USA
Transport fatality in Kentucky mine
A 39-year old miner died after being struck by a shuttle car at the
River Valley Coal Mine of Alliance Resource Partners in West Kentucky
yesterday, the 6th mining fatality in Kentucky this year. 29th October 2010
|
Canada
Ontario worker broke leg during factory decommissioning
The Ministry of Labour is investigating an accident in which a
worker's leg was broken when equipment fell during decommissioning
work at the former GM Transmission plant on Kildare Road, Windsor. 29th October 2010
|
Afghanistan
Roof collapse kills 40 wedding guests
Forty women and children died when a roof collapsed, the first storey
floor collapsing into the ground level floor, at a wedding reception
in the village of Warchi, in the Jalga district of Baghlan province.
The house was one of timber and mud bricks and, it is speculated,
structurally vulnerable to hosting such a large group of people.
28th October 2010
|
USA
Worker killed on elevated tram track at airport
A worker was killed and another was injured when they were struck by a
tram while working on the elevated track near a maintenance unit
between Terminal B and the Marriott Hotel at Bush Intercontinental
Airport, Texas.
28th October 2010
|
Canada
Alberta oil workers' plane crash investigated
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the crash
of a Beechcraft King Air 100 aircraft a mile short of the Kirby Lake
landing strip, northeast Alberta, which left 1 person dead and 9
injured.
The flight, operated by Kenn Borek Air, was taking British
Petroleum(BP) Canada workers from Edmonton City Centre Airport, heavy
sleet was falling prior to the accident.
27th October 2010
|
USA
New Jersey roof collapse fatality
A subcontract worker of Labour Only Recovery died in a 14-metre fall
when a roof collapsed during refurbishment of a warehouse at the
CertainTeed Corporation unit in Winslow, New Jersey.
27th October 2010
|
Belarus
Boiler explosion at woodworking plant
It is believed that at least 2 workers were killed yesterday following
an explosion in a workshop at the Pinksdrev woodworking plant on Ivan
Chuklay Street, Pinsk, southwest Belarus, where a boiler explosion led
to a roof collapsing and falling down on workers, 13 of whom were
hospitalised.
26th October 2010
|
USA
Stokes basket rescue of trapped worker
A Stokes basket rescue was deployed to bring an injured worker with a
broken leg up from a narrow 10-metre void into which he fell while
working in the attic of a building at the Kauffman Centre for
Performing Arts, Kansas City.
26th October 2010
|
The Netherlands
Kanaaldijk-West ferry captain drowns after collision
On Saturday divers recovered the body of the skipper of a passenger
ferry on the Amsterdam-Rijn canal between Breukelen and Nieuwer-ter-Aa
where it capsized after it was struck by a German freighter, whose
skipper passed a blood/alcohol test.
25th October 2010
|
Kenya
Pirates seize tanker and trawler
The Singapore-flagged LPG tanker, York, managed by Interunity
Management Corporation of Greece, and its 17-man crew were seized by
Somali pirates at the weekend 50 miles from Mombassa from where it was
sailing to the Seychelles.
25th October 2010
|
USA
Pennsylvania worker killed in roof fall
A construction worker of Federouch Landscaping has died in a 14-metre
fall from the roof of a building in an industrial estate in Scott
Township, Pennsylvania, during welding work there.
22nd October 2010
|
France
Patient pronounced brain dead revives
A 60-year old female patient revived in CHU(Centre Hospitalier
Universiataire) Bordeaux after earlier being pronounced brain dead at
a local clinic where she had lost consciousness following treatment.
Her 3 sons were contacted by doctors and told that she was "very
certainly clinically dead" and asked to sign documentation for the
disconnection of a respirator. The sons insisted on her transfer to
CHU where a scan revealed she was not brain dead and she re-awakened
some hours later.
22nd October 2010
|
France
Parisian worker killed in ceiling collapse
A 35-year old worker was killed and 9 others were injured yesterday
when a ceiling collapsed during work on premises of Space Interim on
rue du Faubourg Sainte-Antoine near the place de la Nation, Paris.
21st October 2010
|
Austria
Boy injured in 8m fall on school outing
An 11-year old boy has broken an arm and his pelvis in an 8-metre fall
from climbing apparatus in Gurk, Karnten, where his class from the
Alpen-Adria-Gymanasium of Volkermarkt was on a school outing.
Although the climbing activity is supervised and features a double
safety connection system, it is speculated that the child himself may
have mistakenly disconnected both during transfer from one climbing
station to another.
21st October 2010
|
Saudi Arabia
Shunting train kills 5 construction workers
Five workers of Archirodon Construction (Overseas) Company, 4 Nepalese
and an Indian national, were killed when they were struck by a train
being shunted 15 miles east of Riyadh, one worker survived the
accident and has been hospitalised.
20th October 2010
|
USA
Hawaiian cemetery worker killed in rollover accident
A cemetery worker has died in a crush accident when a backhoe vehicle
he was operating overturned on a gradient in Mililani Memorial Park,
Waipahu, Honolulu.
20th October 2010
|
Mexico
21 died in bus/lorry collision inferno
At least 21 people died in a fire following the collision of an
Omnibus de Mexico coach and a lorry laden with chemicals on the
Queretero-San Luis Potosi highway. Initial speculation is that the
driver of the bus travelling from Terminal del Norte to Fresnillo may
have fallen asleep at the wheel.
19th October 2010
|
China
Cruise ship and freighter collide off Shanghai
The Costa Classica Italian cruise ship on a 3-day return trip from
Shanghai to South
Korea collided with a Belgian freighter, the Lowlands Longevity, at
the mouth of the Yangtze River off Shanghai, some
passengers were treated for minor injuries. The accident happened as
the pilot was about to board, initial investigation by the Shanghai
Maritime Safety Bureau indicates a power failure caused the cruise
ship to lose control.
19th October 2010
|
China
21 killed, 17 trapped in Henan mine
Seventeen miners are trapped and 21 died in an explosion on Saturday
at the Pingyu Coal & Electricity Company's mine in Yuzhou, Henan.
17th October 2010
|
Canada
Worker killed in fall from ladder at Edmonton military base
An investigation was ongoing at the CFB Edmonton military base where a
construction worker of WD Contractors Group died in a fall from a
ladder during refurbishment work there.
17th October 2010
|
Greece
4 injured in steel works fire
Four workers were injured, one is listed in critical condition,
following a fire at a steel works in Aspropyrgos, a northwest Athens
suburb, the locus appears to have been a waste vehicle.
15th October 2010
|
USA
Worker severs hand with pop-up saw
A worker at the Valley Pallett Company on South Lincoln Avenue in
Colton, California, cut off a section of his hand while cutting timber
with a pneumatic pop-up saw, the severed section was packed in ice
with a view to possible surgical re-attachment.
15th October 2010
|
USA
Bin van runs over NC dustman
A refuse collector of Morrison's
Garbage Service has been killed after being run over by a bin wagon in
Knotty Pine Circle, east of Spencer in Rowan County, North Carolina. It is believed that
he lost his balance and fell from the reversing vehicle which
subsequently ran over him. 14th October 2010
|
USA
Worker's arm severed at Washington works
It was hoped that a worker's arm
severed in an accident at Spokane Rock Products in Washington could be
surgically re-attached this midweek.
14th October 2010
|
Ukraine
43 killed in Dnipropetrovsk level crossing collision
Forty three people were killed on Tuesday when a train travelling to
Krivoy Rog and Zaporozhe collided with a bus on a level crossing at
Marganets, it has been alleged that the bus breached a red light to
enter the crossing and then stalled on it. This was the worst
transport accident since Ukrainian independence in 1991.
13th October 2010
|
Canada
Skydiving cameraman killed in parachute accident
Quebec workplace safety officials are investigating a fatal accident
in which a cameraman taking pictures of skydivers during a jump at a
training school in Farnham, 40 miles east of Montreal, was killed when
his parachute malfunctioned. Although it opened, it failed to arrest
his fall and he hit the ground at speed. 13th October 2010
|
Ukraine
Freighter sinks off Kerch Peninsula
Nine crew members of the Mongolian-flagged cargo ship Vasiliy were
rescued on Monday after the ship sank 2 miles off Kyz-Aul near the Kerch
Peninsula. The body of another crewman was recovered from the sunken
ship later on Monday, 3 others, 2 Russians and a Ukrainian are missing
The ship was carrying 3K tonnes of scrap metal from Odessa to Port
Poti, Georgia.
12th October 2010
|
Japan
Boy killed in fall through skylight
An 11-year old boy has died in a fall through a fragile roof light on
top of a 7-storey apartment building in Kobe, access to the roof would
normally only be possible through a locked door.
12th October 2010
|
Baltic Sea
Baltic ferry fire
A fire and explosions on board the DFDS Lisco Lithuanian car and
freight ferry, Lisco Gloria, 7 miles north of Fehmarn led to the safe
evacuation of 249 passengers and crew.
The ferry was sailing from Kiel in Germany to Klaipeda in Lithuania, a
technical fault in a lorry is being speculated as the cause of the
accident. The ferry was developing a list on Saturday as Danish
coastguards fought the flames but was not posing a hazard to shipping.
10th October 2010
|
USA
Worker killed in fall from steel beam
A construction worker died in a 5-metre fall from a steel beam during
the installation of an awning at a site in the Woodlake Shopping
Centre in San Mateo, California.
10th October 2010
|
USA
Oregon boy killed in potato harvester
A 2-year old boy died after being drawn into a belt-driven potato
harvesting machine at a storage facility on Paterson Ferry Road in
Irrigon, east Oregon. His father had been maintaining the equipment
and the child approached too closely to the equipment as it was being
tested. 8th October 2010
|
Canada
Girl hit by tractor on Ontario farm
A 2-year old girl has died from severe head trauma injuries in
hospital in Fergus, Ontario, after being struck by a tractor on a farm
west of Alma. 8th
October 2010
|
France
Worker killed at Disneyworld
A subcontract cleaner was killed in an accident at Disneyworld Paris
before dawn on Wednesday when the "It's a Small Ride", which he was
cleaning, was inadvertently activated, trapping him under a boat on
the ride. 7th
October 2010
|
Australia
Falling timber kills lorry driver during unloading
A 4-metre long heavy log became unstable and rolled off a lorry being
unloaded at a timber export business yesterday on Enterprize Road,
West Melbourne, killing the driver. The log became unstable as
strapping securing the load was released, this was the 18th workplace
death in Victoria this year.
7th October 2010
|
Hungary
State of emergency after aluminium plant dam bursts
At least 4 people died, 6 were missing and 120 were injured when a dam
containing toxic residue from the Ajkai Timfoldgyar aluminium plant
burst and flooded into the communities of Devecser and Kolontar, the
Hungarian government has declared a state of emergency in Vas,
Veszprem and Gyor-Moson-Sopra.
6th
October 2010
|
The Netherlands
One dead, 2 injured in confined space accident
One worker has died and 2 others are listed in life-threatening
condition after a confined space accident in which they were overcome
by fumes as they attempted to clean a container at the Reiling green
recycling plant in Sterksel, southeast of Eindhoven, the nature of the
residue, possibly hydrogen sulphide, in the container was still
unclear on Tuesday.
6th
October 2010
|
Bulgaria
International express train hits rail workers' train
At least 23 people were injured, many with fractures, when a
Belgrade-Istanbul express train collided with a train carrying railway
workers 25 miles west of Sofia on Monday, a signalling malfunction or
human error involving the Dragojlo and Dragoman station masters have
been speculated. 5th
October 2010
|
Greece
Worker crushed in excavator accident
A worker was found dead, pinned under the arm of an excavator, with
which he was working on agricultural land in Avles, Kozani.
5th October 2010
|
Indonesia
Dozens killed in separate train crashes
A train crash in Petarukan,
Java, left at least 43 people dead when a night sleeper from Jakarta
ran into a stationary train in the station.
In a separate train crash in Solo one person died, either human error
or a signalling fault has been speculated in both cases.
3rd October 2010
|
Japan
GSDF helicopter crashes during test flight
A UH-1 helicopter of the GSDF Middle Army Aviation Group crashed on a
test flight on Sunday in Yao, Osaka, 2 pilots and 2 mechanics on board
were all hospitalised. The accident occurred as the helicopter was
hovering. 3rd October 2010
|
USA
Michigan worker dies in trench collapse
A construction worker of C Johnson & Son Excavating Company has died
in an unstable excavation in excess of 1-metre deep at a dwellinghouse
site on Old Savannah Road in Oshtemo, Michigan.
1st October 2010
|
Romania
4 dead, dozens injured in work bus accident
A workers' bus overturned in torrential rain on a minor road near
Tulcea, killing 4 passengers and leaving 53 others injured, some of
the more seriously injured have been flown to Bucharest.
1st October 2010
|
|
China
12 miners drown in flooded pit
Flood ingress has claimed the lives of 12 miners at the Dapo Mine
being operated illegally since 20th August in Guizhou. Around 50
miners were underground when the accident occurred.
29th October
2010
|
Canada
Unsecured BC worker fell down shaft
A construction worker who was not properly secured was injured in a
6-metre fall down a concrete ventilation shaft during the installation
of grates over the shaft at the 26-storey Polygon Luma building on
Arcola Street, Burnaby, British Columbia. The extent of his injuries
was not known. 29th October
2010
|
South Africa
Fatal accident at platinum mine
A mine worker was killed on Wednesday at the Bafokeng Rasimone
platinum mine, Rustenburg, in an accident involving a winch.
28th October
2010
|
Turkey
3 miners killed in separate accidents
Three miners have died in separate accidents in the last 24 hours.
At a chrome mine in the Orhanelli district of Bursa a cable drawing a
wagon with 4 miners failed and it fell back 70 metres. Two miners
managed to leap to safety but 2 others were killed.
At a coal mine in Eregli, Zonguldak, a 54-year old miner was killed in
a rock slide.
28th October
2010
|
South Africa
Western Cape level crossing collision
A train travelling to Klapmuts collided with a car on a level crossing
at Simonsvlei Road in the Western Cape, a woman driving the car died
in this accident. Western Cape level crossings are currently subject
to safety investigations following the deaths of 10 children in an
accident at Blackheath in
August.
27th October
2010
|
France
Parisian caretaker found stabbed to death
A criminal investigation is ongoing into the death of a 48-year old
caretaker found dead with knife wounds in his office in a building in
the XVII arrondissement of Paris.
27th October
2010
|
Greece
Search for missing environmentalist
A search has been intensified for a
37-year old French environmental researcher missing in the Mount
Olympus area of northern Greece, she was last sighted a week ago by a
local shepherd. 26th October
2010
|
USA
Inmate charged with hospital worker's murder
A 54-year old psychiatric
technician has died in an incident at Napa State Hospital, California,
a 37-year old male inmate with 13 years incarceration there has been
charged with allegations of murder after her body was found in the
hospital grounds. 26th October
2010
|
Australia
Crush fatality at Sydney print firm
A worker died from blunt trauma head injuries after being crushed in a
printing press at a printing works in Wetherill Park, west Sydney.
25th October
2010
|
France
British WW2 bomb found on Rennes site
A mass evacuation of 10K residents was ordered on Sunday when a 250Kg
British WW2 bomb was found on a building site on avenue des Francais
Libres, Rennes. Within 90 minutes the bomb had been made safe, its 65
Kg of explosives were described as very stable.
25th October
2010
|
Israel
Worker killed in cement factory roof collapse
The roof of a cement works in Atarot, north of Jerusalem, collapsed on
Thursday, killing 1 worker and injuring another in a 15-metre fall.
22nd October
2010
|
England
Pub prosecuted by Wilts fire service
The former landlady of the Little George pub in Chippenham received a
conditional discharge at North Wiltshire Magistrates' Court in a
prosecution brought by Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, the landlady
having pleaded guilty to 9 fire safety offences.
During a routine inspection to check a malfunctioning fire alarm, fire
doors were found to be nailed down, access to safe exits was blocked,
other fire doors were propped open and the fire alarm had not been
checked.
The Little George has since transferred in ownership to Scottish and
Newcastle from Publicana and all fire safety issues have been
addressed by the new owners and landlady. 22nd October
2010
|
Germany
Woman critically injured in harvester
A woman was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries on Wednesday
after becoming caught in the cutting mechanism of a combine harvester
in a field in Hollingstedt, Dithmarschen.
It is speculated that she wanted to speak to one of the workers and
was approaching through the field unseen by the harvester operator at
work. 21st October
2010
|
Botswana
Female worker's leg severed
A female worker's leg was severed when she was struck by a front
loader at a workshop of China Jiangxi International at Mmanxotae
Bridge, 15 miles from Nata, central Botswana. In hospital in
Nyangabgwe surgeons managed to save her other leg. It is believed that
the vehicle experienced brake failure and it and its service record
were subject to investigation.
21st October
2010
|
Japan
Worker killed in blow-out at geothermal plant
A 63-year old worker has died after being blasted by boiling water
while operating a power shovel to seal a hole at the Onikobe
geothermal plant in Osaki, Miyagi, the hole having been created by a
similar blow-out on October 8th. A 48-year old colleague was
hospitalised with severe burns in the more recent incident.
20th October
2010
|
USA
Reversing lorry hits farm workers
A reversing agricultural lorry of Church Brothers LLC knocked down 2
of their employees in a field southwest of Salinas, California, one of
the workers died, the other was hospitalised with back injuries.
Both men were apparently harvesting lettuce and had their backs to the
lorry as it was reversing to deposit boxes for the harvested produce.
20th October
2010
|
Ecuador
Rescue effort continues at Portovelo gold mine
Two bodies were recovered on Monday from the Casa Negra gold mine of
Minesadco in Portovelo,
250 miles southeast of Quito, where a tunnel collapsed 150 metres
underground at the 5th level of the mine, 2 other miners are still
missing. Timber and rock have been slowing the rescue effort, no
contact has been made with the missing miners but rescuers are working
with hope and "neque"(vigour) as one miner reported to the media.
19th October
2010
|
India
10 killed in Hindu temple accident
Ten people have died in a crush accident at the Tildiha village temple
in Bihar during the Navratri Hindu festival. 19th October
2010
|
Germany
Assailant falls to death from aircraft
A man died yesterday in a fall from a light aircraft above
Bergkirchen, Bavaria, where he had attempted to overcome the pilot
with a knife and crash the aircraft.
The flight was booked by the 42-year old man from Ingolstadt to fly
over Munich, the pilot managed to overcome the assailant who fell from
the aircraft, police found a letter alleging the assailant's
intentions at his home later in the day. 17th October
2010
|
USA
Washington forestry fatality
A logger of LHH Cutting has died in an accident in the Hancock Forest
near Buckley, Washington, at the project run by Wyss Logging Inc on
the Muckleshoot Indian property.
17th October
2010
|
New Zealand
Trawlermen rescued
Four trawlermen were rescued from a life raft after abandoning their
boat, the Marconi, after fire broke out in the wheelhouse 25 miles off
Greymouth. 15th October
2010
|
USA
Chicago bakery crush accident investigation
A Chicago medical examiner's report of a fatal crush accident at the
Nabisco bakery on South Kedzie Avenue, southwest Chicago, has stated
compressional asphyxia as the cause of death, the details of the
accident remain unknown. 15th October
2010
|
Canada
Worker injured at Alberta energy plant
A worker of subcontractor Specialized Rigging Services Ltd sustained
leg injuries
after being run over by a man-lift vehicle early on Wednesday at a Cenovus Energy
site in Nisku, Alberta.
14th October
2010
|
Spain
Raid Latecoere flight crashes in Navarra
Three French participants in the
Raid Latecoere charity rally from France to Senegal died when their
light aircraft crashed at Otsondo in Navarre's Baztan Valley,
northwest of Pamplona in Spain. The flight leg from Marseille to San
Sebastian encountered local fog and crashed at an altitude of 934
metres. Fourteen aircraft are
participating in the rally from the10th until the 26th of October. 14th October
2010
|
Poland
18 killed in major road accident
At least 18 people died when a lorry and Volkswagen Transporter van
collided in dense fog on Tuesday in Mazowiecki Voivodship, on highway
707 near Nowe Miasto nad Pilica, 50 miles south of Warsaw. The
Transporter had only 4 seats and most of the seasonal workers
travelling in the van were from Opoczno and were either standing
or on improvised seating.
13th October
2010
|
Austria
Medics amputated wrong leg
Charges of medical negligence are being laid against 2 doctors who
were involved in surgery at St Johann Hospital in Kitzbuhl where the
wrong leg of a 91-year old female patient was amputated on the 16th
June, the hearing is expected in court in November.
13th October
2010
|
USA
Lift worker killed in Miami Beach
A Florida lift maintenance worker was killed in an accident on Monday
at an Ocean Point tower block in Miami Beach, it is speculated that he
lost his balance and fell behind the lift.
12th October
2010
|
England
Passenger overboard in Channel
Coastguards at Brixham and Portland were assisting on Monday in the
search for a passenger believed lost overboard from the Fred Olsen
cruise liner Balmoral which was approaching Dover after an Adriatic
cruise. 12th October
2010
|
Austria
CO poisoning from water heater
A 51-year old man of Simmering, Vienna, has died in his bathroom in a
carbon monoxide accident involving a defective water heater. The city
authorities are concerned that around 4% of such heaters dating from
the 1960's and 70's are still being used and are not receiving
mandatory safety checks. The situation at the premises on Muhrhoferweg
was exacerbated by the installation of new glazing, reducing air
circulation. 10th October
2010
|
Myanamar/Burma
Overloaded ferry capsize
Three people are still missing in the Ayearwaddy Delta where an
overloaded ferry capsized near Hsalu, Labutta, although 57 were
rescued more than 20 are feared drowned.
10th October
2010
|
Mexico
Aircraft accident investigations
Two separate midweek aircraft accidents are under investigation. Two
pilots died when a military plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean off
Guerrero during a routine flight; and a search has been ongoing for a
plane from Veracruz with which contact was lost over a 20k-hecatare
tropical rain forest where the terrain has slowed search and rescue
operations. 8th October
2010
|
USA
Worker overcome by gas at New Orleans refinery
At the Chalmette Refinery of
Exxon Mobil in New Orleans a maintenance worker of subcontractor Team
Industrial Services has died during an attempt to control a leak of
hydrogen sulphide. 8th October
2010
|
USA
Worker falls 7m at New Jersey site
A 45-year old worker of New Jersey Rail Carriers LLC was seriously
injured in a 7-metre fall on Wednesday while securing covers on a
lorry at the site on Central Avenue in Kearney, his injuries are not
life-threatening. 7th October
2010
|
USA
Worker killed in fall through roof
A worker of Sutter Roofing has died in a fall of more than 10 metres
through a fragile roof at the Fraternal Order of the Eagle premises in
Sarasota, Florida.
7th October
2010
|
Austria
Workers injured in fall from scaffold
Two workers were badly injured in an accident on Tuesday involving a
5-metre fall from a scaffold at a dwellinghouse site in Ganserndorf,
12 miles north of Vienna. A 57-year old worker was attempting to climb
from mid to upper level of the scaffold when he fell on top of a
colleague on the ground. Both were hospitalised in Vienna, one had to
be resuscitated just after the accident.
6th October
2010
|
South Africa
Gold miners killed in locomotive accidents
Two miners have been killed in separate accidents after being struck
by locomotives; the first occurred at the Simmer and Jack mine in Tau Lekoa,
the other at Harmony Gold's Tshepong mine in Free State province.
6th October
2010
|
France
Family killed in Herault air crash
On Monday evening the wreckage of an aircraft was found near Lauroux,
Herault, an accident which has killed the Air Force captain pilot and
his wife and 2 children. 5th October
2010
|
Italy
Coastguard abandons balloonists search
On Monday afternoon the Italian coastguard called off the search for
both American balloonists missing since last Wednesday in the Adriatic
while participating in the 54th Gordon
Bennett Gas Balloon Race. The
coastguard has been using a robotic vehicle to scan the
seabed.
5th October 2010
|
Canada
Unstable excavation accident
A 67-year old man has died in an accident involving subsidence and an
unstable excavation at a dwellinghouse construction site in Surrey,
British Columbia. The victim, believed to a relative of an employee of
TDM Excavating & Contracting Ltd, was standing close to the trench
when the ground gave way. He broke an ankle in the accident but shock
may have induced fatal heart failure, WorkSafe BC is investigating the
accident. 3rd
October 2010
|
Malaysia
Platform collapse during concrete pour
One worker died and several others were injured when a platform at 4th
floor level of a building in Tanjung Tokong collapsed during a
concrete pour. 3rd
October 2010
|
Ukraine
Fatal explosion in Kiev library
Two electricians died and another person was injured in an explosion,
believed to have been a gas cylinder, in the Vernadsky National
Library, Kiev. 1st
October 2010
|
USA
Crush accident at Arizona scrap yard
A female worker has died in a crush accident at a scrap yard in
Flagstaff, Arizona, where she was working with 2 others on a
malfunctioning front-end loader of a Bobcat. One of the men was inside
the cabin and the other was trying to close the door when the loader
came down and pinned the woman who was standing between the vehicle
and loader. 1st
October 2010
|
|
Austria
Boy could have suffocated in silo
A
9-year old boy was rescued from a
life-threatening situation in a grain silo in Pyrha, Lower Austria,
where he and another child were playing hide-and-seek. He began to
sink into the 3-metre deep grain in the silo and only the prompt
intervention of adults saved his life. He was later admitted to
hospital in St Polten.
29th October
2010
|
New Zealand
Company fined over rotted telephone pole accident
At Christchurch District Court Independent Line Services Ltd was fined
$30K(£14,166) over an accident in which a worker was injured when a
telephone pole snapped at Governors Bay on 7th April 2009. The pole
had rotted at ground level and broke as the worker was descending, he
broke his pelvis as he jumped off 5 metres above the ground.
29th October
2010
|
Atlantic
Major rescue of fishermen from burning ship
Fire broke out yesterday on the Faroese factory fishing boat Athena
230 miles southwest of the Isles of Scilly. Initially 13 crew members
remained on board to tackle the fire while 98 others had to take to
life rafts. The fire, which broke out in packing material, was later
controlled and the boat, and the container ship Vega which picked up
most of the crew, are expected in Falmouth later today (Thursday).
28th October
2010
|
Greece
2 killed by unstable wall during refurbishment
The wall of a property being refurbished in Edessa, northern Greece,
collapsed, killing 2 people and leaving 2 others injured, one of whom
is listed in critical condition.
28th October
2010
|
England
Yorks farmer fined over harvester accident
A 45-year old farmer of Grange Farm in Sinnington, Yorkshire, was
fined £10K plus £1,698 costs over an accident in which a 23-year old
worker lost a leg while trying to clear a blockage in a harvesting
machine at Skipsters Hagg Farm, Appleton-le-Moors.
The farmer pleaded guilty to allowing the worker to enter a danger
zone while cutting discs were spinning, such were the injuries medics
had to amputate the worker's leg at the
locus.
27th October
2010
|
England
Molten metal leakage fire at aluminium plant
A leakage of molten metal from a furnace into the basement at
Bridgnorth Aluminium Ltd in Shropshire set fire to cabling which led
to a 7-hour blaze, no injuries were reported.
27th October
2010
|
England
GLA finds Romanian children working onion fields
The Gangmasters' Licensing Authority (GLA) and West Mercia Police
raided a field in the Malvern Hills where 50 Romanians were working,
and 7 children aged 9-16 working in onion fields were taken into
police protection.
This was the first time the Authority encountered children working in
any such environment, no licensed gangmaster could be established
among the 50 Romanians but 2 men absconded as the Authority and police
arrived.
26th October
2010
|
Spain
Madrid tackles Legionnaires' outbreak
With 3 new cases of Legionnaires' Disease confirmed yesterday, 1 of
whom has been hospitalised, Madrid authorities are still trying to
locate the source of the outbreak which has affected 27 people and
claimed 2 lives.
Twenty inspectors are focussing on commercial and recreational
premises in the Centro and Retiro districts of the city, districts
occupied by 300K people, and already 111 units have been inspected. 26th October
2010
|
Northern Ireland
Mourne helicopter crash kills 3
Three people died when an Augusta helicopter crashed in the Leitrim
Lodge area of the Mourne Mountains between Hilltown and Rostrevor, the
flight was bound for England from St Angelo airport, Enniskillen.
25th October
2010
|
England
Girl dies after fall down school spiral staircase
An 11-year old girl died in Great Ormond Street Hospital after a week
in intensive care following a 2-storey fall down a spiral staircase at
Raine's Foundation School in Bethnal Green, east London.
Police indicate that the incident was not regarded as suspicious and
Tower Hamlets Council has indicated that HSE investigation concluded
that the Church of England school had "no case to answer."
25th October
2010
|
Wales
Lax safety in highway worker's death
At Cardiff Magistrates' Court RP Traffic Management Ltd of Newport was
fined £100K plus £22K costs over a fatal accident in which a trainee
worker was killed while collecting traffic cones from the central
reservation of the M4 near Cardiff during resurfacing work in
September 2006.
HSE investigation found that there was no safe system of work,
including the use of appropriate signs warning traffic of workmen's
presence on the carriageway. There was also a lack of a high level of
supervision of the trainees who were seen crossing the carriageway in
a dangerous manner on several occasions.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health &
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in failing to ensure the safety of 2
trainee traffic management operatives. 22nd October
2010
|
England
Subcontractor fell through hotel attic hatch
At Bristol Magistrates' Court the Marriott hotel group was fined £15K
plus £4,607 costs over an accident at its hotel in Lower Castle
Street, Bristol, where a subcontractor of Sustain Ltd who was
surveying rooms for insulation fell through a hatch in an attic space,
sustaining compressed fractures of vertebrae and a fractured heel.
22nd October
2010
|
Cyprus
Passing bus hit by vehicle shovel at road site
A safety investigation was launched after the bucket of a digger
struck the side of a passing bus during construction work near the Sia
exit of the Limassol-Nicosia highway, which saw the bus swerve against
the central barrier. The digger was collecting pipes from a lorry
parked on the hard shoulder and the bucket was raised 3 metres high at
the moment of impact.
Two bus passengers were hospitalised in Nicosia.
21st October
2010
|
England
Roof fall at disused Anglian warehouse
A 35-year old man is being treated for multiple injuries after falling
through the roof of a disused warehouse on Hadleigh Road, Ipswich,
initial speculation is that he may have been an intruder.
21st October
2010
|
Rep Ireland
2 separate farm deaths
A Tipperary farmer died of severe head trauma yesterday after striking
his head on the concrete floor of a building when he fell through the
roof in Cooleigh, Fethard.
Elsewhere yesterday, a 2-year old boy died in hospital in Drogheda
after falling into a rainwater pond on her grandparents' farm in
Donore, County Meath.
These farm deaths have brought the total for 2010 to 23, the entire
2009 total was 13. 20th October
2010
|
England
Legionnaires' cases probed
An investigation is ongoing into cases of Legionnaires' Disease in
Whitchurch, Shropshire, where a man and a woman have contracted the
disease.
The people live a mile apart and are not related, their recent
movements are being retraced in search of a common link for the
disease. 20th October
2010
|
Scotland
Inverness nursing home fire
Staff and 59 elderly residents of Culloden Court Nursing Home on
Murray Road, Inverness, were evacuated safely to a nearby primary
school when fire broke out on Monday evening. 19th October
2010
|
Spain
Girl drowns in hotel pool
A 6-year old girl from Norfolk has drowned in the swimming pool of the
Gran Canaria Princess Hotel in Playa Ingles, San Bartolome de Tirajana, during a family holiday in
the Canary Isles. SUC(Servicio de
Urgencias Canario) was unable to resuscitate her. 19th October
2010
|
England
East Sussex site accident
A man was seriously injured in an accident on Saturday while working
on a tractor at the Curtis and Shaw site in Cowbeech, East Sussex,
fire crews took 20 minutes to free him prior to hospitalisation.
17th October
2010
|
Rep Ireland
Nursing home death verdict delayed
A Waterford judge has announced that he will deliver a verdict on 5th
December in respect of a case taken by the Health Service Executive
over the death of a 67-year old Alzheimer's patient who died at
Waterford Nursing Home in Ballinakill Downs after swallowing latex
gloves on 13th November 2008. 17th October
2010
|
Germany
Leipzig tram collision
Thirteen people were injured in a tram collision during the Thursday
morning rush-hour in Augustusplatz in Leipzig when a stationary tram
leaving from the front of the Radisson Blu hotel was rammed from
behind, it was not immediately known if the accident was attributable
to human error or technical malfunction.
15th October
2010
|
Finland
Unlicensed transportation of lead acid batteries poses ferry fire risk
Finnish Maritime Customs have encountered 22 cases of lorries
transporting dead and leaking lead acid batteries illegally this year,
all were being shipped from Helsinki to Tallinn, posing a fire risk on
the ferry services.
15th October
2010
|
Northern Ireland
Fall from MEWP at Co Down site
A construction worker has very serious
injuries after falling from a MEWP (mobile elevating work platform) at
a former agricultural building on Ardmillan Road, Killinchey. 14th October
2010
|
USA
Worker electrocuted at SC fair site
On Wednesday a worker of North American Midway Entertainment was
electrocuted as he was working on the installation of the Rainbow Ride
at the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia.
14th October
2010
|
The Netherlands
Ship collision off Scheveningen
The Cypriot container ship Jork Ranger collided with the Greek tanker
Mindoro off the Dutch coast at Scheveningen yesterday. A 5-metre
breach occurred in the tanker's hull, leading to a loss of fuel and an
explosion risk. 13th October
2010
|
Mozambique
Girl missing after dam burst
A 4-year old was missing following a dam burst at a settling pond of
the Moma titanium and zircon mine in Nampula, flooding affected local
villages such as Topuito. 13th October
2010
|
Scotland
Creel fisherman missing in North Sea
Despite an extensive search of the North Sea off Fraserburgh, Aberdeen
Coastguard reports that no sign has been found of a missing Rosehearty
creel fisherman whose boat, FR994, was spotted drifting off St Combs
and later hit rocks and capsized near Inverallochy.
The search was later stood down. 12th October
2010
|
France
British divers strive to rescue missing caver
According to the sous-prefet of Largentiere, technical problems were
holding up 2 British divers on Monday afternoon attempting to reach a
missing spelaeologist in the Ardeches Gorges. Speleo Secours has indicated
that the hope is that the caver is in an air pocket and the divers can
establish contact with him, one would stay with him and the other
would return and develop the rescue.
12th October
2010
|
Taiwan
Airport apron worker killed in transport accident
An apron worker has been killed in a transport accident at Taiwan
Taoyuan International Airport as he worked on the servicing of a JAL
aircraft from Osaka. He was struck inadvertently by a reversing
aircraft ground power unit vehicle. As the aircraft's engines had not
shut down, the noise would have prevented the worker hearing a
vehicle's approach. 10th October
2010
|
Columbia
Coca eradication worker killed by land mine
A worker of the manual eradication of coca unit has died in a landmine
explosion outside Santa Rosa del Sur in Bolivar, another 11 workers
have been hospitalised in Bucaramanga.
The victim was a contractor with the unit brought in 5 years ago for
the manual eradication of coca and opium poppies.
10th October
2010
|
England
RAIB investigates Shap runaway train
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has announced it is
investigating a serious accident which occurred early on August 17th
in which a DB Schenker-operated goods train travelling from Hams Hall,
Birmingham, to Mossend, Lanarkshire, ran backwards for 2.1 miles at
Shap, hitting a speed of 50 mph on a 1-in-75 gradient.
8th October
2010
|
China
HK company fined over hoisting accident
At Tuen Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong, Tao Kee Engineering Company
Ltd has been fined $25K over a fatal accident in Tuen Mun on November
10th 2009 when steel bars fell during hoisting by crane, killing a
worker on a construction site.
The Factories & Industrial Undertakings Ordnance requires owners to
provide and maintain a system of work that is, as far as reasonably
practicable, safe and without risks to employees' health.
8th October
2010
|
Republic of Tajikistan
27 killed in helicopter crash
Four crewmen were killed and 3 were injured when an Mi-8 helicopter of
the Tajik National Guard crashed in the mountainous Rasht Valley
region on Wednesday, initial speculation was of a technical
malfunction.
7th October
2010
|
Canada
Company fined over unsafe system of work
At Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto, Maple Leaf Structural Ltd (now
Structform International Ltd) has been fined $150K(£93,379) over a
fatal accident on 12th May 2008 at a site on Bay Street, Toronto,
where a falling cast-iron pipe killed a worker. The company was
subcontracted to do concrete framework and an outrigger platform was
being moved from 23rd to 22nd floor level when the piping rolled
and fell, killing a worker in the mezzanine 20 storeys below. Ministry
of Labour investigation established that the mezzanine was neither
secured nor taped off while the platform was being moved. No overhead
protection existed. No signage was in place nor a person warning
workers of an overhead hazard.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of Ontario Regulation 213/91,
Section 37(1) by failing to ensure an outrigger platform was moved in
a manner that did not endanger a worker. 7th October
2010
|
England
Pub chain failed to implement gas safety checks
At Liverpool Crown Court Enterprise Inns plc was fined £300K in
respect of a fatal accident involving carbon monoxide poisoning which
claimed the life of the landlord of the Aintree Hotel in Bootle on
12th November 2007.
The landlord had switched on a gas fire and gone to bed but the
oxygen-deficient atmosphere triggered a fatal heart attack. HSE
investigation found that the fire may not have been serviced since
1979 and that the chimney was completely blocked.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching S.3(1) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The court heard that only 394 of the
company's 868 pubs had valid gas safety certificates issued upon
annual inspection. After a fire in Birmingham in 2001 the company had
received written warning as the fire highlighted systematic failure to
implement annual gas safety checks. 6th October
2010
|
Russia
Missing Raspadskaya miners recovered
The bodies of 6 miners killed in a methane gas explosion on 9th May
were found this week in the Raspadskaya mine in Kemerovo. Seventy four
miners died in the accident and 23 were listed missing, 17 have yet to
be found. 6th October
2010
|
Rep Ireland
AAIU investigates Wexford crash
Both occupants of an Avid MK1V aircraft from Taghman which crashed in
Wexford are listed in stable condition in hospital, the Air Accident
Investigation Unit has moved the wreckage to its Gormanston premises
for investigation.
5th October 2010
|
Wales
Girl drowns in Flintshire pool
A 7-year old West Midlands girl drowned in an accident in the swimming
pool at the Talacre Beach Caravan and Leisure Park in Flintshire, she
was transferred to hospital in Bodelwyddan.
The girl was found on the bottom of the pool, the park's brochure
advises that all children under 8 years of age be accompanied by a
competent adult(16+) swimmer at all times.
5th October 2010
|
England
Equestrian accident on Cumbrian farm
A woman was listed in stable condition in Cumberland Infirmary,
Carlisle, following an accident on a farm in Wigton where she was
thrown from a horse which subsequently fell on her, it is believed her
pelvis was broken in the fall on to a concrete surface.
3rd October 2010
|
England
Farmer rammed by heifer
A 48-year old Shropshire farmer broke vertebrae in his neck after
being rammed by a heifer at a Tilstock Hall farm, a full recovery from
his injuries is anticipated.
3rd October 2010
|
Nepal
Sherpa and climbers missing
The search resumed on Thursday for a sherpa and 3 climbers missing on
Mt Dhaulagiri in central Nepal, 2 other members of the party have been
airlifted by helicopter back to Kathmandu.
1st October 2010
|
New Zealand
Auckland logging death investigated
The Department of Labour is investigating a logging accident on the
Coromandel Peninsula, east of Auckland, where a 50-year old worker
died when he was pinned by a digger at a site in Whenuakite.
1st October 2010
|
|
England
Roofing company prosecuted
Furber Roofing Ltd has been fined £2,000 plus costs of £1,500 for
turning out employees on to the roof of a detached house in Meols,
Wirral, without planning for their safety in respect of falls.
The men worked at 5 metres from the ground but without the edge
protection or scaffolding required. The company failed to carry out a
risk assessment and, although it had provided a tower, the
configuration of the house meant this could not be deployed.
29th October
2010
|
England
Accidents at Essex printers bring fines
A lack of training,
supervision, appropriate equipment and a risk assessment on how to
carry out certain work safely led to 2 separate accidents and the
prosecution of printers Wyndeham
Heron of Maldon.
In March last year, a press assistant fractured a thumb clearing a jam
in a stacker. Approximately 8 months later another employee crushed
his fingers as he attempted to rectify a problem on an inadequately
guarded conveyor.
The company was fined £15,000 plus £2,490 costs. 29th October
2010
|
England
Workman died 5 weeks after roof fall
Howorth Scaffolding Services Ltd and Glenmill Group (Developments) Ltd
have been prosecuted for breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974 in connection with a fatal industrial accident in
May 2006 in which a 55-year old fell from height because of an
unsecured scaffolding board which gave way on a construction site in
Altham, Lancs. He died 5 weeks later.
Howorth Scaffolding of Hapton was fined £25,000 with costs of £13,793,
Glenmill Group of Nelson was ordered to pay a nominal fine of £1 with
costs of £13,793.
An HSE inspector commented: "Both these companies contributed to the
death by failing to follow the proper safety procedures for putting up
scaffolding. Howorth Scaffolding should have made sure that it
constructed the scaffolding properly. And, as the principal contractor
for the site, Glenmill Group should have ensured it was safe before
allowing construction workers onto it." 28th October
2010
|
Scotland
Ammonia drama at hospital
Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Technical Support Unit was deployed on
Tuesday evening when a refrigeration unit at Ayr hospital developed a
leak of ammonia.
Eight staff were treated at the hospital's accident and emergency
department for the effects of the gas, an intensive care ward was also
evacuated. 28th October
2010
|
England
Fall from window at leisure centre
East Staffs Borough Council is investigating an incident that took
place last Thursday in which a woman fell from a window while an
aerobics class was in progress.
The incident occurred at the recently refurbished Meadowside Leisure
Centre in Burton, no information is available concerning the extent of
the injuries sustained by the woman. 27th October
2010
|
Wales
Shoppers escape falling
ceiling
Shoppers at a retail outlet in Market Street, Bridgend, had to run to
safety when a ceiling collapsed yesterday morning, causing several of
them to be required to be taken to hospital for treatment, only minor
injuries were reported
One account states that part of the roof above the Home Bargains shop
failed because of water ingress and accumulation and this caused the
ceiling to collapse. 27th October
2010
|
England
Roofer's edge protection error
A South Wales roofing business
owner has been fined £1,000 plus costs of £1,000 for conducting work
on a farm building roof in Norley, Cheshire, without edge protection.
The work involved 4 employees working at a height of 4 metres.
The business proprietor was in breach of r.6(3) of the Work at Height
Regulations 2005, the owner conceded that the project was larger than
he was normally accustomed to. 26th October
2010
|
Northern Ireland
Worker left paraplegic after
fall
During the course of the work last summer at a new waste water scheme
in Bangor, Northern Ireland, a worker on the site fell into a 6.5-metre
deep chamber, receiving severe injuries to his head and spine, leaving
him in a complete paraplegic condition. Access areas in the roof of
the chamber were not adequately covered.
Construction company John Graham (Dromore) Limited was fined £80,000
plus £1,386 costs after pleading guilty to breaching safety
legislation at Downpatrick Crown Court. 26th October
2010
|
England
Two dead after wall collapse
Two workmen, one in his teens, died following an accident on Thursday
at a building site where they were reportedly engaged on underpinning
work on a site in Worlingworth, Suffolk, where a farm building was
being converted.
25th October
2010
|
England
Noise a problem at manufacturers
Equestrian Surfaces Ltd has been fined £16,000 plus £11,000 costs for
putting its employees’ hearing at risk despite 2 extensions to an
Improvement Notice requiring action. Employees at its Burnley premises
were required to work for several hours a day near a granulator
machine as loud as a chainsaw. The machine uses metal blades to shred
material into tiny pieces and can reach up to at 98 decibels.
An HSE inspector commented: "Equestrian Surfaces could have taken a
number of simple practical steps to reduce noise exposure but chose
instead to rely on just using basic ear protectors, which in effect is
the last line of defence." 25th October
2010
|
England
Worker airlifted after incident
It is reported that a man was badly injured yesterday in an industrial
accident and taken to hospital by helicopter from premises in the
Brook Estate in Hayes, Kent.
One account speculated that the accident victim was unloading marble
at the time of the incident. 22nd October
2010
|
England
Shopkeeper murdered
Two men have been convicted of the murder of a shopkeeper in
Cowcliffe, Huddersfield, this year while acting with accomplices. He
was struck around the head by his assailants using bottles of wine, in
what eventually proved to be fatal blows, during a robbery after
refusing to co-operate with them.
Sentencing takes place next month. 22nd October
2010
|
England
Kent rescue team deployed after
excavation incident
A construction worker was rescued on Tuesday morning from an unstable
excavation after he sustained injuries in an apparent fall in
Goudhurst.
He was suspected to have injured his spine and required to be
carefully lifted to safety by the county Fire Service urban rescue
team.
21st October
2010
|
England
Forklift truck accident in
Somerset
A man in his 50's sustained a serious head injury last Wednesday
morning when the forklift truck he was operating overturned.
The incident occurred at the premises of Chard Truck Services in the
town's Millfield Industrial Estate.
Emergency services had to use cutting equipment to free the worker, he
was placed under intensive care in hospital.
21st October
2010
|
United Kingdom
Scaffolding incidents
A workman was injured yesterday after a scaffolding structure
collapsed in Bullwell, Nottinghamshire. The man, in his 20's, was
taken to hospital.
In Scotland a workman was injured yesterday morning in an 8-metre fall
from a scaffolding erected within the premises of Iceberg Ltd in
Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. He was airlifted to Aberdeen for
treatment. 20th October
2010
|
England
Workman dies in excavation
A man in his 20's working for contractors has died after he became
trapped in an excavation in the Heaton area of Bradford.
The incident occurred yesterday, the man was buried for over an hour
before he could be retrieved. 19th October
2010
|
England
Man electrocuted in London
accident
It is reported that a workman
is believed to have been electrocuted as he worked on the
refurbishment of a property in Hounslow, London, on Saturday.
19th October
2010
|
England
Derbyshire death
A man died on Monday last week after he was struck and injured by his
HGV.
The accident occurred at the premises of Bison Manufacturing Ltd in
Swadlincote, Derbyshire. There has been speculation that the vehicle
and its trailer may have unexpectedly rolled forward during coupling.
17th October 2010
|
England
Plumber risked clients' lives
A self-employed plumber's gas installation work was so bad it was
immediately condemned by a Gas Safety Register inspector after the
body was alerted to the tradesman's work in Suffolk and Norfolk.
The plumber was unregistered for gas work and was prosecuted and
sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge and must pay £4,000.
17th October
2010
|
England
Company fined for 3 preventable
injuries
Oldham Seals Limited of Chichester, Sussex, has been fined £12,000
plus costs of £4,151 after 3 employees were injured in industrial
accidents over 2 months last year.
The company manufactures rubber hoses and whilst unwinding a
fabric bandage on a lathe-mounted hose, the bandage wound round an
employee's hand which was drawn into the machine, amputating his thumb
and partially removing part of his index finger.
Another worker had his glove entangled in the machine and was pulled
into the rotating parts, resulting in bruising and cuts.
Yet another employee was winding a rope around a hose when his leg was
caught and he too was drawn to the machine and he suffered severe
lacerations to his left leg.
Had there been suitable guarding in place the risk of entanglement
would have been eliminated. 15th October
2010
|
England
Misfortune of helping hand
A friend of a Batley, Yorkshire, business
owner suffered serious injury when she helped him out by operating a
high-speed milling machine. Her glove caught on the chuck and the
milling machine fractured and cut her arm.
Although the business owner had briefed the accident victim about the
dangers of the work, and supervised her for a time, he failed to warn
of the danger of wearing gloves.
He also programmed the machine to run non-stop while he replaced
machined parts with new ones by hand, and guard screens around the
machine had also been left open.
The proprietor was fined £4,000 with costs of £1,622. 15th October
2010
|
England
Company failed to control
vehicular movement
An industrial accident was the consequence of the failure of a
recycling company to control the movement of vehicles at its Preston
premises. A 60-year old employee broke his ribs when he was pushed
into a conveyor belt by a reversing van.
Smurfit Kappa UK Ltd of Liverpool admitted breaching r.17 of the
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 by failing to
allow pedestrians and vehicles to work or move safely, for which it
was fined £5,000 and also ordered to pay £4,204 costs. 14th October
2010
|
England
Accidental death of worker
A Greater Suffolk Coroner has returned a verdict of accidental death
after the deliberations of an inquest jury who listened to the
circumstances of the death in an industrial accident last year of an
employee of HG Gladwell & Sons of Ipswich, manufacturers of pet food.
The deceased died after his neck was trapped by a sliding door on a
mixing machine as he leaned into the equipment to obtain an oil drum,
it being speculated that he had inadvertently activated the door
switch with his foot as he did so. 14th October
2010
|
England
Explosion injures 3
Three persons have sustained burns in an explosion and fire at the
premises of PHS Waste Management in Burscough, Lancs.
The emergency services are treating the explosion, which occurred
yesterday morning, as a chemical incident, a company spokesperson said
that processing equipment was involved. 13th October
2010
|
England
Workman contacted 11Kv
cable
A company whose employee was badly burned when his jackhammer
contacted an 11Kv cable has been fined £20,000 plus £14,532 costs. The
incident occurred on a construction site in Maidstone, Kent.
Investigation found Dwyer Engineering Services Ltd of Ashford, Kent,
did not have a capable supervisor on site, and had no suitable safe
system in place for the identification of underground cables. An HSE
official commented: "If Dwyer Engineering Services Ltd had been
prepared to spend a little time locating underground services, using
signs, maps, and locating devices, then this incident would have been
avoided."
The accident victim is unlikely to work again.
13th October
2010
|
Northern Ireland
Worker's arm severed in cement mixer
A worker is listed in comfortable condition in hospital in
Dundonald last night following an accident on Monday at St
Bernadette's Primary School in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, where his
arm was severed after becoming caught in a cement mixer. 12th October
2010
|
England
Lift fall death
A worker in his 50's has died after falling 5 metres down a lift shaft
at the Temple Chambers building in Sunderland. The accident occurred last
Thursday. 12th October
2010
|
England
Bakery worker injured
It is reported that an employee of the Bagel Nash bakery in Leeds
sustained injuries in an industrial accident on Saturday.
One account states he was freed from equipment by emergency services,
his injuries are described as serious. 12th
October
2010
|
Scotland
Shetland fisherman dies in fall overboard
A 61-year old Shetland fisherman drowned on Saturday in a man
overboard accident near Burravoe Harbour after falling from a fishing
boat, he was rescued from the water by colleagues but was pronounced
dead later in Gilbert Bain Hospital, Lerwick. 10th October
2010
|
England
Serious injuries at
shooting event accident
Thirteen persons attending a shooting event on a farm at Great Bentley
in Essex were injured when a tractor drawn trailer overturned. A man
and a woman received serious injuries, some of the occupants were said
to be elderly beaters for those shooting. 10th October
2010
|
England
Incident at building site
It is reported that a workman sustained a serious head injury last
Thursday at Mount Wise in Plymouth in an incident involving an item of
plant. He is listed as critically ill.
10th October
2010
|
England
Needle injury gave worker
Hepatitis
A healthcare worker contracted Hepatitis C in a needle injury after
drawing blood from an infected patient in February 2007.
She had not been informed of the patient's infection.
HSE investigation of the incident at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals
NHS Trust established that she was not supervised during the procedure
and it found failures to carry out suitable risk assessments where
there was a risk of exposure to blood-borne viruses. The Trust also
failed to implement adequate controls or provide training around them,
and lacked suitable arrangements for effective monitoring and review
of safe working practices.
The Trust pleaded guilty to breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety
at Work etc. Act 1974 and r.6 of the Control of Substances Hazardous
to Health Regulations 2002 for which it was fined a total of £12,500
plus £9,000 costs. 8th October
2010
|
England
Hoarding collapsed on
child
A 2-year old child walking by a 17 metre-long hoarding in September
2008 which blew down on him as he passed it had a lucky escape,
receiving only minor injuries, as did those walking with him.
The hoarding was erected outside a new shop at the Racecourse Retail
Park, Aintree, but it was not adequately designed to withstand the
strength of the wind prevailing on the day the child, with his father
and grandparents, walked by.
Wates Ltd of Leatherhead, Surrey, and Dean Lotwick of Bruntwood,
Staffs, the company contracted to erect the hoarding, admitted
breaching r.8 (2) of the Construction (Design and Management)
regulations 2007 by failing to ensure that the hoarding was properly
designed and built. Wates was fined £4,000 with costs of £5,273, Dean
Lotwick was fined £4,000 with £6,963 costs. 8th October
2010
|
England
Crewman killed in Northfleet
accident
A 25-year old crew member of the vessel Fitnes has died in an accident
during the unloading of gravel at Red Lion Wharf at Northfleet on the
River Thames.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the accident
which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday. One account states the
deceased became caught in the vessel's conveyor system.
7th October
2010
|
England
Serious site accident
A 22-year old worker was badly injured yesterday in an accident
involving an item of construction plant at the site of the new
Waitrose supermarket in York.
His life-threatening injuries were inflicted, according to one report,
when he became trapped between the vehicle and a gate.
7th October
2010
|
England
Lift engineer died in accident
A lift engineer maintaining a lift in a residential block of flats in
Redbridge Gardens Camberwell, London, lost his life in an accident.
One report stated he died of head injuries at the bottom of the shaft
when the carriage descended as he and a colleague worked on the
morning of Wednesday 22nd September.
6th October
2010
|
England
Waste company fined
Waste and recycling company Veolia ES (UK) Ltd of London has been
fined £225,000 with costs of £95,239 after a worker was killed in a
vehicle collision while collecting litter on the verge of the busy
A228 in East Peckham, Kent, in March 2007.
An HGV travelling in the same direction as a caged vehicle driven by a
colleague collided with it, pushing it into the deceased.
HSE deemed that Veolia failed to ensure the deceased's work was
adequately planned and this also put other road users at risk. The
system of work used for litter-picking near busy roads, which is a
high risk activity, was inadequate. 6th October 2010
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England
Deadly reversing
A 51-year old worker died 4 weeks after he was struck by a reversing
telehandler while it was being reversed the wrong way along a one-way
residential street in Tweedmouth, Northumberland.
The telehandler mounted the kerb in the manoeuvre during refurbishment
work being carried out by James Swinton Co Ltd in November 2008, the
company was fined £10,000 with £4,063 costs.
An HSE official explained: "Site transport activities should be
managed to minimise as far as possible the need for reversing. But
where it is necessary to reverse, site managers should ensure that it
is done in a safe and controlled manner, using a banksman, reversing
aids on the vehicles and segregation of pedestrians and vehicles.
The company could have asked Berwick District Council for a road
closure which, along with these measures and the removal of residents’
vehicles, would have allowed safer movement of construction plant and
vehicles." 5th
October 2010
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England
Wall collapsed on teenager
A 17-year old worker sustained serious injuries when a wall collapsed
on him and a colleague last year during refurbishment work on a
dwellinghouse in Devizes.
The collapse occurred as an opening was being created in a lime mortar
gable wall.
HSE investigators deemed that this work was complex and required
careful and meticulous planning with the involvement of a competent
engineer. This was not done.
Employer Simon Jones Restoration and Re-design Limited admitted
breaching S.28(1) of the Construction (Design and Management)
Regulations 2007 and was fined £4,000 with £3,000 costs and ordered to
pay £1,000 compensation to the injured teenager.
5th October 2010
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Scotland
Child dies in flat fall
A 2-year old girl died on Friday afternoon after falling from a 2nd
storey flatted property in Fair Isle Road, Kirkcaldy. She died later
in hospital in Dunfermline.
3rd October 2010
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England
Fairground owner and inspector
fined
Two men sustained injuries when
they were thrown from a fairground ride at the British Grand Prix
at Silverstone, Bucks, on the 6th July 2008.
Investigation by HSE found that the
ride failed due to corroded structural steel work on the seating,
which was not noted by the director of Fairground Inspection Services
Ltd, based in Leicestershire, who was contracted to inspect it and
declared it safe, despite the corrosion being significant and clear to
see.
The ride owner, from South Ockendon in Essex, admitted breaching
S.3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined
£3,000 with £1,000 costs at Aylesbury Crown Court.
The director of Fairground Inspection Services Ltd admitted breaching
S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined
£3,000 with £2,000 costs. His company also pleaded guilty to the same
offence and was fined £7,000 with £2,000 costs.
3rd October 2010
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England
Worker killed on site
It is reported that a workman
died in an industrial accident involving the collapse of an excavation
at a site in Sydenham, south London, yesterday afternoon.
1st October 2010
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England
Employee's fatal fall from barn
roof
A 59-year old man fell from the roof of a barn in Armthorpe,Yorkshire,
and died of his injuries after missing the bales of hay that were
placed underneath the roof for fall protection.
Tragically, the bales did not extend far enough into the barn and the
deceased missed them by 18".
Employer Blue Anchor Leisure Ltd was fined £15,000 plus £4,964 costs.
1st October 2010
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