France
Piper Cheyenne air crash at
Toulouse leaves 3 dead
Three people, a man, a woman and a child, died when their 2-engine
Piper Cheyenne aircraft crashed at Toulouse airport yesterday, coming
down 100 metres short of the runway in light rain and bursting into
flames. Another child survived the crash but was badly injured, it is
thought that the flight had departed from Germany.
30th October 2011
|
India
Barge explosion kills Goa shipyard worker
A 23-year old worker has died and 2 others have been injured when an
explosion occurred yesterday on a newly built barge at Waterways
Shipyard at Chicalim, south Goa.
30th October 2011
|
China
7 dead, 11 missing in Jiaozuo mine explosion
A gas explosion early on Thursday at the Jiulishan coal mine of the
Henan Coal & Chemical Industry Group in Jiaozuo has killed 7 miners
and left 11 others missing. Ventilation equipment and heavy machinery
have been brought in to counter the prevailing high gas concentration
and coal ore which requires dredging.
28th October 2011
|
USA
Crush fatality dismantling Mississippi barge
A Mexican employee of Rectec LLC has died in an accident during the
dismantling of a Mississippi barge in Garyville, Louisiana, when he
was crushed under a section of falling deck.
28th October 2011
|
Italy
Moldovan HGV driver electrocuted
A 36-year Moldovan driver of a car transporter was electrocuted
yesterday when power arced from a 15K-volt high power line to the
upper part of his vehicle on via Lavezzola, Cologna.
27th October 2011
|
Canada
Falling piping kills worker in Saskatoon yard
Falling piping has killed a man believed to have been working alone in
a yard in the CN Industrial Area in Saskatoon.
27th October 2011
|
Austria
Nun drowns in fish pond
A 72-year old nun drowned on
Tuesday in a fish pond in the grounds of a convent in Wernberg,
Karnten. She was discovered by a grounds worker, her head and shoulder
were under water, and it is presumed that she lost her balance or
became unwell while walking in the grounds. Police have ruled out foul
play. 26th October 2011
|
USA
Crush fatality at Californian railyard
A Californian rail worker has died in a crush accident at the
Intermodal railyard on Coke Works Road in Allentown. He became pinned
between 2 vehicles in area where containers are moved to the rail
wagons. 26th October 2011
|
Portugal
Roof collapse in high wind at Faro airport
Four workers and a traveller were injured yesterday when a partial
roof collapse occurred at a check-in area of the Aeroporto do Algarve,
Faro, one of the victims was seriously injured. The airport is the 3rd
largest in Portugal, servicing 30 airlines.
25th October 2011
|
Spain
Granada roofer killed in 7m fall
An unsecured roofer died in a 7-metre fall from the Fase 2 building on
Los Alamos industrial estate in Atarfe, Granada, on Monday. He was
attending to leaks in the roof when he slipped and lost his balance.
25th October 2011
|
Sweden
Falling gravestone kills 8-year old girl
An 8-year old girl died of head injuries in hospital in Boras after
being struck on the head by an unstable monument in a cemetery in
Harryda, Vastra Gotaland, on Sunday during a visit to the graveyard
with relatives. 24th October 2011
|
Russia
Falling crane kills site worker
On Saturday a 14-metre high crane toppled at the Aurora residential
construction site in Yekaterinburg, killing an 18-year old worker and
injuring a 25-year old. The crane operator was uninjured. 24th October 2011
|
Albania
8 Turkish seamen drown as freighter and car ferry collide
Three Turkish merchant seamen of the Maltese-flagged Reina 1 have
drowned and 5 others are missing following a collision yesterday with
the car ferry Ankara some 20 miles off Durres on the Albanian coast.
The grain-laden freighter and its 10-man crew was sailing from
Novorossiyk to Bar in Montenegro, the car ferry with 200 passengers
was sailing from Durres to Bari. The freighter sank rapidly, only 2 of
the crew being rescued.
21st October 2011
|
Germany
Saxony quarry worker buried under gravel
A 24-year old quarry worker has died after becoming buried under a
substantial mount of gravel at the quarry in Ossling, Bautzen, it
remained unclear whether he had sunk into it or gravel had fallen on
him. 21st October
2011
|
Botswana
Second Cessna take-off crash in a week
All 6 people on board a
Cessna 206 single-engine aircraft of Delta Air emerged unscathed after
their aircraft crashed on Wednesday in a failed take-off from the
un-metalled airstrip at the Delta Camp in Okavango Delta.
Only last
Friday a British pilot and 7 European tourists were killed when a
Cessna 208B of Moremi Air crashed shortly after take-off from the
Xakanaxa bush airfield. 20th October 2011
|
Belgium
2 killed in aerial survey helicopter crash east of Liege
A helicopter conducting an aerial survey of gas pipelines for utility
provider Fluxys crashed into a field off avenue de la Resistance in
Micheroux, Soumagne, killing both pilots.
The flight, of Heti & Co,
had taken off from Spa, the accident is under investigation.
20th October 2011
|
USA
Collision impact pitches utility worker out of MEWP
A Massachusetts municipal worker was killed on Tuesday in a fall from
a MEWP(mobile elevating work platform), positioned for utility work on
Route 3A at the junction of Washington and Chubbuck Streets in Quincy,
where it was allegedly struck by a tyre delivery lorry.
19th October 2011
|
USA
Leg injury accident kills West Virginia miner
An above-ground accident at the River Portal facility of the Shoemaker mine of
CONSOL Energy in Benwood, West Virginia, has claimed the life of a
miner who sustained a serious leg injury which left him in critical
condition. 19th
October 2011
|
France
Breton farmer severs arm cleaning
baler
A 52-year old Breton farmer
underwent surgery last night in the University Hospital in Caen after
his right arm was severed in the afternoon as he was cleaning a baling
machine at his farm in Soligny-la-Treppe.
18th October 2011
|
Australia
Worker directing lorry pinned by the vehicle
A 27-year old worker guiding a lorry at ProFast PreCast Panels in
Delacombe, Victoria, was seriously injured when he became pinned
between the vehicle and a concrete pillar. He was transferred to the
Alfred Hospital with a broken arm and chest injuries and possibly a
broken pelvis. 18th
October 2011
|
USA
Driver charged over Houston highway work
zone death
Houston police have
charged a 34-year old car driver with alleged intoxication
manslaughter following an incident on Sunday in which a construction
worker of Angel Brothers Enterprises was struck and killed by a
vehicle in a work zone at Crosstimbers on Interstate 45 in Houston. 17th
October 2011
|
USA
Fatal accident at Iowa campus site
An Iowa construction worker was
killed on Saturday when masonry fell on him at the extension being
built to Heelan Hall at Briar Cliff University, Sioux City. 17th
October 2011
|
Papua New Guinea
Aircraft with 32 on board crashes
An Airlines PNG Dash 8 aircraft flying from Lae to Madang crashed 12
miles south of Madang yesterday, crash investigators are due at the
site today (Friday). There were 32 people on board, reports from local
villagers spoke of 4 survivors. There appeared to have been a storm in
the area at the time of the crash.
Airlines PNG has grounded its fleet of 12 aircraft until further
notice. 14th
October 2011
|
South Africa
Woman injured in Joburg roof collapse
A roof collapse occurred on Thursday at the premises of Penguin Books
in Rosebank, Johannesburg, a woman sustained ankle and shoulder
injuries and was listed in stable condition, 36 other people were
evacuated safely.
14th October 2011
|
France
2 dead in Brittany level crossing collision
The collision of a lorry and a TER(transport express regional) train
on Wednesday evening on a level crossing at Saint-Medard-sur-Ille
station, north of Rennes, has left 2 people dead and 6 critically
injured, a further 39 people on the train travelling between Rennes
and St Malo were being treated for lesser injuries.
13th October 2011
|
Russia
Cigarette led to quadruple care home fire fatality
A casually discarded cigarette was blamed as the cause of a fire at
the temporary care home in Tikhon, Kostroma, where 4 of the 13 elderly
residents died.
The locus in the single storey timber home was a room used by 9 of the
residents for smoking. The fire was not extinguished until 4 hours
after the alarm had been raised, the nearest fire station is 12 miles
distant. Two of the 4 deceased were missing, presumed dead in the
fire. 13th October
2011
|
Canada
Fatal accident at Toronto subway site
A worker was killed and another 5 were injured when a crane collapsed
on Tuesday at the Toronto Transit Commission(TTC) site for a new
subway station, part of the Spadina subway extension, on James Gillies
Street and York Boulevard in Toronto, the cause of the collapse was
not immediately clear.
12th October 2011
|
USA
Worker impaled on glass in water purifier explosion
A 54-year old worker has died in an accident at the Texas Instruments
plant in Richardson, Dallas County, where a water purifier exploded,
impaling him by glass.
12th October 2011
|
Germany
Hessen rail worker electrocuted
A 48-year old railway maintenance worker was electrocuted in
Baunatal-Guntershausen railway station where he was working up a
support pylon when electricity arced from the 15K-volt overhead power
lines. His safety harness was securing him to the pylon and it took 3
hours to recover his body.
11th October 2011
|
Norway
Freighter captain missing; Russian research vessel fire
HRS(Hovedredningssentralene), the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre,
has reported the captain of the Norwegian coastal freighter
Finnoyglimt missing, presumed drowned, after the vessel sank in high
winds north of Haugesund. Two other crew members were rescued from
life rafts.
HRS also reported that rescue helicopters and another vessel attended
an incident following a fire on the Russian research vessel
Academician Lazarev, of Sevmorneftegeophysics of Murmansk, 70 miles
off Trondelag but the 30-man crew managed to contain the fire
themselves and no injuries were reported.
11th October 2011
|
Philippines
Six killed in shipyard scaffold collapse
Six workers died when a 42-tonne scaffold collapsed on them in the
forward dry dock of the Keppel Shipyard in Barangay Cawag in Subic, 5
of them died at the locus, the 6th, whose leg was severed, succumbed
to his injuries yesterday. 10th October 2011
|
Brazil
Explosion of LPG cylinder at Rio petrol station
A gas cylinder exploded at Shell petrol station in Tribobo in the Sao
Goncalo district of Rio de Janeiro, a car driver and 19-year old
attendant have been admitted to the Hospital Alberto Torres in Sao
Goncalo.
Police investigation at the locus indicated that the cylinder split
open and then exploded.
10th October 2011
|
China
Dozen workers killed in Nanjing molten iron spillage
At least 11 workers died in a molten iron spillage at the Nanjing Iron
and Steel Group Co Ltd's plant in Nanjing as the workers were
attempting a shutdown of a refining furnace. It was thought that
another worker was unaccounted for, high temperatures at the locus
were restricting the investigation.
7th October 2011
|
India
Kerala tea estate worker trampled by elephant
A 38-year old tea estate worker was trampled to death by a wild
elephant on the Naimakkad tea estate in Kadalar, Munnar. 7th October 2011
|
Sweden
Fuel tanker driver killed in
collision
A fuel tanker driver is missing and presumed dead in a fire and
explosion following the collision of his tanker and a lorry on
Wednesday afternoon on the E6 motorway north of Gothenburg.
6th October 2011
|
Russia
Bromine spillage at Moscow school
All 650 pupils and a staff of a secondary school on Krasnokazarmennya
Street, Moscow, were evacuated yesterday when a 100ml capsule of
bromine was accidentally broken by a teacher during a lesson in a
chemistry lab. The spillage involved 30ml of the toxic liquid, a
specialist hazardous material squad was called to deal with the
spillage.
6th October 2011
|
USA
Passenger trapped in submerged New York helicopter
A passenger was trapped in a submerged Bell 206 helicopter which
crashed in East River shortly after take-off from the East 34th Street
heliport in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, the pilot and 3 other
passengers were rescued from the sinking helicopter.
5th October 2011
|
Australia
Boy dies in quad bike accident
rounding up cattle
An 11-year old boy has died in a quad bike accident while rounding up
cattle at a dairy farm in Katunga, WorkSafe Victoria is investigating
the accident, it is believed that the boy was not wearing a safety
helmet. 5th October
2011
|
USA
Welding sparks explosion of aqua ammonia tank
A tank containing aqua ammonia exploded during hot metal work at T & T
Fertilizer, southwest of Goshen, Indiana, 4 workers were hospitalised.
5th October 2011
|
The Netherlands
4 missing in Maas after freighter/speedboat collision
A major search and rescue operation took place on the Maas on Monday
evening for 4 passengers missing from a speedboat which collided with
a freighter at Cuijk, 10 miles south of Nijmegen. Three other
occupants of the speedboat managed to climb aboard the freighter.
Fears were growing over the survival prospects of the missing people
given the water temperatures.
4th October 2011
|
Austria
Steyr farmer run over by tractor
A 69-year old farmer died in an accident on Monday when he was run
over by his tractor as he was gathering timber on his farm at
Allerheiligen, Steyr. It is thought that he knocked off the handbrake
as he alighted from the tractor and when he saw it moving he tried to
climb back on. However, he fell under a wheel and his neck was broken.
4th October 2011
|
Germany
2 Dutch divers died in German lake
The bodies of 2 divers were
recovered on Sunday at a depth of 50 metres in the Kreidesee in
Hemmoor, 30 miles southeast of Cuxhaven, following a diving accident.
The Delta Duikteam of Alkmaar had a group of 6 people diving at the
60-metre deep lake, 2 surfaced without problems, 2 others required to
make an emergency ascent but they are not listed in life-threatening
condition. Of the 2 missing divers whose bodies were found yesterday,
1 was an experienced instructor.
3rd October 2011
|
Italy
Gas explosion at Lazio sports centre
A gas explosion injured 6 people at
the Fiuggi sports centre in Frusinate, Lazio, on Sunday, 1 of the
injured was admitted to Sant'Eugeniio hospital in Rome with severe
burns. 3rd October 2011
|
|
USA
Highwall collapse kills blasting crew workers at Kentucky mine
Two miners, members of a MEMSCO blasting crew, were killed by falling
rock when a highwall collapsed and falling rock struck their vehicle
at the Equality mine of Armstrong Coal in Ohio County, West Kentucky. 30th October 2011
|
USA
Worker pulled into industrial laundry dryer
A worker has died in a blunt force trauma accident at a uniform
laundry and rental business of Cintas Corporation in Loiusville,
Kentucky, where he was drawn into an industrial dryer.
It is speculated that he had been attempting a minor repair when the
dryer activated, which would cause the large doors to close and trap
him inside. It was also speculated that a safety device was either
missing or had been overridden. 30th October 2011
|
Germany
Falling excavator shovel kills worker
A construction worker was killed on Thursday when a shovel which had
just been attached to a digger became unstable and fell, striking him
on the head in an excavation on Steinrader Damm, Lubeck. Also on
Thursday, in Heilbronn a worker died in a crush accident during
loading when his head became wedged between a machine and a pallet.
28th October 2011
|
USA
Carolina roofer killed in 10m fall
A worker, thought to have been a roofer, died in a 10-metre fall from
the roof of Pile Energy Solutions in northeast Charlotte, North
Carolina. A chute was attached from the roof to a waste container on
the ground, it is speculated that he may have been on the chute when
it collapsed. 28th
October 2011
|
USA
Connecticut bin man dies in fall from wagon
A refuse collector of Cumberland Garbage and Trash Service has died in
an accident after falling from a reversing bin wagon in Birch Creek,
Fayetteville, North Carolina, being subsequently run over by the
vehicle. 27th
October 2011
|
USA
Unsecured Connecticut worker dies in fall from roof
An unsecured worker was killed in a 17-metre fall from the roof at the
Chelsea Piers sports complex in Stamford, Connecticut, where he was
apparently working without a safety harness.
27th October 2011
|
India
Molten metal spillage kills steel workers
Two steel workers aged 24 and 28 died in a spillage of molten metal at
the Vinayaka Steels facility in Mahbubnagar, Andhra Pradesh. The
accident occurred during the testing of new equipment, 15 other
workers were seriously injured. 26th October 2011
|
Switzerland
Excavator accident at alpine site
An excavator driver has been badly injured in an accident yesterday
which saw his vehicle tumble 30 metres down an embankment during the
moving of stones from the parking area at the Avers Juppa ski-lift in
southeast Swizterland. 26th October 2011
|
Austria
Bin man killed in fall from wagon
A 29-year old temporary refuse collector died on Monday in a fall from
a moving bin wagon in Wolfsburg, Karnten. It is believed that he fell
as the vehicle negotiated a bend, striking his head against a wall in
his fall. 25th
October 2011
|
Russia
Dust explosion at poultry farm
A dust explosion is believed to have caused the partial collapse of a
3-storey building at the Snezhka poultry farm in Putevka, Bryansk,
leaving 3 workers injured. The locus was thought to be a workshop.
25th October 2011
|
Italy
Farmer dies after arm traps in auger
An auger accident claimed the life of a 58-year old Asti farmer at the
weekend when he was working with his son on foundations for a henhouse
at his farm in Calamandrama. It is thought that his arm became trapped
in the auger and although he was transported quickly to hospital in
Nizza Monferrato where he succumbed to his severe injury. 24th October 2011
|
USA
Transport fatality at Montana road construction site
A United Materials worker died in a transport accident at a highway
construction site on Black Eagle Dam Road in Great Falls, Montana,
where he was struck by a lorry, the road had been closed to the
public. 24th October 2011
|
USA
Bin man killed in wagon's hydraulic arm
An investigation was ongoing yesterday into a fatal accident in
Minnetrista, Minnesota, where a 61-year old refuse collector died in a
crush accident after becoming caught in the hydraulic arm of a bin
wagon. 21st October
2011
|
New Zealand
Auckland harbour ferry collision
The Fullers ferry, the Kea, collided with the berthed ferry, Harbour
Cat in Auckland harbour yesterday, one passenger was injured in the
accident.
The Kea had broken down earlier in the day but was cleared to return
to service after some maintenance work. It was unclear whether this
played any part in the accident.
21st October 2011
|
Austria
Train hits combine harvester on crossing
A 69-year old farmer was killed on a level crossing accident on
Wednesday in St Johann in der Haide, Styria, when his combine harvester was
struck by a Thermenbahn regional train travelling from Friedberg to
Fehring. 20th October 2011
|
Canada
Edmonton worker killed in fall from MEWP
A 28-year old construction worker died when he fell from a MEWP(mobile
elevating work platform) on a warehouse construction site in northwest
Edmonton. A steel section was being lifted by crane but fell against
the hydraulic lift, Alberta health and safety inspectors have closed
the site pending investigation. 20th October 2011
|
India
Welding explosion at Mangalore refinery
An explosion during hot metal work on Tuesday has killed a welder and
injured 4 others at the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals facility. 19th
October 2011
|
China
8 dead, 5 missing in mine explosion
Eight miners died and a major
search and rescue operation was undertaken for 5 other miners missing
in a gas explosion at a coal mine in Dashu, Chongqing.
Of the 16
miners underground at the time of the accident only 3 achieved a safe
exit. 19th October
2011
|
Russia
2 dead in gas explosion
At least 2 people have died in a gas explosion in a house in Bronnizy,
20 mills southeast of Moscow. The building has partially collapsed and
a further 15 people are injured, possibly more under the debris.18th
October 2011
|
Australia
Unsafe stacking of salt bags led to crush fatality
At the Victorian County Court dairy food manufacturer Fonterra
Australia was fined$300K(£193,692) over a fatal accident at its
Stanhope plant in September 2009 when a worker was crushed by 2
falling 1-tonne salt bags.
The 52-year old forklift truck driver had just unloaded and placed
them in a 3-pallet high stack in a storage chamber when 2 became
unstable and fell. The judge described this as an unsafe system for
stacking with a potential for instability if one became punctured or
shifted.
The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe system of
work. 18th October
2011
|
Wales
Neath Valley miner injured
A 48-year old miner was admitted to
University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with suspected spinal and
pelvic injuries after being struck by falling rock while working a
mile underground at the Unity mine in Cwmgwrach.17th
October 2011
|
Northern Ireland
6 divers rescued from capsized boat
Two RNLI lifeboats and a Sligo Irish
Coastguard helicopter rescued 6 divers whose boat capsized in heavy
sea swell conditions at the mouth of the River Bann near Castlerock.
One was rescued from the water, the other 5 were clinging to the
upturned boat.17th
October 2011
|
India
Railway worker crushed in coupling accident
A Kolkata(Calcutta) railway mechanic has died in a crush accident
during the coupling of wagons at the Liluah railway workshop in
Howrah. 14th
October 2011
|
Norway
Schools evacuated over risky fire extinguishers
Schools in Oslo were evacuated yesterday after fire and safety
inspectors expressed concern over the risk posed by 500 carbon dioxide
gas fire extinguishers installed during the last 5 years, a valve
production error may have rendered them liable to explode if
disturbed. 14th
October 2011
|
Italy
Worker injured in fall from work platform
A 58-year old worker was admitted to Santa Maria hospital in
Novellara, Reggio Emilia, after falling 3 metres when he slipped on a
mobile work platform while cleaning skylights at premises on
Montegrappa Avenue.
13th October 2011
|
Italy
Forestry worker's leg broken during felling
A forestry worker's leg was broken by a falling tree section yesterday
during felling work in woods above Coccau, northeast Italy, he was
admitted to hospital in Tolmezzo, Udine.
13th October 2011
|
Germany
Worker pinned under falling safe
A 600Kg safe became unstable and fell from equipment which was being
used to move it down steps into a basement at premises in Steinhort,
Schleswig-Holstein, yesterday, a worker became trapped under it and
has been hospitalised in Hamburg with severe injuries to the upper
body and legs. 12th
October 2011
|
USA
Cable whiplash fatality at Louisiana rig and platform facility
A Gulf Island Fabrication worker has been killed in a whiplash
accident at the facility which manufactures offshore rigs and drilling
platforms in Louisiana when a cable detached and struck him on the
head during the movement of metal sheet piling.
12th October 2011
|
Austria
Quarry worker lifted in shovel sustains crush injury
A Voralberg quarry worker was hospitalised in Bregenz yesterday with
crush injuries after becoming pinned between a conveyor belt system
for crushing rocks and an excavator shovel on which a colleague was
hoisting him to access the conveyor for maintenance work.
11th October 2011
|
England
Propane cylinder explosion at Manchester Food & Drink Festival
Three people were taken to
Manchester Royal Infirmary with serious burns injuries on Monday evening
following an explosion of propane gas cylinders at the Manchester Food
& Drink Festival in Albert Square, Manchester, their injuries are not
believed to be life-threatening.
11th October 2011
|
Denmark
2 killed in Jylland fireworks factory explosion
At least 2 people died when an explosion occurred at a former military
barracks in Store Andst in Jylland, local media alleged that it was an
illegal fireworks production unit but local police were yet to confirm
this.
The premises were sold to private investors, 7 years ago a fireman
died and 17 people were injured when a fireworks factory exploded in
Kolding. 10th October 2011
|
China
12 killed in Dalian garage site accident
At least 12 construction workers were killed when the concrete roof of
an underground garage fell on them in Dalian on Saturday. Four workers
managed to escape the accident, another was missing, feared dead.
10th October 2011
|
Japan
Judo instructor fined over child training accident
At Osaka District Court a 36-year old judo instructor at a private
club in Osaka has been fined 1 mio yen(£8,446) over an accident in
training which led to the death of a 6-year old boy. The child died
from brain swelling, the instructor admitted to having thrown the boy
with excessive force in training.
This was the first criminal case filed by Japanese prosecutors against
a judo instructor with regard to hard training. It is estimated that
at least 114 child deaths have occurred which may have been linked to
judo training injuries since figures were collated from records since
1983. In June this year the All Japan Judo Federation issued revised
guidelines regarding the risk of head injuries in training.
7th October 2011
|
USA
Harvest worker run over by tractor
A Californian agricultural worker has been killed after being run over
by a tractor during harvesting work in a field off Old Stage Road in
Chualar. 7th October 2011
|
Spain
Finnish glider pilots die in Aragon
crash
Two Finnish glider pilots aged 59 and 65 have been killed when their
Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus glider crashed on the Las Blancas highway in
Borau, Huesca, having taken off from the Santa Cilia aerodrome. They
were part of a group of Finnish glider pilots who come to this area of
the Aragon Pyrenees to fly on an annual basis, the aircraft are used
in advanced training. It was speculated that the glider may have been
involved in mid-air collision with a vulture which was found
dead in the vicinity.
6th October 2011
|
Hungary
School trip pupil dies in fall at
Budapest hotel
A 17-year old pupil has died in a fall from the 5th floor of the Park
hotel in Budapest during a trip with a school from Sremska Mitrovica
in Serbia, police have yet to release a statement on the accident
under investigation.
6th October 2011
|
India
2 killed in fireworks factory explosion
Two workers have died in an explosion and fire at the Indian National
Fireworks plant in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu.
From initial investigation it seems that a worker was carrying a bag
of chemicals to a production shed when it became unstable and
exploded, the other worker died in the ensuing fire which gutted the
shed. Rules advise against the movement of chemicals during the
hottest hours of the day and in windy conditions when instability can
occur. 5th October
2011
|
USA
Air pressure explosion at Texas drainage site
During excavation work to install drainage near Highway Loop 499 in
Harlingen, Texas, on Tuesday, 2 subcontractors were injured and
hospitalised after they struck underground piping releasing a
pocket of air under pressure.
5th October 2011
|
USA
Fire at Texas chemical plant
A major fire broke out on Monday at
the Magnablend chemical plant in Waxahachie, 30 miles south of Dallas.
Local industrial premises and a school were evacuated as concerns grew
over anhydrous ammonia fumes but no injuries were reported.
4th October 2011
|
Vietnam
Worker killed in hotel roof collapse
A female worker died and 7 others were injured when the roof of a
hotel entrance in which they were working collapsed in Ha Tinh City.
Initial investigation points to the lack of structural integrity of
the support pillars.
4th October 2011
|
India
Boiler explosion kills herb factory worker
A worker was killed in a boiler
explosion at the weekend in the herbal medicine division at the Vidya
Herbs Private Ltd factory on the Jigani Industrial Area in Anekal,
south Bangalore, the boiler was alleged to have been in a state of
poor maintenance. 3rd October 2011
|
England
Durham worker was crushed in press accident
At Durham Crown Court Thyssenkrup Tallent, now trading as Tallent
Automative Ltd-Gestamp Automocion, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure
the safety of a worker in respect of a fatal accident at its Newton
Aycliffe plant in County Durham where an engineer died in a press
crush accident. The company was fined £100K plus £40K in costs. On
July 8th 2009, the engineer was trying to clear a blockage jamming the
de-stacker carriage which removed empty magazines from the press. HSE
investigation found that there was no safe system for carrying out the
work within the de-stacker area, the company recognized electrical
hazards but not risks from pneumatically operated equipment. There was
insufficient information to show how the pneumatic supply worked and
how to make necessary adjustments safely. The equipment supplier had
gone into liquidation and insufficient documentation was passed on.
3rd October 2011
|
|
England
High incidence of cockler rescue
Lancs Coastguard has been urging cocklers to address safety more
seriously in the wake of 26 recent rescue incidents in the county's
bays and estuaries over the last 2 months.
In recent days Liverpool Coastguard co-ordinated the rescue of 3
cocklers whose boat capsized in the Ribble Estuary and in midweek the
Lytham lifeboat rescued 5 cocklers after the engine of their
unseaworthy boat failed. 30th October 2011
|
Canada
Wall collapse kills Ontario demolition worker
A 17-metre high wall of a 2-storey
former furniture warehouse collapsed on 2 demolition workers at the
site on Clark Road, Brampton. One of the workers has died, the other
is not in life-threatening condition. 30th October 2011
|
Canada
Saw accident leaves wood lodged in worker's neck
A 55-year old worker is listed in stable condition in hospital in
Calgary following surgery to remove a 4x1cm section of wood which
lodged in his neck in an accident in Lethbridge. The employee of
Triple M Housing had fed a 4-metre long timber section into a rip saw
which rejected the wood upon striking the blade. Occupational Health
&Safety has issued a stop-use order on the saw involved in the
accident. 28th
October 2011
|
Canada
Sweeping worker injured in fall from roof
The Ministry of Labour is investigating an accident in which a 32-year
old worker was injured in an 8-metre fall from a roof on Victoria
Street, Markdale, Ontario, where he was operating walk-behind sweeping
equipment. 28th
October 2011
|
England
Man badly burned in alleged metal theft
A man is listed in life-threatening condition with critical electrical
burns after contacting a live power source while allegedly attempting
to steal scrap metal at a derelict unit at Mary's Place, Mitchell
Street, Walker. The incident is under investigation by Northumbria
Police. 27th
October 2011
|
Malta
Civil action award 19 years after accident
A 41-year old woman who took out a civil action for damages against
her former employer, Metalfit, regarding an accident 19 years ago has
been awarded €19,950(£17,373)
at the First Hall of the Civil Court.
The woman was a machine operator and the accident on 2nd December 1992
left her with an 8% disability.
27th October 2011
|
England
Driver arrested over policeman's death at motorway breakdown
A 44-year old HGV driver has been
arrested over suspicion of alleged dangerous driving which led to the
death of a policeman attending a breakdown incident on the hard
shoulder of the southbound M1 near Wakefield.
It is believed that the victim was positioned between the police car
and broken down car when the incident occurred. 26th October 2011
|
Scotland
Trio pulled from dangerous mud on Edinburgh building site
Lothian Borders Fire & Rescue Service spoke of "a very lucky escape"
for a man and 2 boys who were rescued after having sunk up to their
waists in mud on a building site in Greendykes Road, Edinburgh. The
man had been responding to calls for help from the boys when he too
became trapped. Firemen placed a 9-metre long ladder across the
cloying surface to achieve the rescue. 26th October 2011
|
England
Dorset gardener run over by tractor
A man aged 59 from Alweston, Dorset, has died in an accident in which
he appears to have been run over and become trapped under a vintage
tractor while undertaking grounds maintenance work.
Dorset Police are investigating the accident.
25th October 2011
|
New Zealand
Search for missing sailor abandoned
A sailor from the 8-metre long catamaran Horizon is missing,
presumed drowned, following the
rapid sinking of the craft 3 miles off Foxton, North Island, during a
sail to test run engines. Another sailor survived the sinking and was
deemed fortunate to have survived after several hours in the water.
Neither man was wearing a life jacket, it was unknown whether the
catamaran had a locator beacon.
25th October 2011
|
England
Tilbury Docks crane operator killed
A crane operator died in an accident at Tilbury Docks on Sunday when
his crane became unstable and toppled, pitching him through the glass
cab several metres down to the ground. 24th October 2011
|
Canada
HGV transmission crushes Toronto mechanic
The Ministry of Labour has been advised of a crush accident which
occurred in a garage on Martin Grove Road, Etibicoke, Toronto, on
Saturday where a 72-year old worker was crushed by a lorry
transmission which fell on him during maintenance work under the
vehicle. 24th October 2011
|
Canada
Farm fined over fatal accident loading poultry
KD Farm Services of Stratford was fined $80K(£49,845) over a fatal
accident during the loading of poultry on to a lorry at a farm in West
Perth on 22nd October 2009. A worker who was catching and crating
chickens from a barn on to the lorry was killed when he was run over
by the vehicle which had moved during the activity. Ministry of Labour
investigation established that the supervisor operating the vehicle
had neither an HGV license nor a driver's license.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of the Occupational Health &
Safety Act Section 25(2)(h) by failing to ensure that the operator of
the vehicle was competent and properly licensed.
21st October 2011
|
USA
Suspended stairs fall on Maine builder
A construction worker of RD Concrete Works was injured when a section
of stairway fell on him at a house on Cook Street in Kittery, Maine.
The stairs had been temporarily suspended to allow the workers access
to break up a concrete floor but the tie holding the stairs failed.
The worker was admitted to Portsmouth Regional Hospital and was
released after treatment.
21st October 2011
|
UAE
Child run over by reversing school bus
A 4-year old girl has been killed by a reversing School Transport
Centre bus of Emirates Transport in the Murabah district of Fujairah.
The child had apparently moved behind the reversing bus which was
bringing her sibling from Al Ebtihaj Secondary School. 20th October 2011
|
Canada
Company and supervisor fined over ladder fall fatality
At Ontario Court of
Justice in Toronto, 2021960 Ontario Inc, trading as New Forest Paper Mills, was fined $125K(£77,766) over a fatal accident in which a worker died in
a fall from a ladder. On 12th July 2010, he was working up the ladder on
a sprinkler system at a height of 5m when an issue of water caused him
to fall. Ministry of Labour investigation found that the worker was
without a safety harness and lanyard. The company pleaded guilty to a
breach of Ontario Regulation 851, Section 85, by failing to ensure
that a worker was wearing a fall arrest system. A supervisor was fined
$5K(£3,111) after pleading guilty to a similar charge. 20th October 2011
|
Nepal
6 killed in rescue flight crash
A Britten-Norman Islander military aircraft has crashed near Dhorpatan
in Dhavalagiri zone, killing all 6 people on board including a patient
who had been picked up in Nepalgunj and was being transferred to
Kathmandu for medical treatment.
19th October 2011
|
Germany
Bromine accident in school chemistry class
A teacher and 16 pupils aged 14-15 required hospital treatment
yesterday afternoon following an accident involving bromine in a
chemistry lab in a school in Belstein.
Fire crews attended the
incident to clear the atmosphere in the building.
19th October 2011
|
Italy
Dust explosion in Aosta carpentry workshop
Two carpenters aged 20 and 44 sustained serious burns in a sawdust
explosion in a workshop in Aymavilles yesterday, both are expected to
be hospitalised for 30 days.
18th October 2011
|
England
Man drowned in fall from Sussex ferry
A body washed up on Hayling Beach yesterday is thought to be that of a
man who fell from the Fishbourne-Portsmouth Wightlink ferry at the
weekend. 18th
October 2011
|
Northern Ireland
Toddler rescued from swimming pool
Castlereagh Borough Council is
investigating an accident which occurred on Saturday morning at the
Robinson Centre where a 13-month old girl was rescued from the pool
and admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital for overnight observation.
The pool was believed to have been closed to the general public at the
time. 17th October
2011
|
Northern Ireland
Farmer's fatal accident
A farmer in his 50's has died following an accident on his farm in
Ballynahatty Road, Omagh. One account states he fell from the raised
bucket of an item of plant and sustained fatal head injuries.
17th October 2011
|
England
Accident investigation at Suffolk food plant
HSE is investigating an accident at food manufacturer Vion Food in
Little Wratting where a worker sustained facial and head injuries
after being trapped in machinery. He was admitted to Addenbrooke's
Hospital in Cambridge.
14th October 2011
|
USA
Worker falls 200 metres from tower
A subcontractor has died in a fall of some 200 metres from the
American Tower Corporation communications tower on Chesnut Street,
Newton, Massachusetts, where he was engaged in the positioning of a
new antenna pole and safety ladder.
14th October 2011
|
New Zealand
Southland farmer killed in rollover accident
A 40-year old Southland farmer has died in a transport accident on his
land 4 miles south of Lumsden where his vehicle overturned on a
gradient as he was spreading fertiliser, Occupational Health & Safety
has been advised of the accident.
13th October 2011
|
Austria
Woman almost strangled as scarf snags on machine
A female worker was almost strangled by her headscarf which caught in
a dough-making machine at which she was working at the Multi Kultur
event in the Leopoldstadt district of Vienna. Colleagues were unable
to switch the machine off but a passer-by alerted by the screams
managed to cut the scarf off with a knife and the woman is recovering
in hospital from her ordeal.
13th October 2011
|
Romania
4 killed in agricultural transport accident
Four occupants of a large horse-drawn trailer returning from
agricultural work were killed yesterday when their transport was
struck by a car on the DN2(on European Route E85) highway in the
Oreavu district of Buzau, police have been questioning the car driver,
a 39-year old monk from Techirghiol, in connection with alleged
speeding. 12th
October 2011
|
USA
2-year old killed in Wisconsin
farm accident
A fatal accident investigation was launched in Mount Hope, Wisconsin,
where a 2-year old boy has died in a farm accident after falling from
a moving cart and being run over by a wheel. It is believed that he
had been positioned in the mule-drawn cart as the family completed a
day's silage harvesting. The mules appear to have moved off of their
own accord and the boy lost his grip.
12th October 2011
|
Poland
Inmate stabbed to death by prison governor
An inmate in Sztum prison has been allegedly stabbed to death by the
prison governor during a cell inspection. The cause of the incident
remained unclear, the prisoner, under sentence until 2030, had been
making complaints over conditions of his detention.
11th October 2011
|
Japan
Girl breaks arm in tug-of-war event
A 10-year old girl broke her arm and 14 participants were
injured when a rope snapped during a tug-of-war event during a
community sports day at Haijima Daini Elementary School in Akishima,
Tokyo. The rope is believed to have been 30 years old and was lent out
for the occasion by the school. It is thought that many more people
participated in the tug-of-war event than was anticipated.11th
October 2011
|
England
Patient found dead in bath at Tyneside care home
A 77-year old patient was found dead in a bath at the weekend at the
Connolly House care home run by South Tyneside Council in South
Shields. Northumbria Police are investigating the accident, the home
has some 36 dementia patients. 10th October 2011
|
England
Shrimpers rescued after net snagging capsize and sinking
Two shrimpers were rescued from the Irish Sea off Silloth after their
boat, the 10-metre long Boy Bailey, overturned and sank off Cardurnock
Flats.
It appears that the net caught and created the instability, both men
managed to cling to lifebelts and drifted several miles down to
Silloth before being rescued in an operation coordinated by Liverpool
Coastguard. 10th October 2011
|
Italy
Worker critically injured in fall from roof
A contract worker was admitted to the Scotte clinic in Siena on
Thursday evening with severe head trauma and broken legs after falling
10 metres from the roof of a building at the Giannini premises in
Terrossola in Bibbiena.
7th October 2011
|
Indonesia
Falling wood kills Pending timber factory worker
A timber factory worker has died in Sarawak General Hospital from
internal injuries after a large timber section fell on him at the
factory in Pending.
7th October 2011
|
England
Cheshire helicopter crash ruled
accidental death
A verdict of accidental death was delivered at Warrington Coroner's
Court in respect of the death of the Cheshire pilot of a Robinson R22
Beta 2-seater helicopter which crashed on 15th November 2009. The
businessman had been attempting an emergency landing near his home
after encountering engine problems, it was thought that the rotor
struck sloping ground unseen by the pilot. The craft was found on its
side, leaking fuel, the pilot's head and chest injuries were
consistent with those inflicted in a helicopter crash.
Air Accident Investigation Board examination by a senior investigator
found the craft to have been fully maintained, but the ignition system
manifested evidence of corrosion from leaking rain water.
6th October 2011
|
New Zealand
Falling tree kills forestry worker
The Department of Labour has been advised of a fatal accident
yesterday in the Wharerata Forest near Gisborne where a 34-year old
forestry worker was struck by a felled pine tree.
6th October 2011
|
Germany
Workers injured in refinery fire and quarry conveyor accidents
A 20-year old worker was admitted to a specialist burns unit in Bochum
after an accident on Tuesday at the BP Emsland refinery in the
Holthausen port area of Lingen when an explosion occurred during
maintenance work in the distillation unit.
At a quarry in Rinteln, Lower Saxony, a worker's hand became trapped
in a conveyor belt 15 metres above ground. He lost a lot of blood and
his rescue was difficult. He was listed in life-threatening condition
in hospital in Hanover last night.
5th October 2011
|
England
Lifeboat man injured in Solway rescue
A crew man of the Workington lifeboat was injured in an accident while
moving between 2 boats during the rescue of a yacht which had
experienced engine failure and water ingress in the Solway Firth. He
was treated for his injury in hospital in Carlisle and later released
. 5th October 2011
|
France
Electrical explosion at Renault Trucks Lyon
An explosion occurred on Monday evening at the Renault Trucks plant in
Saint-Priest, Lyon, injuring a Renault worker, 2 electrical
maintenance workers of contractor Mounier and a Veritas security
guard.
All were hospitalised, some with burns injuries to the arms, a short
circuit in a transformer has been speculated as the cause of the
accident.
4th October 2011
|
Rep Ireland
Pilot survives Galway helicopter
crash
A helicopter pilot survived an accident in which his aircraft crash
landed in a field at Taughmaconnell, 6 miles into its flight from
Ballinasloe where he had been attending a horse fair.
4th October 2011
|
England
Diver treated for bends
A 40-year old diver underwent
decompression treatment in a hyperbaric chamber at the Diving Diseases
Research Centre in Plymouth at the weekend after becoming unwell
during an organised dive off Whitsands Bay, Cornwall.
3rd October 2011
|
England
Unsafe maintenance
A worker servicing his forklift truck fell from its roof and knocked
himself unconscious. The 29-year old and his colleagues adopted the
practice of accessing the lifting mast and its chains for maintenance
from the forklift truck roofs rather than by using mobile steps or
stepladders.
Employer Serviceplan Contracts Ltd of Leigh was prosecuted under
r.4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £1,000
plus £1,000 prosecution costs.
3rd October 2011
|
|
England
M/C sidecar passenger killed at
Midlands race event
An investigation has been launched into
the death at the weekend of a motorcycle sidecar passenger
participating in the Formula 2 600cc race at the 16th International
Sidecar Festival at the Mallory Park racetrack in Kirkby Mallory.
The motorcycle rider sustained minor injuries in the accident of which
initial speculation suggests mechanical failure.
31st October 2011
|
England
Middlesex fatal accident
A 44-year old man died in an industrial accident on 21st October after
part of a gas pipe was ejected and inflicted abdominal injuries at a
site in Staines.
30th October 2011
|
England
Roads worker killed by excavator in
accident
An inquest jury has determined accidental death after considering the
circumstances of the death of a 26-year old roads worker on June 16th
last year.
He sustained multiple injuries when he was struck by an excavator on
the hard shoulder of the M6 near Garstang.
30th October 2011
|
Scotland
Quarry accident
A lorry driver was trapped in his vehicle cab and required to be cut
free when it overturned as he unloaded materials yesterday morning at
the Hillwood Quarry in Newbridge, West Lothian. He sustained neck and
back injuries but these are not described as life-threatening.
28th October 2011
|
England
Worker killed in 'utterly preventable'
accident was inadequately trained
A man who died in a lifting operation accident, and the colleague with
whom he worked, had not received the proper training on how to plan
and manage the complex lifting operation. This emerged during the
investigation of the 13th December 2008 accident at Parker Plant Ltd's
premises in Canon Street, Leicester, prior to its prosecution. The men
had no information on the size, weight or centre of gravity of the
load which would have enabled them to sling the load correctly.
Two structures were being lifted into a shipping container by overhead
crane, but the parts would not fit and they were placed on the ground
next to it. The workmen had been directed to place one steel section
on top of the other and were releasing the lifting chains from the
load when the top section slid off the bottom one and trapped the
55-year old worker between them, inflicting fatal head injuries from
which he died instantly.
HSE found the men had been working with an incorrect diagram showing
the structures fitting on top of each other which was not
possible. The structures had not been strapped, rendering the load
unstable and liable to fall unexpectedly. The investigators deemed the
work not properly planned or supervised and the lifting equipment
provided was defective.
An HSE official commented: "This fatal incident was utterly
preventable and occurred as a direct result of Parker Plant Ltd’s
approach to the safety of its workers. This company failed to provide
the proper training for the work they were undertaking, and if that
work had been adequately planned and supervised this tragedy would not
have happened. Because of this company’s failures, one man lost his
life and another will have to live with the after effects of
witnessing such a horrific incident."
Parker Plant Ltd admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £180,000 plus £47,500 costs.
28th October 2011
|
Scotland
Agricultural deaths blight Scottish
safety performance
Of the15 workplace fatalities that occurred in Scotland between April
2010 and March 2011, 9 were in agriculture.
Six of the fatalities involved workplace transport issues, typically
workers being struck by or trapped under overturning vehicles.
The Head of HSE in Scotland commented on the published statistics:
"Agriculture is still one of the most dangerous professions in Britain
and the Scottish fatality statistics sadly support this fact. What is
most frustrating is that the causes of incidents remain stubbornly the
same such as falls from height and overturned vehicles. These
incidents can be avoided, often through simple, low-cost steps. That's
why we are continuing our programme of Safety and Health Awareness
Days and why we are committing to working closely with the industry
and regulatory partners. Everyone has a role to play in reducing death
and injury." 28th
October 2011
|
Wales
Fatality at Newport wholesalers
A man in his 40's has died as he delivered goods to the premises of
Blakemores yesterday morning. One account describes the man becoming
trapped under heavy steel gates which were being moved.
27th October 2011
|
England
Accident at Cumbria agricultural supplies
depot
A man has lost his life
following an accident at the premises of West Cumberland Farmers, Lindal-in-Furness, near Ulverston.
It is reported that the deceased workman, aged 42, fell more than 10
metres through a rooflight while working on the roof repairing a leak.
27th October 2011
|
England
Lorry driver died accidentally
An inquest jury has determined a verdict of accidental death after
considering the circumstances surrounding the death in an industrial
accident last November of a 64-year old employee of Mould Demolition
of Burghfield Bridge, Reading.
The driver employee was fatally injured when run over by an HGV as he
made his way from a building to his car. The HGV moved from rest just
before the accident and its driver had no awareness of the deceased's
presence.
The jury listened to speculation by experts and others as to why the
accident could possibly have occurred, and matters of pedestrian
safety, segregation, vehicle blind spots, the adequacy of advice from
its then safety consultants and the deceased not wearing a
high-visibility jacket were deliberated upon.
26th October 2011
|
England
Substation incident
A man who yesterday morning accessed an electricity substation in
Spring Gardens, Brighton, is being treated for life-threatening burns.
One account states he received his injuries after police arrived to
investigate the incident and speculates they were speaking to him
before he received the shock.
26th October 2011
|
England
Bus passengers escape serious injury
A number of passengers on a bus passing through Fishponds in Bristol
yesterday were hurt but escaped serious injury when the roof on the
upper deck was removed by a tree branch that had apparently been
damaged and lowered by high winds. Casualties were treated for
relatively minor cuts and abrasions although some required to be taken
to hospital. 25th
October 2011
|
England
Head injury on Norfolk farm
A man in his 60's was airlifted to hospital with a serious head injury
on Saturday after he was struck by a falling sugar beet at a farm near
Syderstone. 25th
October 2011
|
England
Food processor's PUWER breach
Bakkavor Foods Ltd of Spalding, Lincs, a packager of salads and fresh
vegetables, has been fined £10,000 plus costs of £2,026 having
admitted breaching r11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998 (PUWER) in connection with an industrial accident on
28th June 2010 at its premises in Dobson Park Way in Ince, Wigan.
A 22-year-old hygiene worker was off work for 8 months after she
dislocated her elbow and broke 3 bones in her arm after it became
caught between a conveyor belt and rollers in a potato blanching
machine. Bakkavor had failed to ensure the dangerous parts on the
machine were guarded, it had been used without a guard for more than
10 years. The rollers were regularly cleaned while they were still
spinning.
An HSE official commented: "A young worker has suffered a life-long
injury that could easily have been prevented if Bakkavor had put more
thought into the safety of its employees. Sadly the machine had been
operated without a guard for more than 10 years, making it almost
inevitable that someone would be injured if they came into contact
with the dangerous moving parts. The company has now installed a
simple mesh guard over the rollers which means they can be cleaned
without the risk of workers’ arms being dragged in."
24th October 2011
|
England
Worker's head injuries
It is reported that a man sustained head injuries at the National
Express West Midlands premises in Bloxwich in the early hours of
Saturday.
One account states he had become trapped between buses, his condition
remains unreported.
24th October 2011
|
England
Fatal ladder fall
It is reported that a man has died after
he fell from a ladder on Wednesday afternoon outside the Yorkshire
Bank building in George Street, in the centre of Luton.
21st October 2011
|
Scotland
Farmer paid high price for not
maintaining tractor
A fatal accident inquiry into the death of a 64-year old farmer
has concluded that his failure to maintain his tractor led directly
to his demise in an accident on 4th December last year at a farm in
Sorn, Ayrshire. He was crushed when the 40-year old tractor rolled
down a ramp and trapped him against a gate in a shed. It is not known
whether he had applied the brakes.
Examination of the brakes showed them to be significantly deficient
and incapable of preventing its movement on slopes.
The Sheriff concluded that his demise was due to his lax attention to
personal safety and the poor condition of his tractor through lack of
maintenance. 21st
October 2011
|
England
One dead, 2 critical after nightclub
incident
A 22-year old woman lost her life following an incident in the early
hours of yesterday at the Lava Ignite nightclub in Northampton. Eight
others were injured, with 2 of those listed as critical, the more
serious injuries resulting from crushing as those attending apparently
rushed to an exit.
The reason why the rush occurred at the 1,600 capacity venue is the
subject of much speculation. 20th October 2011
|
England
Artist died accidentally
A 61-year old stained-glass artist fell 6 metres from a ladder and
sustained head injuries to which he later succumbed.
A Newcastle inquest considered the circumstances of the
accident on 3rd September 2010 at Durham Cathedral and it is unclear
why he fell. He was working on the ladder and on scaffolding inside
the cathedral to install a large window when he fell backwards, no
defects were found with the equipment, the jury determined accidental
death. 20th October 2011
|
Scotland
Incident at Fife landfill site
It is reported that 11 people, 9 workers and 2 paramedics, were taken to hospital yesterday
following apparent exposure to and inhalation of nitric acid vapour from a container.
The incident occurred late morning at the Lochhead landfill site near
Dunfermline.
Nitric acid is a dangerous substance, it is toxic, corrosive and a
powerful oxidising agent.
19th October 2011
|
England
Runaway chemical reaction caused major
incident
A failure to adequately assess the risks of a chemical reaction at a
factory producing chemical products for the newspaper, cosmetics, and
construction industries, and ensure that suitable control measures
were in place, led directly to a major incident on 23rd August 2007.
The failure was compounded by the employee responsible for the
chemical reaction not having adequate training, instruction and
supervision on the operating procedures.
The chemical reaction ran out of control at the premises of Thor
Specialities (UK) Ltd in Wincham, Northwich, generating toxic and
flammable substances in the production area after the employee added a
solid chemical into a vessel containing a liquid chemical. His
assumption was that he could safely increase the rate at which the
chemical was added when they initially failed to react, but the
chemicals reacted too rapidly, leading to an uncontrolled runaway reaction.
An HSE official commented: "It is only luck that none of Thor’s staff
were in the production hall at the time of the incident as it’s
unlikely they would have been able to escape unharmed without help.
They would have been at serious risk from toxic chemical exposure, or
a flash fire or explosion, if the flammable vapours released had
ignited. They could easily have suffered permanent injuries or even
been killed."
Thor, which operates as a Top Tier site under the Control of Major
Accident Hazard Regulations 1999 (COMAH), admitted breaching S.2(1) of the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £25,000 plus prosecution
costs of £15,000.
19th October 2011
|
England
Company failed to learn from previous
explosion
A 28-year old employee of Multinational manufacturer CEMEX UK
Operations Ltd died in a violent explosion on 15th January 2008 at its
Rugby cement works. Such was the ferocity of the blast the accident
victim was blasted through the side of the building onto the road 10
metres below.
The deceased man was treating waste cement dust in the bypass dust
plant and whilst clearing a blockage in the lower mixer the explosion
of steam and dust occurred inside the machine. Despite foreknowledge
of the circumstances that led to the explosion, a man was injured in
May 2006 using the same machine, CEMEX failed to review its risk
assessment. It recognised the potential for such blockages to cause
explosions as steam pressure built up within the mixer, but it
neglected to act to prevent them. Had the company made changes to the
mixer to reduce the flow of dust and improve the venting and cooling
systems, or devised a new system of work, the accident could have been
prevented.
An HSE official commented: "CEMEX’s protection against the build up of
pressure was for the plant to be continuously vented when processing
waste cement dust, but it frequently blocked. These blockages then
caused steam to build up to a high pressure."
CEMEX Operations UK Ltd of Egham, Surrey, admitted breaching
S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined
£200,000 with £172,000 costs.
18th October 2011
|
England
Forklift truck broke worker's legs
A failure to realise the importance of separating working personnel
and forklift trucks at its premises led to a serious industrial
accident when a 61-year old employee had both his ankles and lower
legs broken when a fork lift truck reversed into him at Verplas Ltd's
Dorset site on 9th March 2010.
At Bournemouth Magistrates' Court Verplas Ltd of Verwood
Industrial Estate, Blackhill, Verwood, Dorset, pleaded guilty to
breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and
was fined £10,000 with costs of £2,407.
18th October 2011
|
England
Teenager killed at old quarry
A 17-year old worker has died after receiving a shock when the mobile
elevating work platform he was on contacted overhead power cables. The
incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at the disused quarry in
Shilton Lane, Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.
17th October 2011
|
England
Folly of lorry loader operator could
have killed worker
A workman received serious internal crush injuries when the clamp of a
lorry loader closed around his waist.
On 18th November 2010, the lorry loader operator, employed by Saint Gobain Building Distribution Ltd (trading as Jewson Builders
Merchant), attempted to use his brick clamp on a lorry crane to lift
the victim, a self-employed general builder, off the roof of
a cabin while he was collecting building materials from a construction
site on High Street, Rode.
During the process of preparing to lift a pallet of materials, the
worker took up position between the arms of the clamp so that he could
be lifted down, but the operator used the wrong switch, inadvertently
operating the clamping button.
The operator pleaded guilty to breaching S.7 of the Health and Safety
at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £1,500 with £1,000 costs.
An HSE inspector commented: "Even if the clamp had not been activated,
attempting to lift the worker down from the cabin roof with a brick
clamp was in no way safe. Two people's lives have been seriously
affected in this incident: the worker is still suffering from health
problems related to his internal injuries and does not yet know when
he will be able to return to work. The lorry loader operator has
lost his job after this action which went against all his training and
years of experience."
17th October 2011
|
England
Worker killed by vehicle
A worker employed by a contractor was killed yesterday in a street in
Upton Park, east London. He was struck by the vehicle as he worked in
Upton Lane, police later arrested 2 persons in connection with the
accident. 14th
October 2011
|
Football Club neglected
health and safety
Barnet Football Club Ltd and a former catering manager have been
prosecuted in connection with an accident in November 2008 in which a
17-year old female employee sustained serious burns to her feet, arm
and lower legs when an urn containing boiling water was dropped inside a refreshment kiosk at the club’s ground in Underhill. Both
parties admitted breaching health and safety legislation in the
circumstances of the accident which occurred when 2 young colleagues
attempted to move the urn which was obstructing a service hatch. As
the urn was being handled it leaked boiling water and they dropped it,
dousing boiling water over the teenager. Her injuries were made worse
when she slipped in the water and sustained further serious burn
injuries.
Officials from Barnet Council, the enforcing authority, investigated
the accident and found that the club could not offer evidence of a
health and safety policy or documentation, and no auditing of working
practices had been carried out. Barnet FC Ltd admitted breaching the
Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974
and was fined £6,000. It was also fined £5,000 for failing to properly
assess risks to the health and safety of its young employees. Court
costs were set at £25,000.
The former bar and catering manager was fined £2,000 plus £535 in
costs after admitting breaching the Health & Safety at Work etc Act
1974.
14th October 2011
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Scotland
Insurers
thwarted again over asbestos law
The Supreme Court in London has rejected the latest contention by a
group of insurance companies concerning the lawfulness of an Act of
the Scottish Parliament which came into force on 17th June 2009.
The Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Act 2009 provides
that asymptomatic pleural plaques, pleural thickening and asbestosis
shall constitute, and shall be treated as always having constituted,
actionable harm for the purposes of an action of damages for personal
injury.
The Director of General Insurance and Health for the Association of
British Insurers commented: "The insurers brought this case because
they believe that The Damages Act is fundamentally flawed in that it
ignores overwhelming medical evidence that pleural plaques are
symptomless, and the well-established legal principle that
compensation is payable only when there is physical harm. We are very
disappointed that the Court has not found in our favour on this
important principle of law. Insurers will now consider carefully this
judgment and what it means for them."
The Scottish Justice Secretary commented: "I warmly welcome this
significant decision, not least for the sake of people with pleural
plaques and all those who campaigned so vigorously to help them. We
firmly believe that people with this condition should be able to raise
a claim for damages, and we are delighted that this decision has gone
in their favour - a result that will surely bring them some comfort."
The Northern Ireland Assembly has approved a Bill which should have
the same effect as the Scottish Act, but no changes for pleural
plaques sufferers in England & Wales are on the horizon.
13th October 2011
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England
Forklift truck ploughed into worker
A failure by a Lincs farming company to segregate vehicles and workers
resulted in an agency worker being struck by a forklift truck at its
Spalding premises during October 2010. He sustained a fractured leg as
he walked across the floor of the potato grading shed to get labels
for boxes when he was hit by the reversing vehicle.
CW Dobbs and Son Ltd of West Pinchbeck, Spalding, admitted breaching
r.4(1) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
at Spalding Magistrates’ Court and was fined £7,000 plus £2,588 costs.
An HSE official explained: "This incident need not have happened. The
company should have made sure, so far as was reasonably practicable,
that there was physical segregation between its workers and its
vehicles. Since the incident, the farmer has put up a barrier but has
also moved the labels to another part of the shed, next to the grading
line, so people don’t have to walk across the shed. This goes to show
how simple and inexpensive preventative measures can be."
13th October 2011
|
UK
CO alert as accidents treble
The Gas Safety Trust has reported that carbon monoxide incidents have
trebled in the last year and that the October-March period poses the
greatest risk, with 72% of CO-related incidents being recorded then.
During the period July 2010-June 2011, 50 CO poisoning incidents were
recorded involving 105 people, of whom 25 died.
Concern has been expressed that domestic landlords and holiday
providers may fail to provide adequate safety certification and that
medical professionals may be unaware of CO's serious threat and fail
to diagnose symptoms correctly. This year only 1% of patients were
tested for it when presenting themselves and manifesting symptoms
associated with CO poisoning.
12th October 2011
|
Scotland
Injured worker never read risk
assessment
A man is left with a disabling injury after safety failures at a Fife
farm conspired to allow an industrial accident on 4th September 2009.
The 26-year old worker was emptying rainwater from a grain reception
pit using a bucket. The pit, part of a grain drying system,
featured a screw auger to shift the grain and effectively comprises a
large screw which rotates inside a steel tube, part of which is
exposed. The screw auger was switched off but the power had not been
isolated before the work commenced.
As work progressed, a colleague was cleaning a nearby grain drying
bin, and this required him to unload the bin and remove leftover grain
by activating a different screw auger conveyor that ran from the
drying bin to the storage bin. But at the control panel he mistakenly
activated the switch for the screw auger inside the grain reception
pit which started to rotate, trapping his colleague's foot.
The accident victim's small toe was severed and another badly injured
and this had to be amputated. He finds it difficult to walk because of
pain in his foot and now walks with a limp.
No company risk assessment featured any activity that required
employees to enter the grain reception pit, and a generic risk
assessment document obtained during the investigation stated that no
unguarded machines should be cleaned unless they were switched off,
but neglected to explain the necessity of power isolation.
Additionally, the accident victim was never given the opportunity to
read this risk assessment.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court R Todd &
Company was fined £20,000 having breached S.2(1) of the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
12th October 2011
|
Scotland
Women injured in Tayside kitchen
explosion
An explosion involving cooking equipment has injured 2 women, one
seriously, at a Sikh temple in Nelson Street, Dundee.
The explosion occurred as food was being cooked on Sunday morning, one
account states the more seriously injured woman may have lost part of
a leg. 11th October
2011
|
Northern Ireland
Young worker lost arm to machine
Natural World Products Ltd has been fined £5,000 at Newry Crown Court
in connection with an industrial accident on 29th June 2010 at its
waste composting site in Keady, Co Armagh.
An employee became trapped in the unguarded rotating conveyor drum on
a screening machine, as a result of which his left arm required to be
amputated.
HSENI investigation established that the machine's original guard had
been made smaller to permit maintenance staff access to the internal
mechanism of the machine whilst it was running.
An HSENI inspector commented: "It
is essential that companies identify and address hazards within the
workplace. Measures must be taken to control and limit access to
dangerous moving parts of machines. Companies must ensure that
maintenance teams are trained in identifying missing or defective
guards and the importance of replacing guards that are removed during
maintenance operations."
11th October 2011
|
England
Man stored 700kgs explosives in his
garage
A resident of Cleveleys, Lancashire, has been fined £1,500 plus £1,250
costs at Blackpool Magistrates' Court after Lancashire County Council
Trading Standards instigated a prosecution following the discovery of
almost 700kgs of explosives stored mainly in a garage at a property he
owns.
The fireworks, which trading standards officials described as posing
an 'enormous risk' to the public and neighbouring properties, were
stored alongside flammable materials and potential sources of
ignition.
The fireworks were unsold stock from a shop left over from last year,
he admitted storing them in a dangerous manner and without a license
which was a breach of explosives legislation.
10th October 2011
|
England
Contractor breached asbestos
legislation
A Bromley contractor commenced the demolition of a building without
first commissioning a survey for asbestos. He then instructed 3
workmen to break up asbestos- containing materials using hand tools,
exposing them to asbestos fibres.
Between 21st and 29th June 2010, the contractor controlled the project
on Bromley High Street which involved the demolition of a building
which had a restaurant on the ground floor and flats above. The
restaurant's ceiling featured asbestos insulating boards and the
workmen demolished the building using sledgehammers and hand-operated
breakers.
The contractor did not have a licence to work with asbestos and was
untrained in construction management. He provided no guidance to the
workmen regarding the asbestos.
The contractor was in breach of r.5 and r.8(1) of the Control of
Asbestos Regulations 2006 and r.4(1) and r.22(1) of the Construction
(Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
At the City of London Magistrates' Court the contractor admitted the
above breaches and was fined £19,300 plus costs of £7,654.
An HSE official commented: "Sadly, this kind of incident is all too
familiar because the defendant's actions meant that his colleagues
were more than likely exposed to asbestos fibres. The dangers of
asbestos are well known; it is the single greatest cause of
work-related deaths in the UK with around 1,000 tradesmen dying each
year from asbestos-related diseases. Anyone working with these sorts
of materials has to commission an asbestos survey to ascertain the
level of work needed and then have asbestos removed in a controlled
manner by a licensed contractor."
10th October 2011
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Wales
Carmarthen farm quad bike death ruled accidental
A Carmarthenshire coroner has ruled an accidental death in respect of
a 74-year old farmer who died in a quad bike accident on 25th
August this year at Cmn Ddu Farm, Carmarthen. His body was found at
the bottom of a 60% gradient, HSE investigation found the bike to be
in good working order. Quad bike accidents have accounted for 7% of
farm deaths in England and Wales over the last couple of years.
7th October 2011
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England
Landscape gardener fatally
injured in Surrey
It is reported that a man in his 40's was fatally injured following an
incident at a residential property in Reigate on 28th September. One
account states he was crushed under an item of plant that overturned.
7th October 2011
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Scotland/England
Fire at Lothian cement works;
Derbyshire substation
Fifty firefighters have subdued an outbreak of fire at the Lafarge
cement works in Dunbar. The fire took hold yesterday afternoon in a
shed used to store 50 tonnes of rubber chips, no injuries are
reported.
In Derbyshire, a fire occurred at an electrical substation in Long
Eaton in the early hours of yesterday and spread to adjacent
buildings, nearby residents were evacuated and roads closed until the
fire was brought under control.
6th October 2011
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Northern Ireland
Architects and designers warned
about risk
On 19th September 2006, an employee of Henry Brothers, (Magherafelt)
Limited, who was inside the section of a portable office unit removing
temporary bracing, was killed when it collapsed on top of him as it
was moved. He had been assisting with the task of repositioning the
unit to another location. The bracing being removed by the 62-year old
worker was intended to support the structure during such relocation,
but was insufficient for this purpose.
Investigation established that the architect, who was appointed
design team leader, had not designed out the foreseeable risk of
uncontrolled collapse, and this risk was not identified by him.
The architect was fined £5,000 for breaching Article 8(a) of the
Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.
Henry Brothers (Magherafelt) Limited was fined a total of £75,000 plus
£15,000 costs after previously pleading guilty at Antrim Crown Court
to breaches of Article 4(2)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work
(Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and r.9(1) of the Construction (Health,
Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.
An HSENI inspector commented: "This
case sends out a clear reminder to architects and designers that the
risks involved in construction activities must be considered and
addressed at the design stage. Also companies involved in construction
must make sure their activities are carried out in a safe and
considered manner."
6th October 2011
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Scotland
Augur cost engineer his leg
The employer of a maintenance engineer who lost his leg to an augur in
a Perthshire grain silo has been prosecuted.
The accident victim entered the silo at Sidlaw Grain Store in
Burrelton to clear a blockage without isolating the power to it. He
believes he slipped and got both legs caught in the equipment, one had
to be later
amputated, the other was badly fractured.
Pauls Malt Ltd of Suffolk, the UK's largest maltster, was fined £8,000.
5th October 2011
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England
Agency worker loses
fingers to unguarded firewood machine
A 26-year old worker lost the fingers and thumb of his right hand as
he operated a firewood processing machine at a farm at Hughley,
Shropshire, in December last year. Surgeons reattached his thumb but
could not reattach his fingers.
In order to straighten a log that had become twisted, he had put his
hand inside the chute of the machine which features a hydraulic
splitting ram which activated. The ram pushes logs onto a blade, and
this pushed his hand through the blade along with the log.
Through HSE investigation it emerged that the accident victim had no
previous experience of firewood processing machines and was
inadequately trained and supervised, indeed he had been instructed to
use the machine with the guard in the open position. The splitting
control lever on the machine had previously been forced, permitting
the machine to run with the splitting chute guard open, allowing the
operator to reach the machine’s dangerous moving parts.
The farmer admitted breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work
etc Act 1974 and r.5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998 for which Shrewsbury Magistrates fined him £14,000 in total
plus £8,500 costs.
An HSE official commented: "A young man has been left with
life-changing injuries, which are likely to cause permanent
disability. Firewood processing machines are dangerous if they are not
maintained properly and used safely. The defect on this machine was
obvious and had been there for many months. Employers and individuals
must make sure that firewood processors are suitably guarded and
operators are fully trained and supervised so that they work to an
agreed safe system of work."
5th October 2011
|
England
Fire and explosion on Surrey industrial
estate
An explosion around 11.30am yesterday, and a following fire, has
injured 8 people, including 4 seriously, at the eReco recycling plant
on the Hobbs Industrial Estate in Newchapel, Surrey.
Aerial photographs of the scene showed a building to be extensively
damaged. Emergency services personnel said the presence on site of
bulk and bottled LPG makes their work more difficult.
4th October 2011
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Scotland
Man injured as bus strikes
bridge in Edinburgh
A man in his 70's sustained facial injuries and required to be freed
from the top deck of a bus after it struck and wedged under a railway
bridge in Roseburn Street, Edinburgh, on Sunday afternoon.
4th October 2011
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England/Northern Ireland
Yorkshire farm fire fatality
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that the body of
a child missing in a farm equestrian centre fire at Hessle Farm, Wragby, near Wakefield has been found. The fire started late Friday
afternoon and spread to 2 barns and a vehicle, a man in his 30's and
another child were taken to hospital for treatment to burns.
Twenty-seven residents of the Greenpark nursing home in Armagh,
Northern Ireland, were evacuated after fire broke out at around 3am on
Saturday morning. Several staff and police officers who participated
in the rescue were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation, none
are reported to be seriously affected. An electrical fault in a switch
room is suspected to have ignited the fire.
3rd October 2011
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England
Excavation accident on Oxfordshire site
It is reported that a man has sustained serious injuries in a fall
into a 3-metre deep excavation on a residential development in Didcot
on Friday afternoon.
3rd October 2011
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