Six hospitalised in chemical leak

Thursday, 18 October 2007

Six men have been taken to hospital following a chemical leak from a package

at a Cardiff business park.

Three more men and a woman who had been in contact with the package were

treated at ANC Express, on the Capital Business Park, Wentloog.

Firefighters were called at 0830 BST to deal with a "small leak" of the chemical

pyridine.

The fire service said the six were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

A 50m hazard zone was set up and people in surrounding buildings were warned to shut windows and doors and stay inside.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent two fire engines, a water bowser, a chemical incident unit, and environmental "pod".

The service said six firefighters in special suits "contained the spillage and decontaminated the area and personnel at the depot".

Specialist cleaning was undertaken at the site and all fire appliances later left the site.

Pyridine is widely used as a versatile solvent and has a distinctively putrid, fishy odour.

*article taken from BBC News website*

New for 2007

Due to new legislation, 2007 is proving to be a big year for change. The major change has been CDM and the regulations relating to Planning Supervisors (who are now known as CDM Co-ordinators) and Contractors. Click here to find out more.

The new CDM Regulations are split into five parts;

Part 1    Application & Definitions

Part 2    General Management Duties

Part 3    Additional Duties for Notifiable Projects

Part 4    Health & Safety on Construction Sites

Part 5    General

Download our Spring 2007 Newsletter for further details.

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Footage

Because of the unique way the internet works and the increasing number of people filming their work activities, we are now able to bring you some videos of what happens when work activities don’t go according to plan.

Demolition goes wrong.

The reason people hire Contractors for construction and demolition

NEW

Worker trapped in machinery dies

Monday, 29 October 2007

Christopher Longbottom died after an incident at the power station

A worker has died after his hands became trapped in machinery on a power station construction site.

New Fire Safety Matters

Autumn 2007

NEW

'Minor explosion' at steel site

Monday, 21 January 2008

Emergency services were called to the Corus steel plant in Port Talbot after a "minor explosion".

South Wales Police said the blast, which happened at around 2015 GMT on Monday, did not result in a fire and no-one was injured.

Residents reported hearing a blast, shortly followed by the sound of sirens from emergency vehicles.

A spokesman for Corus said there had been an incident in the hot mill, which was evacuated in line with procedures.

Police said they left the incident at around 2120 GMT once it was established there was no fire.

They said they had attended the scene with the fire service.

A spokesman for Corus said the hot mill - which reduces a slab of hot steel to a specific thickness - had been undergoing a "scheduled stoppage" since before Christmas for maintenance.

He said: "There was a normal evacuation according to normal procedures and there have not been any injuries of any kind."

In November 2001 an explosion at blast furnace number five killed three workers and left a dozen others seriously injured.

*article taken from BBC News website*

Man falls at tower building site

Tuesday, 22 January 2008

A construction worker has been taken to hospital after falling from scaffolding at a site that will house the tallest residential building in Wales.

The man was working at the Ferrara Quay complex, that includes a 29-storey apartment block, near Swansea marina.

Police, who were called to the site at 1220 GMT, said the man was taken to Morriston Hospital but the extent of his injuries was not yet known.

Officers from the Health and Safety Executive have also been called.

When completed the partially built tower will stand 350ft (106.7m) tall.

It will be surrounded by smaller residential blocks ranging from six to 10 storeys in height

Police said it was not yet known how far the worker had fallen.

*article taken from BBC News website*

Christopher Longbottom, 32, from the Gloucestershire area, was injured on Friday on the site next to Uskmouth power station at Nash, Newport.

Gwent Police and the Health and Safety Executive have begun an investigation.

A spokeswoman for the power station said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the man who has died. It must be the most awful time for them".

South Wales Fire and Rescue said Mr Longbottom was extricated by fire and ambulance crews.

He was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, where he died shortly after.

His family have paid tribute to him.

The incident was on a construction site next to Uskmouth

"We are utterly devastated by the loss of our beautiful Christopher, the best husband, father, brother, friend and loving son," they said.

"We are so grateful for the time we had with him and mountains of love and laughter he gave us.

"Thank you for all the cards and everything which is bringing us comfort at this awful time."

Following his death, the power station said everything would be done to find out what happened, and to ensure that it did not happen again.

The existing Uskmouth plant employs about 110 people.

The new £400m gas-fired 80 megawatt (MW) development was approved in August, and is due to be completed in 2010, employing 60 workers.
*article taken from BBC News website*