some 45
miles southwest of Edmonton where he was struck by a pump jack
counterweight. 12th
November 2009.
|
Australia
Melbourne laundry fined over fatal accident
Hajel Pty Ltd and a director have been fined $750K(£420,974) and $65K(£36,484)
respectively over a fatal accident on October 27th 2006 at its
industrial laundry in West Heidelberg, Melbourne.
A worker's mittened hand caught in an industrial ironing machine
during cleaning work, leading to his death by crushing, the company
pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace and both
supervision and training for employees. Investigation established that
the steam-heated rollers were inadequately guarded.
12th November 2009.
|
USA
MEWP fatality in Kansas City
A MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) overturned on Tuesday during
work at the site of the Kansas City Performing Arts Centre, 1 worker
died and another was injured.
11th November 2009.
|
Austria
Cargo helicopter loses load in flight
An investigation is studying the circumstances in which a cargo
helicopter of Wucher Helicopter lost its 700Kg load of explosives in
flight at 3km over the Tyrolean Pitztal glacier where the explosives
are used for avalanche control.
11th November 2009.
|
Australia
Unbraked lorry kills driver
A fatal accident occurred at the Australian Pacific LNG Lucky Gully
site in Yuleba, southwest Queensland, where a lorry driver of
contractor Origin died when his unbraked vehicle rolled forward and
struck him as he walked in front of it to open a gate.
10th November 2009.
|
China
Tyre breaks worker's fall
A worker has survived a fall from 8th floor level at a site in the
Liuxiandong Industrial District in Baoan, Shenzhen, where a discarded
giant tyre broke the impact of his fall. He sustained a fractured
pelvis and severe head injuries in the fall but is now not listed in
life-threatening condition.
10th November 2009.
|
Andorra
Collapse at mountain bridge site leaves 5 workers dead
The collapse of a 20-metre section of bridge under construction near
the Dos Valires tunnel in Andorra's Massana valley killed 5 Portuguese
workers at the weekend, the accident occurred shortly after a concrete
pour. 9th November
2009.
|
Russia
Cave-in kills 2 Perm speleologists
Two speleologists have died during a structural collapse in the
Rossiiskaya cave 4 miles from Gubakha, 750 miles northeast of Moscow,
there were 7 people in the group when the accident occurred at 70
metres depth, some 800 metres from the entrance. On Sunday rescuers
reached a survivor who had a broken leg and collarbone.
l9th November 2009.
|
Hungary
2 missing in Kraszna fishing boat accident
A fishing boat overturned on the Tisza(Kraszna) River on Sunday, 5
people have been rescued but 2 were reported missing
and were being searched for by
divers. 9th
November 2009.
|
USA
Philadelphia track inspector killed by train
A track inspector was killed by a Septa(Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority) Regional Rail train on Thursday morning just
south of Melrose Park station in Cheltenham, north Philadelphia, he
and a colleague were walking southwards when the accident occurred.
6th November 2009.
|
Bermuda
Worker fell 2 metres in warehouse
A 49-year old warehouseman is being treated for critical injuries in
King Edward VII Memorial Hospital after falling 2 metres at his
workplace in Harvey Road, Paget Island.
6th November 2009.
|
India
6 track workers killed by train
Six track workers have been killed in an accident at Asawati Station,
40 miles from New Delhi, when they were struck by a passing train, the
accident occurred in poor light, 1 other worker is being treated for
injuries. 5th November 2009.
|
USA
Falling beam kills Michigan worker
A fatal accident has been reported at Voigt and Schweizer Galvinizers
Inc in Redford, Michigan, where a falling beam has killed a worker. 5th November 2009.
|
Pakistan
17 killed in Karachi SPAD collision
It is speculated that a signal passed at danger (SPAD) may have caused
Tuesday's rail collision near Juma Goth station in Karachi in which at
least 17 people died and dozens more were injured when the Allama
Iqbal Express train struck a freight service.
4th November 2009.
|
New Zealand
Auckland lorry loading accident
The Labour Department is investigating an accident on Tuesday in Okahu
Street, Auckland, in which a worker on the rear of a lorry was struck
by the shovel of a digger being loaded on to the vehicle. He was
knocked to the ground and later hospitalised.
4th November 2009.
|
Russia
11 killed in Yakutia air crash
A criminal case is being prepared following the crash of an IL-76
aircraft 3 miles from Mirny Airport in Yakutia in which 11 people have
died. Although the temperature was -24ºC flying conditions were good.
The aircraft had delivered cargo and was taking personnel away on a
return flight but failed to gain altitude and crashed into a nearby
slag heap. 3rd
November 2009.
|
India
Building under construction collapses in west Delhi
A woman and 2 children were hospitalised with injuries when a 4-storey
building under construction collapsed at a site in the Gurunanak area
of Tilak Nagar, west Delhi, police have been trying to establish
details of the contractor and owner.
3rd November 2009.
|
Belarus
3 Polish border guards killed in helicopter crash
The crash of a PZL Kania Polish border guard helicopter led to 3
deaths at the weekend, the craft came down near Vysokaye, 200 metres
from the border on the Byelorussian side, the cause of the accident
remains unknown. 2nd November 2009.
|
Taiwan
Pillar collapse accident on MRT link
A 13-metre high pillar collapsed on Sunday at the MRT (Mass Rapid
Transit) rail line site in Sinjhuang, Taipei, killing 1 worker and
injuring 4 others as scaffolding also fell, this section of overhead
line links Taipei and Taoyuan International Airport. 2nd November 2009.
|
|
Malaysia
Worker killed by train
A construction worker was killed on Sunday after being struck by a
Keretapi Tanah Melayu train travelling between Port Klang and Kuala
Lumpur, the accident occurred on stretch of track near Batu7, Jalan
Klang Lama. 30th
November 2009.
|
Austria
Spectators injured during quad bike training
Four children aged 3-12 were treated in Feldkirch Hospital,
Vorarlberg, following an accident at the weekend at the
OAMTC(Osterreichische Automobil, Motorad und Touring Club) riding
training grounds where a quad bike rider lost control of his vehicle
which ran on and struck a metal barrier fence against which spectators
were leaning. 30th
November 2009.
|
Namibia
Worker loses arm in cement mixer accident
It is feared that a worker of Namibia Construction has had an arm
amputated following an accident in which his arm was caught in a
cement mixer at the Metje & Ziegler head office site in south
Windhoek, surgery was ongoing to attend to his injuries.
27th November 2009.
|
Australia
Timber worker injured by robot stacker
A timber worker is being treated in Royal Melbourne Hospital for
injuries including a fractured pelvis after being crushed against
stacked timber by a stacker robot at AKM Timber in Colac.
27th November 2009.
|
Cyprus
Worker rescued from unstable trench
An East European worker was safely rescued from a 4-metre deep
unstable excavation in Diagoram Street in the Strovolos district of
Nicosia where sewage pipe work has been undertaken.
26th November 2009.
|
Spain
83rd Madrid workplace fatality of 2009
The Workplace Inspectorate (Inspeccion de Trabajo) in Madrid is
investigating 2 workplace deaths in the capital this week.
A window cleaner died in a fall from height on Saturday and a worker
who was engaged in renovation work in a house on Mesones de Leganes
Street in the city has died in Hospital 12 de Octubre of head injuries
in a 6-metre fall. It is alleged that insufficient safety measures had
been taken and the worker was not connected to safety line.
Madrid workplace deaths now total 83 for the year. November
2009.
|
Germany
Accident during luge training at Konigsee
A brake woman at the rear of a women's 4-seater bobsleigh was badly
injured in a training accident on Tuesday in Konigsee when the Russian
team's 4-man bob collided into the rear of their sleigh, it was
unclear why the second run proceeded with a team still to clear the
course during training for the European Championship.
25th November 2009.
|
Iceland
Man impaled on rods in fall at site
A man was admitted to hospital in Reykjavik with life-threatening
injuries after falling 4 metres and becoming impaled on construction
rods in founds at a site in Hrunamannahreppar. The rods had to be
sawed at the locus, during which his condition worsened.
25th November 2009.
|
Indonesia
46 feared dead in ferry sinking
The sinking of the Dumai Express ferry in high swell conditions off
Karimum Island has drowned 29 people and left 17 missing. At least 246
people were saved from the ship with a capacity of 273.
The sinking was rapid, probably in less than 30 minutes, it was
unknown on Monday if there were bodies still within the upturned
ferry. 24th
November 2009.
|
Belgium
Conductor killed in speeding train derailment
The derailment of a train in Mons(Bergen) killed a conductor and left
2 other people injured, initial investigation of the accident suggests
that the train travelling from Doornik was exceeding the speed limit
for that section of track.
24th November 2009.
|
Rep Ireland
Lifeboat crew rescued in Wexford Harbour
The Wexford in-shore lifeboat overturned in Wexford Harbour yesterday,
all 3 crewmen were safely rescued, 1 of whom was initially feared
missing was winched to safety by helicopter.
23rd November 2009.
|
Czech Republic
Electrical fire in airport tower
It is speculated that a faulty
electric cable caused the fire at the weekend in the control tower of
Prague Airport, an accident which closed the airport for 5 hours.
22nd November 2009.
|
Australia
Tasmanian electrician injured in switchboard accident
An Aurora electrician is being treated for serious upper body burns in
the Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, following an accident in which he
sustained an electric shock and his clothes caught fire while working
on a switchboard in Cattley Street, Burnie.
20th November 2009.
|
Singapore
Company fined over workers' fall
In court on Thursday Pico Art was fined $24K(£10,327) in respect of an
accident in which 5 workers were injured in a 2-metre fall during the
assembling of seating for last year's Formula 1 race.
The court heard that the company had failed to implement a proper
system of work for lifting operations involving a mobile crane
hoisting pallets of timber at the Turn 2 Club Suites building. No
measures had been taken to ensure that every opening had been secured
by guard rails or barriers, and no lifting supervisor had been
appointed. 20th
November 2009.
|
Canada
Investigation of recycling driver's death
A fatal accident occurred yesterday at the rear of the grocery
Superstore in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where a lorry driver of Recool
Canada died at a point where he was collecting recyclable material,
details of the accident have yet to emerge but may involve a crushing
incident.19th
November 2009.
|
Spain
Driver killed in container explosion
Investigators have been studying a fatal accident at the West Docks in
Palma where an explosion killed a lorry driver who had just opened his
vehicle container prior to accepting a load of powdered cement.
19th November 2009.
|
Argentina
2 clinic patients die of food poisoning
Two patients of the Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires clinic on Gallo
Avenue, Almargo, a 50-year old man and an 82-year old woman, have died
from presumed food poisoning, 22 other patients with similar symptoms
were admitted to other city hospitals on Tuesday.
18th November 2009.
|
Switzerland
Demolition work accident
Sections of a wall fell on 2 workers during demolition of the old
Migros shopping centre in Thun on Tuesday, inflicting head and leg
injuries which are not life-threatening.
18th November 2009.
|
China
Tiger mauling leaves keeper’s
life in balance
A zoo keeper at the Shenyang Qipanshan Glacier Animal Park is still
fighting for his life following a mauling by 2 Siberian tigers while
he was clearing snow from a pathway in a staff area of the park. The
attack left him with multiple injuries and internal haemorrhaging, the
incident has led to the temporary closure of the 9-year old park which
has been beset by revenue problems.
17th November 2009.
|
USA
Fork lift death at Virginia food
warehouse
Virginia Department of Labour and Industry is investigating a fatal
accident at Burris Logistics in Lyndhurst where a worker died after
becoming pinned under a stand-up forklift truck of which he lost
control at the food distribution company.
17th November 2009.
|
Czech Republic
Railway tunnel site collapse
A structural collapse occurred at a railway tunnel work site near
Jablunkov on Sunday, no injuries were reported from the site which saw
a 150x50-metre crater emerge. 16th November 2009.
|
Japan
Fishing boat/freighter collision
Four fishermen drowned and 3 are missing after the 3 Dae Kyong
collided with Hong Kong freighter Joshu Maru, the accident occurred in
rough seas 70 miles west of Fukue Island. 16th November 2009.
|
Malta
MEWP airport accident victim dies
A 36-year old maintenance worker, who fell 8 metres from an unstable
MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) in the car park at Malta
International Airport last Monday, died of his injuries at the
weekend. 16th November 2009.
|
New Zealand
Maintenance worker falls to death at Auckland site
Investigators are studying the circumstances of a workplace death at
the Britomart site in Auckland where a worker servicing fire
sprinklers for Hawkins Construction died in a fall through 2 storeys.
13th November 2009.
|
China
Explosion at Henan firecracker workshop
Three people have died in an explosion which destroyed a 2-storey
building housing a firecracker workshop in Dafuzhuang Village, Runan,
Henan. 12th
November 2009.
|
Greece
Search for overboard fisherman
A search has been ongoing for a crew man of the Kavala fishing boat Kapetan
Lakis missing in the Aegean Sea south of Thasos.
12th November 2009.
|
Kazakhstan
16 die in warehouse site fire
At least 16 people died when fire broke out at the site of a vegetable
store in Astana, it has yet to be established if the fitting of
refrigeration units by contractors was the cause of the accident.
There was a substantial amount of
plastic foam material inside the building at the time.
11th November 2009.
|
USA
Machine fatality at Minnesota timber mill
A 45-year old timber mill worker was killed in an accident when a
section of timber was ejected forcefully from a machine at premises in
Gheen, a rural community 180 miles north of Minneapolis.
11th November 2009.
|
China
Triple fatality at Liuzhou demolition site
At least 3 workers died in a structural collapse during the demolition
of the former dormitory of the Liuzhou Switch factory in Liuzhou,
Guangxi Zhuang.
10th November 2009.
|
USA
Confined space accident at Tampa dry dock
In a confined space incident during cleaning work at Riverhawk Marine
in the dry dock on West Tyson Avenue, Port Tampa, 2 workers required
hospital treatment after inhaling fumes inside the hold of a ship.
10th November 2009.
|
Greece
CO kills hotel guests on subsequent days
A Thessalonika hotel manager has been arrested following subsequent
carbon monoxide deaths at the Nefeli Hotel in the city's Panorama
district.
The first fatality occurred on the 5th floor, the 2nd guest died the
following day on the 4th floor. Defective heating or air conditioning
is suspected, both victims had 90% CO poisoning.
9th November 2009.
|
France
CO incident at Pas-de-Calais church
Of a congregation of 150 attending a Remembrance Sunday service in
Saint Cyr Church in Angres, west of Lens, more than 80 were affected
by carbon monoxide poisoning due to a malfunction of the heating
system, 1 person is listed as being in serious condition in hospital,
the CO in blood was estimated as 4%-20% among those affected.
9th November 2009.
|
Germany
Seaman overboard in Elbe
A seaman has drowned after falling overboard from the 200-metre long
container ship EMS Trader near the Athabaska quay between Teufelsbruck
and Neumuhlen on the Elbe river. He had been preparing a gangway which
apparently failed prior to the arrival of a river pilot. His
disappearance was first noticed as the pilot arrived, tidal flow was
3mph towards the North Sea.
6th November 2009.
|
Japan
Tokyo pupil injured in archery practice
A 16-year old pupil has been seriously injured when a 70-cm long arrow
lodged in his forehead between his eyes during high school archery
club practice on a rooftop area in the Meguro district of Tokyo.
6th November 2009.
|
Belgium
Farmer's son critically injured by cow
A 14-year old youth is listed in critical condition in Gasthuisberg
Hospital in Leuven(Louvain) after being badly injured when a cow
escaped from his father's lorry on a farm in Holsbeek, northeast of
Leuven, and crushed him against a metal barrier while the youngster
was trying to round it up. 5th November 2009.
|
France
Subcontract worker in radiation accident
Human error has been described by
the ASN (Autorite de Surete Nucleaire) as the cause of an accident at
the Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant where a subcontract worker engaged
in welding was exposed to an estimated 5 millisieverts of radiation,
one quarter of the annual amount for a nuclear worker, the incident
was recorded as level 2 of 8 on the INES scale.
5th November 2009.
|
Greece
Boy drowns in rain cistern
A 2-year old boy has drowned after falling into a concrete cistern
tank which collects rainwater at premises in Koutsopodi, Peloponnese.
4th November 2009.
|
Austria
High pressure hose fatal accident
A workman died in hospital in Schwarzach yesterday from injuries
sustained 2 weeks ago in Radstadt, Salzburg, where he was struck on
the head by a clamp which broke from a hose connected to an air
compressor during cleaning work.
4th November 2009.
|
Philippines
14 die in boarding house fire
Fire in a boarding house in Bacolod City, 310 miles south of Manila,
has led to the deaths of 14 people, the blaze spread rapidly to 51
other homes. 3rd
November 2009.
|
South Africa
Passenger survives involuntary ejection from air force jet
The passenger of a Pilatus PC-7 Mk11 aircraft of the South African Air
Force survived ejection from the aircraft and 20G acceleration, coming
to ground by parachute near Langebaanweg Air Force Base, 80 miles
north of Cape Town. He had unwittingly activated the ejector seat
while being taken for a flight with the Silver Falcons.
3rd November 2009.
|
Spain
Cliff collapses on Tenerife beach
The collapse of a cliff at the Los Gigantes beach area of Santiago del
Teide,Tenerife, killed 2 holidaymakers on Sunday, 4 others were
trapped under the rubble.
2nd November 2009.
|
Canada
Workers feared drowned in old gold mine
A desperate search was ongoing through yesterday for 3 workers missing
in the old Bachelor Lake gold mine of Metanor Resources at James Bay,
400 miles north of Montreal. Work to align the shaft walls was being
undertaken some 500 metres underground. A lift cage was being lowered
from 6th to 12th floor level but the presence of flooding was not
immediately detected at lower level.
2nd November 2009.
|
|
England
Yorks company fined over lathe accident
At Sheffield Crown Court IS Maintenance of Smithies, Barnsley, was
fined £10K plus £4,085 in costs after pleading guilty to breaches of
health and safety law in respect of an accident in which a worker
injured his hand while polishing a lathe.
The worker was wearing gloves which became drawn into the lathe which
rotated at 1,200rpm. Although he was wearing protective equipment he
had not received any instruction to carry out this task, the company
indicated in its defence that he had carried it out of his own
volition. 30th
November 2009.
|
China
Zimbabwean cargo plane crashes at Pudong
An MD-11 Zimbabwean cargo aircraft flying to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan,
crashed on take-off from Pudong Airport at the weekend killing 3
of the 7 crew on board, a failure of the undercarriage is speculated
as a cause of the accident.
30th November 2009.
|
New Zealand
Quad bike farm fatality
A dairy farm worker died yesterday in a quad bike accident while
rounding up cattle for milking at a farm in Manutahi, south Taranaki,
the bike overturned on a gradient and rolled down into a gulley.
27th November 2009.
|
Comoros
30 missing as boat sinks in Mozambique Channel
More than 30 people are missing, feared drowned, following the sinking
of a boat sailing from Anjouan(Nzwani) in the Comoros Islands to the
French island of Mayotte, north of Madagascar.
27th November 2009.
|
England
Black Country CO death verdict
A Dudley coroner has recorded a verdict of accidental death in the
case of a 73-year old resident of Halesowen, overcome by carbon
monoxide poisoning from a faulty boiler.
Other family members were also found to have raised levels of CO in
their blood, an HSE inspector noted that "the boiler was generating
much higher levels of CO than it should have."
26th November 2009.
|
Guyana
Excavator crush death investigation
Investigators are studying a workplace death in Eccles where a 20-year
old excavator operator of Correia and Correia has died in a crush
accident. 26th
November 2009.
|
Switzerland
Crane topples at Basle hospital site
A pneumatic crane overturned during the dismantling of another crane
at the Children's Hospital site in Basle on Tuesday, it struck the
roof of the building, a woman was injured in this accident.
25th November 2009.
|
Scotland
Worker fell into inspection pit at bus garage
An accident is being investigated at Deveron Coaches in Buckie where a
worker was injured and admitted to hospital in Elgin after falling
into a vehicle inspection pit.
25th November 2009.
|
Australia
Victoria farm transport fatality
Victoria recorded its 7th farming fatality of the year when a worker
died after being struck by a reversing tractor and trailer at a
vegetable loading dock in Werribee, west Melbourne.
24th November 2009.
|
France
Worker killed at Normandy garage
A 38-year old worker has died
of head injuries following an accident at a vehicle outfitters in
Flers, Normandy.
24th November 2009.
|
England
Yorks racecourse fined over gate accident
At Doncaster Crown Court Doncaster Racecourse Management pleaded
guilty to 2 breaches of health and safety legislation and was fined
£25K plus £10K costs over an accident in which a metal swing barrier
went through a car driver's windscreen, resulting in the victim
undergoing facial surgery and losing the sight of an eye.
23rd November 2009.
|
Austria
Farmer badly scalded during poultry work
A 52-year old female farmer was admitted to hospital in Vienna on
Saturday after sustaining scalding burns to 50% of her body when a
12-litre container of boiling water overturned as she was plucking and
preparing geese on her farm in Waidhofen. She lost consciousness some
time after the incident and only prompt work by paramedics
resuscitated her.
22nd November 2009.
|
Lebanon
French soldier injured during mine-sweeping
A French soldier is being treated for hand and eye injuries in
hospital in Saida following a mine explosion yesterday during sweeping
operations in the Blue Line area between Lebanon and Israel.
20th November 2009.
|
Scotland
Crewman's body recovered
The body of a deckhand of a fishing boat has been found in the Moray
Firth 7 miles north of Macduff.
The man fell from his vessel last week and was said not to be wearing
a lifejacket. 20th
November 2009.
|
England
Tube passengers hit by flying train material
An incident which occurred at the Central Line's Mile End station is
under investigation, 3 commuters were struck by a vinyl protective
barrier between 2 carriages which detached, 2 of the passengers were
treated in hospital for facial injuries.
19th November 2009.
|
Australia
Insulation installer electrocuted
Queensland Workplace Health and Safety is investigating an
electrocution yesterday at a house on Cock Road, Stanwell, where a
teenage worker died during insulation installation in the roof area,
earlier in the year a similar accident occurred when a staple pierced
electric cable during insulation in an attic.
19th November 2009.
|
Belgium
West Flanders farm fatality
The public prosecutor's office in Courtrai has opened an investigation
into the death of a 71-year old handicapped farmer who has died in a
crush accident between 2 farm vehicles in Meulebeeke, West Flanders,
it is believed he was doing maintenance work on one of the vehicles.
18th November 2009.
|
Greece
Aluminium plant intruder crushed to death
An intruder, 24, has died in a crushing accident after allegedly
breaking into an aluminium-processing plant in Kiato,
Corinthia. 18th
November 2009.
|
USA
Louisiana farmer killed during
baler maintenance
A 60-year old Louisiana farmer has died in a hay baler accident on his
farm near Easyville, southwest Louisiana, during maintenance work on his round hay baler. He
was lubricating chains when a hydraulic line broke and caused the
baler to close on him.
17th November 2009.
|
England
Somerset fencing company fire
A fire led to a structural collapse at Jacksons Fencing in Chilcompton, Somerset, on Monday where 4 trolleys laden with timber
were in a kiln used to dry the timber, fire crews managed to extricate
2 trolleys prior to the collapse.
17th November 2009.
|
England
Farm worker's settlement for harvest machine accident
A 46-year old West Country farm worker won £45K in damages in an
out-of-court settlement in respect of an accident in December 2006 in
which he lost sections of 2 fingers in defective machinery while
harvesting fruit at Manor Farm, Little Dilwyn, Hereford.
16th November 2009.
|
England
Total UK admits Buncefield breaches
Total UK has admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
1974 in connection with the Buncefield Oil Depot
explosion of December 2005. Sentencing awaits a later date pending
other actions. 16th
November 2009.
|
England
Yeadon accident investigation
HSE has been working with a Yorkshire coroner to establish the
circumstances of the death of a maintenance worker who sustained fatal
head injuries while working with a jemmy to free a
pneumatically-operated valve in the main furnace chamber at Aetc Ltd
in Yeadon. 13th
November 2009.
|
England
Contractor killed in fall into ship at Lancs dock
A contract worker died in an 8-metre fall into the engine room of the
warship RFA Fort Victoria in the NE Canada Dock, Kirkdale, Lancs, he
was working for a Cammel Laird supplier.
12th November 2009.
|
Cyprus
Workers fall through weak roof
Three roofers survived a 7-metre fall though the weak roof of the Old
Sykopetrites Warehouse in central Limassol during asbestos removal
work. One is being treated for a fractured pelvis and spinal injuries,
the others have leg injuries.
Initial Labour Department investigation suggests an inadequate
risk assessment
contributed to the accident.
12th November 2009.
|
England
Driver's £86K settlement
A 54-year old Durham HGV driver has secured £86K in an out-of-court
settlement from his employer TDG in respect of an accident involving
fractures to his wrist and ankle after his lorry, laden with empty
plastic bottles, overturned in high winds in February 2008, his case
rested on the issue of the lorry's lightness in high winds and a
number of previous such incidents.
11th November 2009.
|
Rep Ireland
Wicklow hotel fire
Fire crews attended a blaze at Lawless's Hotel in Aughrim, County
Wicklow, no details of any injuries were reported.
10th November 2009.
|
Latvia
7 die in Riga apartment fire
VUGD(Valsts Ugunsdzesibas un glabsanas dienests), the Latvian Fire
Service, has reported that 7 people died and 8 were rescued when fire
broke out on the 2nd floor level of premises on Jekabpils Street,
Riga, this storey was unallocated at the time and it is speculated
that rough sleepers were in occupation.
10th November 2009.
|
Scotland
Lothian farm fatality
A Lothian farm labourer was killed in a transport accident at
Greendyke Farm of Robert Steven & Son in Tranent where he was struck
by a reversing forklift truck.
9th November 2009.
|
Scotland
Roof glass falls at Victorian pool
A 25-year old man sustained a 2.5cm cut to his arm when a glass panel
fell from the roof at Warrender Swim Centre in Thirlestane Road,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh Leisure closed the 121-year old building to the
public pending full investigation.
9th November 2009.
|
Austria
Caustic fluid in retail drink bottle
Investigation has begun into an incident in which a customer sustained
severe caustic burns to his throat and stomach after swallowing fluid
from a mineral water bottle he had apparently just purchased from a
cold container in a baker's shop in Grafenschachen, Burgenland, his
hospital condition in Graz is listed as life-threatening.
6th November 2009.
|
Spain
Unstable marble kills Almeira
worker
A 43-year old worker was killed on Thursday when heavy marble sections
fell at the premises of Marmoles Martinez Caicedo on the Las Palmeras
Industrial estate in Cantoria, Almeira, a colleague escaped with light
injuries. 6th
November 2009.
|
USA
Pennsylvanian worker's arm severed
A serious accident is under investigation at M & R Grain in Rapho,
Pennsylvania, where a worker's arm is believed to have been severed at
the shoulder in a workplace accident at the feed company. 5th November 2009.
|
Germany
Transport accident in Thuringian barracks
An investigation is underway into an accident at the Werratal army
barracks in Bad Salzungen, Thuringia, in which a driver lost control
of a vehicle and struck a group of 30 soldiers, 7 of whom were badly
injured.
The barracks features an 18mph speed limit. The driver, who was not
under the influence of alcohol, was himself treated for shock.
4th November 2009.
|
New Zealand
Council pleads guilty to lorry accident
Wellington City Council has pleaded guilty in court to a failure to
ensure the safety of an employee who died when his lorry overturned
down a steep embankment in an accident last December, sentence is
deferred until February 9th 2010.
4th November 2009.
|
England
Defective eyesight bin van driver sentenced
At Bristol Crown Court a refuse wagon driver with defective eyesight
has been given a 6-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months and
ordered to complete 150 hours of community service in respect of an
accident at Peasedown St John in April 2008 in which he accidentally
knocked down and killed a colleague.
The accused admitted charges of careless driving and making a false
statement to secure his job, having a condition which barred him from
holding a C class LGV licence.
3rd November 2009.
|
Australia
Roofer fall at Premier's house
Workcover Queensland is investigating an accident on Monday in which a
roofer was hospitalised in a fall while cleaning guttering at the
Brisbane home of Premier Kevin Rudd.
3rd November 2009.
|
Northern Ireland
HSENI
prosecutes over site transport fatality
An HSE Northern Ireland prosecution of
a company's fatal accident at a Belfast apartment block on the old Ormeau Bakery
site has led to a £65K fine against John Graham (Dromore) Ltd who
pleaded guilty to breaches of health and safety legislation.
At the
site a 53-year old labourer died in an accident after the company had
failed to ensure that a telehandler driver had an adequate field of
vision to the rear of his vehicle.
2nd November 2009.
|
China
Yangtze ship collision at Ezhou
A cargo ship with 100 tonnes of hydrochloric acid for industrial use
sank on Sunday in the Xishan stretch of the Yangtze River in Hubei
after a collision with another ship, all crew members are believed to
have been rescued from the sinking ship.
2nd November 2009.
|
|
England
Crown Censure for Cefas
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
in Suffolk, an executive agency of the Department for Environment Food
and Rural Affairs, has received a Crown Censure for breaching r. 6,
7(5)(c), 9 and 11 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations 2002 at its laboratory in Lowestoft.
Its failings were in the areas of the assessment and control of
substances hazardous to health for known carcinogenic substances,
maintaining control measures and sufficient health surveillance
between 2005 and 2006.
30th November 2009.
|
England
Cage fall incident at retailers
EAT Ltd of Wembley Industrial Estate, Brent, has pleaded guilty to
breaching r.4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and been fined
£1,000 with costs of £2,500.
On 28th January 2007, an employee was seriously injured at the
company's Central Production Unit in Wembley as he prepared pallets
for delivery. Whilst working in a raised man-riding cage, which
was not adequately fixed to a forklift truck, it fell off the forks,
causing the employee to fall over 4.5 metres, sustaining serious
multiple injuries.
EAT had not adequately controlled the risks of working at height, the
cage used was not suitable for order picking and the work was being
carried out in an unsafe manner.
30th November 2009.
|
England
Man dies in refuse crusher
A 31-year old man, who it is believed fell asleep in a refuse bin, has
been found dead when the vehicle tipped its contents at a site at
Ardwick, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday.
27th November 2009.
|
England
Inspector spotted defective scaffolding
A roof and tower scaffolding with no edge protection which was erected
at the Coach & Horses Inn in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, in June last
year caught the attention of a passing HSE official.
The unsafe structure led to a court appearance and fine for Bracknell
Roofing Co Ltd of Sevenoaks, Kent, which was fined £8,000 and ordered
to pay full costs of £2,573.
The safety inspector commented: "In this
case the equipment that should have been used was easily available
and could have been provided by the company if adequate planning of
the work had been undertaken. The unsafe working practice should have
been stopped by the company manager when he visited site.”
27th November 2009.
|
Wales
Timber worker killed in Dyfed
Powys
A timber worker died on Tuesday after an accident near Presteigne.
Accounts state he was crushed by a tree on a timber lorry.
26th November 2009.
|
Northern Ireland
Principal contractor failed to
safeguard workers from power lines
Northstone (NI) Ltd has been
fined £60,000 for breaching legal duties owed to workers during road
resurfacing work at Bellanaleck, Co Fermanagh, as a result of which a
subcontractor died when he touched a lorry as it contacted overhead
power cables on 28th February 2006.
Northstone had failed to ensure a safe work area near overhead power
lines and failed to ensure that subcontractors adhered to safety
procedures. The company had not identified the presence of the
overhead lines by placing suitable warning devices to alert
approaching construction traffic.
The driver of the tipping lorry, a subcontractor, was fined £300, being
in breach of r.3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs.
(NI) 2000. 26th
November 2009.
|
England
One dead, two seriously injured after
scaffolding collapsed
Two men on the 40-metre high scaffolding at the Jury's Inn site in
Milton Keynes which collapsed on April 11th 2006 survived with serious
multiple injuries, but a 49-year old colleague later died in hospital.
Investigation established that a combination of failures led to the
structure's collapse, it was not strong or stable enough for the work
being carried out despite specific instructions from HSE and the
Principal Contractor's health and safety manager.
In Huntingdon Crown Court principal contractor McAleer & Rushe Limited
of Cookstown, Northern Ireland, was fined £90,000 with costs of
£42,000. Cladding company Lee Smith Carpentry Limited of Romsey,
Hampshire, was fined £36,000 with costs of £28,000.
25th November 2009.
|
England
Worker survived 10-metre fall
On 21st November 2008, a scaffolding employee was attempting to fix
scaffolding at Mothercare World in Edmonton, London, when he fell,
sustaining serious injury.
MWS Scaffolding Services of Hemel Hempstead, Herts, was contracted to
provide frame scaffolding protection to allow a roofing contractor to
gain access to repair leaking roof lights.
The employee fell through the unprotected fragile roof light and
landed more than 10 metres below, fracturing his leg.
The proprietor of MWS was fined £5,000 with costs of £2,567
having breached the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
24th November 2009.
|
England
Teenager killed in train accident
A girl, aged 16, died on Saturday after slipping between a departing
train and the station platform at Angmering, Sussex, just before
midnight.
British Transport Police are investigating, accounts state that she
was running alongside the train from which she had just alighted and
was wearing high-heeled footwear.
24th November 2009.
|
England
Two electrocuted in Cheshire
Two workmen died when a tipper truck contacted overhead power cables
at a site in Middlewich.
The driver of the truck, which was delivering roads materials, escaped
injury.
23rd
November 2009.
|
England
Roof fall death in Lancs
A man in his 60's has died in a fall from the roof of industrial
premise in Bury.
Police discovered the deceased on Thursday evening after being called
to the Foundry Street site.
23rd November 2009.
|
England
Plant operator killed
A man has died in an accident while operating a bulldozer on a beach
at Selsea, Sussex. One account speculates that he was run over by the
machine as he moved shingle for flood defence purposes.
22nd November 2009.
|
England
Essex industrial death
It is reported that a man has died in an industrial accident at the
premises of Boddingtons Electrical Limited in Dunmow, Essex.
One account states he was crushed by falling metal on Wednesday
afternoon. 20th
November 2009.
|
England
Drums of chemicals dumped
Three men have been arrested in connection with an investigation by
the Environment Agency into the disposal of chemicals found in drums
on trailers in NW England.
20th November 2009.
|
UK
Lifejacket plea
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has commissioned an
advertisement on radio to persuade commercial fishermen to wear
lifejackets. The MCA says in 2009 there have been 9 fatalities
involving fishermen and several of these may have been prevented had
they been wearing buoyancy aids on deck.
To underline the message, the agency reports that a fisherman who had
gone overboard from a boat near the Bell Rock, off Arbroath, was
recovered and taken to hospital but later died. It is understood he
was not wearing a lifejacket.
19th November 2009.
|
England
Retailer fined after fall
Poundland Stores has been fined £14,000 with £2,500 costs after a
65-year old woman tripped and fell because of a defective floor
covering. The incident occurred at its Middlesbrough store in November
last year.
19th November 2009.
|
England
Man drowned in storm drain
A man drowned in a Newport, Isle of Wight, storm drain in August after
he became wedged in it.
The 32-year old, it is believed, was attempting to retrieve his car
keys, an Isle of Wight coroner recorded accidental death.
18th November 2009.
|
Scotland
Management failings led to pool
death
At Dundee Sheriff Court Dundee Leisure of Reform Street, Dundee, has
been fined £40,000, pleading guilty to charges under S.3(1) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in connection with the death
in September 2007 of a 7-year old boy at the Olympia Leisure Complex
in the city.
Another child participating in the public swimming session drew
attention to the deceased's absence and his body was discovered 40
minutes later.
The lifeguards were not adequately trained to ensure that every part
of the wave pool was properly supervised, particularly in relation to
a potential blind spot within the area.
18th November 2009.
|
England
School incidents
A girl aged 10 has sustained burns while attending an after-school
science club at Swanage Middle School, Dorset, she is being treated at
a specialist burns unit in Salisbury.
In another incident, 6 school pupils were taken to hospital after they
consumed raw ethanol taken from a science laboratory at Aldridge
School in Walsall.
17th November 2009.
|
England
Major oversight led to accident on
simulator ride
Malton-based Flamingo Land Ltd has been fined £5,000 with costs of
£3,277 by Scarborough Magistrates after a 2-year old boy fell nearly 3
metres through a 60cm by 60cm opening on a simulator cinema ride in
March last year.
He escaped serious injury in the accident
an HSE official described as 'a major oversight'.
17th November 2009.
|
England
Retailer had no insurance
A retail store operator in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, has been fined
£1,000 with £539 costs after failing to present an Employers'
Liability Insurance certificate when requested by an Environmental
Health Officer and failing to respond to a notice to produce when
requested by the HSE.
16th November 2009.
|
England
Developer and landlord fined for
CDM breach
A property developer and landlord
has been fined £10,000 with costs of £4,103 after pleading guilty to
breaching r.4(1)(a) and 9(1)(a) of the Construction (Design &
Management) Regulations for offences committed at 2 sites in Waltham
Forest, London.
He failed to appoint a competent contractor and failed to take
reasonable steps to ensure that arrangements were in place for
work to be managed safely.
Standards at both sites were unacceptable, with 240V equipment in use,
substandard scaffolding and no fire precautions. 16th
November 2009.
|
England
Wall crushed worker
A demolition worker suffered multiple injuries when a wall collapsed
on him during demolition work at the site occupied by Hughes Brothers
Building & Joinery Limited in Wigan.
In court the company was deemed to have failed to manage the
demolition of a building properly, a manager issued instructions but
failed to supervise the workmen, the risk assessment did not fully
identify the dangers they would face, and only one of the workers had
previous experience of demolition work, but he did not stay on the
site the whole time.
The company was fined £8,000 with costs of £3,517.
13th November 2009.
|
Scotland
Edinburgh Council fined
Edinburgh Council was responsible for exposing 14 of its employees to
asbestos dust during refurbishment of Castlebrae Community High School
in April 2007 and also while carrying out alterations at the council’s
workshop on Murrayburn Road.
The incidents involved cutting doors which had asbestos cores, this
information was not recorded by the council and it did not have
suitable procedures in place to inform those working there or nearby.
A survey had been undertaken but no register of asbestos-containing
material was on site, its risk assessment for the work was also
inadequate.
The council was fined £14,000.
12th November 2009.
|
Scotland
Machine assistant lost arm
International Paper (UK) Ltd, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, has been fined
£6,000 for failures that permitted an industrial accident in January
this year in which an employee lost an arm.
His arm was pulled into a machine as he fed a sheet of paper into it,
a safety barrier provided was completely inadequate as a means of
preventing access to the dangerous parts of the machine.
12th November 2009.
|
England
Scaffolding incident
A man has been badly injured in an incident in which a bus struck a
scaffolding structure in Louth, Lincolnshire.
The structure was being dismantled at the
time
and was pulled away from the building, to which it was attached, by
the impact.
11th November 2009.
|
England
Accidental death of engineer
An engineer died on 7th April this year after being crushed by a lorry
he was guiding back into a loading bay at the premises of Trevett
Engineering Ltd in Denbigh Industrial Estate, Milton Keynes.
No firm conclusion was reached as to how the accident occurred, the
driver stated that the deceased had momentarily disappeared and for
some reason had taken up a position between the reversing vehicle and
the building.
An inquest jury determined accidental death.
11th November 2009.
|
England
No safe system led to amputation
The failure by a company to ensure a safe system of work for the
handling of stone slabs led to a worker having his arm removed at the
roadside in Kent after a 220Kg slab fell on him.
The driver was unloading 3 slabs from his lorry outside a stonemasons
when part of the stack collapsed on him in September 2008. A safe
system would have allowed drivers to remove individual slabs, the
company now operates a 'toast rack' system with slabs separated,
drivers do not have to untie the whole stack. Additionally, the
company had not provided adequate guidance to drivers on the need to
extend vehicle stabilisers.
Colin Parker (Masonry) Ltd of Spalding in Lincolnshire was fined
£3,000 with costs of £10,603.
10th November 2009.
|
England
Packaging firm fined over conveyor
accident
Integrated Packaging Ltd of Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, has
been fined £1,000 with £2,374 costs after an employee put his hand
into a machine to remove a jammed item, but suffered friction burns
and a fracture to his wrist when it became jammed between a suction
table conveyor belt and a delivery table conveyor belt.
The October 2008 incident put the company in breach of r.11(1) of the
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 in that it failed
to ensure that effective measures were taken to prevent access by
employees to dangerous parts of machinery.
10th November 2009.
|
England
Fisherman loses life in Channel
A commercial fisherman has drowned in the English Channel after
falling from the 13-metre long fishing vessel Koremeloem on Friday
evening. He was retrieved from the water but was declared dead on the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Mounts Bay.
Conditions were described by the Coastguard as atrocious at the time
of the rescue.
9th November 2009.
|
England
Failure of components led to prosecution
One man died and another suffered serious injuries in a construction
accident at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 when a concrete slab collapsed
in 2005 during the construction of a multi-storey car park.
Threaded Shoring Adaptors (TSAs) were used to secure parts of the
temporary works structure, but the catastrophic failure of 2 of these
caused the collapse and were found to be part of a sub-standard batch
manufactured for SGB Services Ltd 2 years previously.
SGB Services Ltd had failed to
ensure that the adapters they supplied were able to carry maximum
loads. Principal contractor Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure Ltd failed
to have adequate systems in place to inspect the quality and condition
of the adapters before they were used in safety-critical applications,
and had failed to remove sub-standard TSAs from use when warned.
Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure Limited was fined £75,000 with £75,000
in costs, SGB Services Ltd was fined £30,000 with £30,000 in costs.
9th November 2009.
|
England
Worker died after entering cage
by gap
An employee of Butcher's Pet Care of Crick, Northamptonshire, died
after receiving crush injuries from a palletising machine in November
2003.
He entered the equipment's caged area via a gap in fencing created by
stair rails to reposition a jammed pallet, but when the pallet was
freed, the machine started up and crushed him.
The machine should have been fully enclosed with an interlock system
to prevent anyone gaining access until the power is shut off.
Investigation found that others had unblocked the equipment in this
way in the past.
Butchers Pet Care Ltd was fined £100,000 with £28,380 at Northampton
Crown Court 6th
November 2009.
|
England
Chlorine incident at Liverpool
pool
Ten children and at least one adult required treatment for exposure to
a caustic substance after entering the swimming pool at the Lifestyles
Centre in Garston on Wednesday evening.
6th November 2009.
|
England
Machine crushed fingers
An inadequately guarded Multivac packing machine allowed an employee
to crush her fingers after she inserted them into a dangerous zone of
the machine as she attempted to clear a blockage.
Tulip Ltd of Warwick Technology Park admitted failing to prevent
access to dangerous parts of the machinery and failing to make a
sufficient risk assessment of it at its Norfolk site. The defects in
the guarding had been identified in the company’s own safety audit
reports but nothing was done about them.
The company was fined £65,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,523.
5th November 2009.
|
Scotland
Fatal grounding accident off
Mull
The investigation into the grounding of the 6-metre long RIB Sooty on
an island off Mull on 18th May 2009 has identified 4 factors that
contributed to the fatal accident: lack of effective lookout, excess
speed, ineffective use of GPS mapper and the coxswain's navigation
while under the influence of alcohol.
The grounding resulted in a crewman being thrown on to the rocks upon
which he sustained a fatal head injury.
5th November 2009.
|
England
Building component injures
passing pedestrian
It is reported that cladding on a newly erected residential block has
fallen and injured a passing woman in her 60's. The incident occurred
yesterday in Crawley, Sussex, high winds were affecting the locality
at the time.
She is being treated for a leg injury.
4th November 2009.
|
England
Chemical incident at pool
Emergency services were required to attend and deal with a chemical
incident at the Fitness First health club in Bournemouth. One report
states that one man was affected by a chlorine-based substance being
used to clean a pool.
4th November 2009.
|
Wales
Lone working issue emerges from
inquest
A coroner presiding over the fatal accident inquest into the death of
a bus mechanic is to raise the issue of lone working with the HSE.
The jury determined accidental death, the deceased was found under a
bus in January this year at the Arriva depot in Oswestry. It was
speculated that he may have forgotten to reapply the handbrake after
trying to move the bus which had, it is believed, rolled on to, but
not over, him. 3rd
November 2009.
|
England
Lifejacket saves life
The Marine and Coastguard Agency has attributed the survival of a
yachtsman, who fell from his tender into the River Tyne, largely to
his lifejacket. The man was in the water for around 20 minutes on
Sunday before rescue
and treatment for hypothermia.
3rd November 2009.
|
England
£125,000 fine for explosion and fire
Eco-Oil Ltd of Canterbury, Kent, and one of its directors have been
prosecuted over failings that led to an explosion and fire at its
waste oil processing site in Rochester in March 2007 when a tank
holding 300,000 litres of oil exploded.
At this time major changes were being implemented and a welder was
welding a tank roof when the explosion occurred.
The company was fined £125,000 with costs of £20,000, its director was
fined £5,000 with costs of £500. An HSE inspector commented: “The
incident occurred because the site operator lost control of what its
contractor was doing. It was miraculous that the person on the tank at
the time it exploded was not killed."
2nd November 2009.
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Northern Ireland
Two hurt in boat fire
Two men have been badly affected after fire broke out on Friday
afternoon on board a fishing vessel berthed at Warrenpoint, County
Down.
One man is described as critically ill, the other stable.
2nd November 2009.
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