Zimbabwe
Girl recovering from lion attack
An 8-year old girl is making encouraging progress in hospital in Johannesburg
following extensive surgery for head, neck and arm injuries after being mauled
by a lion at the family's lion-breeding farm in Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
The farmer had been deploying 2 lions to discourage invasion by war vets but one
of the animals leapt through an open window and dragged out the girl, her rescue
was achieved by workers setting about the lion with clubs.
30th September 2008.
|
New Zealand
Bakery fined over worker's arm injury
At Hawera District Court on Monday Yarrows Bakery of Taranaki was a fined a
total of $62,146(£22,932) in respect of an accident in which a worker's arm was
crushed in a pastry-rolling machine, having inserted his hand down a feeder
chute to retrieve a cleaning scraper.
The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate protection for workers
and not having a safe procedure in place for cleaning the roller equipment.
30th September 2008.
|
USA
4 killed in Maryland medical helicopter
crash
A Trooper 2 medical helicopter crashed on Sunday in the Walker Mill Regional
Park in Maryland, leading to the deaths of 4 of the 5 occupants who were
undertaking a 25-mile flight to hospital from a car accident location.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating this accident which
occurred in bad weather, it is thought that the 19-year old helicopter had been
attempting to divert to the Andrews Air Force base. 29th
September 2008.
|
Black Sea
Tolstoi crew feared lost in Black Sea
sinking
The 5K-tonne Russian cargo ship Tolstoi, sailing under a North Korean flag, sank
in bad weather at the weekend 12 miles east of Cape Emine, 50 miles south of
Varna, Bulgaria, no
report of rescue of the Russian skipper and Ukrainian crew has been received.
The Tolstoi left Rostov-on-Don for Turkey last Sunday laden with scrap metal,
the weather was so poor on Friday that the port of Varna was closed to shipping.
29th September 2008.
|
Thailand
Campaign manager drowns in Bangkok
election media event
An investigation is underway following the drowning of an election candidate's
manager who drowned in a canal while participating in a media event ahead of the
October 5th election for Governor of Bangkok to highlight a lack of
readily available fresh water. While the candidate was displaying visible skin
irritation from the unclean water, the manager was getting into difficulties in
the canal. 26th September
2008.
|
France
Roofer killed in fall from Breton silo
A roofer from Louvigne-de-Bais fell 12 metres to his death on Wednesday while
repairing the roof of the Coopedom silo in Domagne, Brittany. 25th September 2008.
|
USA
Roofer falls through skylight at Delaware school
A Delaware roofer was killed in a
10-metre fall through a skylight on the roof of the gymnasium of Bancroft
Elementary School in Wilmington where he had been working alone on the roof,
repairing a leak. 24th September 2008.
|
South Africa
Confined space fatality at Cape steel works
A maintenance worker has died from
gas exposure in a confined space accident at the Saldanha Works steel
plant of ArcelorMittal north of Cape Town, a colleague is listed in critical
condition but a contractor is stable, 4 other workers affected have been
released from hospital. 24th September 2008.
|
South Africa
East London light aircraft crash investigation
Investigation is underway into the crash of a light aircraft near the Wings Park
Airfield, close to East London, where 4 people died when the plane crashed
shortly after take-off.
23rd September 2008.
|
China
Pyrotechnics accident kills 37 at Shenzhen
club
A major fire at the King of the Dancers club in the Longgang district of
Shenzhen killed 43 patrons and injured 88 others at the weekend. A fireworks
display had taken place on the 3rd floor of the building but flammable materials
in the ceiling ignited, the blaze extended over an area of 150m² at one stage.
Police in Shenzhen have indicated that 13 arrests have been made in connection
with the incident.
22nd September 2008.
|
Denmark
Emergency landing at Copenhagen after tyre
blow-out
A maximum alert safety landing took place at Kastrup-Copenhagen airport on
Friday after it was noted that a Boeing 737 which had taken off from Billund,
west Denmark, for the Canary Islands had experienced a tyre blow-out. Pieces of
the tyre were spotted by ground maintenance crew at Billund, the damage was
confirmed by an F-16 aircraft of the Danish Air Force which inspected the
damage. The landing was completed at Copenhagen with no injuries or further
damage.
20th September 2008.
|
Spain
Sea search abandoned for missing platform
worker
A search of 120 sq miles of the Mediterranean has been abandoned after no sign
was found of the missing worker who fell from the MEDGAZ platform Saipem
7000, 60 miles off the coast of Almeria. A mechanical error on a semisubmersible
crane and pipe-laying unit providing a line between Spain and Algeria saw 3
other workers killed and 4 injured.
19th September 2008.
|
Belgium
HGV hit by train after coming off bridge
A 36-year old lorry driver was killed on Wednesday when his vehicle left a
bridge on the E40 near Veurne and landed on the railway line where it was
subsequently struck by an oncoming train, no cause for the accident has
yet been established, the Luxembourg-registered HGV was being driven by a
Belgian national.
18th September 2008.
|
South Korea
Cat lover's death ruled industrial
accident
The Seoul Administrative Court has this week ruled that an accident at a petrol
station where a worker was killed rescuing a cat from under an HGV was an
industrial accident in terms of the Korean Workers Compensation & Welfare
Service.
The man had indicated to the driver to stop, but the latter was unaware that he
had then gone under the vehicle to retrieve the cat which had been raised at the
workplace since July 2006 and whose welfare was deemed to be the responsibility
of the 62-year old victim.
18th September 2008.
|
Argentina
Train/bus collision kills 6 medical
students
The collision of a train and a minibus on a crossing on the Ferrosur line in
Olavarria between Colonia Hinojo and Sierra Chica, Buenos Aires, killed 6
medical students on Tuesday, 8 others were hospitalised with serious injuries.
17th September 2008.
|
USA
Lecturer killed by bull at college farm
A 60-year old agricultural studies teacher has been killed
after being trampled and gored by a bull while herding cattle at the farm of
Tulare Western and Union high schools in California's Central Valley, it is
believed that a farm worker had been injured in recent weeks in an encounter
with the same animal.
17th September 2008.
|
Indonesia
Crushing during Zakat donations leaves 23 dead in
East Java
At least 23 people have died during crushing to receive a charitable donation
from a wealthy benefactor at a property in Pasuruan, 500 miles east of Jakarta.
Following the Zakat tradition whereby affluent people make public donations to
the needy at
the start of the Ramadan fasting month, a considerable crowd had gathered to
receive sums of 40K rupiah(£2-40) each but within 15 minutes serious crushing
occurred, most of the fatalities were elderly people, police in Pasuruan are
questioning the owner of the property.
16th September 2008.
|
Dem Rep of Congo
Stadium disorder leads to 11 deaths in North Kivu
Eleven spectators at a football match between Nyuki and Socozaki in the Butembo
stadium, North Kivu, were killed when rioting occurred and panic ensued as
police fired tear gas and a rush towards the exits occurred.
Local media have reported that the losing side's goalkeeper had been attempting
to invoke witchcraft to influence the outcome, a situation which appeared to
trigger a brawl on the pitch and subsequent rioting.
16th September 2008.
|
Russia
Aeroflot flight crash kills 88 in Perm
All 88 persons on board a Boeing 737-500 aircraft of Aeroflot-Nord were killed
when the aircraft encountered technical problems as it prepared to descend into
Perm. Contact was lost 2 hours into the flight from Moscow, fire breaking out in
the right-hand engine at an altitude of 1,100 metres. The aircraft, which was
leased in July for 4 years by Aeroflot from Pinewatch Ltd, Dublin, crashed on a
section of the Trans-Siberian Railway between Perm and Yekaterinburg. 15th September 2008.
|
Australia
Flying tyre kills Adelaide jogger
A flying tyre which bounced off a passing lorry killed a jogger on Sunday in the
Athelstane district of Campbelltown, 6 miles northeast of Adelaide. 15th September 2008.
|
France
Irish sailing
ship sinks in Bay of Biscay
All 5 crew and 20
trainees were safely rescued from their sinking sail-training
ship Asgard II which issued a mayday following substantial
water ingress into the hull as it was sailing 10 miles off
Belle-Ile-En-Mer, 10 miles from the Quiberon peninsula.
The French
coastguard vessel Belle-Poule attended the incident as did
lifeboats and helicopters. The 27- year old vessel was a substantial craft which
had encountered hurricane conditions in previous trips, it is speculated that a
main sea cock valve failed, introducing sea water at a rate faster than its pumps
could cope with. 12th
September 2008.
|
Canada
Saskatchewan
worker killed during mobile home lowering
A fatal accident has occurred at a work site in Herbert, 110 miles west of
Regina, where
a 65-year old man was killed during the positioning of a mobile home at the
site, the accident happened during the lowering of the unit.
12th September 2008.
|
Spain
Falling formwork kills worker on Cadiz
site
A falling formwork section measuring 3m by 10m and weighing 1,500Kg has killed a
worker of Grupo Tarje at a commercial development site near exit 131 of the A-7
motorway by Sotogrande de San Roque, 2 other workers aged 40 and 46 were
seriously injured in the accident on Wednesday.
11th September 2008.
|
France
Sailors fall on submarine casting off at
St Malo
Two sailors of the submarine Ouessant were injured in a fall on to the bridge of
the vessel on Wednesday afternoon at Mole des Noires, at the exit from the port
of St Malo, where it had been berthed for a couple of days, the accident
occurred as it was casting off and under tow, local fire crews attended the
incident. 11th September
2008.
|
USA
Pennsylvanian refuse collector killed in crush accident
A Pennsylvanian refuse collector was killed on Tuesday morning during his round
in Harrisburg, the accident appears to have involved the victim being crushed
between the wagon and a street post as it negotiated a narrow lane.
10th September 2008.
|
Canada
Confined space accident at BC mushroom
farm
A confined space accident has killed 2 maintenance workers and left 3 others in
critical condition following the incident in an underground pump house at
Farmers Fresh Mushrooms Inc in Langley, British Columbia. It appears that 2
electricians had been working in the 35m² chamber 2 metres underground when the
alarm was raised and the other 4 workers launched a desperate rescue attempt.
One of the 4 survivors has been released from hospital but has been unable to
assist as yet with the WorkSafeBC investigation. Initial speculation suggests a
leakage from a compost mixer pipe and a build-up of toxic gas.
9th September 2008.
|
Japan
Second worker recovered from underground
pipe
On Monday morning the body of a 40-year old worker was recovered dead
approximately half way along a 1.2km industrial pipe located 5 metres
underground in Yokkaichi, Mie, from where a 48-year old colleague had been
brought out unconscious on Sunday, dying later in hospital. High levels of
hydrogen sulphide have been detected in the pipe.
9th September 2008.
|
China
Flood water trapping 18 workers in Hunan
mine
Flooding has trapped 18 workers at the Renhe Coal Mine of the Hebi Coal Industry
Group in Chanzhuang, Hunan, where 62 people were engaged in maintenance work, 38
escaped to safety and 6 others were rescued. The men, who were digging in the
mine waste area at the time, are being trapped by around 300m³ of water. 8th September 2008.
|
Egypt
Stability fears for rest of Muqattam Hills
Geological experts are expressing fears of further slippage of rock at the
Muqattam Hills above the slum areas of Douaiqa and Manshiyet Nasr where at least
34 residents died when large sections of cliff collapsed at the weekend, an
unknown number of people are missing under the rubble in east Cairo.
Quarry mining being undertaken from the 19th century has undermined the
structural integrity, as has the absence of a sewage system, raw sewage is
altering the consistency of limestone there. 8th September 2008.
|
India
Collapsed water tank kills 10 workers on
Haryana site
Charges may be preferred under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code following
the collapse of a recently built water tank at a new build site in Bass Haria,
Haryana, where 10 workers were killed under the rubble of concrete and bricks,
Era Infra Engineering Pvte Ltd is developing a new office block at the site.
Seven others were injured, workers were engaged in kitchen activity and
ablutions when the collapse occurred. Preliminary investigation alleges a
defective structure
and gross negligence.
6th September 2008.
|
Germany
Female cadet overboard in North Sea from
sail training ship
A female cadet is missing, feared drowned, after falling overboard from the sail
training ship Gorch Fock some 12 miles north of Norderney. Within 5 minutes a
lifeboat was launched, prevailing weather conditions were windspeed 7 with
1-metre high waves.
With water temperature of 17ºC survival time would range from 5-7 hours but she
probably would not be wearing a lifejacket, generally for mobility reasons
cadets only hook up to a safety line.
The Gorch Fock sailed from Kiel with 112 cadets on board, it was due back in
Hamburg on Friday but is expected in Wilhelmshaven instead to report on the
accident. 5th September 2008.
|
Russia
Methane explosion at Siberian open-pit mine
An excavator operator has died and 6 other workers were injured in a methane gas
explosion at an open-pit mine in Khakasia, southern Siberia, at one stage the
fire extended over a 40m² area.
4th September 2008.
|
Belgium
Precautionary thyroid checks after iodine accident
Around 350 children from a school in Lambusart, Charleroi, have had thyroid gland
examination this week following an accidental release of radioactive iodine from
the Institut des Radioelements laboratory of Fleurus last week, the
instrumentation tests involved measuring electrical intensity at the top of the
throat.
Local people within a 3-mile radius of the medical lab are being urged not to
consume any produce grown in their gardens.
4th September 2008.
|
Democratic Rep Congo
Aid flight plane crashes in eastern DRC
It is feared that the 2-man crew and 15 passengers on board the Beechcroft
aircraft of Cem Air of South Africa have died when it crashed 10 miles northwest
of Bukavu where locals have reported sightings of wreckage on a steep ridge.
Air Serv International have been undertaking twice weekly aid distribution
flights between Kisangani and Bukavu, contact with yesterday's flight was lost
during bad weather in the area close to the Rwandan border.
3rd September 2008.
|
Paraguay
Appeal court overturns supermarket fire
sentences
Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo is being urged to intervene following the
decision of an appeal court in Asuncion to release 3 persons convicted in the
wake of a supermarket fire 4 years ago in which 420 people died.
The 3-man tribunal cited "serious defects" in the original trial and overthrew
the verdict which had seen 2 of the owners sentenced to 12 and 10 years
imprisonment for manslaughter, and a security guard receive a 5-year term for
negligence. At the original trial it had been alleged that the exits of the Ycua
Bolanos store had been blocked to prevent looting. Relatives of victims gathered
this week in demonstration outside the Palacio de Justicia in Asuncion and
police were called to restore order.
3rd September 2008.
|
Philippines
Hydrogen sulphide fatality at Petron refinery
A confined space accident has left 1 worker dead and another rescued unconscious
after being exposed to hydrogen sulphide during drainage of a collecting drum of
the sour water facility at Petron Corp's oil refinery in Bataan.
2nd September 2008.
|
France
Teenage judo trainee dies at residential course
The results of an autopsy are awaited to ascertain the cause of death of a
14-year old girl who has died while attending a judo training course at a sports
centre at Chateau d'Olonne in the Vendee, she was discovered dead in her bed by
room mates on the training course.
2nd September 2008.
|
USA
Nitroaniline exposure kills 2 St Louis
workers
A spillage of nitroaniline at the Ro-Corp premises in east St Louis has led to
the deaths of 2 workers, 8 persons in all were exposed to the substance in fine
tilth powder form when a barrel fell and its lid detached, special quarantine
measures have been set up at 2 St Louis hospitals.
1st September 2008.
|
Germany
Aerial survey detects 3 WW2 bombs
Three 250Kg bombs from WW2 were detonated on Sunday in Braunschweig, a clearance
zone of 1 km and an evacuation of 5,100 residents was established. The bombs
were detected during aerial survey and were located at a depth of 3.5 metres
between Stockheim and Mascherode.
1st September 2008.
|
|
USA
Ohio worker's arm drawn into machine at
fruit processing factory
A worker's arm was drawn into machinery on Monday morning after his clothing
snagged on the equipment at the Cincinnati Preserving factory in the northeast
suburb of Sharonville, Ohio, colleagues deactivated the machine and he was flown
to hospital by helicopter where his condition was unknown.
30th September 2008.
|
Thailand
Lightning kills visiting teachers and
students
A lightning strike killed a teacher, an assistant and 3 students at the Thad
Tone waterfalls some 400 miles northeast of Bangkok where they had sought
shelter under a tree, the teaching party from Perth, Australia, was
participating in an inter-cultural event.
29th September 2008.
|
Iraq
Rollover accident in Baghdad
The military authorities are investigating a transport fatality involving a US
serviceman who has died in a rollover accident in southeast Baghdad.
29th September 2008.
|
USA
Electrocution as scaffold contacts power
line at Texas site
A worker was electrocuted in Midland County, Texas, on Thursday when tall
scaffolding being propelled to a new build site on county road 1255, west of
Midland, contacted high power lines beside the building, another worker is
listed in critical condition in hospital in Lubbock, a 3rd worker is listed as
stable. 26th September 2008.
|
Malta
Search for diving instructor missing off
Gozo
The Maltese Armed Forces (AFM) were searching on Thursday evening for a 49-year
old French diving instructor who was overdue from a dive off Xlendi, in the
southwest of the island of Gozo. A number of divers were participating in the
search as daylight began to fail, sea conditions were also quite rough locally.
26th September 2008.
|
Belgium
Female worker killed in fall from Brussels
church scaffold
A female Polish worker was killed on Wednesday in a fall from scaffolding at the
Notre Dame Church in Laeken, northwest Brussels, she was treated by paramedics
at the site but died later in hospital. 25th
September 2008.
|
Rep Ireland
Fatal accidents at bottling plant and
motorway site
A worker has died in a fall from a stairway at the Tipperary Mineral Water Plant
in the Greenlawn district of Borrisoleigh.
HSA is also investigating a death at the site of the M3 motorway at
Dearockstown, County Meath, where a pipelayer was killed when a dumper he was
operating overturned and trapped him in a water-filled ditch. 25th
September 2008.
|
France
British yachtsman killed by falling mast at
Cannes Regatta
A British sailor participating in
the Cannes Royal Regatta was killed on Tuesday when 2 yachts collided and a
demasting accident occurred, 6 other crew members were rescued uninjured.
200
yachts have been taking part in this week's regatta, with a special section for
yachts more than 35 years old. The collision involved 2 British yachts from the
1916-1930 group, one was 18m long, the other 15 metres long. The demasted yacht
grounded on Ile Sainte Honorat in Cannes bay where a significant swell and
20-knot winds precluded recovery of the yacht on Tuesday. 24th September 2008.
|
Japan
3 feared dead in fishing boat sinking
Two persons have died and another is missing following the sinking of the
3.2-tonne fishing boat Koyo Maru No 7 which sank within 5 minutes of water
ingress while sailing from Sado Island to Niigata.
Ten people were on board, the Niigata coastguard picked up 9 survivors clinging
to boxes from the ship 12 miles off Niigata, but 2 of those later died in
hospital.
23rd September 2008.
|
China
Mine safety audits in wake of 37 deaths at
Xinfeng mine
A gas explosion at the Xinfeng No 2 coal mine, southwest of Dengfang City, has
killed 37 workers, another 71 people underground at the time escaped to safety.
The mine of the Guangxian Industry and Trade Company Ltd was undergoing
technical refurbishment at the time, a full safety audit has now been ordered
there and at other mines undergoing similar refurbishment.
22nd September 2008.
|
USA
Plant fatality at Kentucky mine
A mine worker has died on Friday after the earthmover he was operating went over
a 60-metre earth embankment at an International Coal Group mine in Perry County,
southeast Kentucky, the 3rd state mining fatality of 2008.
20th September 2008.
|
Bulgaria
Power failure strands gondolas at ski
resort inauguration
A party of VIP's, including Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, were suspended 30
metres above ground in gondolas for an hour on Wednesday following a power
failure during the opening of a new ski resort at Kartala, 60 miles south of
Sofia, when the power failed the gondolas slid slowly backwards but no injuries
were reported. 19th September
2008.
|
Russia
Ammonia gas fatality at St Petersburg
dairy plant
A pipe carrying ammonia broke at a dairy plant in St Petersburg, the consequent
leakage has led to 1 death and 15 injuries, 12 requiring hospital treatment.
18th September 2008.
|
Spain
Office worker killed in robbery at ice
cream plant
A worker was shot dead during an armed robbery on Wednesday at the Camy-Nestle
ice cream plant on the Estacio industrial estate in Vila-seca, Tarragona, the
robbers made off with €7K
(£5,600) in a red Fiat Bravo car stolen at the weekend in Tarragona.
18th September 2008.
|
USA
Pennsylvanian worker killed during mower
maintenance
Investigators are studying a fatal accident in Holland, Pennsylvania, where an
elderly worker was killed while performing maintenance work on a Toro
Groundmaster driver-operated mower.
It is thought that he had completed the task of replacing a damaged blade, but
the deactivated machine was on an inclined position at Rigel Ridge Community
Centre and somehow began to roll or slide down over him.
17th September 2008.
|
Canada
Fall accident at Hamilton building site
A 22-year old Ontario construction worker has been
hospitalised with severe injuries after falling from 2nd floor to basement level
at a dwellinghouse site on Newport Crescent, Hamilton.
17th September 2008.
|
Austria
Worker killed in lift shaft fall in Vienna;
worker drawn into roller in Steyr
At a house in Lassalle Street in the Leopoldstadt district of Vienna a worker
was killed on Monday in a fall from 2nd floor level into an empty lift shaft,
the property is being renovated and a lift is being installed.
Also on Monday, a 43-year old Steyr worker was drawn into a roller by his
clothing which snagged at a machine works in Langenwang, a colleague managed to
deactivate the machinery as quickly as possible but the victim remains in
life-threatening condition in hospital in Graz with serious spinal injuries and
significant blood loss.
16th September 2008.
|
The Netherlands
Light aircraft crash in Hoornse Hop
Both occupants of a single engine light aircraft are feared drowned following
its crash into the waters of the Hoornse Hop on Sunday, in a bay of the
Markermeer near Hoorn.
15th September 2008.
|
Bahrain
Worker killed in unsafe excavation
An Occupational Health and Safety spokesman of the Labour Ministry has alleged
that safety breaches, including inadequate shoring, contributed to the collapse
of an unstable excavation in Salmabad at the weekend where a 27-year old worker
of Ahmed Mansoor Al A'ali Company was buried in a 3-metre deep trench during
pipe laying, rescuers managed to retrieve him after 15 minutes but his body had
been totally covered in the earth of fine sandy tilth.
15th September 2008.
|
USA
Yard derailment
kills Indiana Rail worker
An employee of
Indiana Railroad has been killed in an accident involving a
derailment on the property of Tangent Rail Products on the
south side of Terre Haute, where a 2-man crew was moving a
tanker unit on to a spur line, the accident occurred at relatively slow speed.
12th September 2008.
|
New Zealand
Crane collapse on Auckland site
A crane of Dominion Constructors collapsed during erection on Wednesday at a
site in Parnell, Auckland, 3 workers were injured, 1 being trapped inside the
cab for almost an hour, the extent of their respective injuries was unknown.
11th September 2008.
|
USA
Forklift crushed worker in New Jersey
plant
A fatal crush accident is being investigated at Rudco Products in Vineland, New
Jersey, where a forklift truck operator lost control of his vehicle which pinned
another worker against a waste compressor at the plant on Maple Avenue.
10th September 2008.
|
UAE
Falling cement bag kills worker
A rope hoisting a bag of cement at a site in the Al Ta'awun area of
Sharjah failed, the bag fell on the head of a worker on a stairway who died from
subsequent head injuries. 9th
September 2008.
|
Australia
Rogue wave hits whale watchers' boat
Maritime Safety Queensland and Workplace Health and Safety are investigating an
accident in which the boat Mahi Mahi of Whales in Paradise was struck by a rogue
wave in the Southport Broadwater during a whale watching excursion, passengers
on the bow were thrown against railings upon the wave's impact, a 12-year old
boy sustained leg and arm fractures . Swell was high in the area which
features silting and sand banks.
9th September 2008.
|
USA
Falling gate kills Chattanooga sandblaster
A 55-year old Tennessee worker was killed at the weekend by a falling heavy gate
which he was sandblasting at ACME Industrial Piping on Rossville Boulevard,
Chattanooga. 8th September 2008.
|
Finland
Bilge transfer accident in Helsinki
harbour
A connecting hose sprung loose during high pressure transfer of bilge water from
the German cruise ship M/S Europa to a container tank at Helsinki's Katajanokka
terminal, causing 60 litres of waste oil to flow into Helsinki harbour on Sunday
morning prior to its departure for St Petersburg. 8th September 2008.
|
Germany
Diseased tree kills pensioner in NRW park
A falling birch tree in a park in Wegberg, Heinsberg, killed a 65-year old woman
who was walking through the park in the middle of the town on Friday, medics
failed to revive her as she lay trapped under the tree.
6th September 2008.
|
Singapore
Double CO fatality at Tuas
shipyard
A leakage of carbon dioxide from below decks of a ship docked at the Tuas
Crescent Shipyard has killed 2 workers engaged on maintenance, 5 others were
injured in the accident. 5th September 2008.
|
Austria
Tyrol farmer's son(2) killed by reversing
tractor
A 2-year old farmer's son has been killed after being struck by a reversing
tractor and hay wagon at a farm in Abfaltersbach, east Tyrol, the accident
occurred in front of a barn to the north of the farmhouse where the boy was
struck by an offside rear wheel.
5th September 2008.
|
Luxembourg
Worker drills into high voltage cable
A Luxembourg worker has been hospitalised with severe burns after contacting a 20K-volt
cable while drilling into a wall at a site in Lichtbogen.
4th September 2008.
|
Spain
Marbella roof fall fatality
Investigators have been studying the circumstances of the death of a 19-year old
worker who died in a 9-metre fall from the roof of the Palacio de Ferias &
Congresos, Marbella.
3rd September 2008.
|
Fiji
Painter compensated for fall from plank
A magistrate's court in Suva has awarded a tradesman of Lion Builders $FD29K
(£10,130) following an accident in which he fell from a painter's plank and has
been unable to resume a working life. The magistrate found the company guilty of
failing to provide a safe workplace and exposing the worker to unnecessary
risks on the plank which featured nailed extensions.
3rd September 2008.
|
South Africa
Mpumalanga female firefighter killed
A 44-year old female firefighter was killed on Monday while travelling to tackle
a blaze on a plantation in Ngodwana, the fire engine with its 16 crew became
trapped by fire as the wind changed, she fell to the ground after evacuating the
vehicle and could not be rescued.
2nd September 2008.
|
India
Car plant paint shop fire investigation
A fire broke out on Monday in the paint shop at the Hyundai Motor India plant in
Chennai, the alert was raised by cleaners who are normally engaged there on
Mondays, 7 workers have been treated for injuries.
2nd September 2008.
|
Spain
Fireworks explosion fatality in Asturias
A 20-year old woman was killed on Sunday when a tractor towing a load of
fireworks for a pyrotechnic display for the Festival de la Sidra in Huerces,
Gijon, exploded as it was passing through the Villaverde barrio, 3 others
including 2 children are being treated in Gijon's Hospital de Cabuenes for
serious burns, it remains unclear why the rockets exploded.
1st September 2008.
|
Sweden
Ceremonial canon explosion fractures
wedding guest's leg
A ceremonial canon exploded during a wedding party salute on Saturday in
Solna, a flying fragment struck a guest, breaking her thigh as well as
inflicting burns injuries.
1st September 2008.
|
|
England
Farm fined after worker's fingers severed
in saw accident
A fine of £4K has been levied against the owner of a Yorkshire farm where a
Polish worker severed 3 fingers while working with an unguarded circular saw. He
had been cutting wood at Home Farm, Swinithwaite, last September and was in the
act of lubricating the blade while the saw was activated and unguarded. An HSE
inspector observed that supervision had been inadequate given the worker's
belief that he could lubricate the saw without deactivating it.
30th September 2008.
|
Qatar
Snoozing worker run over by road roller
A 23-year old immigrant worker was killed by a road roller while taking a nap
during his meal break, the accident occurred at his workplace near Interchange
17 on the Abu Samar highway in Abu Nakhla, Doha. He had sought to recline in the
shade of the vehicle and lay unnoticed by the operator who started up the roller
and had run over him twice before becoming aware of the accident.
30th September 2008.
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Japan
US yacht's mayday in Typhoon Jangmi
The coastguard in Okinawa has collected a mayday dispatched by the US-registered
yacht Jade which became caught in Typhoon Jangmi in the South China Sea as it
sailed from Malaysia to Okinawa, it is believed that 4 US citizens are on board,
the mayday was received from 50 miles south-southwest of Iriomote Island off
Japan. 29th September 2008.
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Germany
Roller coaster malfunction at Munich Beer
Festival
A technical malfunction of a diesel engine is speculated as the cause of the
breakdown of the Olympia Looping rollercoaster at the Munich Beer Festival which
became stationary 30 metres above ground at the weekend, most passengers exited
via an emergency stairway but 4 others were rescued by way of an aerial
platform. 29th September
2008.
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Israel
Construction falls from height claiming
most workplace lives
This week's Occupational Safety & Health Conference has heard that of last
year's figure of 250 workplace deaths, half occurred in the construction sector,
with 40% of those accidents involving a fall from height.
Across all sectors 45K workplace injuries were recorded with 1,200 safety
inspectors employed nationally. During the year 100K workers underwent some
element of job safety training.
26th September 2008.
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Australia
Falling palm tree kills 4-year old boy
A falling palm tree killed a 4-year old boy on Owen Street in Port Douglas, 45
miles north of Cairns, where he was walking with his father, winds were gusting
to 40mph at the time.
26th September 2008.
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Canada
Giant tyre blowouts kill oil field worker
The blowout of 2 giant tyres during replacement on a lorry and trailer at the
Big Stick oil field site in southwest Saskatchewan, has killed a worker, 2
others working with the tyres sustained non-life-threatening injuries. 25th
September 2008.
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Spain
Robotic equipment finds missing platform
worker
The body of the Malaysian worker missing from the Saipem 7000 MEDGAZ platform,
60 miles off Almeria, has now been recovered, underwater robotic equipment
detected the body this week less than a mile from the platform, he was knocked
over last week when a crane malfunction caused polypropylene tubing to fall. 25th
September 2008.
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USA
Florida roads worker killed
A Lane Construction highway worker
has died after being struck by a vehicle during lane demarcation work in
Lakeland, Florida, as he was crossing Highway 98 from a vehicle with signage. He
was suitably attired with high visibility clothing and was crossing from west to
east. Normal procedure for this work sees the drop-off vehicle with cones and
signage travel against the traffic flow with dipped headlights to allow workers
to view oncoming traffic prior to crossing. 24th September 2008.
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USA
Fatal fall at New Mexico cinema site
A 48-year old construction worker of Alamo General Construction was killed in a
10-metre fall this week at the site of the new multi-screen cinema in the
Mesilla Valley shopping mall in Las Cruces, New Mexico. 24th September 2008.
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Spain
Worker killed in Costa Brava lift shaft
A 59-year old maintenance worker was killed on Monday while working on a lift at
an office block in Lloret de Mar, he was working in an open lift shaft at 1st
floor level when a hoist loaded with rubble descended on him from the 5th floor.
23rd September 2008.
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The Netherlands
Helicopter ambulance clips trees at accident site
An air ambulance helicopter struck tree canopy as it landed at an accident site
on Provincialweg in Someren, north Brabant, where a bus and car had collided, damage to its
rotor blades left it incapacitated but no injuries occurred to flight personnel.
23rd September 2008.
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Ethiopia
Sugar cane factory worker eaten by lion
A worker from the Metehara Sugar Factory has been killed and eaten by a lion
which had probably escaped from the Awash Game Park, 150 miles east of Addis
Ababa, colleagues of the victim discovered a gory trail in the adjacent sugar
cane plantation where the worker's detached head was found.
22nd September 2008.
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Germany
Excavator hits WW2 bomb at NRW site
An excavator struck an unexploded American WW2 bomb on Friday at the site
of the former Huttengelande on Strasse am Walzwerk, Hattingen, the excavator
operator and 16 others were injured. The blast from the 250-Kg bomb which lay
half-a-metre underground saw substantial damage within a 300 metre radius, with
some fragments being detected as far as 1,500 metres away.
20th September 2008.
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England
Northants company fined over forklift
amputee accident
At Derby Crown Court NYK Logistics of Northampton has been fined £25,941
including costs in respect of an accident at its warehouse in Findern, Derby,
which resulted in a female employee having the lower section of a leg amputated.
In March 2006, the woman, who was responsible for material being loaded on to
pallets, had crossed an area between 2 offices when she was struck by a
reversing 2.5-tonnes forklift truck, sustaining multiple fractures.
An HSE spokeswoman observed that the accident "could have been avoided if NYK
had taken a few simple measures such as ensuring the accident victim's' duties
didn't involve her having to walk across a vehicle loading area or putting
barriers in place to prevent pedestrian access."
19th September 2008.
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Malta
Port worker's leg broke on corroded deck
A port worker whose leg injury led to a permanent disability of 10% has been
awarded payment of €68,308(£54,172) by a court in Valetta, he was working on the
MV Tama where his leg fractured when it broke through a corroded section of
deck, such was the vessel's corrosion it was subsequently scrapped.
Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd was deemed to have failed to provide a safe
workplace for employees.
19th September 2008.
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France
Breton farmer's chain saw accident
A 40-year old Breton farmer was admitted to hospital in Laval on Wednesday with
a serious arm injury following an accident while cutting shrubbery with a chain
saw on his land at Torce-Viviers-en-Charnie, he was conscious despite the
severity of the injury.
18th September 2008.
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USA
Indiana worker dies from MEWP accident
injuries
The Indiana municipal worker who was injured last week while replacing light
bulbs on traffic lights in Kokoma has died in the Methodist Hospital, he was
operating from a mobile elevating work platform from which he was pitched out 10
metres after it was struck by another vehicle
18th September 2008.
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Germany
Cadet's body recovered after overboard
accident
A German fisheries vessel has picked up the body of a female cadet who had
fallen overboard from the sail-training ship Gorch Fock earlier this month, the
cadet had fallen overboard during night watch with the Gorch Fock under full
sail 10 miles north of Norderney, her body was recovered 70 miles northwest of
Helgoland, more than 100 miles from the accident location.
17th September 2008.
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England
Kent roofer in fatal fall
A man has died in a fall while working on the roof of office premises in
Victoria Road, Deal.
17th September 2008.
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New Zealand
Manager killed in sand hopper accident
A Labour Ministry investigation is underway following the death of the
masonry supply manager of Firth Industries in Richmond, Nelson, who was killed
in an accident after becoming trapped under 4 tonnes of sand in a hopper at the
concrete plant. 17th
September 2008.
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New Zealand
Crop spraying helicopter flies into power lines
A Robinson R44 helicopter of Heliworks crashed into power lines during crop
spraying on Monday, crashing on to farm land north of Napier, the 49-year old
pilot is listed in critical condition in hospital at Hawke's Bay.
16th September 2008.
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Malta
Winds bring down lighting at outdoors
event
A 17-year old woman sustained serious injuries when high winds brought down a
structure supporting lighting at an alfresco function near the Ta' Fra Ben
Restaurant, Qawra, 7 other people were treated for lesser injuries.
16th September 2008.
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France
Adult and child drown in Seine collision
Two persons were taken into custody following the collision and sinking of a
small craft on the Seine in central Paris on Saturday evening, 12 people were on
board when the accident occurred near the Pont de l'Archeveche close to Notre
Dame, where an adult and child drowned. It has yet to be positively established
whether the boat struck a bridge pillar or the bateau-mouche river boat, La
Besogne.
15th September 2008.
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Austria
Electrician's
body recovered in Steyr dam
Divers have
recovered the body of a 56-year old electrician of E-Werks
Stubenberg who drowned in the dam at the Rohsler power station
in Hartberg, Steyr, he had apparently been attempting to
retrieve a dropped item with a hooked stick when he
overbalanced and fell into a shaft, his body was recovered
near an overflow area.
12th September 2008.
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Canada
Fatal ladder fall investigation in Ottawa
A fatal accident investigation has been studying the circumstances of the death
of a worker in his 20's who died in a fall from a ladder at the Children's
Hospital of Eastern Ontario site of Pomerleau Construction in Ottawa.
11th September 2008.
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USA
West Virginia farmer killed in tractor
rollover
A 56-year old farmer has been killed in a tractor rollover accident during hay
bailing on agricultural land in Fork Ridge, Glen Easton, Marshall County. The
tractor was operating on a gradient at the time, the farmer had either been
pitched off or had attempted to leap clear.
10th September 2008.
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Argentina
Workers survive structural collapse at B
As site
A section of structure collapsed on Monday morning at the site of a municipal
building under construction on Valle Street in the Caballito district of Buenos
Aires, trapping 2 workers aged 20 and 25, reports from Durand hospital indicate
that their lives are not in danger.
9th September 2008.
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France
Bogus plastic surgeon jailed
A bogus plastic surgeon has received a 3-year jail term and been fined
€75K(£61,500) after being
apprehended while on the run in Spain following a trial which began in June.
Although he held formal qualifications to practice medicine, which were
withdrawn in 2007, he was not qualified in plastic surgery, many of his patients
in Marseille raised complaints over the surgery between 2002 and 2004 regarding
disfigurement and permanent health problems.
9th September 2008.
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England
Gloucestershire trench fatality
HSE is investigating a fatal accident on a construction site in Stroud,
Gloucestershire where an unstable excavation collapsed on a worker. 8th September 2008.
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England
Serious accident at Cambs skip site
A Cambridgeshire man has been admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital with serious
head injuries after being rescued from under a car at Singh Skips at the Lion
House in March, Isle of Ely.
5th September 2008.
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Austria
Vienna boy falls from 2nd floor school
window
A 16-year old schoolboy has been hospitalised with critical skull injury and
multiple fractures after falling from a 2nd floor window at a school in the
Favoriten district of Vienna on Wednesday, it appears that he had climbed out of
the window as a dare and was climbing in again when he fell.
4th September 2008.
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Wales
Incident at Corus leaves intruder dead
One of three intruders at the former Ebbw Vale steelworks died on Tuesday
following an incident in the early hours.
There is speculation that the deceased and two others, one of whom required
hospital treatment, may have been engaged in metal theft, both were bailed by
Gwent Police. 4th September
2008.
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England
Construction worker succumbs to injuries
The 28-year old construction worker who was injured in an industrial accident
last week on a site in Witney, Oxfordshire, has died in hospital.
One account states he was operating an elevating work platform at the time of
the incident. 2nd September
2008.
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England
Yorkshire scrapyard death
A man has died in an industrial accident in Ravensthorpe. He died when a gas
cylinder exploded while he was handling it on scrap metal premises.
2nd September 2008.
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England
Workman killed at marine terminal
A seaman has died in an industrial accident on a ship moored at the Fawley oil
terminal in Hampshire.
He was struck and fatally injured by lifting equipment during oil pumping
operations on Saturday. 1st
September 2008.
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England
Unsafe roofing practice not tolerated by
courts
A system of work adopted by a roofing contractor has earned it a fine from
Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates.
Steve Emery Roofing Ltd of Newcastle-under-Lyme was fined £2,000 with
£1,160 costs, on 28th January 2008 the firm's employees were observed on an
unsafe scaffold where they had altered the boards to enable them to handle roof
tiles to be passed from person to person down to the ground, thereby avoiding
breakage, exposing them to a risk of falling up to 4 metres. Furthermore, the
workers were not trained scaffolders, the incident revealing an absence of
effective planning. 30th
September 2008.
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England
Employer failed to check dead worker's
training record
Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the employer of a forklift truck
driver who died in an accident at Hangar no.1 at the former RAF Cardington,
Bedfordshire, in May 2003 have both been fined in connection with lapses that
permitted the accident to occur. Employer Welwood Roofing Services Ltd of Corby
was fined £50,000 with costs of £25,000 for a breach of the HSW Act, BRE of
Watford was fined £17,500 with £12,000 costs after pleading guilty to breaching
r.9(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations1998 for supplying
the deceased's truck, for which he was not adequately trained.
An HSE Inspector explained: "I hope this tragic accident makes it clear to
employers that they need to take positive action to manage risks, particularly
where the work involves using forklift trucks. The deceased's death could have
been avoided had the companies involved carried out checks to confirm whether or
not he knew of the dangers of forklift trucks and how to drive them safely."
29th September 2008.
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England
Roof fall death in Cornwall
A man has died in an accident while working on premises at the Kernick
Industrial Estate in Penryn, it is reported that he fell through a building
roof. 26th September 2008.
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England
Danger of scrap metal processing
A man died in an industrial accident in May 2005 when an explosion occurred as
he fed gas cylinders into a crusher/compactor to shear
them, the resultant fireball of acetylene inflicted serious burns both to him
and a company director at the premises of Reliance Scrap-Metal Merchants in
Poole, Dorset.
The company was fined a total of £60,000, the Director a total of £1,000.
An HSE inspector advises: "I urge the scrap industry to think very carefully
about how it deals with gas cylinders, they should never be cut or crushed and
remember that most cylinders remain the property of a gas company and should be
returned. If you do come across gas cylinders in your scrap-yard, then take them
out of the process and store them in secure compound before contacting the
cylinder owners to arrange collection." 25th
September 2008.
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England
Staffs farming death
A farmer has died in an accident involving agricultural machinery. Sunday's accident
occurred at Abbots Bromley, near Uttoxeter, the deceased was discovered in a
field at the machinery, there has been speculation he had been attempting a
repair to it. 24th
September 2008.
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Scotland
Construction death in Scotland
It is reported that a workman in his 40's has died in an industrial accident at
the Glendoe Hydro scheme in Invernesshire.
23rd September 2008.
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England
Lifting operations involve risks requiring
mitigation
A lifting operation that was not fully risk reduced ended badly when a man was
left with back injuries and a broken leg after an accident on Teesside involving
an electro-magnetic crane.
Corus UK Ltd, trading as Corus
Tubes in Hartlepool, was fined a total of £15,000 with costs of £6,248 at Hartlepool Magistrates'
Court after admitting a breach of S.2(1)
of the Health and Safety Work etc. Act 1974 following the
incident on 27th April 2007.
By way of warning to users of such equipment, an HSE inspector commented: "The crane operator
was nearby using a remote control to lift a raft of steel
beams, the longest one, some 16m in length and weighing
about 1.7 tonnes, using a magnetic crane attachment. A beam
snagged on the side of the building and fell from the crane,
hitting the operator. He suffered severe injuries to his
back and leg which left him unable to work for months.
Electro-magnetic attachments to cranes can reduce
certain risks, such as having to climb onto loads to sling
and release the load. However, these magnets can drop their
loads for a number of reasons and it is important that no
one is anywhere near the suspended load until it is in a
safe position. In this case the combination of the length of
the steel beams and the site layout meant there was no safe
operating position. The problems with magnetic cranes were
well know at Corus and an alternative way of working should
have been found to protect both the operator and other
workers in the area."
22nd September 2008.
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England
Bale kills worker
A man in his 50's employed by a haulier has died in an industrial accident at
the Elean Power Station in Sutton, Cambridgeshire.
He was struck by a large bale of hay during unloading from a trailer.
20th September 2008.
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Northern Ireland
Transport death at aerospace company
An employee of Bombardier has died following a transport accident on Wednesday
at its Belfast premises.
19th September 2008.
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England
Fatal accident at Yorkshire business
It is reported that a workman has died after being trapped between two vehicles.
The accident occurred at the Bradford premises of Patchett Engineering Ltd.
18th September 2008.
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England
Quad bike death in Wiltshire
An inquest into the death of a 12- year-old
boy as he rode his quad bike on land at Corsham is to take place this week.
One account states that he was negotiating an incline when it overturned and
landed on him.
17th September 2008.
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England
RCD would have prevented severe injury
East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust has admitted breaching the Electricity at Work
Regulations 1989 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
1999 in connection with an incident at the Conquest Hospital in St
Leonards-On-Sea in which an employee suffered an electric shock from a steam
cleaner.
Despite advice from the equipment manufacturer, the Trust failed to supply an
RCD(residual-current device) to mitigate the effects of shock, and it was fined £8,000 with costs of
£8,4671. An HSE inspector commented: "Hospitals need to assess the risks from
all electrical equipment, but particularly equipment that is used in a wet
environment, and put in place suitable measures, such as RCDs, to protect their
employees, as a way of reducing the risk of incidents like this happening."
16th September 2008.
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England
Fatal accident at Devon farm
It is reported that a workman has died in an incident while working at a farm at
Bickleigh near Cullompton, Devon. The incident occurred on Thursday, accounts state he
was struck by an excavator and died at the scene.
15th September 2008.
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England
Farming death in Cheshire
A farm worker in his 20's has died after becoming trapped in agricultural
machinery on Tuesday. The accident occurred at Huxley, west of Tarporley.
12th September 2008.
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England
Crane driver leapt to safety
AMEC Group Ltd of Northwich has been fined £10,000 with £9,143 costs, and crane
operators Leach Structural Steelwork Ltd of Preston fined £10,000 with £9,143
costs by Warrington Magistrates in connection with an incident in February 2007
in which a crane driver was forced to leap to safety, and his 5.7-tonne beam
that was being lifted into place narrowly missed 2 employees as it fell on a
site in Warrington.
The planning and supervision of the lifting operation was discovered by
inspectors to be deficient, an HSE inspector commented: "The crane overturned
because it was being operated, with the knowledge of both companies, in a part
of the site that had not been prepared for such activities. The roadway was not
wide enough to accommodate the outrigger spread of the crane."
11th September 2008.
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Scotland
2 died in mixer
The tragic deaths of 2 men could have been easily prevented if the power supply
to the machine they were working on had been properly isolated.
On 26th November 2005, they were cleaning inside an animal feed mixer which
started up unexpectedly and without warning, investigations showed that the
power supply to the mixer was not properly isolated and that a wiring error
inside the mixer control system meant the switches the men had used to turn the
machine off were bypassed, allowing the machine to start up under computer
control.
Employers Galloway and MacLeod Ltd were fined £18,750 (£25,000), Barr Electrical
Contractors Ltd were fined £45,000 (£60,000), both fines were reduced by 25%
following guilty pleas being tendered.
10th September 2008.
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England
Unsafe platform failed workman
Profile Construction & Interiors Ltd of Alresford, Hampshire, has been fined
£234 plus £200 costs and a victim surcharge of £15 over an incident which
resulted in multiple injury to an employee who fell through a fragile roof
during August 2007. His 3.5m fall through the fragile roof of an industrial
building occurred while standing on two crawling boards that afforded an
insufficient platform to work on, and which had no coverings or guard-rails.
9th September 2008.
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England
Fatal accident
at Yorkshire farm
It is reported that a man has fallen to his death through the roof of an
agricultural building in Armthorpe, east of Doncaster.
8th September 2008.
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England
Quarries remain dangerous workplaces
Aram Resources Ltd of Penryn, Cornwall, has been fined a total of £75,000 with
costs of £30,000 for safety failures at its Carnsew
Quarry in Mabe at which a workman was killed in July 2004 in an industrial
accident. The man became caught in the fixed guard of a primary crusher machine
as it came into contact with a moving flywheel.
A measure of the dangers of the quarry industry is that a quarry worker is more
than twice as likely to be killed through an accident at work as a construction
worker and 13 times as likely as someone working in the manufacturing
industries. 5th September 2008.
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Scotland
Workplace transport fatal accident in
Highlands
A man in his 20's has died in a transport accident during the felling of trees
on a site undergoing development.
The incident occurred on Sunday near Drumnadrochit, one account states he was
crushed between 2 vehicles.
4th September 2008.
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England
Electrician's 5-metre fall on demolition
site
Wooldridge Ecotec Ltd of Bagshot, Surrey, has been fined £15,000 with £4,971
costs over an industrial accident in which an electrician was seriously injured
in a 5-metre fall as he worked during March 2005 at the former Pirelli Cables
factory in Greenwich. One of the company directors was fined £5,000 plus £1,657
costs.
The electrician was on the first floor when he stepped on some steel sheet
material covering a hole. It failed, and he fell more than 5 metres.
HSE was critical of the company and the director for failing to ensure that
measures identified to control risks were adequately implemented.
3rd September 2008.
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Scotland
Offshore worker dead
The body of the missing engineer who fell from the oil industry North Star
Shipping supply vessel Grampian Hunter on Sunday was recovered from the sea east
of Fraserburgh yesterday. 2nd
September 2008.
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England
Man falls to his death at Surrey church
It is reported that an elderly man has fallen from the bell tower of St Mary's
Church in Mildenhall, he sustained fatal head injuries in Saturday's incident.
2nd September 2008.
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England
Farming fatal accident in Staffs
It is reported that a farm worker died on Tuesday in an industrial accident on a
farm at Shapley Heath, Staffs. One account states he died after becoming caught
up in hay baling equipment.
1st September 2008.
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