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March 7, 2014

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Construction worker killed in Crossrail tunnel

 

A construction worker has died at one of the Crossrail construction sites in central London.
 
Reports say firefighters attempted to rescue the 43-year-old after he sustained head injuries 32ft (10m) down a tunnel in Holborn earlier this morning (7 March).
 
The London Fire Brigade said it had sent rescue crews at approximately 05.40 GMT to help rescue the worker. Ambulance crews also attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
 
Police say HSE has been informed.
 
The £15bn line is due to run from Maidenhead and Heathrow Airport to Abbey Wood and Shenfield through central London. 
 
A Crossrail spokesman said: “Sadly, at approximately 5am this morning a contractor working at our site in Fisher Street, London was fatally injured.
 
“Our first and foremost thoughts are with the family and friends affected by this. The next of kin are being informed. We are establishing the facts and a full investigation into the incident has commenced.”
 
The line is due to open in 2018.

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Ailsa Leach
Ailsa Leach
10 years ago

I agree with Stephen, the governments (and namely David Cameron) have a misplaced idea of what H&S is. STOP chasing misconceptions and take a look at Countries that have little or no H&S and match that with our legal system; we could end up with H&S like a third world and litigation like the USA!

Graeme Holmes
Graeme Holmes
10 years ago

Health and Safety can be a lot of paperwork, necessary paperwork, and auditing, continuous monitoring and training will reduce hazards and dangerous occurrences. This will not happen unless everyone “buys” into and contributes to a thriving safety culture, too many old fashioned attitudes remain in the workplace and younger workers who are open to safety culture are “bullied” into the “old ways”

We are all responsible for each other, be your brothers keeper and raise concern for anyone not following the safety culture we all need and want.

Ian
Ian
10 years ago

A day that will change the lives of many people.

I totally agree with Sylvia and Graeme, there is too much focus on paperwork and not enough on the understanding of the risks involved.

Safety is everyones responsibility so come on everyone do your bit, get out there and talk to the workforce. They may not be your brother, sister, son or daughter but they are someone’s.

Mark W
Mark W
10 years ago

Very sad news. But I have to say, I disagree with the paperwork comments. In order to manage risk safely, you need evidence that: 1, The designer has identified that risk and suggested how to manage it. 2, The PC has seen that information and factored that into their management plan. 3, That information has been passed to the installer. 4, Everyone affected by that work process is aware of that installation. And who ensures this happens? The CDMC that’s who. The very role that the HSE are determined to get rid of. Best of luck to all the designers… Read more »

McNeil Ayuk
McNeil Ayuk
10 years ago

Successful maintenance of work place safety is a collective effort, need to be taken serious to avoid accidents like this one and avoid throwing familes into a state of mourning and confusion

Muhammad Javed
Muhammad Javed
10 years ago

No life should be taken away from anyone and all necessary steps should be taken to avoid such incidents in the future.

Thoughts are with his family at this hard time.

paul
paul
10 years ago

Yes the construction industry is still a unsafe and dangerous organisation. I truly think that more companies should up date there health and safety. Policy’s more training, more detailed risk assessments, more supervision from managers /supervisor. Thoughts are with the family and friends

Richard McCrilley
Richard McCrilley
10 years ago

Be under no illusion, construction work is still dangerous despite the efforts to make it safe. Still have to be on guard and take sensible precautions.

No person should go to work to die.

Thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

stephen whyles
stephen whyles
10 years ago

Take note Mr. Cameron. Health and safety of workers is paramount, accidents still happen even with all our safety systems, reducing them as Mr. Cameron planned to earlier will only increase the incident rates. Accidents don’t just happen they are the result of a weak link in the chain of events. No consolation I know to the poor guys family

Stewart Palzeaird
Stewart Palzeaird
10 years ago

I agree with Mark. If the paperwork is not there how do you monitor what is actually happening – by death rates or serious accident data!

Rather the paperwork as well as a robust considered system to implement and monitor.

Stay safe everyone! please go home happy at the end of the day.

Sylvia
Sylvia
10 years ago

Health and Safety has been ridiculed too much for holding people back – health and safety is needed, but common sense approach rather – the audit processes and certification processes have led to too much paperwork, it is the paperwork that if you don’t have the HSE prosecute and the audits are failed – health and safety must stay but the amount of paperwork has to stop. Condolences to this man’s family.