Malaysia
Parachutist dies in jump from tower
A 42-year old Australian parachutist died during a practice jump from
the Alor Setar Tower of Telekom Malaysia where she was preparing for
an international competition on October 7th, for reasons unknown her
parachute failed to open. 30th September 2010
|
USA
Unstable silage suffocates NY farmer
A New York state farmer has died of suffocation when a pile of silage
became unstable as he loaded it into a feeder and he became buried
under it at Fort Hill Farm in Seneca. Although a relative managed to
pull him out he had already been suffocated under the feed. 30th September 2010
|
Canada
Vehicle pins Newfoundland mechanic
Occupational Health & Safety is investigating an accident on Tuesday
at a vehicle maintenance shop in Blackmarsh Road, St John's,
Newfoundland, where a worker was injured when a lorry from which he
was removing the drive shaft became unstable and pinned him.
He was hospitalised with multiple fractures but was not in
life-threatening condition.
29th September 2010
|
USA
Burns accident at tomato processing plant
A 23-year old Californian worker sustained 2nd degree facial burns
upon being hit by hot tomato paste from a valve at Liberty Packing in
Los Banos, 100 miles southeast of San Francisco.
29th September 2010
|
Turkey
Car comes off ferry ramp as mooring line snaps
Three passengers were injured and had to be rescued from a partially
submerged car by a ferry crew after a mooring rope failed as the
Kanuni Sultan Suleyman ferry berthed at Yalova on Monday.
The ferry from Yenikapi quay, Istanbul, was carrying 46 vehicles and
194 passengers, another car only just managed to remain on the ramp
after the rope failed.
28th September 2010
|
India
Maharashtra mine accident
A mine worker was killed and 2 others were injured when a roof
collapsed at the Silewara mine of Western Coalfields Ltd in
Maharashtra. 28th
September 2010
|
Italy
Tourists drown as car comes off ferry ramp
A German and a Polish tourist died when their car came off the ramp of
a Moby Line ferry during disembarkation in Genoa, the car was 3rd off
the ferry which is believed to have moved forward, the car slipping
off the ramp into the water.
The company has not been able to rule out human error. Last July a
passenger died at the port when a gangway failed.
27th September 2010
|
China
7 fishermen feared drowned after tug collision
Six fishermen are missing, feared drowned, after their boat collided
with a tug and sank off Zhejiang County, Ningbo City, the body of
another fisherman was recovered in the area, the cause of the accident
is under investigation. 27th September 2010
|
USA
Ohio roads worker killed by reversing lorry
A construction worker was killed in a work zone on the Ohio 4 Bypass
project in Fairfield where he was struck by a reversing lorry laden
with asphalt. 27th
September 2010
|
USA
Landscaper severs foot and hand in chipper
A hand and a foot of a 57-year old Vietnamese national of Ryalcor
Landscaping were severed on Thursday in wood chipping equipment at a
site on Shoreline Drive, North Bend, North Carolina, it is speculated
that he may have been attempting to clear a blockage in the machinery. 24th September 2010
|
New Zealand
Canoe flew through driver's windscreen
An HGV driver was admitted to Palmerston North Hospital on Thursday
with critical injuries after being impaled by a canoe which came
through his windscreen, having broken free from a vehicle behind which
he was driving on Highway 1 near Levin. 24th September 2010
|
Brazil
6 killed in Rio bus factory fire
A major fire occurred yesterday at Ciferal Industria de Onibus, a
lorry and coach manufacturing company on Rua Pastor Avelino de Souza
in Xerem, Rio de Janeiro, leaving at least 6 workers dead and dozens
injured.
Some of the injured are listed in critical
condition in the Hospital de Clinicas Mario Lioni, it is speculated
that the fire began in a store in a garage on the premises.
23rd September 2010
|
Belgium
Electrocution in paper factory
A subcontract worker was electrocuted yesterday while undertaking
maintenance work on a machine in the VPK Packaging paper company in
Oudegem,
East Flanders.
23rd September 2010
|
USA
Train/postal van level crossing collision
An Alabama postal worker driving a van was killed when his vehicle
was struck by a southbound Norfolk Southern railway train at a level
crossing in the far south of Washington county, the crossing
features a stop sign but is unguarded.
22nd September 2010
|
Malaysia
Roads worker killed in hit-and-run incident
Police in Seremban are searching for the driver of a car which failed
to stop after striking and killing a roads worker at a site at km266
on the North-South Expressway, another roads worker was hospitalised
with injuries. 22nd
September 2010
|
Canada
Manitoba girl injured in potato conveyor
Workplace Health & Safety is investigating an accident in which a
14-year old Manitoba girl was injured when she slipped and became
trapped on a potato conveyor she was attempting to cross on a
farm near Carberry,105 miles east of Winnipeg, she is understood to be
recovering in hospital after being rescued by fire crews.
21st September 2010
|
Belgium
Burns accident at steel works
On Monday evening a worker was admitted to Angleur Hospital, Liege,
following a burns accident involving molten steel at the ESB
(Engineering Steel Belgium) plant at Seraing.
21st September
2010
|
Germany
Pilot killed in air
show collision
A pilot died when 2 classic aircraft
collided during an air show on Saturday at Warngau, his plane caught
fire and crashed close to the Munich-Lenggries railway line. The other
pilot completed an emergency landing safely, this was the second fatal
accident at an air show in recent weeks.
20th September 2010
|
Indonesia
Soldier killed
handling faulty explosive device
A 40-year old master-sergeant has died
and 7 soldiers were injured in an explosion when a malfunctioning
explosive device went off in his hand as he attempted to change its
battery.
The Indonesian Army was conducting an exercise to cross the Manggar River in East Kalimantan and the 350g device was intended
to clear the water of crocodiles, however when the device failed it
was decided to switch the battery. 20th
September 2010
|
Sudan
38 killed in White Nile bus collision
The frontal collision of 2 buses near Alrader, 40 miles south of
Khartoum, has left 38 people dead and 26 others injured, the accident
apparently occurred during an overtaking manoeuvre.
17th September 2010
|
East Timor
UN soldier injured in balcony collapse
An Australian soldier in a UN detachment is being treated in hospital
in Darwin for injuries sustained when a balcony collapsed in Bacau,
East Timor, he was initially treated locally in Dili prior to airlift
to Darwin. 17th September 2010
|
Italy
Cockpit glass bubble malfunction in VIP flight
On Thursday morning an aircraft carrying Italian premier Silvio
Berlusconi to a European summit in Brussels had to turn back to
Milan-Linate airport when a bubble in a cockpit porthole was detected
as the flight was over Zurich. The technical problem caused a
short-circuit in the window heating and although the aircraft could
have continued at lower altitude, it was decided to return to Milan. 16th September 2010
|
Belgium
Train collision
An investigation was ongoing on Thursday into the collision of 2
trains in Arlon station close to the Luxembourg border. No derailment
occurred in the low speed collision but 40 people required treatment
for light injuries. 16th September 2010
|
Belgium
2 women killed in Liege scaffold collapse
In Liege(Luik) on Tuesday 2 women died and 3 men were injured, 2
critically, when a cradle came off a scaffold and fell 10 metres at
the new RTBF Mediacite building. It is believed that the accident
occurred as they were being taken up to 2nd floor
level. 15th September 2010
|
Italy
Capua maintenance workers deaths investigated
An investigation has been ongoing into the deaths of 3 maintenance
workers in a possible confined space accident at the DSM factory in
Capua where they died in one of the 2 fermentation units used to
manufacture food ingredients and enzymes. 15th September 2010
|
Venezuela
14 killed in air crash
An ATR-42 turboprop of Conviasa crashed shortly after take-off from
Ciudad Guayana, 330 miles southeast of Caracas, coming down at a steel
works site with the loss of 14 lives. Of the 51 passengers and crew,
14 died and 4 are missing, feared dead, with 33 known survivors.
14th September 2010
|
India
Overloaded floor collapse
It is speculated that the weight of heavy machinery caused a floor
collapse at Lakshmi Energy & Food Industries in Khamano, Ludhiana,
Punjab, on
Monday leading to the deaths of 2 workers and injuring 3 others.
14th September 2010
|
Spain
Spectator killed at bull run
A female spectator at yesterday's bull run
through the streets of Arganda del Rey, southeast Madrid, has died
from blunt trauma injuries after being struck by a bull when she put
her head through the vertical "talanqueras" bars separating the public
from the bull run. It is thought that she had believed that all the
bulls had passed but she was caught by a straggler. 10th September 2010
|
Norway
Missing sailor's body recovered
A body found in Mannefjorden off Mandal, south Norway, is believed to
be that of 1 of the 4 Danes missing in a boating accident near
Skjerney. Only 2 of the 6 people on board were rescued, the other 4
have been presumed drowned. Their boat capsized, possibly after
running out of fuel.
10th September 2010
|
Malaysia
Trainee pilot dies in licence test flight crash
A 19-year old female trainee pilot has died in a crash while taking
her private pilot's licence test in Ladang Sri Pulai. The examiner of
the Department of Civil Aviation survived the crash of the 2-seater
Liberty XL2 aircraft of KL International Flying Academy which came down in
an oil palm plantation.
9th September 2010
|
Australia
Meth spirits bottle explodes in worker's hand
A 22-year old worker at a glazing factory in Sunshine Coast,
Queensland, is being treated for burns over much of one side of his
upper body after a bottle of methylated spirits exploded in his hand.
9th September 2010
|
Spain
2 dead as train hits lorry on works level crossing
Two people died and 13 were injured when a train struck a lorry on a
rail construction site level crossing yesterday at Carmonita, between
Aldea del Cano and Aljucen in Extremadura. The Caceres - Merida train
was carrying 14 passengers, 1 of whom was among the fatalities.
8th September 2010
|
USA
Confined space accident claims worker and fireman
A double fatality occurred in a toxic atmosphere in a manhole in
Tarrytown, New York, where a fireman succumbed to the oxygen-deficient
atmosphere in the confined space while attempting the rescue of a
Tarrytown Public Works Department employee who had entered the manhole
to investigate a sewage blockage and was overcome by fumes.
8th September 2010
|
Spain
Worker electrocuted at Madrid dental surgery
A 45-year old worker died in an electrical accident and a 3-metre fall
yesterday at a dental practice on Angel Saavedra Street in Rivas,
Madrid. 7th
September 2010
|
Germany
Tractor rollover at Mosel vineyard
A 49-year old Mosel vintner died in a tractor rollover accident during
spraying on a gradient in Weinberg, this was the 2nd such fatality in
local vineyards this summer.
7th September 2010
|
Dem Rep of Congo
200 drown in Kasai River sinking
At least 200 people are feared
drowned following an engine room fire and the sinking of an overloaded
boat near Mbendayi on the Kasai River, South Congo.
Police have already arrested some crew members. The boat had no
passenger manifest and was carrying a number of drums of fuel, it is
speculated that the accident occurred when fuel was being poured into
the tank. Earlier in the weekend 70 people died when a riverboat
struck rocks in northwest Congo. 6th
September 2010
|
Italy
Motorcyclist killed at San Marino GP
A
Japanese Moto2 rider died in Riccione
Hospital from injuries sustained when he lost control of his bike on a
bend of the Santa Monica circuit during Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix
at Misano and fell and was struck by following riders.
6th September 2010
|
Austria
Double fatality in training flight crash
An instructor and a trainee pilot died when their aircraft crashed
yesterday at Freistadt airfield in Hirschbach, Upper Austria.
Although no official cause for the accident has been ascertained, it
has been speculated that a "touch-and-go" manoeuvre was being
executed. 3rd
September 2010
|
Italy
Corpse may have lain 20 years in house
The decomposed body of Francesco Vicentini, believed to have died of a
heart attack 10-20 years ago, was found on a bed in his house in
Cadine, Trento. He had been an HGV driver but had not been seen in his
village after his lorry had caught fire and he stopped working. His
brother, with whom his relations were strained, found the body when he
came to sell the apparently abandoned house. 3rd
September 2010
|
Russia
Building collapse in St Petersburg
An 8-storey building undergoing refurbishment work on Ligovski
Prospekt, St Petersburg, collapsed on Wednesday. The building was
virtually unoccupied, 3 people in the first floor were unhurt but a
woman on the second floor was hospitalised with unspecified injuries,
a modicum of commercial activity was being undertaken in the
building's lower floors.
2nd September 2010
|
Greece
Air force rescues stricken jet ski tourists
An air force helicopter was scrambled to rescue 3 New Zealand tourists
who got into difficulties on jet skis off Santorini, 1 person required
treatment for injuries.
2nd September 2010
|
India
11 workers electrocuted at housing site
Eleven workers, 8 men and 3 women were
electrocuted at the SUDA(State Urban Development Authority) housing
project in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh when the
projecting pipe of a concrete mixer contacted overhead high power lines,
the site contractor, who absconded, is wanted by
police.
1st September 2010
|
USA
Falling car crushes New Jersey scrap worker
A forklift supporting a car at Beji
Dismantling in Paterson, New Jersey, collapsed, crushing a worker and
injuring another who were underneath.
1st September 2010
|
|
Australia
Melbourne gas factory fire
A worker sustained burns injuries, believed to be
non-life-threatening, in a fire yesterday when a gas cylinder exploded
at an LPG conversion factory on Renver Road, Clayton, southeast
Melbourne, the presence of a dozen LPG cylinders and insulation posed
hazards for fire crews. 30th September 2010
|
South Africa
Double fatality at gold mine
Harmony Gold Mining has reported that the body of one of the 2 miners
missing in an earth tremor at the Bambanani mine was recovered on
Tuesday. 29th
September 2010
|
Uganda
Workers killed in molten steel splash
Police in Iganga, eastern Uganda, are investigating a double fatality
at the Tembo Steel Rolling Mills where 2 workers died when molten
metal spilled from a vessel in the continuous casting machine section.
It is speculated that cable failed and the vessel with molten scrap
metal overturned.
29th September 2010
|
Canada
Fatal roof collapse at Montreal site
A construction worker died on a site in Montreal on Monday when a
section of roof collapsed from 3rd to 2nd floor level during
refurbishment work at a site on the corner of Visitation St and
Sherbrooke St, 5 other workers escaped without serious injuries.
28th September 2010
|
Australia
Skydiver's death investigated
Workplace Health & Safety is investigating a fatal accident in which a
veteran skydiver died following a midair collision and entanglement
with another skydiver who survived the accident at a parachute jump
championships at Tully, Queensland.
The Australian Parachuting Federation's safety director described the
incident as " a freak accident."
28th September 2010
|
Belgium
3 killed in Brussels gas explosion
Three people died when a gas explosion collapsed properties in the
Shaerbeek area of Brussels, of 17 people injured, the most critical is
a young girl whose condition remains stable.
27th September 2010
|
Serbia
Bin men killed in traffic accident
Two refuse workers were killed on Saturday when they were struck by a
vehicle involved in a traffic accident as they were standing beside a
bin van in a Belgrade suburb. 27th September 2010
|
Austria
Farmer killed in crush accident
A farmer in Waldviertel, Lower Austria, has died in a crush accident
during repair work on his farm where he was pinned between a tractor
and hydraulic lifting equipment. 27th September 2010
|
Ukraine
Odessa helicopter crash
A Ka-26 helicopter of JSC Mykolaiv Aero crashed in Velyka Mykhailivka,
Odessa, on Thursday afternoon, the flight comprised of a pilot and
passenger, no news of their condition and the precise locus were known. 24th September 2010
|
Turkey
2 killed in mine collapse
A fall of ground has killed 2 mine workers in Balikesir, a miner who
survived is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries in Kesput
State Hospital. 24th September 2010
|
Canada
Ontario power worker killed
A Westario Power employee died in hospital early on Wednesday from
injuries sustained in an accident while working to restore power in
Port Elgin, Ontario, following recent storms.
23rd September 2010
|
France
2 killed in Loire air crash
A light aircraft crash killed 2 people yesterday, the flight came down
in a field at Saint-Romain-La-Motte, 8 miles from Roanne aerodrome
from where it had taken off, no cause for the accident was immediately
available.
23rd September 2010
|
Mexico
Crocodiles escape from farm
Locals in Veracruz have been warned that almost 300 crocodiles, some
3-metres long, have escaped from the La Antigua farm where they were
being reared, floods from Hurricane Karl effected their escape.
22nd September 2010
|
USA
Electrician electrocuted at Florida site
A Florida electrician was electrocuted when he contacted a live
power source during maintenance work at the North Star Foodservices
construction site in Port Orange.
22nd September 2010
|
Niger
Search for captives leads to Mali
French soldiers have joined the search for 7 people kidnapped near the
uranium mining town of Arlit. The victims comprise of a worker of
French nuclear manufacturer Areva and his spouse, and 5 subcontract
workers of Satom. The captors are believed to have taken the group
northwest towards Mali and Algeria.
21st
September 2010
|
Ukraine
Workers gassed in Lugansk mine
Three maintenance workers died from gas poisoning while undertaking
work to strengthen tunnel walls at a disused coal mine in Anenska,
east Lugansk. 21st
September 2010
|
Italy
Fatal accident at Rome equestrian event
A 23-year old Austrian rider died in a
fall while participating in the Montelibretti International Horse
Trails, his 15-year old gelding failed to negotiate the 10C jump, a
timber bar obstacle at the foot of a gradient.
20th September 2010
|
USA
Ohio grain auger fatality
It is speculated that the 21-year old
employee of Peavey Company who died in an accident in a grain bin in
Morral, Ohio, may have caught his foot in the auger after it fell
through a grating as he was sweeping grain into the auger.
20th September 2010
|
Australia
Subsidence made platform unstable
A worker died in an 18-metre fall from a hydraulic work platform at a
primary school site in southeast Melbourne, the lift became unstable
when subsidence occurred.
This was the 7th fall from height workplace death in Victoria this
year. 17th September
2010
|
Austria
Worker injured in utility pole collapse
A utility worker was badly injured in a fall in Florisdsdorf, Vienna,
when a timber pole on which he was working became unstable and fell,
the condition of its anchor at ground level had been obscured by long
grass and weeds. 17th September 2010
|
USA
Transport accident at Iowa airport
An employee of United Parcel Service has died following a transport
accident at Des Moines Airport, Iowa, where he was struck by a
vehicle's trailer as he opened a gate. He was pinned against a
structure, but not crushed, but apparently then fell under the vehicle. 16th September 2010
|
Antarctica
Unwell US worker airlifted to New Zealand
An Orion aircraft from New Zealand achieved a successful landing and
take-off yesterday on the ice-covered runway at the US McMurdo Station
on north Antarctica to air-lift an ill employee of US company
Raytheon on a 7-hour flight to Christchurch, the mission was aborted
on Sunday due to adverse weather.
15th September 2010
|
Canada
Confined space incident in cider vats
Two Jamaican workers engaged in pump maintenance on a cider vat at
Filsinger's Organic Foods and Orchards in Ayton, Ontario, died in an
oxygen-deficient atmosphere in which they were overcome by gas. 15th September 2010
|
South Africa
Wood worker's hand severed
A worker's hand was caught in a wood rolling machine at a factory in
Brackenfell on Monday, severing almost half of his arm, surgical
re-attachment of the hand and lower arm section was believed to be not
feasible. 14th September
2010
|
Greece
Double fatality at roads work site
Two roads maintenance workers were killed when struck by a car at a
work site near Elefsina, on the Attiki Odos toll motorway, a colleague survived the
accident. 14th September 2010
|
Sweden
Son severs father's arm as life-saving act
A farmer's son had to sever his father's arm after his clothing
snagged and his arm was drawn into the drive shaft of a tractor during
arboreal work in woods near Olofstrom, Blekinge, he was hospitalised
in Kristianstad, it was not known if surgical re-attachment was
feasible. 10th September 2010
|
Greece
Fire incident in Athens hospital
A fire broke out yesterday in an isolation room housing a 34-year old
woman in the psychiatric ward at Evangelismus Hospital in Athens, the
patient sustained serious injuries in the incident. 10th September 2010
|
China
Oil workers missing in East China Sea
Two workers are missing in the East China Sea having fallen from a
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation oil service platform battered
by typhoon Malou off the Shandong coast.
Two other workers who fell into the sea were rescued, 32 had been
trapped as the platform developed a 45º list.
9th September 2010
|
USA
Fatal accident at Montana dam site
A sub-contract worker has died in an accident at the Rainbow Dam
construction project of PPL northeast of Great Falls, Montana.
9th September 2010
|
Mexico
Explosion kills worker at Pemex refinery
An explosion at the Cadereyta oil refinery yesterday has killed 1
worker, Pemex has indicated that a leak occurred in a compressor at
the gas oil hydrotreater unit, which extracts sulphur from fuels under
high pressure in the presence of hydrogen.
8th September 2010
|
India
2 killed in furnace explosion
A smelting furnace exploded at DV Alloys in Ghaziabad, killing 2
workers and injuring 8 others. It is speculated that a gas cylinder
had been wrongly thrown in and exploded in the furnace, scrap metal
from Canada and the Gulf area is imported for smelting.
8th September 2010
|
Greece
Kos aircraft fire probe
Investigators are probing the cause of an engine fire which occurred
shortly after the landing of a Slovakian Air Explore aircraft in Kos,
all 170 passengers and crew on the flight from Verona, Italy, emerged
uninjured. 7th
September 2010
|
New Zealand
Worst aviation accident in 17 years
A Fletcher's SU24 fixed wing aircraft of Skydive New Zealand caught
fire and crashed shortly after take-off from Fox Glacier, South
Island, an accident which has claimed 9 lives. The Transport Accident
Investigation Commission is undertaking an investigation of the crash
of the converted former crop sprayer, the government already has plans
in the pipeline in the coming months for tighter safety and
maintenance checks by commercial adventure
aviation
operators.
6th September 2010
|
France
Policeman's body recovered from Seine
A policeman's body was recovered from the Seine at Melun, north of
Fontainebleau, on Sunday where he had dived into the river to attempt
the rescue of a man in difficulty in the water. Later in the afternoon
30 divers were continuing the search for the other man.
6th September 2010
|
Malta
Boy badly injured in fall at school
A 9-year old boy sustained critical injuries in a 1-storey fall from a
window at a school in Triq Vincenzo Ciappara Road, Mellieha, the most
recent bulletin suggested he was
no longer
in life-threatening
condition.
3rd September 2010
|
USA
BNSF worker killed by train
An employee of Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Corporation was killed by
a Northstar Commuter Rail Line train between Coon Rapids and Fridley
stations, Minnesota, during testing work on the track.
He was testing on the rails at a double train track crossing when he
stepped out from behind a small test train and was struck by the
commuter service travelling at 80mph
from Coon Rapids Waterdale station.
3rd September 2010
|
Scotland
Ayrshire sawmill fined over accidents
Adam Wilson and Sons of Troon, Ayrshire, has been fined a total of
£28K in respect of 2 accidents at a sawmill in 2007 in which workers
were injured in separate accidents. On 28th May 2007, a 55-year old
worker fell through a gap in a raised walkway left open after work on
a conveyor belt below, sustaining serious arm injuries and permanent
loss of movement in a shoulder.
On 24th August of the same year and at the same location, a 59-year
old worker had his head trapped between metal parts of a hoist after
it was activated as he worked on it. HSE investigation found that
there were no safe systems of work in place for maintaining the
conveyor belt or the hoist machine. Staff had insufficient
information, training, instruction and supervision on the importance
of safe systems of work and machinery isolation during maintenance
work.
The company pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health & Safety at
Work etc Act 1974, Section 2(1), 2(2)(a) and Section 2(1),2(2)(a) and
(c), being fined £8K and £20K respectively.
2nd September 2010
|
Germany
WW2 bomb found on Hamburg site
Construction work was halted on Wednesday at the site of the new civic
hall between the Rathaus and the Helms Museum in the Harburg district
of Hamburg when a 450Kg American WW2 bomb was discovered 3 metres
underground. It was planned to defuse it early in the evening.
2nd September 2010
|
Australia
Heavy tank falls on Melbourne worker
A 22K-litre plastic water tank became
unstable during loading on to a vehicle at premises on Footscray Road,
West Melbourne, yesterday and fell and killed a worker, Victoria's
17th workplace death of the year, a third of which have been
attributable to falling heavy loads. 1st
September 2010
|
Canada
Fatal accident at Newfoundland gravel pit
A 45-year old worker has been found
dead under a rock crusher in a gravel pit near Sunnyside, Newfoundland
and Labrador. He was performing maintenance work and is believed to
have become trapped in its moving parts. 1st
September 2010
|
|
England
Fire at Telford school extension site
Fire crews attended a blaze at a site at Lawley Primary School in
Telford where it is speculated that a digger's tyres exploded and led
to a fire at the site of a classroom extension project. Initial
investigation appeared to rule out a break-in by vandals.
30th September 2010
|
England
Major fire at derelict west country hotel
A major fire was being tackled by fire crews on Wednesday night at the
former Royal Pier Hotel in Weston-super-Mare, no immediate cause of
the blaze was speculated. 30th September 2010
|
Scotland
Mandatory lifejackets urged for deck work
Following a fatal accident inquiry into a man overboard drowning in
the Moray Firth, a procurator fiscal at Banff Sheriff Court has urged
changes in safety regulations for fishing boats, with lifejackets made
compulsory for deck work and man overboard drills to be in place on
all boats.
On December 11th last year a 28-year old Filipino fisherman became
entangled in the nets of the Osprey III and was pulled overboard.
Despite commendable efforts by the crew he could not be rescued.
29th September 2010
|
Australia
Tension line accident investigation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's investigation of an accident
in which a worker died after being struck by a heavily tensioned
mooring line has judged that there was no safe way in which the line
could be cut. The worker on the oil storage ship Karatha Spirit
was trying to disconnect the ship from a buoy as it was anchored in
the Legendre oil field 65 miles north of Dampier. As he worked with a
knife, the mooring line unwound quickly and he was struck on the head
and hurled under a drum. The investigation also found that he had been
standing in a dangerous
position while cutting and unclear
procedures regarding the disconnection of the ship made the operation
more difficult.
29th September 2010
|
France
GERS level crossing collision
A TER(Transport express
regional) train travelling from Auch to Toulouse on Monday struck a
lorry on a rural level crossing at Gimont, in Gers, 3 people were
seriously injured, another 5 are being treated for lighter injuries.
28th September 2010
|
Qatar
Hotel worker dies in fire
An Asian hotel employee died of smoke inhalation during a fire at the
Golden Coast hotel, Doha. He had been asleep in his room when the fire
broke out and became disorientated in the smoke-logged
passageways as he sought an exit.
28th September 2010
|
England
Unsuitable clothing posed lathe accident risk
Autoy Ltd of Deepdale, Preston,
has been fined £17,500 plus £12,251 over an accident in January 2009
in which a worker became trapped in a 1-metre long metal screw in a
lathe when his clothing snagged.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching S.2(1) of the Health & Safety
at Work etc Act 1974 and r.3(1)(a) of the Management of Health &
Safety at Work Regs 1999, having failed to ensure the safety of a
worker and failed to assess risks workers faced operating lathes. 27th
September 2010
|
Greece
Primary pupils hit by falling ceiling plaster
Falling sections of ceiling plaster struck children of a primary class
at a school in the south Athens suburb of Agios Dimitrios, 3 required
hospital treatment. 27th September 2010
|
England
Berks roads worker injured in hit-and-run
Thames Valley Police are investigating an accident in which a roads
worker sustained serious injuries upon being struck by a green VW Golf
car at a West Berkshire Council site between Hambridge Road traffic
lights and the Swan public house on the A4 at Newbury. 24th September 2010
|
Indonesia
Plantation worker killed by tiger
A worker from a palm oil plantation in Bengkalis, Riau province, has
been killed by a tiger this midweek, locals were unable to approach to
recover the badly mutilated body as the tiger remained in the
vicinity. Only last month an 18-year old youth was killed in a similar
incident involving a Sumatran tiger. 24th September 2010
|
England
Lancs roofer fined over unsafe
work
At Trafford Magistrates' Court a roofer from Atherton was fined £2K
plus £2K costs after pleading guilty to a breach of Sections 6(3) and
10(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 by failing to take
suitable measures to prevent a fall from a roof and failing to provide
suitable equipment to remove waste from a roof being stripped of
slates in Yew Tree Avenue, Atherton.
The site lacked a guard rail, scaffold and chute, slates were being
thrown into a skip just feet from a busy pavement.
23rd September 2010
|
Austria
Vintner's head crushed in press
A vintner died yesterday when his head was crushed in a wine press in
Langenlois, he apparently overbalanced and fell in during cleaning,
fire crews had to use a hydraulic lift to recover his body.
23rd September 2010
|
England
Farm worker wins damages
An agricultural worker has been awarded £71K in damages against a
Magherafelt, County Londonderry, agricultural contractor in respect of
a leg accident in Cumbria in 2003 in which the worker was injured
trying to clear a blockage in a potato harvester, the contractor had
15 workers at locations in Cumbria and
Ulster.
22nd September 2010
|
Spain
Hydrochloric acid escape from HGV
The Centro de Coordinacion de Emergencias in Valencia was advised of a
category 1, type3 incident on Tuesday afternoon when hydrochloric acid
escaped from a vehicle in transit on the AP-7 in Castellon.
22nd September 2010
|
Russia
Aerobatics pilot killed
A pilot died when his Yak-52 aircraft malfunctioned during an
aerobatic stunt while flying at an air club in Loginovo, Sverdlovsk.
21st
September 2010
|
Malta
Cinema stair well fall
A Baltic national is regarded as being very fortunate to have survived
a 3-storey fall into a stair well at a cinema in Bugibba, his injuries
are not life-threatening.
21st
September 2010
|
Rep Ireland
CO death from faulty oil range
A jury has returned a verdict of
accidental death in respect of the death of a 67-year old resident of
a historic cable station house at Knightstown, Valentia, where
he was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes from a faulty oil-fired
range, the coroner urged vigilance over faulty systems, especially in
older properties.20th September 2010
|
Ukraine
Old ordnance explodes during naval drill
It is believed that artillery shells
which exploded on the Kirovgrad medium amphibious assault ship during
a military drill off Crimea were time-expired ordnance.
20th September 2010
|
USA
North Dakota crush accident
An employee of Clark's Heavy Equipment and Field Service Repair
died in a crush accident when caught by the front loader arms of a
skid-steer loader in a building in Minot, North Dakota.
17th September 2010
|
Switzerland
Vision 250 to prevent 250 work deaths
The Swiss National Accident Insurance Organisation,
SUVA(Schweizerische Unfallversicherungsanstalt) has launched a new
accident prevention programme, Vision 250, with a view to saving 250
lives over the next decade.
SUVA feels that in 50% of cases risks and danger are either
underestimated or safety rules flouted, notably in the construction
sector. 17th September 2010
|
Canada
Worker injured in fall from platform
A worker sustained critical head injuries in a fall from a platform at
the Etobicoke drilling machine factory in Lovat where he was
attempting to disconnect an oil hose when he fell on to a
tunnel-boring machine. 16th September 2010
|
Indonesia
3 Russian aviation workers die in Sulawesi
Investigators are studying the deaths of 3 Russian employees of the
Sukhoi Design Bureau who were part of a 12-man team working on fighter
jets at the Sultan Hasanuddin airbase in South Sulawesi, the incident
appears to have occurred in their living quarters. One is reported to
have complained of breathing problems prior to his death. 15th September 2010
|
France
Chemical explosion at swimming pool
A security guard was hospitalised in Vannes yesterday for injuries and
fume inhalation sustained in a chemical explosion involving chlorine
and cyanide in the technical storage and preparation area of a private
swimming pool in Quiberon. 15th September 2010
|
USA
Connecticut arborist dies in tree fall
On Monday a 24-year old arboreal worker died in a 10-metre fall from a
tree at a house in Salisbury, Connecticut, when the tree's base snapped as he
was cutting a
branch higher up. 14th September 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Biker killed in Killane races
A rider participating in the 600 cc Killalane races organised by the
Loughshinney Motorcycle Club in north County Dublin died in an
accident when he lost control of his bike, a race marshal was also
injured. Earlier in the summer a rider died during the Skerries 100
race. 14th September 2010
|
England
Teenage worker fell through
rooflight
At City of London Magistrates'
Court STP Solutions of Croydon has been fined £28K plus £9,359 in
costs over a fall from height accident at Argent Centre, Pump Lane,
Hayes, in May 2009 where a 17-year old worker sustained multiple
fractures and had his ruptured spleen removed in emergency surgery
following a 7-metre fall through a rooflight.
The relatively inexperienced worker had been asked to go on to the
roof to clear guttering, the company pleaded guilty to a breach of
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, Regulation
3(1)(a) of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regs 1999 and
Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regs 2005. 10th September 2010
|
Japan
Sumo wrestler undergoes emergency surgery
An 18-year old Mongolian sumo wrestler of Tokyo's Nishonoseki
wrestling heya(stable) was listed in critical condition last night
following surgery to remove a haematoma after collapsing following a
training bout. The teenager, who competes in one of the lower
professional divisions, had to pull out of the bout after complaining
of feeling unwell. Investigators have been asking officials about
allegations that he had also complained of feeling unwell during
Wednesday's training. 10th September 2010
|
Scotland
Company fined over unsafe docking accident
At Dunfermline Sheriff Court RM Supplies (Inverkeithing) Ltd was fined
a total of £14K in respect of an accident in which a watchman fell
into the sea during the berthing of a ship at a dilapidated quay where
there was no lighting, and required to be rescued by the ship's
lifeboat. The company pleaded guilty to a breach of r.3(1) of the
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and on a
previous occasion had pleaded guilty to a breach of r.4(1) and 5 of
the Docks Regulations 1988.
9th September 2010
|
Wales
Worker lucky to survive 9m fall through scaffold
At Llandudno Magistrates' Court a company director and JBB Homes Ltd
of Stockport were fined £10K and £20K respectively plus £10,835 in
costs over an accident on December 4th 2007 in which a worker fell 9
metres through a gap in scaffolding at a site on The Promenade,
Llanfairfechan. The company and director pleaded guilty to a failure
to fully ensure the health and safety of employees.
An HSE inspector opined that the worker had been extremely lucky to
survive the 9-metre fall.
9th September 2010
|
England
Darlington bin man's accident investigated
Darlington Borough Council is investigating an accident in which a
refuse collector was pinned against a wall by a reversing bin van on a
trade waste route in Salisbury Terrace, Darlington. He was pinned by
the bin lift and briefly lost consciousness but was later released
from hospital after being checked over. 8th
September 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Patient's hospital treadmill death ruled misadventure
A coroner has recommended a jury to return a verdict of medical
misadventure in respect of an accident 2 years ago in which a 61-year
old patient died shortly after undergoing a non-urgent treadmill
stress test in hospital.
A pathologist's post-mortem found evidence of heart scarring which may
have been related to a previous heart attack of which he had
been unaware, as well as a severe blockage of arteries. Although
basically fit and well when he undertook the test, the patient had
been referred on account of high cholesterol levels and a family
history of heart disease. 8th September 2010
|
Austria
Worker dies in fall from scaffold
A worker died in an 11-metre fall from 5th floor level of a
scaffolding on Monday morning during window work on a building in Van-Swieten-Gasse
in the Alsergrund district of Vienna.
7th September 2010
|
Japan
Wrong body cremated
Staff at a morgue failed to verify the correct identities of 2
separate corpses, leading to the cremation of the wrong body
yesterday.
Relatives of a 65-year old man had been given the body of a 44-year
old man. Although the error was discovered within an hour, the funeral
had already taken place.
7th September 2010
|
Germany
Spectator killed at air show
A female spectator died and 38 others were injured, 5 critically, when
a biplane veered off the runway into the crowd and came to a halt just
20 metres from the control tower at an air show in Schnaittach,
Bavaria, on
Sunday.
6th September 2010
|
Malta
3 dead in Gozo fireworks unit explosion
At least 3 people were killed when a fireworks factory near Gharb on
Gozo exploded on Sunday evening. Two others were injured, 1 of whom is
listed in critical condition. The rescue and recovery operation was
ongoing in the evening, it was unsure whether more people may have
been trapped. 6th September 2010
|
The Netherlands
Peracetic acid leak at Haarlem hospital
A number of patients had to be evacuated yesterday from a hospital on
Vondelweg, Haarlem, following a leakage of peracetic acid used in the
cleaning of medical
instruments.
3rd September 2010
|
Scotland
Builder could have been electrocuted
At Aberdeen Sheriff Court builders Graeme W Cheyne have been fined £9K
plus £4K compensation over an accident in November 2008 in which a
worker was burned in the face and hands when a short-circuit occurred
during refurbishment work at flats in Holburn Street, Aberdeen. The
worker had tried to remove a fuse cut-out to fit new plasterboard but
it was still live and connected to a 415-volt cable which was twisted,
causing a short-circuit with enough energy to melt the cable and cause
an explosion.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health &
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to provide and maintain a safe
system of work for employees working on or near an electrical system.
3rd
September 2010
|
Rep Ireland
Farmer's death ruled accidental
A verdict of accidental death has been returned in respect of a fatal
accident at Brownstown farm, Ardfield, Clonakilty, where an 82 year
old farmer died after being knocked over by a 4-stone calf.
The 82-year old farmer was in his yard as cattle were being herded
when the calf began to bolt. He attempted to prevent its escape but it
reared up and knocked him over, his skull was fractured when his head
struck the concrete surface. A pathologist report found brain swelling
and haemorrhage due to blunt force trauma in an elderly man on
warfarin therapy. 2nd September 2010
|
Norway
Divers find sunken Grimsby trawler
Divers have discovered the wreck of the 52-metre long Grimsby trawler
Laforey, of Derwent Trawlers, which sank in heavy seas and blizzard
conditions after striking the Sendingane rocks near Floro on the 8th
of February 1954,
with the loss of the 20-man crew.
2nd September 2010
|
England
Man rescued from mine subsidence in garden
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue services
attended an incident yesterday in a dwelling house garden in Newhall
near Swadlincote where a man was stuck in a 2-metre deep excavation
where a former mine shaft had opened in his garden. He had earlier
rescued his 2-year son from the hole.
1st September 2010
|
USA
Texas arboreal fatality
An arborist has died of blunt force
trauma injuries after becoming trapped between 2 limbs of a large tree
in which he was working in Wood County, Texas. 1st
September 2010
|
|
England
Saw injury betrayed safety
failings
An employee of WCM Europe Limited of Basildon, Essex, accessed a
circular saw, which had its guard removed, to cut a block of plastic
but instead caught his finger on the blade and almost lost a finger in
the accident.
WCM was fined £6,000, with £2,741 costs, having admitted to
failing to ensure that only properly trained employees had access and
authorisation to use the saw. The company also failed to adequately
supervise the job and ensure that the saw was used safely and with the
guards in place.
30th September 2010
|
England
Worker lost finger and thumb
A production supervisor at Saint-Gobain Weber Ltd of Flitwick,
Bedfordshire, who manufacture façade tiling and materials for the
building industry, attempted to unblock a waste extraction system but
only succeeded in entangling his hand in a rotary valve and, as a
consequence, lost his finger and thumb.
Investigation found that he was able to use tools provided by the
company to remove the guarding on the system, which should not have
been possible, Saint Gobain was fined £16,000 plus £3,560 costs.
30th September 2010
|
England
Worker guillotined fingers
A female employee of printers Sirane Ltd of Telford severed her
fingertips whilst attempting to clear a blockage on an automatic
guillotine, surgeons later removed more of her fingers to the first
joint.
The company was fined £6,000 plus £2,803 costs for breaching r.11(1)
of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, it had
knowingly permitted the equipment to be used despite the results of
risk assessment showing the machine had inadequate guarding.
29th September 2010
|
England
Council worker's asbestos risk
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough
Council has been fined £5,000 with costs of £2,140 in connection with
a failure to alert an employee that asbestos was present at a
sheltered accommodation complex he was sent to work at. The plumber
was sent to the property after a leak was reported, and this entailed
the removal of an asbestos insulation board (AIB) ceiling sheet and
its subsequent cutting with a hand saw, generating a quantity of dust.
He was not wearing any personal protective clothing.
Nuneaton and Bedworth BC admitted breaching r.4(9)(c) and r.11(1) of
the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. 29th
September 2010
|
England
Fines for poultry processor
Crown Chickens Ltd of Diss, Norfolk, has been fined in connection with
incidents in which employees were injured in industrial accidents last
year.
One employee was operating a carcass de-skinning machine when his
glove became caught in the equipment which then removed the skin from
his hand, leaving underlying tissue. The equipment was inadequately
guarded, had no emergency stop, and the gloves were not suitable.
In another accident an employee severed a finger when it was caught in
the mechanism of a forklift truck as he stood on its forks accessing a
trailer.
The company was fined £4,000 for each charge with £5,500 costs.
28th September 2010
|
England
Company failed to plan
dismantling
One of two men on the roof of a steel framed building they were to
dismantle fell through a previously unscrewed panel after accessing
the roof from an elevating work platform. The accident victim
sustained multiple injuries including 6 broken ribs in his 4-metre
fall. The intention was to undertake the work without leaving the
platform basket, but the workmen had no training or experience of this
type of work, and had no safe system of work provided by their
employer.
Compounding this error, the building was subsequently demolished by
untrained employees in contravention of a prohibition order.
Master Concrete Ltd of Feltham, London, was fined £10,000 plus £18,923
costs. 28th
September 2010
|
England
Fatal gas exposure was
preventable
HSE says that the death of a driver at Walkers Snack Foods Ltd in July
2006 was 'entirely preventable'.
The 59-year old driver, employed by Omnichem Ltd, was driving a lorry
containing 2 tanks of Sodium Chlorite and 2 of Hydrochloric Acid to
Walkers site in Beaumont Leys, Leicester, when he inadvertently
mixed up the hoses on the tanks while transferring the chemicals,
resulting in a cloud of chlorine dioxide.
He subsequently stopped the transfer and commenced hosing the area
down but he was gradually overcome by the toxic gas. An employee of
Walkers was also affected and required hospital treatment but
recovered. The driver remained in hospital and died 1 month later.
Walkers had no planned evacuation procedure for such a chemical
incident. There were insufficient written procedures for deliveries of
chemicals and for the receipt of chemicals, and the tanks were also
insufficiently labelled, HSE maintained.
Walkers Snack Foods Ltd of Reading, Berkshire, admitted
breaching S.2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
1974 and was fined £200,000 with costs of £38,971.
Omnichem Ltd of Melton Mowbray admitted the same charges and was fined
£150,000 with £29,229 costs.
27th September 2010
|
England
Lead contaminated glass maker's
premises
Staffordshire Crystal Ltd has
admitted breaching r.5 of the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
and r.25(2)(b) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare)
Regs 1992 and been fined £3,600 plus £7,000 costs.
Its premises in Brierley Hill were visited by HSE officials in October
2009, a routine inspection, but it was discovered that exposure to
lead was not adequately controlled and risk assessments were not
suitable and sufficient. Employees had no place to properly wash their
hands or a rest area to eat meals. Generally, the conditions created a
significant risk to employee health.
27th September 2010
|
England
Guard rail failed before fatal
fall
Construction company Kier North
West of Bedfordshire has been fined £160,000 plus £43,993 costs at
Liverpool Crown Court for safety failings that permitted a
construction worker to fall through a window frame when a guard rail
failed at Everton FC's training facility at Halewood, Liverpool, in May
2007. He eventually died of his injuries some months later.
Investigation found the guard rail was not able to bear the weight of
a chute attached to it.
24th
September 2010
|
England
Skipper loses certificate
A fishing vessel skipper from Ayr who was
breathalysed after his boat ran aground off Filey, Yorkshire, in August
last year was tested at 81ugs, twice the limit of alcohol permitted.
Following investigation by the Enforcement Unit of the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency into his conduct, the Secretary of State decided to
hold a Formal Inquiry under S.61 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995
into his fitness to hold a UK Fishing Certificate of Competency.
The hearing was held in Southampton Magistrates' Court and on making
his ruling, the ‘Appointed Person’ (Adjudicator) stated that the
skipper was not fit to hold a certificate, and he ordered the
cancellation of his Class 2 Deck Fishing Certificate of Competency.
24th September 2010
|
England
Risk assessment and guarding failure at
fabric maker
E-Leather Limited of Peterborough has been
fined £13,500 with £5,000 costs at the town's Magistrates’ Court after
admitting breaching r.11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998 and r.3(1)(b) of the Management of Health and Safety
at Work Regulations 1999 in connection with a serious industrial
accident last year.
An agency worker was operating a fabric winding machine when his arm
was drawn into the roll of material, breaking it in 3 places, HSE
investigation found guarding on the equipment to be inadequate and an
absence of suitable risk assessment.
23rd September 2010
|
England
Landlords breached gas rules
A man and his spouse who are co-landlords of a residential property in
Bristol have been found to be in breach of the Gas Safety
(Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and fined a total of £6,500
plus costs of £1,800. The man had admitted replacing a boiler without
being competent and Gas Safe registered, and had, with his wife
jointly, been unable to provide a landlord's certificate.
23rd September 2010
|
England
Man succumbs to permanent way
shock
A 23-year old man who contacted
the overhead cables above a train at Durham Station on 11th
September has succumbed to his injuries. He received burn injuries
from the 25kV conductors when he reportedly attempted to retrieve a
shoe. 22nd
September 2010
|
England
Crew member died in incident at docks
Forship S.p.a, of Porto Vado, Italy, has admitted breaching S.2(1) of
the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in connection with an
incident in 2005 in which a 38-year old crew member on the vessel
Sardina Vera lost his life. The company was fined £100,000 with costs
of £43,782.
The deceased, who had been working excessive hours, was last seen
carrying a hose along a narrow strip of quay alongside the ship. The
quayside was in very poor condition. He was found to have suffered a
head wound after his body was taken from the water. The quay was not
adequately lit, it had inadequate edge protection, and risk assessment
for the task of getting water had not been undertaken. The crewman had
not been issued with a lifejacket.
Newhaven Port & Properties Limited pleaded guilty to breaching S.3(1)
of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and failing to maintain
Newhaven Docks as required by an Improvement Notice. The company was
fined £85,000 with costs of £34,000.
22nd September 2010
|
England
Employee died in avoidable
accident
A Director and his company,
Building Chemical Research (1984) Ltd (BCR), have been fined following
the death at the company’s Bury premises in an industrial accident on
30th August 2005.
The 44-year old deceased man climbed into a slow-speed mixer to clean
it when it was activated by another employee.
BCR, a building materials manufacturer, pleaded guilty to a breach of
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was
fined £16,000 with £8,000 costs, the company's director was fined
£4,000 with costs of £2,000.
Investigation disclosed that the guard on the mixer was totally
inadequate and both the safety switches had failed.
21st September 2010
|
England
Worker devastated by injuries
A 52-year old worker suffered multiple injuries in an accident at the
Wakefield premises of UPS in November 2008 when he was crushed between
an HGV and a wall as he attempted to position a docking ramp.
UPS was fined a total of £35,000, the employee had to improvise a
system of work to unload vehicles when the ramp would not extend
sufficiently towards the vehicle, causing him to fall.
21st
September 2010
|
United Kingdom
Fire officers' concerns over
timber frame buildings
The Chief Fire Officers Association is calling for an urgent review of
building regulations relating to large timber frame buildings under
construction following recent experiences of fighting outbreaks of
fire at these increasingly common building types.
The latest fire
involving a timber frame building occurred on Friday 10th September
and involved a serious fire in a 4-storey complex under construction
at Gershwin Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire.
CFOA also advises managers of these building sites to be extra
vigilant as most of these fires are started deliberately by arsonists.
20th September 2010
|
Northern Ireland
Worker suffers multiple injuries
in docks accident
A man suffered multiple
fractures in a fall into the hold of a vessel berthed at Clarendon
Dock, Belfast, on Thursday evening.
His rescue could only be accomplished by raising him 20 metres on to
the deck of the ship.
20th September 2010
|
Scotland
Printing factory blaze
Seventy firefighters and 12 appliances were required to tackle a major
outbreak of fire at the premises of Amcor Flexibles, Brucefield
Industrial Park in West Calder, West Lothian.
The fire broke out at midday yesterday, the building contains a large
inventory of inks, solvents and acetylene cylinders. One person has
been treated for burns.
17th September 2010
|
England
MOD censure
The Ministry of Defence has received Crown
Censure in respect of failings that came to light following a
situation at one of its properties in Oxfordshire.
In early 2005 an asbestos survey at a base near Bicester was ignored
for more than a year, in particular a boiler room was contaminated
with asbestos and a report recommended access to the room be
restricted until the asbestos had been removed.
Defence Estates and their facilities management company, Interserve
(Defence) Ltd, were deemed to have failed to follow the advice of the
survey exposing workers to the risk from asbestos fibres. Effectively,
the MOD did not comply with r.4(8)(c), 6(1)(a) and 10(1)(a) of the
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2002 at the site between 23rd May 2005
and 30th September 2006.
The MOD has explained the action it had taken to prevent a recurrence
at its sites. Interserve (Defence) Ltd, of London, was earlier fined
£33,000 with costs of £17,936 at Oxford Crown Court.
16th September 2010
|
England
Exploding coffee machine
injures 7
A coffee machine exploded
yesterday afternoon at the Sainsbury's retail outlet in the Kingsmead
Shopping Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire.
The injured comprised both staff and customers, 6 attended hospital
for treatment but injuries are described as not serious.
15th September 2010
|
England
Boat death tragedy
An 11-year old girl has died of injuries she received after she fell
from a power boat at the Princes Club on Saturday. She fell from the
boat and sustained injury from a power boat's propeller.
According to one report a short delay was incurred on her arrival at
West Middlesex Hospital when the ambulance door locking system
malfunctioned. 15th September 2010
|
England
Motorcyclist killed in collision with
lorry
A man was killed in an accident when his
motorcycle collided with a working street cleaning vehicle in Swanley,
Kent.
The accident occurred yesterday morning, the man died at the scene. 14th September 2010
|
England
Safety drill turned into rescue
Yesterday morning the tanker British
Cormorant was undertaking a safety drill in the Solent with its rescue
boat when a line failed, capsizing the boat and throwing 6 men in the
water.
The local Coastguard helicopter rescued all 6 men, and transported 2
to hospital, one with suspected spinal injuries. 14th September 2010
|
England
Ladder fall death in Durham
A man has died after falling
from a ladder at Durham Cathedral on 3rd September. He succumbed to
his injuries this week, it is reported he was installing a new stained
glass window when he fell.
10th September 2010
|
England
Engineer died after bucket
detached
A jury at Worcestershire
Coroner's Court has determined accidental death after considering the
circumstances of the fatal industrial accident at a construction site
in Redditch.
The site engineer, aged 22, was struck by an excavator bucket that suddenly
detached. An HSE expert said that a safety pin was not present on the
bucket that would have stopped it falling.
10th September 2010
|
Wales
Legionnaires' disease source
sought
Public Health Wales, HSE and
local authorities are seeking the source of an outbreak of
Legionnaires' Disease around the Heads of the Valleys corridor, south
Wales.
One person has now died, and it is suspected that this resulted from
the disease, another 13 are being treated for the disease.
9th September 2010
|
England
Asbestos cement roof failed
under man's weight
A roofer died after falling
through an asbestos cement roof of commercial premises in Bury last
November.
The self-employed worker was commissioned to repair the roof, but on
the 2nd day of work on it he fell nearly 7 metres, sustaining serious
head injuries.
Rochdale Coroner's Court recorded a verdict of accidental death.
9th September 2010
|
England
Farm worker in tractor incident
It is reported that a farm
worker in his 50's has been struck and badly injured by the tractor he
was operating in Helston, Cornwall. One account states he was opening
a gate when his tractor run over him on Monday afternoon.
8th September 2010
|
England
Fall worker in hospital
A workman in his 50's has
fallen through the roof of the premises of Abbott Car Repairs in
Blackburn, Lancs.
One account states he fell through a fragile surface yesterday morning
and has sustained non-life threatening injuries.
8th September 2010
|
England
Rail work lookout left safety
zone
A report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch on the fatal
accident at Whitehall West Junction, Leeds, on 2nd December 2009 has
concluded that the track worker acting as lookout for a group stepped
from a position of safety to a place nearer the tracks before he was
struck and killed by a train approaching from behind.
The RAIB has recommended that Network Rail consider ways to reduce
the likelihood of lookouts moving dangerously close to trains and, if
appropriate, make arrangements to physically identify their safe
positions.
The Ambulance Services of the United Kingdom are recommended to
consider ways to reduce the likelihood of ambulance drivers not
finding a location that does not have an address or a postcode and, if
appropriate, make arrangements for their drivers to be able to use
grid references.
7th September 2010
|
England
Hay bale accident kills motorist
A man in his 60's has been
killed in an accident which occurred after a bale of hay rolled down a
hill into the path of his van on the A381 in Halwell, Devon, on
Saturday afternoon.
The deceased man's
van also struck another vehicle, the driver of which was uninjured.
7th September 2010
|
England
Fatal demolition accident at
school
Moor Park Charitable Trust Ltd
has been prosecuted and fined in connection with the death of a
40-year old workman and the injury of 4 others in August 2007. The
deceased suffocated under the weight of a 2.4-tonne timber roof which
collapsed as it was being demolished. Integral supports had been
removed in the timber building, causing the collapse.
The school had arranged for a self-employed general building worker to
undertake the demolition and he then engaged the help of the 4 other
men to assist.
The school had not appointed a competent and experienced contractor,
it was fined £25,000 plus £15,000 costs.
6th September 2010
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Northern Ireland
E.coli affects Lurgan children
The Public Health Agency and Craigavon Borough Council are
investigating the circumstances of 12 children in the Lurgan area who
it is confirmed are suffering from E.coli 0157.
Reports state none are seriously ill.
6th September 2010
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United Kingdom
Power gate warning
HSE has issued a safety alert
for those engaged in the installation, design, maintenance and
manufacture of electric gates following two recent fatal accidents.
HSE advises "When manufacturing, designing or installing electric
gates, it's crucial to consider who will be in the area when it's
operating. If general public can access the gate then additional
protections should be in place. These protections can be in the form
of creating safe distances, installing fixed guards, limiting the
forces or installing sensitive protective equipment - among others."
3rd September 2010
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England
Exploding thinners gave worker
60% burns
A welder employed by Fluorocarbon Bakeware Systems Ltd of Beeston,
Nottingham, was cutting metal when a spark ignited vapours escaping
from a can of thinners nearby. The can exploded, seriously burning the
33-year old worker.
HSE investigation found little in the way of direct supervision of the
work and no risk assessment was undertaken for the activities carried
out in the workshop.
The company admitted contravening r.5(1) and 6(1) of the Dangerous
Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 for which it was
fined £10,000 plus costs of £5,227.
3rd September 2010
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England
Employer had no risk assessment
on violence
The large chain of newsagents,
Martin McColl, has been fined in connection with the serious assault
of one of its employees at its Winsford, Cheshire, shop in November
2008. The female manager was knocked unconscious in the robbery, the
shop had a history of problems, including robbery, but it had not
addressed this with a suitable risk assessment.
McColl's was fined £5,000 plus £5,000 costs at Northwich Magistrates'
Court. 2nd
September 2010
|
England
Inquest critical of MOD
An employee of the MOD's
Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory died while experimenting
with a combination of chemicals in August 2002 at its buildings near
Shoeburyness, Essex.
An inquest jury at Southend has determined by a narrative verdict that
his employer had not addressed adequately the issues of planning, risk
assessment, ppe, communication and organisation. When the
experiment was replicated using only a small proportion of the
chemicals, a violent reaction took place. The deceased scientist
suffered massive burns when using the larger proportions of the secret
chemicals. 2nd
September 2010
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England
Bricklayer paralysed by falling steel
A 24-year old worker was partly
paralysed after he was struck by a steel beam being handled at the
Suede Development construction site in Huddersfield.
The accident victim was helping a driver of a telescopic forklift
truck to lift the steel beam onto two brick pillars but, as the
forklift was withdrawing, the forks caught the beam, dislodging it
from the pillars and the beam fell on him. Investigation found the
lifting operation was not adequately planned and supervised, the
developer, Strata Homes Yorkshire Ltd of Doncaster, was fined for
breaching r.8 of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment
Regulations 1998 and it was fined £30,000 with £16,062 in costs.
1st September 2010
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England
Worker succumbs to injuries
An employee of Cammel Laird died last week following an industrial
accident on 18th August. The accident involved a forklift truck at the
company's shipyard in Birkenhead.
1st September 2010
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