Category: Uncategorized

2 Construction workers crushed to death under concrete slab

Queensland, Australia

Two construction workers were killed instantly on Thursday afternoon when they were crushed by a falling slab of concrete at a construction site in the northern Brisbane suburb of Ascot. Local reports claim that the two men, aged 34 and 55, were assisting a crane to manoeuvre a 9 tonne (approx. 20,000lb) concrete panel inside a pit when it slipped and fell from the crane, landing on both men. Despite the efforts of co-workers to remove the fallen panel, both men were declared dead at the scene.

---

Worker crushed by roller

Arusha, Tanzania

A Korean civil engineer was killed on Wednesday at a road construction site near the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha after being struck and run over by a multi-tyred roller, which typically weigh in excess of 14 tonnes (31,000lb) when in operation. The man had allegedly been inspecting the site as an employee of the principle contractor for the highway project when the incident occurred. It is currently believed that the operator of the multi-tyred roller failed to see the man. He was killed instantly in the incident.

---

Three killed in construction collapse

Karnataka, India

Three construction workers have been killed and numerous others have been injured following the collapse of a five storey building under construction on Wednesday afternoon in Bellandur, a region south east of the city of Bengaluru.

At least fifteen workers were believed to be inside the building when it collapsed. Some workers were able to escape with minor injuries whilst nine workers became trapped. Two of the deceased victims were declared dead at the scene after emergency responders recovered their bodies from the rubble. The third victim was transported to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.

Although authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident, preliminary findings suggest that sub-standard building materials being used in the project lead to the building buckling under its own weight.

---

Worker killed in trench collapse

Tennessee, USA

A 28-year-old labourer has died following a trench collapse at a civil construction site in a residential area of South Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Local authorities have confirmed that the man was working on a sewage line in a trench when the walls collapsed on top of him. Emergency responders were able to recover the man and transport him to a local hospital. He later died from his injuries.

Unconfirmed reports claim that the walls of the trench were excessively wet following a rupture in a nearby water line. It has also been claimed that shoring was not installed in the trench at the time of the incident.

Worker crushed by forklift

California, USA

A 27-year-old worker was killed on Monday afternoon in a forklift related incident near the town of Yountville in the Napa Valley. The man had been operating a forklift when he lost control of the equipment on a steep, wet and windy road. The vehicle overturned down an embankment, ejecting the operator. The forklift then rolled over onto the operator killing him instantly.

The incident comes only a week after another vineyard worker was killed in the region after being crushed by a stack of wine barrels that had fallen from the back of a truck.

---

Diver killed by stingray

Singapore

A 62-year-old worker was killed on Tuesday at an aquarium on Sentosa Island following an interaction with a stingray. The man had been diving in an enclosure preparing marine animals for transfer to a new aquarium when he was struck in the chest by the stingray’s tail barb. The man was rushed to a nearby hospital but died a few hours later.

A leading marine expert has claimed that whilst stingrays are not generally aggressive, they have been known to become aggressive when they feel threatened. The fatality, whilst exceedingly rare, is reminiscent of wildlife expert Steve Irwin who died in similar circumstances in 2006.

---

Worker killed in fall from height

Iowa, USA

A 46-year-old farm worker was killed on Monday morning after falling more than 9m (30ft) inside a grain silo on a cattle farm in Forest City, approximately 190km (120 miles) north of Des Moines. The man sustained critical injuries in the fall and was airlifted to a nearby medical facility where he was later pronounced dead.

---

Mechanic crushed by car

Texas, USA

A mechanic was killed on Tuesday at an auto maintenance workshop north of Houston after he was crushed under a vehicle. The man had been working under the car when it lipped loose from the vehicle stands and fell on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

---

2 Killed in mine collapse

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Two labourers have been confirmed dead following a cave-in at a gypsum mine south of Kohat in the country’s north west on Monday. The two men were conducting normal work duties when they were buried alive in the sudden collapse.

Mines in the area have been criticised by some union officials for the high frequency of such incidents primarily due to inappropriate and dangerous work procedures.

Worker struck in head by material

Pennsylvania, USA

A 37-year-old man has been killed following an incident at a sawmill in the far western town of Wheatland on Monday. The man had been operating a piece of sawmill equipment when a mishap caused a piece of timber to be ejected from the equipment striking the man in the head. The man’s cause of death has been recorded by the local coroner as a penetrating trauma to the head. According to local authorities, the man had been wearing personal protective equipment at the time of the incident.

---

Worker killed in equipment roll over

Essex, England

A construction worker in his thirties has died following an incident at a construction site in Lawford, south west of Ipswich, on Monday afternoon. According to local reports, the man had been operating a piece of earthmoving equipment at the site when it rolled over on uneven ground. The man sustained traumatic crush injuries and was unable to be revived by emergency crews. He was declared dead at the scene.

---

Worker struck and killed by falling object

Northern Ireland, UK

Government authorities are investigating the death of a 38-year-old worker who was killed last Friday morning at a construction site in the southern town of Warrenpoint after being struck by a falling lamppost. According to local reports, a work crew were using an excavator with lifting slings to manoeuver the lamppost into position when it slipped from the sling.

---

2 Killed when wall collapses

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Two construction workers, aged 18 and 28, were killed and a third man was injured on Sunday afternoon at a construction site in central Dhaka when a wall collapsed on them. The two deceased victims had been demolishing a boundary wall at the site when a large section of the wall collapsed killing them instantly. The third man injured in the incident is believed to have been a street vendor and was not involved in work at the site when the incident occurred.

---

Worker killed in wall collapse

Alaska, USA

A 24-year-old worker was killed on Friday afternoon at a residential construction site in the western suburb of Spenard in Anchorage. Emergency crews were called to the site after the man sustained critical crush injuries when a retaining wall collapsed. The man and his co-worker were dismantling the retaining wall in preparation for the construction of a new wall when it suddenly collapsed after support beams were removed. The man was declared dead at the scene.

Worker killed in steel works incident

Indiana, USA

A 30-year-old maintenance worker has died following an incident on Friday at a steel works in Gary in the state’s far north west. The man had been employed as a welder at the facility and had been working in the slab storage yard at the site’s hot strip mill. Government officials have no tyet released details regarding the incident pending an investigation.

According to the man’s partner, the Navy veteran and father of two had been looking for work elsewhere due to his concerns regarding safety at the facility.

The incident comes only weeks after significant layoffs at the facility, which unions believe has resulted in a significant reduction in safety.

---

Worker killed in trash compactor incident

California, USA

A 26-year-old worker has died following an incident at a charity store in Sacramento on Friday. Witness reports claim that the man was working near the trash compactor at the time of the incident. According to local media reports, the man was taken to a nearby hospital after he sustained critical head injuries but later died.

---

1 Killed, 2 injured in trench collapse

Utah, USA

A trench collapse on Friday at a construction site in American Fork, south of Salt Lake City, has resulted in the death of one worker and injured two others. The three men were clearing the bottom of a trench for a water line when a section of the trench collapsed. The deceased victim is believed to have suffered fatal injuries in the incident after becoming trapped in the trench.

---

Worker struck and killed by falling object

New York State, USA

A 27-year-old maintenance worker has died following an incident a marine services business in Buffalo on Thursday. The victim was performing maintenance work on a mobile crane at the facility when he was struck by a piece of equipment, believed to be a large cable block. Local authorities believe that a mechanical failure in the crane is the most likely cause of the incident.

---

Passer-by killed during demolition works

Delhi, India

A 50-year-old man was killed last Wednesday after being struck by during demolition works at a site in location. Workers at the site were demolishing an old building when the incident occurred. According to local police, the man was walking along a thoroughfare adjacent to the work site when he was crushed by a large section of balcony that had fallen outside the work area.

---

Worker crushed during construction works

California, USA

A construction worker was killed last Wednesday morning at a construction site in San Diego’s East Village after being crushed by a falling concrete form. According to local reports, the man was standing near a large column panel form whilst it was being poured when the structure collapsed. The victim was struck and crushed by the structure and suffered fatal injuries. He was declared dead at the scene.

---

Death toll in mine blast rises to 18

Ningxia, China

Eighteen people have been confirmed dead following an explosion last Tuesday at an underground coal mine in the north-central region of Ningxia Hui in what authorities have referred to as illegal mining activities. The blast occurred shortly after 7am local time whilst 20 miners were working underground. Seventeen miners are believed to have been killed in the blast. Three workers were recovered during rescue efforts and transported to a nearby hospital, one of which later succumbed to his injuries.

Whilst China accounts for approximately one third of the world’s coal production, it is responsible for almost two thirds of the industry’s fatalities.

---

Worker crushed to death by falling pallets

Auckland, New Zealand

A 47-year-old worker was killed last Monday at a transport and logistics facility in Port of Onehunga after being crushed by a stack of falling pallets. The man was recovered from the pile and attended to by local paramedics. The man was unable to be revived and was declared dead at the scene. Government authorities are currently investigating the incident.

---

Worker killed in fall from height

Tamil Nadu, India

A 24-year-old construction worker died last Monday after falling from a building under construction in the coastal city of Puducherry. The man was one of several workers engaged in the construction project when he slipped and fell. He sustained critical injuries in the fall and was declared dead at the scene by attending emergency service personnel.

---

Interesting Articles:

Singapore: Falls the most common cause of workplace fatalities

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/manpower/54-workplace-deaths-so-far-this-year-falls-most-common-cause

http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/falls-cause-bulk-workplace-deaths

1 Killed and 4 injured in building collapse

Bangkok, Thailand

Four construction workers have been injured and another is dead following the collapse of a building under construction in the Khlong Chan district east of Bangkok on Tuesday evening. A witness to the incident has described how the entire structure collapsed as a crane was placing a concrete slab on the third floor of the building. A number of workers were trapped under the concrete rubble, sustaining a variety of injuries requiring hospitalisation. The deceased victim is believed to have been killed instantly in the collapse.

---

Worker dies in trench collapse

Virginia, USA

A construction worker has died following the collapse of a trench at a property in Berryville northern Virginia on Wednesday. The man was digging a 2m (7ft) deep trench for a water line when the trench collapsed burying the man up to his neck. The man, who was responsive during the ordeal, was given oxygen by emergency responders as crews worked to free him from the trench. Despite their efforts, the man was unable to be saved in time and was declared dead at the scene.

---

Worker killed in fall from tank

Enugu State, Nigeria

A worker has died following a fall from a tank at a metal fabrication workshop east of the city of Enugu last Saturday. According to authorities, the man was welding on top of a large steel tank during its construction at the facility when he slipped and fell. The man struck his head against an adjacent steel tank before landing on the ground below. He was transported to a nearby medical facility but later succumbed to his injuries.

---

Rail maintenance worker electrocuted

Istanbul, Turkey

A 27-year-old rail maintenance worker has died following an electrical incident during maintenance work in a rail tunnel in Istanbul on Tuesday morning. The man was reportedly operating a machine attempting to stop water from leaking into the tunnel when he received an electric shock. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment but was declared dead on arrival.

---

Council worker struck and killed by car

Adelaide, South Australia

A 54-year-old council worker was killed on Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a passing car whilst working in Greenwith, approximately 25km (15 miles) north east of Adelaide. The man was part of a work group trimming trees near the side of a road when the incident occurred. It is believed that the passenger vehicle rounded a corner at excessive speed and struck the man, throwing him into the rear of a council vehicle’s trailer, before colliding with the same trailer. The man was rushed to a nearby hospital but died later that day.

Architect killed in fall from sky scraper

New York City, USA

A 52-year-old architect died last Thursday afternoon after falling from the 42^nd floor of a high rise building under construction in Midtown Manhattan. According to witness reports, the man had been taking measurements near the ledge of a unit when the incident occurred. As he stood up from taking measurements, he tripped and fell over a 45cm (18 inch) high barrier. According to local officials, the man was wearing a safety harness at the time of the incident, but it was not attached to an anchor. The man was declared dead at the scene.

---

34 Confirmed dead in Bangladesh factory fire

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Authorities have so far confirmed the death of 34 workers who were killed in a factory fire on Saturday in an industrial estate north of Dhaka. With a further six workers still unaccounted for, it is believed that the death toll will rise as firefighters sift through the site.

Preliminary findings suggest that the fire was sparked by a boiler exploding in the early hours of Saturday morning as more than 100 workers were preparing to change shifts. The subsequent fire spread rapidly through the multi-storey building.

This latest incident is the country’s worst factory fire since a fire tore through a textile factory fire in November 2012 killing 112 people, although both incidents pale in comparison to the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in 2013 in which 1,129 textile workers were killed.

---

Worker crushed in forklift incident

Idaho, USA

A 41-year-old worker was killed in an incident last Thursday at a dairy factory in Nampa, west of Boise. The man sustained traumatic crush injuries after he was pinned between a forklift and a shelving unit. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.

The exact circumstances surrounding the incident have yet to be released pending an investigation by government authorities, although it is understood that the man was operating a stock-picking forklift at the time of the incident.

Worker burned to death in gas incident

Uttar Pradesh, India

A 30-year-old worker has been burned to death after a sudden fire at a civil construction site in Ghaziabad, east of New Delhi, on Tuesday. Local media have reported that a group of four workers were digging a trench in preparation for telephone cables when a worker struck an underground gas pipe with a crow bar. The subsequent gas leak was ignited by sparks from other work being conducted in the trench resulting in a large fire. The three unaffected workers managed to escape the trench prior to the gas igniting. The victim was unable to escape the 1.8m (6ft) deep trench and was severely burned in the incident.

Nearby workers began to douse the flames by shovelling dirt into the trench, and although the victim was transported to a nearby hospital shortly after the incident, medical staff pronounced the man dead on arrival.

---

Multiple fatalities in construction collapse

Tel-Aviv, Israel

Four construction workers have now been confirmed dead after the collapse of an underground parking garage under construction in Tel-Aviv on Monday. Emergency service units responded to reports of a large scale collapse in which up to 5 people were reported missing under the rubble with a further 17 workers injured. One survivor of the incident was working in an underground section when he claims to have felt vibrations prior to the sudden collapse of the structure. Local authorities have suppressed additional information regarding the cause of the collapse pending an investigation.

The construction industry in Israel has recently come under scrutiny by government officials following a spate of fatalities. Since the beginning of the year, 32 construction workers have been killed in incidents on construction sites in Israel.

---

Construction worker crushed by compacting tractor

Johor, Malaysia

A Bangladeshi construction worker has been killed in an incident at a construction site in the district of Kluang in the country’s south on Sunday. The worker had reportedly been resting against a parked compacting machine at the site when the machine operator, unaware of the man’s presence, started the vehicle and moved off. The victim sustained fatal head injuries after being crushed by the machine. Although it is alleged that the machine operator fled the scene following the incident, authorities do not believe that the incident was an intentional act.

---

Motorcyclist killed at race track

Alabama, USA

The death of a motorcyclist at a race track east of Birmingham on Saturday has been classified by authorities as a work related fatality after it was revealed that the victim was an employee of a motorcycle company training at the facility. The 28-year-old man lost control of the motorcycle he was riding and crashed, sustaining fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Worker crushed by load of timber

Queensland, Australia

A 65-year-old man was killed on Monday morning in an incident at a timber yard in the state’s far north. Emergency personnel were called to the site in Bohle, west of Townsville, following reports that a man had crushed under a load of timber. Officials have indicated that the man was assisting in the unloading of a truck at the site and was working on the side opposite the forklift when a consignment of timber, weighing more than 1 tonne (2,200lb), fell and crushed him. The man was declared dead at the scene.

---

Woman dies of asphyxiation

Ontario, Canada

A 23-year-old woman has died following an incident at a food factory in Humberlea north west of Toronto last Friday. According to official reports, the woman was working alongside a conveyor belt in the factory when her clothing became caught in the moving parts of the equipment. Her clothing tightened around her upper body and she was eventually strangled. The woman was found without any vital signs by co-workers.

She was transported to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. Officials confirmed the death on Saturday morning following the incident, although they have yet to comment on the woman’s actual time of death.

---

Worker crushed by bulldozer

Maine, USA

A 53-year-old worker was killed last Thursday after he was struck by a reversing bulldozer at a road construction site in Rockport. Witnesses report that the victim had walked behind the vehicle prior to it reversing and was bending over when the vehicle began to reverse. The man was caught in the bulldozers track and was killed instantly.

---

Worker crushed in concrete mixer

Texas, USA

A 50-year-old worker was killed last Friday at a residential construction site in central Lubbock after an incident involving a truck mounted concrete mixer. According to local police, the man was working on the truck when another worker turned on the mixer. The victim became pinned between the mixing drum and the truck’s frame as the drum rotated, sustaining fatal crush injuries. The man was declared dead at the scene.

---

Worker crushed to death by collapsing wall

Cebu, Philippines

A 20-year-old construction worker was killed last Wednesday morning at a high rise construction site in Cebu City. According to authorities, the man was welding a steel beam along the perimeter of an excavation when an adjacent cement wall collapsed burying him in rubble. The man was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Three other workers who were in the vicinity of the victim at the time of the incident managed to escape the collapse unharmed.

Construction worker killed in fall from 7^th floor of building

Woodlands, Singapore

A 33-year-old construction worker was killed on Sunday after falling from the 7^th floor of a building under construction in the country’s north. A government spokesperson has confirmed that the man was part of a crew of workers installing formwork for a concrete pillar of the 7^th floor when the incident occurred. The man was taken over the edge of the building when a formwork panel fell.

Attending emergency crews declared the man dead at the scene. It is understood that the worker was wearing a safety harness at the time of the incident, although it has not yet been confirmed if the harness was clipped to a safety line.

---

Worker killed in scaffolding collapse

New Jersey, USA

Local authorities have yet to release details of an unidentified man who was killed on Saturday at an industrial complex in the township of Edison, south west of Newark. According to local reports, the man was dismantling a section of scaffolding when it collapsed on top of him. He was declared dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported in the incident.

---

Worker killed in equipment roll over

New York State, USA

A 40-year-old worker was killed last Friday morning in an incident at a road construction site in the ton of Darien, east of Buffalo. Local authorities have reported that the man was driving a pavement roller onto the back of a trailer at the site when he lost control. The roller toppled off the trailer trapping the man underneath. Emergency crews attended the scene and transported the unresponsive man to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

---

Worker struck and killed by falling gas cylinder

Belarus

An unidentified worker has died following an incident last Friday at the construction site of a nuclear power plant near the town of Astravyets in the country’s north west. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the man was fatally struck by a falling oxygen cylinder whilst they were being delivered to the site.

---

Farmer killed in tractor related incident

Armagh, Northern Ireland

Government authorities are investigating the death of a 70-year-old farmer who died at a property south of Armagh last Thursday. Although the authorities have not yet released details regarding the incident pending their investigation, it is understood that the man died after being crushed by a tractor. The fatality is the second in Northern Ireland in the past month after a 60-year-old farmer was killed on August 15^th in a collision with another vehicle whilst operating a tractor on a gazetted road near Hilltown, east of Newry.

Construction worker killed on movie set

Budapest, Hungary

A construction worker was killed last Thursday at a movie studio soundstage in Budapest when a stage collapsed on top of him. The man was allegedly working underneath a platform on which a set had been constructed when it suddenly collapsed. The man had been engaged to dismantle the set along with a number of others when the incident occurred. He was struck and crushed by a number of sections of scaffolding, and was declared dead at the scene by attending emergency service personnel.

---

Passer-by killed in crane incident

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Government authorities have issued a stop-work order at a construction in Kuala Lumpur after a passer-by was killed last Thursday. Authorities have confirmed that a 23-year-old woman was crushed to death when a crane hook struck her car. The woman had been driving her car along a road adjacent to the construction site when the implement fell more than 20 storeys, crushing her vehicle and killing her instantly.

---

Worker dies following fall from height

Michigan, USA

A 50-year-old construction worker died last Friday, a day after suffering a fall at a pharmaceutical plant in Holland, south west of Grand Rapids. The man was working on an elevator shaft under construction at the site when he fell from a ladder, falling approximately 6m (20ft) into the shaft and sustaining head injuries and several fractures. The man was treated for his injuries in a nearby hospital but later passed away.

---

1 Killed and several injured in mine cave-in

Silesia, Poland

Underground tremors have been identified as the cause of a cave-in at an underground coal mine near the city of Ruda Śląska which claimed the life of a 51-year-old man last Thursday. Officials have confirmed that the tremors, measuring about 2.5 on the Richter scale, resulted in a cave-in approximately 850m (1/2 Mile) below the surface. The two workers buried under the rubble during the incident were recovered by emergency services personnel, although one man lost consciousness and did not recover.

---

Worker killed in fall from height

Kathmandu, Nepal

A 35-year-old construction worker was killed last Thursday after falling from a building under construction in the Chabahil district of Kathmandu. The man was working on the second floor of the structure when he slipped and fell to the ground below. The man was rushed to a nearby medical facility but died enroute.

---

Worker killed in blast at fireworks factory

Tamil Nadu, India

A 48-year-old worker has died in an explosion at a fireworks factory in the southern district of Virudhunagar, approximately 55km (35 miles) south of Madurai. Firefighting crews were called to the scene mid-morning last Sunday (21^st August, 2016), by which time the buildings had already burned to the ground. The body of the victim was recovered from the scene a short time later. Another female worker was treated in a local hospital for a variety of serious burns injuries.

Authorities investigating the incident currently believe that mishandling of chemicals during the manufacturing process was the cause of the explosion.