Australia
Spark may have ignited oil drum
A worker died in the Royal Perth hospital on Monday from injuries
sustained in an accident when an oil drum exploded at Diamond Powder
Coaters in Welshpool, Perth, the worker may have been working with
grinding equipment at the time of the accident.
30th November 2010
|
Greece
Policeman's stun grenade explodes in waist belt
An Athens police officer has undergone surgery for critical abdominal
injuries after a stun grenade on his belt exploded accidentally when
he was working on Bouboulinas Street, Athens.
30th November 2010
|
South Africa
Lightning kills 7 in KZN crèche marquee
Lightning struck a marquee hosting parents and children of the
Inkosiyethu crèche in KwaZulu-Natal, killing 7 people and injuring 67
others at an end of term event.
29th November 2010
|
China
7 killed at Nanjing bridge site collapse
Seven workers died and 3 others were injured when a structural steel
collapse occurred at a new bridge site in Nanjing, the 7 who died fell
10 metres, the survivors were at a lower height.
29th November 2010
|
Pacific
Adrift teens found alive
Three teenagers from the Tokelau atoll of Atafu have been found alive
by a Fijian tuna fishing boat after being given up for dead almost 7
weeks ago when they drifted some 800 miles northeast of Fiji. They had
been attempting to row between 2 of the 3 local atolls when they
drifted into a remote area of the ocean, surviving apparently on
coconuts and rainwater caught in a tarpaulin. They are expected in
Suva hospital in Fiji today(Friday).
26th November 2010
|
USA
Civilian killed in scaffold fall at military site
An employee of Manning Construction has died in a fall from a scaffold
at the construction site of a 5-storey barracks at Fort Lee, Virginia.
Although preliminary reports suggests that he was wearing a safety
harness it failed to arrest his fall.
26th November 2010
|
USA
Worker killed fitting giant tyre
An employee of contractor Harsco Metals
Inc died and 4 colleagues were injured when a giant tyre exploded
during fitting to machinery at the Gallatin Steel site in Carroll
County, North Kentucky.
25th November 2010
|
Austria
Vienna metro train fire
An explosion and fire occurred in a carriage of a metro train on Line
14 in Vienna yesterday morning, the accident occurred in a tunnel
between Schottering and Rossauer Laende. The train managed to speed on
and unload passengers at the latter station with no report of
injuries.
Initial investigation suggested a short circuit between the 750-v
power line and the carriage. 25th November 2010
|
Israel
2 killed in refinery bromine leak
A leak of bromine from a storage container killed 2 workers yesterday
at the Oil Refineries Ltd plant in north Haifa, 2 others are listed in
critical condition. Seven others are believed to have been injured,
some were working at height and had to be brought down from an
installation.
Elsewhere yesterday, an incident involving a minor leak of bromine was
attended by an environmental unit, the leakage occurred in a container
in a lorry in transit with 21 tonnes of bromine to the Ramat Hovav
Industrial Park. 24th November 2010
|
Malta
Worker survives 5-storey fall
A 22-year old Syrian construction worker survived a 5-storey fall at a
construction site on ir-Rampa ta'San Giljan in St Julians. Although
his injuries are severe, they are not believed to be life-threatening. 24th November 2010
|
Australia
Excavator operator killed in Victoria sand quarry
An excavator operator was crushed to death in an accident at a sand
quarry in Nyora, South Gippsland, Victoria. It was not immediately
clear whether the vehicle had overturned or a face of the quarry had
collapsed on it. 23rd November 2010
|
India
Chemical fire claims Gujarat worker's life
A worker died and 4 others were injured in a fire yesterday at the
KDAC Chemical Private Ltd plant in Vadadora where industrial solvents
such as hydrogen peroxide are manufactured.
23rd November 2010
|
China
Miners trapped in separate pit accidents
More than 30 miners were trapped in 2 separate accidents; 28 were
trapped at the Batian coal mine in Sichuan and 13 managed to escape to
safety; while 3 miners were trapped in the flooded Yumbiao iron ore
mine in Guangxi Zhuang where a rescue operation was still ongoing late
on Sunday to
free the trapped men, 2 others did make it
to
safety. 22nd November 2010
|
Norway
Russian boat sought over maritime collision
The East-Finnmark police are investigating a maritime incident in
which the fishing boat Floygrunn collided with a Russian boat 22 miles
north of Batsfjord, the 3 crew members of the Floygrunn were rescued
before their boat sank. There have been allegations that the Russian
ship involved was the Vladimir Timofeyev of the Northern
Shipping Company of Archangel. 22nd November 2010
|
China
Maintenance worker crushed in lift accident
A worker was killed in an accident in a lift after becoming trapped
between the inner and outer doors of the lift in a building in Quarry
Bay, Hong Kong. He had initially been working on top of the lift. 19th November 2010
|
Singapore
Majority of workplace deaths in construction sector
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Manpower and Health Ministry
has announced that construction workplace deaths for the first 9
months of the year were 23, accounting for 60% of all workplace
fatalities.19th November 2010
|
Cambodia
14 chilli farmers killed in land mine explosion
Fourteen agricultural workers and family members who had been working
at a chilli farm in Kampong Kul died when their tractor struck a land
mine on an abandoned road in the Banan district of Battamburg, 150
miles northwest of Phnom Penh. The road was abandoned in the
80's after anti-tank mines were seeded there during the civil war.
18th November 2010
|
South Africa
Fatal accidents at 2 mines
A drill operator was killed in a rock fall at Gold Field Ltd's
Driefontein mine; elsewhere, a worker was killed in a locomotive
accident at the Buffelsfontein mine of Simmer & Jack Mines Ltd.
18th November 2010
|
India
Dozens killed in Delhi's worst house collapse accident
A 5-storey building, N-85 Lalita Park, in Laxmi Nagar, east Delhi,
collapsed, killing at least 67 people and injuring many others.
Waterlogging has been an issue but there have also been allegations of
substandard materials used in construction and unauthorised extension.
The building's owner has been arrested.17th
November 2010
|
USA
Californian arborist killed in wood chipper
In Concord, California, an arborist has died in an accident while
feeding trimmed branches into a wood chipper. It appears that a rope
became entangled in the cuttings and drew him into the mouth of the
machinery, he was discovered on the loading tray. 17th
November 2010
|
China
Major fire at Shanghai multi-storey renovation
Forty two people died in a fire in a 28-storey building undergoing
refurbishment at the junction of Jiaozhou Road and Yuyao Road in
Jing'an, Shanghai, dozens more were hospitalised. 16th
November 2010
|
South Korea
Naval and fishing boat collision investigation
One sailor died and 2 others are missing after the collision of the
150-tonne naval boat Chamsuri and a 270-tonne fishing boat 5
miles off Jeju Island. The Chamsuri sank in 110 metres of water and
the navy is considering deploying a deep-sea rescue vessel to recover
the boat.
The Chamsuri was on a routine patrol in good weather conditions, the
boat's radar ought to have detected the bulkier fishing boat's
presence. Twenty eight sailors were safely rescued, no fishermen were
injured. 16th
November 2010
|
USA
Massachusetts worker killed by falling
gravel bag
An employee of Victor Sosa Construction
was killed on Saturday at a construction site in Salem, Massachusetts,
when a heavy bag of gravel being hoisted fell some 3 storeys and
inflicted fatal head injuries. 15th
November 2010
|
Russia
Wagon structural collapse causes Trans-Sib
freight derailment
A structural chassis problem on a coal
wagon is speculated as the cause of the derailment of 12 coal wagons
on the Transiberia railway line near Nizhneudinsk. 15th
November 2010
|
The Netherlands
2 crew missing in Hook of Holland tug capsize
The Fairplay 22 tug of Fairplay
Towage overturned in rough weather yesterday evening in Berghaven,
Hook of Holland, 2 of the 5 crew members were reported missing. Two
made it to safety themselves, another was rescued from the water. It
was hoped that the missing men had found an air pocket in the capsized
boat and were awaiting rescue.
The tug had been waiting to tow a Stena Line ferry from England into
the port when the accident occurred.
12th November 2010
|
USA
Power saw fatal accident
A worker, wearing appropriate safety gear, was killed when a power saw
recoiled and struck his neck when he was cutting a broken water pipe
at an Allegheny Housing Authority site in Tarentum, Pennsylvania.
12th November 2010
|
Turkey
4 killed in lift shaft fall
Four workers of Seha Construction were killed yesterday in a fall into
an open lift shaft during welding work on the 17th floor of a
25-storey building in Konya. Initial speculation is that cables on
their work platform failed.
11th November 2010
|
Abkhazia(Georgia)
Hospital fire claims 3 lives
Three people died, including a nurse, when fire broke out in the
Urology Department of the Sukhumi City Hospital in Abkhazia, the cause
of which remains unknown.
11th November 2010
|
Canada
Worker killed at Alberta drilling site
A worker of Encore Coring and Drilling was killed on Tuesday in an
accident at the Devon Energy site near Fort McMurray when equipment
fell and struck his head.
10th November 2010
|
USA
Transport accident at Alabama recycling plant
An investigation has been launched into a transport accident at the KW
Plastics Recycling Division plant in Troy, Alabama, where a 35-year
old worker died and another, aged 59, were injured
in a transport accident.
10th November 2010
|
Vietnam
3 die in confined space accident in hotel site tank
Three workers died and another was injured in a confined space
accident in a basement water tank at the site of a new 8-storey hotel
on Hiep Nhat Street, Ho Chi Minh City. Cement had dried and the
workers entered the tank to remove formwork when they were overcome in
an oxygen-deficient atmosphere at the site being built by Tien An
Construction Company. 9th November 2010
|
Belgium
Hasselt level crossing collision
A car driver was killed on Monday in a collision with a train while
attempting to cross the semi-gated level crossing on Walenstraat,
Kiewit, north Hasselt. 9th November 2010
|
Mexico
24 killed in bus/fuel tanker collision
At least 24 people died and many more were injured when a bus collided
with a fuel tanker carrying 20K litres of diesel in Pamillas,
Escuinapa, south Sinaloa.
Apparently the Servicios Especializados de El Roble fuel tanker being
towed broke free from the lorry and rolled downhill into the oncoming
bus on the Tepic-Villa Union highway.
7th November 2010
|
Spain
Injured worker abandoned by contractor at A&E Department
A 54-year old Moroccan worker was on a life-support machine with head
injuries in the University Hospital, Ceuta, after falling 6 metres
while painting at a site in Principe Alfonso, Ceuta.
Initially the worker had been brought by vehicle to the hospital and
left at accident and emergency by his contractor who was later traced.
It appears that the victim from Talouine, Morocco, was working with
neither work permit nor residency permit.
7th November 2010
|
Italy
Explosion at chemical plant
An explosion yesterday afternoon at the Eureco Holding chemical
factory handling industrial and toxic waste on via Mazzini, Paderno
Dugnano, 10 miles north of Milan, left 7 workers injured, 6 with
critical injuries, one person has 2nd and 3rd degree burns over half
his body. 5th
November 2010
|
Austria
Diseased tree falls on arborist
An arborist was hospitalised this week after being struck by a falling
tree during tree canopy trimming at Horn, Lower Austria. The weight of
the trimmed sections of healthy trees brought down a diseased tree.
5th November 2010
|
Turkey
Land slippage buries earthworks villagers
A landslide during earthworks for a "tandir"(bread-baking oven) in the
village of Baristepe in the province of Mardin, Anatolia, buried 12
villagers. Four are known to have been rescued, although 1 is listed
in critical condition, 6 others have died. 4th November 2010
|
Greece
Captain charged over fishing boat collision
A 50-year old fishing boat captain is facing prosecution over alleged
negligence following the collision of 2 fishing boats this week off
the Piraeus coast.
4th November 2010
|
India
Factory worker's head crushed by robotic arm
A 22-year old female worker at the Nokia plant in Sriperumbudur, 30
miles from Chennai(Madras), died when her head and neck were crushed
when the robotic arm of a loader machine detached and came down on
her.
Apparently a box had fallen into the machine and she was trying to
retrieve it when the accident occurred. 3rd November
2010
|
USA
Worker killed in subsidence trench accident
A Connecticut construction worker was killed when a heavy concrete
slab fell into a 2.5-metre deep utility trench in which he was working
at a dwellinghouse site on Macpherson Drive, Greenwich.
The slab was under a doorway and appeared to give way when subsidence
occurred in the area of the excavation. 3rd November
|
South Africa
Wildlife ranch manager killed by lions
A manager of the Addo Crocodile and Lion Ranch on the Addo Elephant
Park in the Eastern Cape was mauled to death by 3 lions after being
pulled by one of the lions from an enclosure fence on which he was
sitting. 2nd
November
|
USA
Worker killed in helicopter accident at power line site
A worker died and 3 others were injured in a helicopter accident at
the Allegheny Energy's TrAIL( Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Co)
project in West Virginia. It is believed that the men, workers of
subcontractor PAR Electrical Contractors of Missouri, were on top of a
large power line tower and had just finished attaching wires when the
helicopter of Winco Power Lines Services of Oregon possibly struck
power lines during a manoeuvre.
2nd November
|
India
20 drown in Bay of Bengal ferry capsize
Twenty people drowned when an overloaded trawler ferrying pilgrims
from Hijli Sharif to Rakdwip struck a sand bar near Talpatty Island in
the Bay of Bengal and sank, around 50 people were rescued. 1st November
|
Canada
3 Montreal men killed by train
Three people died after being struck by a Via rail train from Toronto
near Place Turcot on Minister du Transport Quebec land early on
Sunday. Two others survived the incident, it is speculated that they
may have been spraying graffiti at the time.
1st November
|
|
Canada
Roofer injured in propane tank incident
A worker sustained burns injuries to his face and upper body when a
propane tank ignited as roofers were working on Monday at Marwick
Manufacturing on Northwest Drive, Mississauga.
30th November 2010
|
Indonesia
Jakarta site worker killed by lightning
A 16-year old construction worker died from severe burns after being
struck by lightning during torrential rain in east Jakarta.
30th November 2010
|
The Netherlands
Nijmegen parachutist killed
A 44-year old parachutist from Nijmegen who had undertaken more than
100 jumps died in an accident on Sunday when his parachute failed to
open. He was with a party of parachutists from the Paracentrum Teuge
at Teuge Airport. 29th November 2010
|
Turkey
Istanbul railway station fire
A major fire broke out on the roof of Istanbul's Haydarpasa railway
station on Sunday afternoon, spreading down to 4th floor level.
The accident appeared to be linked to maintenance work on the roof of
the 102-year old station which last experienced a fire during WW1 when
ammunition being stored there exploded in 1917.
29th November 2010
|
The Netherlands
Sauna fire at sports centre
Fire broke out yesterday in the Fitline Fitness & Ballet Centre on
Walstraat, Zaltbommel. All customers and staff were safely evacuated,
it is speculated that an electrical short circuit occurred in the
sauna or sun bed suite.
26th November 2010
|
New Zealand
Company fined over glass handling accident
In a workplace accident in the Wairau Valley industrial zone on April
6th an employee of Sharpeye was killed when a 200Kg sheet of glass
became unstable during unloading and cut his face and neck. A number
of glass sections were being removed manually from a timber cradle
inside a container, a task preferably undertaken by forklift.
The company was fined $30K plus $60K compensation after pleading
guilty to a breach of Section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment
Act 1992. The low scale of fine reflected the company's cooperation
and implementation of improved safety culture.
26th November 2010
|
Canada
Hydraulic pump lacked circuit breaker
Bosch Rexroth Canada Corporation was fined $80K(£50,172) and a
supervisor was fined $8K(£5,017) over an accident in which a worker
was injured testing the hydraulics of a pump. After power had been cut
hydraulic pressure built up and an explosion occurred, the worker
being struck on the head by a hose. The hydraulic circuit in the
system was not equipped with a means to relieve the pressure. The
company and supervisor pleaded guilty to a breach of Sections 25(2)(h)
and 27(2)(c) of the Occupational Health & Safety Act at the Ontario
Court of Justice in St Catherines. 25th November 2010
|
France
Another Lyon GP found murdered in surgery
A doctor was found murdered in his surgery in the Part-Dieu district,
the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon. He was working as a retired GP without
a receptionist, many of his patients are believed to have drug and
alcohol addictions.
On 9th August last year a doctor was also found murdered in his
surgery at his home in the 8th arrondissement of Lyon, the murderer
was never caught. 25th November 2010
|
USA
Waste worker killed in transport accident
An employee of Waste Management has been killed in an accident in
Mountain Brook, Alabama, where he was struck by a company vehicle
while collecting wind-blown leaves with a vacuum hose attached to the
vehicle.
24th November 2010
|
Australia
Victoria timber mill fined over machinist's death
A Latrobe Valley magistrates' court has fined the Carter Holt Harvey
timber mill $120K(£73,990) over a fatal accident in which a female
worker died trying to clear a blockage on a wood-stacking machine at
the plant in Morwell. The accident went un-witnessed, it was
believed that she was crushed by the machine hoist as she used a
hammer to free the wood.
The court heard that a report suggested flaws in the machine's design
and that the company failed to identify safety issues with the
machine.
24th November 2010
|
Belgium
Moped rider badly injured in forklift collision
An 18-year old female moped commuter sustained severe injuries in a
collision on Monday morning with a forklift truck which was unloading
a lorry on Grote Baan, Saint-Nicolas(Sint-Niklaas), later in the day
it was stated that her injuries were not life-threatening.
23rd November 2010
|
Canada
Machine stop-work order at Nova Scotia plant
The Department of Labour has issued 3 stop-work orders at the
Intertape Polymer plant in Truro, Nova Scotia, where a worker was
injured on the rewinder machine. Use of the machinery is suspended
until it has been inspected by a competent person and safeguards and
emergency stops are in place.
23rd November 2010
|
USA
Disabled fisherman dies in fall on charter boat
A 51-year old passenger died in a fall on the charter fishing boat
Fish Hawk on Saturday off Cape May on the New Jersey coast. The Cape
May Coast Guard attended the accident, the victim, who was seated and
an amputee, sustained severe head injuries in a fall into the gunnel. 22nd November 2010
|
China
Worker freed from sunken
pipe
A worker was rescued after being trapped for 80 hours in a pipe
section of an offshore rig near the Zhejiang coast. The 1-metre
diameter steel pipe buckled under tidal pressure and sank in a depth
of 18 metres of water. Food and water were delivered to the
trapped worker through a tube before a concrete column was removed to
raise the pipe and free the man.
22nd November 2010
|
Canada
Pipe lowering crushed trench worker
A worker died in a crush accident in an excavation in the Sherwood
Park area of east Edmonton where Sureway Construction is installing
sewer and water lines. A large concrete pipe was being lowered into
the trench when it became unstable and pinned the worker in
the trench.
19th November 2010
|
Germany
Welding fire in Hamburg station
A gas cylinder ignited during hot metal work in Hamburg Central
Station. Flames licked 7 metres high and caused extensive roof damage,
no injuries were reported. 19th November 2010
|
France
Demolition accident in Angers
Three demolition workers were injured yesterday when a chimney stack
of a house fell prematurely during the demolition work at a property
on avenue du 18-juin 1940 in the Avrille district of northwest Angers.
18th November 2010
|
USA
Unstable drilling rig pins West Virginia worker
A 20-tonne lorry-mounted drilling rig became unstable during work at
the IRS Enterprise Computing Centre in Kearneysville, West Virginia,
toppling over and killing a 42-year old worker of Grunley
Construction. It has been speculated that the turntable holding the
rig either sheared or slid off the vehicle.
18th November 2010
|
South Africa
Fatal accident at Gauteng uranium mine
A worker has died and 3 others were injured in a fall of ground at
Rand Uranium's mine in Ezulwini, Westonaria. 17th November 2010
|
USA
New York roads worker killed by car
A road crew worker of Accent Stripes who was painting white lines on
highway 190 in Buffalo, New York, has died after being struck by a
vehicle on Tuesday, the accident occurred between Clinton and Smith
Streets. 17th November 2010
|
Australia
Roads worker killed by reversing lorry
An investigation is ongoing into an accident at a site at Glenden on
the Peak Downs Highway in central Queensland where a roads signage
worker was killed when struck by a colleague's reversing lorry. 16th November 2010
|
England
Double fatality in Cornwall
The HSE has been assisting at a fatal accident investigation in
Saltash, Cornwall, where 2 people have died from suspected carbon
monoxide poisoning.
The results of post-mortems were being awaited yesterday. 16th November 2010
|
The Netherlands
Cargo ship explosion off Den Helder
A seaman was airlifted from the
Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship Newlead Markela on Saturday with
2nd degree burns following an explosion and fire in one of the coal
cargo holds on the ship which was 50 miles northwest of Den Helder en
route to Swinoujscie, Poland.
15th November 2010
|
Albania
Bus driver remanded over fatal accident
A KTEL bus driver appeared in court in
Fieri and was remanded in custody following an accident in which his
bus crashed into a ravine in southern Albania, 9 people died and
dozens were injured. 15th November 2010
|
USA
Confined space accident in farm trailer
A worker died and another was seriously injured after being exposed to
methane gas while attempting to clear a blockage in a tank trailer at
Schwab Dairy Farm in Freedom, New York county.
12th November 2010
|
USA
Tractor rollover in Connecticut orchard
A worker was found dead under an overturned tractor at Custom Orchard
in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where his vehicle became unstable on a
gradient while spraying chemicals.
12th November 2010
|
El Salvador
Fire kills 16 youth prison inmates
At least 16 inmates of the Centro Alternativo de Jovenes
Infractores(CAJI) died in a fire yesterday in sector Uno of the youth
prison in Llobasco, Cabanas. A further 23 were injured, some with
burns over 70% of the body, an electrical malfunction was being probed
as the likeliest cause of the accident.
11th November 2010
|
USA
Forklift accident deaths in Michigan and North Carolina
Two workers have died in the last couple of days in separate forklift
accidents.
A paper plant worker died yesterday after being struck by a forklift
in the Wagram Paper Stock Inc factory in Wagram, North Carolina; and a
female worker was killed when she was struck by a forklift which was
moving a bin at a recycling centre near Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
11th November 2010
|
Australia
Traffic gantry sign installers contact high power source
A worker was left with 20% burns over his body and came close to
electrocution during work on the installation of an advertisement on
an overhead traffic gantry on Murray Road, Preston, Victoria.
A metal rod he was handling at the top of the sign contacted an
overhead high power source, either 11Kv or 22Kv.
He became incapable of detaching himself from the contacted rod, only
the prompt intervention of a colleague, who kicked the rod away and
risked electrocution himself, saved his life.
10th November 2010
|
Chile
Double fatality at illegal copper mine
Two miners were killed in an explosion at the Los Reyes copper mine of
Sociedad Legal Compania Minera Del Sur, 30 miles north of Copiapo,
another miner was hospitalised in the Hospital San Jose del Carmen de Copiapo
with a serious eye injury. Apparent premature ignition of the
explosives appeared to cause the accident, a Mexican national who
leased the mine without license from Sernageomin(Servicio Nacional de
Geologia y Mineria) had absconded. 10th November 2010
|
New Zealand
Farm quad bike accidents
A female farm worker was killed yesterday in a quad bike accident on a
farm at Cape Foulwind, Westport.
Just hours earlier another female farm worker was injured in a quad
bike accident on a farm in Uruti, 20 miles east of Waitara, she is
listed in critical condition in Wellington Hospital. 9th November 2010
|
Greece
Aircraft and glider accidents
A single-engine light aircraft crashed close to the Kalavryta ski
centre, Achaea, all 3 occupants were hospitalised but their condition
was unknown.
Elsewhere, a glider pilot died when he crashed into Lake Polyfytos
while undertaking a low-flying manoeuvre under a bridge.
9th November 2010
|
China
19 dead in Jilin shopping mall fire
Fire in the Jilin Commercial Building shopping mall on Hunchun Road,
Jilin City, Jilin Province, left 19 people dead and 24 hospitalised.
It was unclear initially whether the locus was the 1st floor, housing
domestic appliances, or the 4th floor, housing furniture, the mall's
general manager was arrested.
7th November 2010
|
Austria
Spate of arboreal accidents
Three separate forestry accidents have killed and injured workers.
In Krieglach, Murzzschlag, a 27-year old forester was killed by a
24-metre tall spruce tree which came down in the wrong direction
during felling.
In Muggenau, Leibnitz, a 56-year old farmer broke his leg and shoulder
when struck by a falling tree while working alone. He was unable to
remount his tractor and operate it to return home, and spent 17 hours
in the forest prior to being rescued.
A Romanian worker has been hospitalised in Rottenmann with serious
head injuries after also being struck by a falling tree in Admont,
Liezen. 7th November 2010
|
USA
NC worker's arm crushed in press
A worker's arm was crushed in a metal press at Polygon Composites in
Walkertown, North Carolina, no details of his condition were known.
5th November 2010
|
Zimbabwe
Safari park tourist killed by pride of lions
A 59-year old tourist was killed by a pride of lions while showering
at the Chitake Springs safari camp in the Mana Pools National Park.
The camp is popular for fishing in the Zambesi River but is in a
wildlife area and lacks security fencing.
5th November 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Army deals with unstable picric acid
Army munitions disposal experts were summoned to deal with a quantity
of picric acid deemed to be in an unstable condition yesterday at a
Teagasc(agriculture and food development authority) facility in Oak
Park, County Carlow.
4th November 2010
|
Germany
Engine derails on motorail link
An investigation is underway into an accident yesterday in which a
locomotive derailed in Niebull during shunting on the
Niebull-Westerland motorail link in Schleswig-Holstein.
4th November 2010
|
Belgium
Gas cylinder explodes in Brussels garage
A gas cylinder exploded on Tuesday morning in a garage on rue de la
Luzerne, Shaerbeek, northeast Brussels, injuring 2 workers there.
One of the workers has been transferred to the burns unit of the
military hospital in Neder-over-Heembeek with life-threatening burns
to his face and arms.
3rd November 2010
|
Russia
Youth survives flight in aircraft landing gear
A 17-year old youth survived a 50-minute flight in the landing gear of
an An-24 aircraft on a domestic flight of Angara Airlines from Kirensk
to Irkutsk, having sought refuge in a space above a wheel. He was
later treated for hypothermia and frostbite.
3rd November 2010
|
Austria
Man saved from refuse wagon compaction
A 26-year old man was hospitalised on Monday with a serious leg injury
after almost being tipped into a refuse wagon compactor from a
container during a collection round in Quadenstrasse, Donaustadt,
Vienna. As the container was being raised for tipping into the
compaction unit, the bin men heard a man's cries from the raised
container and immediately pressed an emergency button to deactivate
the system.
2nd November 2010
|
Spain
3rd death in Madrid Legionnaires' outbreak
On Monday a 73-year old man died in the Fundacion Jimenez Diaz
Hospital in Madrid, becoming the third death in the current outbreak
of Legionnaires' Disease in the city.
A 4th case of the disease was diagnosed yesterday, bringing the total
number of cases to 40, of whom 13 are hospitalised.
2nd November 2010
|
USA
Worker dies on fall at Kansas grain elevator
An
autopsy will be conducted today (Monday)
into the death of a Kansas worker from a Salina fumigation company who
has died in a fall at the Perryton Equity Exchange grain elevator in
Liberal, southwest Kansas.
1st November 2010
|
Azerbaijan
Baku furniture factory fire
An electrical malfunction has been speculated as the cause of a fire
yesterday at a furniture factory on Tibilisi Avenue, Baku, no injuries
were reported. 1st November 2010
|
|
England
Network Rail fined over Northumberland level crossing accident
At Newcastle Crown Court Network Rail was fined £75K plus £36K in
costs over a fatal accident in which a 17-year old worker was killed
by a train on the West Lodge level crossing at Haltwhistle,
Northumberland, where he was returning from delivering coal to a farm
on the Blenkinsopp Estate. Investigation by the Office of Rail
Regulation found that the company should have implemented a system
whereby pedestrians could telephone the signaller prior to using the
crossing. 30th
November 2010
|
Belarus
Fokker 100 lands safely despite instrument problems
An investigation was launched following alleged instrument failure as
an AUA(Austrian Airlines) Fokker 100 aircraft approached Minsk
yesterday, an apparent failure of sensors to communicate and display
instrument information. Passengers were advised of a potentially
difficult landing but the latter was achieved safely and without
injury. 30th
November 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Crew man drowned on shore leave
A crew member of the LE Aisling has drowned during shore leave from
the vessel on fishery patrol, the accident happened in Schull Harbour,
West Cork.
A number of crew members were returning to their ship by launch in the
early hours of Sunday when the 34-year old sailor was found to be
missing. The launch returned to the harbour where his body was found
floating. 29th November 2010
|
Mexico
Fatal accident at Zacatecas mine
A miner died at the Capstone Mining Corporation's Cozamin mine
in Zacatecas where he became trapped in equipment during a rock fall,
it took 2 days to recover his body. 29th November 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Boy,2, choked to death at crèche
A 2-year old boy has died in University Hospital Galway after becoming
unwell at a crèche in Ballinderreen where he apparently choked while
consuming a vegetarian meal.
26th November 2010
|
Spain
Missing Basque care home resident found dead
The body of a 73-year old male resident of a care home for the elderly
has been found in a rural area in Amorbieta where he had been missing
from the home since last Friday.
26th November 2010
|
England
Worker fell through fragile roof light
At South Derbyshire Magistrates' Court,
foam company Recticel of Alfreton was fined £13K plus £5,098 in costs
over a fall from height accident in January 2009. A worker attempting
to repair a roof leak fell 4 metres through the roof and on to a
conveyor carrying foam and then the floor.
A HSE inspector commented
on the failure to plan the work and a failure to consider the risk
posed by the roof light.
25th November 2010
|
England
Telehandler forks crushed car
One workman died and his 2 colleagues suffered severe injuries when
the boom of a telescopic materials handler crushed the car they were
occupying at a site in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
HSE investigation found that during routine checks, the telehandler
operator had not followed the operating instructions in the machinery
manual, failing to ensure it was being operated on firm level ground,
having extended the boom of the machine to its limits while the
telehandler was not suitably positioned.
Principal contractor Linden Limited failed to ensure the equipment was
maintained properly with tyre pressures lower than recommended.
Linden Limited of Uxbridge, Hillingdon, admitted breaching r.5 of the
Provision and Use of Work equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined
£7,500 with costs of £25,000. Its construction plant operator was
found guilty of breaching S.7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc.
Act 1974 and was fined £7,000.
25th November 2010
|
England
Rare allergy kills pigeon racer
A Cumbrian coroner ruled that a pigeon racer had died of natural
causes last November, however he had previously had a diagnosis of
pigeon fancier's lung, an allergic reaction to the dust and
by-products of maintaining a pigeon loft for years. The victim had
apparently given up activity with pigeons when he received the diagnosis.
24th November 2010
|
Cyprus
Unseaworthy Ukrainian ship detained
The vessel Saint Sofia, with a crew of 5 Ukrainians, has been detained
in Limassol as being in unseaworthy condition, having sailed from
Egypt last Friday. 24th November 2010
|
England
Equestrian accident investigation
HSE is investigating a fatal accident which occurred at Newmarket
Heath where a 61-year old part-time work rider died in a fall while
riding a racehorse on Side Hill Gallop. He was using his own tack and
may have had a stirrup problem prior to hitting a tree.
23rd November 2010
|
Scotland
Grampian worker's hand caught in inspection pipe
A Grampian fire crew had to attend an accident in Bucksburn, Aberdeen,
where a worker's hand became trapped in an inspection pipe on a BEAR
Scotland drainage lorry vehicle while inspecting pipes on the vehicle.
23rd November 2010
|
Spain
Falling container kills Algeciras stevedore
A 53-year old stevedore was killed yesterday when a container fell
during unloading by crane of the vessel BC Hamburg at the APM
Terminals in Algeciras, the first fatal accident there in 4 years.
22nd November 2010
|
USA
Fisherman's fingers severed in crab block pulley
An Oregon crab fisherman on the Carmillo lost the tips of 2 fingers
when they became caught in a crab block pulley system during the
retrieval of pots a mile off Bodego Bay. 22nd November 2010
|
England
Sellafield chemical incident investigation
An investigation is ongoing at Sellafield into a chemicals incident at
the Thorp(Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant) site which saw 4 workers
hospitalised at the weekend after they complained of feeling unwell
while working on a chemical pumping system. 19th November 2010
|
Malta
Docker wins award over disabling fall
A former stager slinger has been awarded €100,977 in compensation for
an injury which left him disabled in October 1993 when he fell 5
storeys in a scaffold collapse at Malta Drydocks. The court heard that
a bracket section of the scaffold which failed had been made at the
dock. 19th November 2010
|
England
HSE to investigate Durham fire
The HSE is to investigate a fire which destroyed the Stiller
Warehousing & Distribution Premises on the Aycliffe Business Park,
County Durham, police investigation of the incident has found nothing
to suggest arson.
18th November 2010
|
Skagerrak
Skagerrak ferry fire
Fire broke out yesterday on the car deck of the DFDS ferry, Pearl of
Scandinavia, during its journey from Oslo to Copenhagen. Swedish fire
fighters attended the blaze which took 2 hours to control and saw
passengers muster for possible evacuation. However, the ferry carrying
a bus and 190 cars managed to complete its journey to Copenhagen.
18th November 2010
|
Northern Ireland
Fermanagh CO accident claims second victim
A woman died in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital yesterday 6 days
after being overcome by carbon monoxide fumes in a house in
Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, an accident which also claimed the life
of her husband. 17th November 2010
|
Northern Ireland
Piggery worker killed in feeder accident
A farm worker died in an accident involving a food container at a pig
farm on Cortynan Road, County Armagh. 17th November 2010
|
USA
Lobster fishermen's body recovered off Boston
The body of a crewman of the Massachusetts fishing boat Jacquelyn Ann
has been recovered following its capsize in Boston Harbour as it was
making for Hull gut from North Weymouth to recover lobster pots
and was hit by a 2-metre wave, another crew member was rescued by the
Coast Guard at Little Brewster Island and is believed to be recovering
in Massachusetts General Hospital. 16th November 2010
|
Ghana
Welding fire during pontoon work
Seven workers were injured in a fire during refurbishment work on
pontoons at the Akosombo floating dock of the Volta Lake Transport
Company, sparks from hot metal work are speculated as the cause of the
fire. 16th November 2010
|
England
Bull attack leaves walker dead, wife
critically injured
A man died and his wife is listed in
critical condition in hospital in Nottingham after being attacked by a
bull on a public footpath near Stanford-on-Soar, north of Loughborough. 15th November 2010
|
England
St Helen's worker's severely injured hand
A Lancs factory worker was taken to
Whiston Hospital on Saturday with a severe hand injury after it was
trapped in machinery at Poppies Europe in Cornwall Street, St Helens,
fire crews used tools and airbags to effect his release from the
machine.
15th November 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Falling slab severed youth's toes
At Ennis Circuit Court Oliver Taaffe Ltd was fined
€6K(£5,084) over an
accident at a construction site on Quin Road, Ennis, where a youth
employee had 4 toes amputated in an accident involving a falling
concrete slab.
The company pleaded guilty to failing to have a risk assessment for
the work and failing to bring a safety statement to the youth's
attention and was fined €3K(£2,542)
on each charge.
12th November 2010
|
USA
Table saw severed NJ worker's fingertips
A New Jersey worker had four fingertips severed at the first joint
while cutting timber on a table saw at a site on Liberty Avenue, North
Bergen, the wood kicked back but forward pressure of his hand produced
momentum taking it into the saw.
12th November 2010
|
USA
Worker killed after gas line breached
A worker died and 2 others were injured when trench-digging equipment
breached a gas pipeline at an oil well site northeast of Tioga, North
Dakota, during work to install underground electricity lines.
11th November 2010
|
Poland
Wroclaw pupil brought WW2 shell to school
All 400 pupils of a secondary school in Wroclaw were evacuated
yesterday after a 12-year old pupil brought an old WW2 anti-aircraft
shell to school, the shell was later detonated by an army bomb
disposal unit. 11th
November 2010
|
Australia
Helicopter crash during agricultural work
A helicopter pilot died during the rounding up of cattle in the Mt Ogg
area, 20 miles west of Rolleston, the helicopter crashed in an area of
thick vegetation. 10th November 2010
|
UAE
Cargo ship fire
A seaman was treated for burns injuries in Kuwait Hospital following a
fire on a cargo ship at Port Khalid, Sharjah, the fire broke out
shortly after loading of the ship was completed and took an hour to
control.
10th November 2010
|
USA
NC roads site worker fatality
A construction worker was killed on Monday in a work zone on Highway
99 outside Belhaven, North Carolina, at the site of a new bridge
spanning Pungo Creek. 9th November 2010
|
Serbia
Workplace and public place smoking ban
The Health Ministry has announced the introduction of a smoking ban in
workplaces and public places to be implemented within 3 days.
9th November 2010
|
Italy
Pompeii's House of Gladiators collapses
The Schola Armaturarum Iuventutis Pompeianae, the House of Gladiators
on via dell'Abbondanza in ancient Pompeii, collapsed on Saturday,
initial speculation was that recent heavy rains triggered the
instability. 7th November 2010
|
Russia
Another miner's body recovered at Raspadkaya site
The body of another miner killed in an accident at the Raspadkaya coal
mine in Kemerovo in May was found on Saturday, a further 16
miners are still missing. Work is ongoing 400 metres underground where
water ingress is still considerable. 8th November 2010
|
England
Accident on Dutch fishing boat
A Dutch fisherman was admitted
to Eastbourne District General Hospital yesterday for treatment to a
head injury after being airlifted from a boat off the Kent coast.
5th November 2010
|
England
Wirral factory fire investigation
An investigation was underway yesterday following a fire in a upvc
factory on the Carr Lane Industrial Estate in Hoylake, the locus
appears to have been a ground floor storage room. Although the fire
spread to adjacent premises, no injuries were reported.
5th November 2010
|
England
Worker's arm injured in pallet roller
The HSE is investigating an accident at Thornaby Decorative Panels,
Teesside Industrial Estate, where a worker's arm was badly injured
when he became caught in rolling machinery which moves pallets.
Fire crews had to dismantle the machinery to effect his release, his
condition in James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough is listed
as comfortable. 4th
November 2010
|
England
Farm accident rate swings up
The latest figures for major injuries in agriculture for April
09-March10 are 640(previously 599), with an upward trend of 40% over
the last 3 years.
The 38 deaths in agriculture for the year ending in June 2010 is up 13
on the previous year, the 8 deaths per 100K workers making it the most
dangerous industrial environment.
Only last Thursday a 71-year old farmer of Manor Wold Farm in East
Heslerton died when he was struck by a barn's roller door.
4th November 2010
|
Rep Ireland
2 Donegal crab fishermen drowned
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board is expected to launch an
investigation into the sinking of the Donegal crabber, the Jennifer,
which is feared to have claimed the lives of both fishermen. Divers
recovered the boat in 10 metres of water some 100 metres off Glengad
shore, Donegal. The boat had not been holed, leading to speculation
that it may have been swamped by a large wave.
The body of one fisherman was recovered, poor visibility and severe
weather saw
the search for the other man suspended.
3rd November 2010
|
England
Diver's prompt treatment for bends
A Cumbrian diver was recovering well in hospital in the Wirral where
he has been receiving oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber after
manifesting symptoms of decompression sickness following a dive in
Wastwater.
He was airlifted to hospital in less than 30 minutes, highlighting the
crucial element of beginning treatment as fast as possible.
3rd November 2010
|
England
NHS Trust pleads guilty over bed rail accident
At Telford Magistrates' Court on Monday Shrewsbury and Telford NHS
Trust pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety legislation by
failing to provide an 87-year old patient with a bed rail, the patient
fell from the bed and died 2 weeks later at Princess Royal Hospital in
Telford in November 2007.
2nd November 2010
|
England
Stricken sail/training ship towed into Fal River
The Polish sail training ship Fryderyk Chopin, owned by the European
School of Law and Administration, was finally towed into Falmouth
yesterday, the ship had lost both masts in a Force 9 gale 93
miles southwest of the Isles of Scilly.
The ship had 47 people on board, including 36 cadets aged 14-16, and
was rolling so heavily in the seas that it was decided not to transfer
the cadets to the St Mary's life boat which was in attendance for 20
hours. The Newlyn fishing boat Nova Spiro took the ship in tow but the
sea conditions reduced its speed.
2nd November 2010
|
England
Plane crash in River Derwent
The pilot and passenger of a Robin 2160 light aircraft survived an
accident at the weekend when the aircraft crashed into the River
Derwent during a flight from Sherburn Aero Club in Elmet.
Both people managed to release themselves from the upturned aircraft
and are believed to have been later discharged from hospital. 1st November 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Mayo crab fishermen rescued
Two crab fishermen from Porturlin were safely rescued after 10 hours
in a life raft off Downpatrick Head at the weekend after their boat
was swamped by a large wave and they were pitched overboard. 1st November 2010
|
|
England
NHS Trust failed elderly patient
Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust has admitted breaching S.3(1)
of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in connection with the
death of an 89-year old patient who fell from his bed at Telford's
Princess Royal Hospital and eventually died of his injuries 2 weeks
later.
The Trust was fined £50,000 plus £8,476 costs, it had failed to
provide a bed rail that would have prevented the fall. Staff did not
know where to find a rail and the accident was compounded by chronic
staff shortages.
An HSE official commented:
"Just a few weeks before this incident, one nurse was so concerned by
staffing levels in the ward she had written to the trust board, but no
action was taken. The trust's own policy was not to trigger any action
on staff shortages until the levels became 'high risk'. As a result,
the trust was typically working at high risk or very high risk."
30th November 2010
|
England
Farmer killed by bull
A farmer in his 50's died last week following an attack by a bull.
He died in hospital after Friday afternoon's incident on a farm in
Clanfield, Hampshire.
30th November 2010
|
England
Roof fall man serious
A man in his 60's has fallen from the roof of a property in Doveridge,
Derbyshire.
One account states that he was a workman and that he sustained
multiple major injuries in Friday afternoon's incident.
29th November 2010
|
England
Poor safety standard on roof
A roofing job on commercial premises in Salford Quays landed a roofing
company in court. Two employees set about the work of replacing a number
of broken roof tiles, but did so without proper safety equipment. The
men had a tower scaffold to access the roof but then they strayed
beyond its protection, placing themselves and customers below in
danger.
Shire Building Services were fined £5,000 plus costs of £2,916, having
breached r.4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, the work was not
adequately planned or conducted safely. 29th November 2010
|
England
Risk of falls too great
Retro Future 2000 Ltd has been fined £7,000 plus £1,981 costs having
been responsible for the operation of a building site in Keel Road,
Liverpool, at which almost 30 workers were placed at excessive risk
through falls from height.
HSE inspection of a 6-storey apartment blocks discovered areas had no
barriers to stop workers falling at places such as an open lift shaft,
a staircase landing between the fourth and fifth floors with no walls
or rails, and an empty floor-to-ceiling window frame on the sixth
floor with a rubbish chute attached.
The company failed to respond adequately to previous enforcement
notices.
26th November 2010
|
Wales
Family affected by suspected CO
poisoning
Four occupants, two of them babies, of a house in Tycroes,
Carmarthenshire, have been treated in hospital for suspected carbon
monoxide poisoning.
Their condition is not stated as life-threatening.
26th November 2010
|
Scotland
Industrial accident at Aberdeen
harbour
Two workmen have been injured in an incident at Albert Quay, Aberdeen.
One of the workmen sustained major injuries, the other minor injuries
in yesterday morning's incident in which, according to one account, an
excavator fell into an excavation.
25th November 2010
Northern Ireland
Body discovered in restaurant
A man has been discovered dead in a restaurant in Irvinestown, Co
Fermanagh. It is speculated that he may have been overcome by carbon
monoxide gas some time before his discovery yesterday afternoon.
25th November 2010
|
|
England
College used machine without guarding
Writtle College of Chelmsford has been
prosecuted and fined a total of £12,000 for breaching safety
legislation in connection with making available for use by a student
an unguarded baling machine.
The agricultural college machine's power take-off shaft was posing
an immediate threat to anyone using it. HSE investigation found that
the baler had previously been used numerous times without the guard
and there was a lack of training, monitoring and supervision.
24th November 2010
|
England
Farm worker's ordeal
A 20-year old farm worker sustained a severe electric shock on a farm
in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, when handling irrigation pipes while
working with the potato growing company Waldersley Farms Ltd. The
pipes made contact with 33kV cables overhead.
The accident victim spent 9 weeks in hospital recovering from internal
injuries, burns and the amputation of his toe.
Ely Magistrates' Court heard the HSE investigation found that a lack
of training and information was given to employees and contractors,
and no assessment on how to carry out the work safely was conducted.
Wladersley was fined £10,000 plus £2,223 costs having breached r.4 of
the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
24th November 2010
|
England
Major hotel fire on Tyneside
A fire yesterday morning at the
Quality Hotel in the Boldon Business Park, Co Durham, required more
than 40 firefighters to prevent it destroying the building.
According to one account the outbreak was located in a sauna room,
staff and guests were safely evacuated, one woman was taken to
hospital for treatment for minor injuries.
23rd November 2010
|
Scotland
Staircase collapsed under
workers feet
Two workmen, employees of
Ossian Construction Ltd of Paisley, were breaking up individual stair
treads with hammers when the staircase collapsed causing them to fall
4 metres. One of them suffered major injuries in the accident at the
Priory House Hotel in Largs, Ayrshire.
An HSE official described the accident as "preventable", saying: "It's
not always obvious how old buildings are put together, and therefore
it is particularly important to seek competent advice before any
demolition work is undertaken. All employers carrying out working at
height must make sure they plan this work properly and give their
employees the training and supervision they need to do the work
safely."
Ossian was fined £6,000 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.
23rd November 2010
|
England
IOW traffic accident fine for gas
company
Southern Gas Networks plc has been fined
£20,000 plus £13,523 costs in connection with a road traffic accident
on the Isle of Wight during road works in Bembridge. Workmen had
removed a metal road plate and left it partly in the path of a car
which struck it and turned it over, injuring the driver.
The company admitted breaching r.37(3) of the Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations 2007, it had failed to protect passing
motorists adequately, placing them in danger.
22nd November 2010
|
Wales
Tachograph tampering detected
It is reported that the Vehicle and Operator Service Agency (Vosa) has
been targeting commercial vehicle drivers who have been attaching
magnets to their tachographs to create false data suggesting that
breaks have been taken while the vehicles remain in motion.
The offences have been attracting fines of
several hundred pounds.
22nd November 2010
|
England
Roof fall fatality in Kent
It is reported that a man has died after falling around 6 metres
through a rooflight on a building on Channel View Road in Dover.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, it is believed he was
undertaking maintenance work.
19th November 2010
|
United Kingdom
Buses crushed under railway
bridges
A double-deck bus struck the underside of a bridge in Edinburgh
yesterday afternoon. It was negotiating Roseburn Street in the
Murrayfield area of the city, one passenger was treated for minor
injury.
On Sunday evening 15 passengers were injured when a bus crashed
into a bridge near Manningtree Station on the A137 in Essex.
19th November 2010
|
England
Worker switched on equipment
while colleague was inside it
A worker escaped with severe
bruising to his legs when he was hit by the blades of a stirrer in a
vegetable flow freezer at his employer's factory in Bourne,
Lincolnshire.
Investigation found that the inside of the freezer was dimly lit and
it was very difficult to see someone through a mesh grille. Noise
meant communication was a problem, and both men had worked on an
overnight shift for more than 11 hours when the incident occurred.
There was no safe system of isolation.
PinguinLutosa Foods UK Ltd of Kings Lynn admitted breaching r.11(1) of
the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and r.3(1)(b)
of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and
was fined a total of £4,700 with costs of £2,639.
18th November 2010
|
Wales
Recycling worker killed by crane
hook
A 44-year old worker died after being struck on the head by a 3.7-
tonne crane hook used to lift ladles containing molten steel which was
capable of being moved about at head height in the melt shop of Cesla
Manufacturing (UK) Ltd of Cardiff.
The company did not ensure a safe system of work for the use of the
crane, with crane operators unable to see people in the path of loads.
Cesla admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc
Act 1974 at Cardiff Crown Court and was fined £200,000 with costs of
£36,294. 18th
November 2010
|
England
MCA detains ship over welfare issues
The vessel, Most Sky,
registered in Panama, has been detained in port at Birkenhead.
MCA says the vessel's Turkish owners must attend to matters such as
heating, sanitation and food supply and preparation, which require to
be addressed to the satisfaction of its marine surveyors before it can
be authorised to leave port. 17th November 2010
|
England
Yorks safety inspections find unsafe
practices
Several hundred employers' workplaces have recently been inspected by
HSE officials over a 2-week period. Of those inspected 63 received
improvement notices, 8 were issued with prohibition notices requiring
immediate attention and cessation of the relevant work activity.
Unsatisfactory situations involved flammable liquid storage, machine
guarding and welding fume exposures. 17th November 2010
|
England
Pneumatic drill breached cable
A workman using a drill on a Taylor Wimpey housing development in
Walsall inadvertently contacted an 11kV cable which induced an
explosion and inflicted severe
burns.
His employer, Pacestone Construction Ltd of Solihull, failed
to take sufficient steps to prevent such an accident, placing it in
breach of r.34(3) of the Construction (Design and Management)
Regulations 2007. It was fined £13,000 with £3,870 costs by Walsall
Magistrates' Court.
An HSE inspector commented:
"This incident was entirely preventable had the company taken sensible
precautions. Using a cable detector, marking the location of cables
and only allowing workers to use hand tools when digging in the
proximity of live services would have avoided the risk of hitting
cables."
16th November 2010
|
England
Dust explosion severely burned welder
A workman was carrying out welding work on a large container holding
380 tonnes of the explosive powder Terephthalic acid at Indorama
Polymers (Workington) Ltd’s site in Siddick when a dust explosion
occurred. The accident victim was engulfed by the resultant fireball,
he and another worker jumped more than 3 metres to the ground to
escape the heat but could not escape injury, suffering severe burns to
his head, face, arms and hands.
The worker explained: "I was told that it would be safe to carry out
welding work on the vessel but it wasn’t. You trust people to get it
right and check things out for you but you can’t take anything for
granted. I just hope this case helps prevent the same thing happening
to someone else."
Indorama Polymers admitted a breach of S.3(1) of the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £20,000 plus costs of £14,941.
The explosion resulted from the escape of 15g of powder when a bung
occupying a hole in the container fell out.
16th November 2010
|
England
Fatal haulage depot accident
A man in his 20's has died after he was, according to one account,
struck by pallets at the premises of Ralph Coleman International Ltd
in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, the deceased sustained a
head injury, a colleague escaped with minor injury.
15th November 2010
|
England
Workplace transport fatality
It is reported that a worker in his 60's died following an industrial
accident on Tuesday afternoon involving an HGV at Hydecrete Pit,
Burghfield, Berkshire.
15th November 2010
|
England
Company had no safe procedures for
digging
A worker sustained serious burns when he struck an 11kV power cable as
he operated a hand-held mini breaker to break through a concrete
alleyway surface in Warwick.
The employee of The Magna Heating Company Ltd had no clear
instructions or a method statement before undertaking the work. The
company had not obtained plans of site services.
The company, now no longer trading, was in breach of r.13(2) of the
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £1
at Leamington Spa Magistrates' Court.
12th November 2010
|
England
Dangerous lifting
Kent Road Construction Ltd and the proprietor of Fortmere
Construction, both of Brierley Hill, Staffs, have been prosecuted
after a self-employed plasterer was injured by falling roof trusses
being lifted by a mobile crane from a trailer at a building site in
Bilston.
The accident victim was getting off the trailer when the roof trusses
fell onto him, severely fracturing his right leg, elbow, hand and
thumb.
Kent Road Construction admitted breaching r.8(1) of the Lifting
Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulation 1998 and was fined £6,000
with £4,496 costs.
The proprietor of Fortmere Construction admitted breaching r.14(1) of
the Construction (Design and Management) Regulation 2007 and was fined
£4,000 with £899 costs.
The contractor had failed to plan, supervise and carry out a safe
lifting operation, the client had not appointed a co-ordinator, one of
whose roles would have been to advise the client on the competence of
the contractor.
An HSE official commented: "This case should remind companies managing
construction sites and directing cranes to ensure all operators are
properly trained and competent to do so. The law also requires
companies that hire contractors to make reasonable checks that they
are competent to carry out work on a construction site."
12th November 2010
|
Scotland
Fire outbreak at refinery
Investigation is ongoing at the Nynas operated oil refinery in Dundee
to establish the cause of a fire in the early hours of yesterday which
involved 2,000 litres of oil.
The fire was brought under control after
one hour by Tayside Fire Service.
11th November 2010
|
England
Worker struck 11kV cable with hand tool
A workman planting trees for Coast and County Housing Ltd of Redcar
was injured by hot gases thrown at him from an electrical explosion
when his steel bar struck an 11kV cable.
Investigation revealed that the company’s property maintenance
department were aware of the risks from contact with underground
services and had safety systems in place, but this was not the case
for those in the estate services team.
Coast and Country admitted breaching r.4(3) of the Electricity
at Work Regulations 1989 and r.3(1) of the Management of Health and
Safety at Work Regulations 1999 at Teesside Magistrates’ Court and was
fined £8,000 with costs of £2,939.
11th November 2010
|
England
Lifting operation went badly wrong
An attempt to lift a 1,136kg fabricated wall with 6 colleagues ended
with a worker suffering dislocated ankles when he was trapped by it.
The incident occurred on the BAE Systems plc site in Broad Oak,
Portsmouth, on 20th August 2008, where Principal contractor Emcor
Facilities Services Ltd and a subcontractor, BS Interiors (South) Ltd,
decided to erect the 10x3-metre high wall which they then set about
manually lifting. The accident occurred when the operation was
aborted.
CDM coordinator for the project of work, BAE Systems Properties Ltd,
of Farnborough, Hampshire, admitted breaching r.20(2)(c) of the
Construction (Design and Management Regulations) 2007 (by virtue of
r.14(1) of the Construction (Design and Management Regulations 2007)
and was fined £8,000 with costs of £6,110.
Employer of the injured man, Emcor Facilities Services Ltd, of
Stockport, Cheshire, admitted breaching r.22(1)(a) of the Construction
(Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £15,000 with
costs of £6,110.
BS Interiors (South) Ltd of Portsmouth admitted breaching r.4 of the
Manual Handling (Operations) Regulations 1992 and was fined £1,500.
Hazards had not been identified at the planning stage of the project,
a proper risk assessment had not been carried out.
10th November 2010
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Wales
Care home window fall
It is reported that a female in her 90's, a resident of the Brocastle
Manor Care Home in Bridgend, has died after falling from a window last
Friday evening. HSE is investigating the incident.
10th November 2010
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England
Worker overcome by Nitrogen
Black Country company Overton Recycling
has been prosecuted following an incident at its Lye premises which
rendered a worker unconscious through exposure to nitrogen.
The worker climbed into the chute of a fridge recycling machine to
clear a blockage but passed out and had to be rescued when he
encountered the nitrogen gas used to reduce the risk of an explosion.
The method adopted to clear blockages had not been risk assessed.
The company admitted breaching r.3(1) of the Confined Spaces
Regulations 1997 and r.3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at
Work Regulations 1999 and was fined £13,000 with £6,107 costs.
9th November 2010
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England
Firework display member critical
A 21-year old man has been critically injured by a firework at an
event in Lewes, Sussex.
The man is reported to be a member of the Commercial Square Bonfire
Society who was attending the display at the Landport Recreation
Ground. 9th November 2010
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England
Staffs explosion injures and
contaminates
An explosion at the Auegan Treatment premises in Cannock on Friday
resulted in 2 employees being treated for injuries in hospital. A
number of employees and emergency personnel required to be
decontaminated at the scene.
The site is used for the treatment of hazardous waste.
7th November 2010
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England
Poor stacking arrangements at
foam maker
Recticel Limited of Alfreton, Derbyshire, has been fined £6,238 plus
£11,762 costs after an incident occurred at its Stoke-on-Trent
premises.
A visiting driver was delivering insulation board to the company's
warehouse when a separate stack toppled onto him and knocked him back
into his trailer, fracturing his spine and inflicting a serious head
injury.
An HSE official commented: "This incident serves to highlight the need
for companies to ensure that their stacking arrangements are properly
planned, managed and controlled. This incident could easily have been
prevented had the company implemented a suitable and sufficient safe
system of work to effectively manage the risks posed by stacked
materials in their warehouse."
7th November 2010
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Northern Ireland
Tank explodes
A workman is in stable condition in hospital following an industrial
accident at premises in Portadown. One account states he was injured
in an explosion as he cut into a tank yesterday morning.
5th November 2010
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England
Cutting tool had no guard
Callender (Lancashire) Aeropart Ltd has been fined £8,000 with £3,996
costs after admitting breaching r.11(1) of the Provision and Use of
Work Equipment Regulations 1998 by failing to prevent access to
dangerous parts of machinery, in particular a milling machine at its
site on Altham Industrial Estate.
An employee's hand was severely
injured when it came into contact with a rotating blade which was
inadequately guarded.
5th November 2010
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England
Farming death
It is reported that a farmer in his 70's died in an accident last
Thursday in East Heslerton, Yorks, when he was struck by the roller
door of a storage shed.
4th November 2010
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England
Incident at Cambs laboratory
Three men were injured in an incident on Tuesday morning at the
Royston premises of Johnson Matthey Plc.
The workers attended a local hospital but were not badly injured, some
damage to the premises was reported.
4th November 2010
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England
Explosion injures 14
An explosion around 7am yesterday in Merlin Road, a residential street
in Irlam, Greater Manchester, has injured 15 persons, one seriously.
Several houses belonging to City West Housing Trust were destroyed,
the Trust says that improvement work was currently underway at one of
the properties destroyed.
3rd November 2010
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England
Teenager's injury avoidable
A 17 year-old apprentice, an employee of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd
at Wolverhampton, was working with 2 other maintenance engineers
repairing a tyre press when the internal bladder of the press
re-energised and burst, blowing the lid off the press. In reaction to
the blast, the teenager struck his head on nearby equipment,
fracturing his skull.
The employer was fined £18,250 with £4,807 costs, an HSE official
commented: "This incident was entirely preventable had there been a
safe system in place to ensure that services to the press had been
isolated prior to the start of the maintenance work. It is also clear
that the maintenance team were insufficiently trained to carry out the
necessary diagnostic work on this piece of machinery."
3rd November 2010
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England
Forklift death in Lincs
It is reported that a man in his 50's has died in an industrial
accident on a farm in Moulton Seas End, 4 miles NE of Spalding.
The account states that the accident involved the use of a forklift
truck.
2nd November 2010
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England
Pillar drill was unguarded
A 21-year old employee of Elmatic (Cardiff) Ltd fractured a wrist when
his glove caught in a drill. He had no formal training in the use of
the equipment, his employer pleaded guilty to a charge under r.11 of
the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, and
was fined £8,000 with £6,691 costs.
2nd November 2010
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England
Headteacher's misjudgement
results in heavy fine
A headteacher at the Sacred Heart
Catholic College in Crosby, Liverpool, has been fined £20,000 plus
£22,708 costs after an 18-year old student fell 2.5 metres through a rooflight at the school whilst he and his fellow students were being
shown a part of the school they had never seen before. The student
sustained multiple injuries.
An HSE inspector commented: "The roof was kept out of bounds for
a reason. As the headteacher, he should have thought about the possible
consequences before deciding to take them through two locked doors
onto the roof."
He was found guilty of breaching S.7(a) of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974 by failing to protect the safety of his students
when he decided to allow them onto the roof.
1st November 2010
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England
Dangerous practice cost life
A man died as a result of dangerous practices at a coal processing
site in Durham operated by Hargreaves (UK) Services Ltd.
The deceased man, a maintenance fitter for Hargreaves’ sister company,
Norec Ltd, was working at the Astra Site at Immingham Docks when he
was struck by a large loading shovel being used to transfer coal from
one area of the plant to another. The loading shovel obscured the
driver’s view, yet it was common practice for employees to be allowed
to walk in the area where these machines were being operated.
Hargreaves was fined £120,000 plus £35,000 costs.
1st November 2010
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