A FORMER docks worker died from asbestos exposure, an inquest heard.
William Shaw, 77, was diagnosed with asbestosis in 2003 after he began to suffer from breathing difficulties.
The nursing home resident, of Portswood, Southampton, came to England from Northern Ireland to join the Navy.
He worked for Ford before working in Southampton docks for vessels including Union Castle boats, where he was exposed to the deadly fibres.
Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict of death by industrial disease
source: dailyecho.co.uk
Asbestos Claims
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
£37,000 paid out to pupils injured at North Lincolnshire schools
MORE than £37,000 has been paid out to North Lincolnshire pupils injured in the region's schools over the past three years.
Over that time, a total of nine successful claims have been made.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that £37,195 has been awarded to pupils since 2008/09.
The total is more than double that of North East Lincolnshire, where nearly £17,000 was claimed over the same period, and almost twice as much as the £20,723 Lincolnshire County Council paid out.
In North Lincolnshire, the biggest claim came in 2008/09 when a pupil was awarded £7,500 following ligament damage. The cause has not been revealed
This year, education bosses have already shelled out £5,000 after a pupil trapped their fingers.
Andrew Percy, the Brigg MP and a former teacher, said the claim culture was impacting on school activities.
"What we're getting into with this claim culture is that now schools won't go on school trips or get into activities they would have done 20 years ago because now they're afraid of litigation," he said.
"We need to restore a bit of balance to the whole system.
"Some of these cases will doubtless be legitimate and laudable claims but we do have a bit of a compensation culture here where people can't seem to accept that accidents happen."
North Lincolnshire Council refused to comment on the figures.
Ben Lawrence, head teacher at Frederick Gough School, said he was "astonished" by the claims.
He said: "It ties in very nicely with the Government's announcement that they are going to make health and safety paperwork easier for school trips.
"Because if you're paying out £1,500 for a splinter, you can make the rules more common sense.
"I'm astonished and shocked.
"It's worrying because accidents happen in schools. They will do. There are doors in schools and, like kids get their fingers trapped in doors at home, they will get their fingers trapped in doors at school.
"If you don't have doors then will someone sue us if there's a fire and we haven't got enough doors to control it?"
Ken Rustidge, NUT executive member for North Lincolnshire, said the real issue was health and safety in schools.
"Schools should be safe places and from what I've seen the movement is going in entirely the wrong direction," he said.
"It's far better to make buildings safe. If you've got all the health and safety in place then there shouldn't be any need for claims."
Other successful compensation claims include £4,500 for a pupil who hurt a finger, and £4,000 for a fractured wrist.
source: thisis lincolnshire.co.uk
Lincolnshire Personal Injury
Over that time, a total of nine successful claims have been made.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that £37,195 has been awarded to pupils since 2008/09.
The total is more than double that of North East Lincolnshire, where nearly £17,000 was claimed over the same period, and almost twice as much as the £20,723 Lincolnshire County Council paid out.
In North Lincolnshire, the biggest claim came in 2008/09 when a pupil was awarded £7,500 following ligament damage. The cause has not been revealed
This year, education bosses have already shelled out £5,000 after a pupil trapped their fingers.
Andrew Percy, the Brigg MP and a former teacher, said the claim culture was impacting on school activities.
"What we're getting into with this claim culture is that now schools won't go on school trips or get into activities they would have done 20 years ago because now they're afraid of litigation," he said.
"We need to restore a bit of balance to the whole system.
"Some of these cases will doubtless be legitimate and laudable claims but we do have a bit of a compensation culture here where people can't seem to accept that accidents happen."
North Lincolnshire Council refused to comment on the figures.
Ben Lawrence, head teacher at Frederick Gough School, said he was "astonished" by the claims.
He said: "It ties in very nicely with the Government's announcement that they are going to make health and safety paperwork easier for school trips.
"Because if you're paying out £1,500 for a splinter, you can make the rules more common sense.
"I'm astonished and shocked.
"It's worrying because accidents happen in schools. They will do. There are doors in schools and, like kids get their fingers trapped in doors at home, they will get their fingers trapped in doors at school.
"If you don't have doors then will someone sue us if there's a fire and we haven't got enough doors to control it?"
Ken Rustidge, NUT executive member for North Lincolnshire, said the real issue was health and safety in schools.
"Schools should be safe places and from what I've seen the movement is going in entirely the wrong direction," he said.
"It's far better to make buildings safe. If you've got all the health and safety in place then there shouldn't be any need for claims."
Other successful compensation claims include £4,500 for a pupil who hurt a finger, and £4,000 for a fractured wrist.
source: thisis lincolnshire.co.uk
Lincolnshire Personal Injury
Monday, 4 July 2011
Man is arrested after police probe road accident
A MURDER investigation has been launched after a woman was discovered dead in a crashed van.
The grim discovery was made following reports of an incident involving the vehicle in a rural location.
Detectives from Devon and Cornwall's major crime team have been drafted in to investigate.
The woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, is believed to have died some time before the collision.
The male driver of the Fiesta van has been arrested on suspicion of murder and was last night being questioned by officers at Heavitree Road police station, in Exeter.
The crash happened at around 10am yesterday.
Officers were alerted to the incident by members of the public.
The Fiesta van collided with a hedge on the A386 close to Hatherleigh, near Okehampton.
The woman is believed to be from the Hatherleigh area.
Former councillor for Hatherleigh Dennis Bater said she would be well known in the community.
"I heard that local firemen who were called out to the crash found the woman was dead and that she had died a long time before the accident," Mr Bater said.
"They had to leave the woman for body recovery – it must have been pretty obvious to the firefighters that she hadn't just died.
"The police helicopter has been circling around for a while.
"If the woman is from Hatherleigh, I probably know her as I know most people in the area – it's that kind of place.
"It won't be long before people start talking names."
He added: "At one time, this would have been a tremendous tragedy but these days nothing surprises me anymore."
Police closed the road between the junction with Jacobstowe and the road which leads towards Crediton while investigations were carried out, not far from South Langabeare Farm.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "A 54-year-old man, local to the Hatherleigh area, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody."
Anyone who has any information regarding the incident is asked to contact the police on 08452 777444.
source: thisisnorthdevon.co.uk
Devon Claims
The grim discovery was made following reports of an incident involving the vehicle in a rural location.
Detectives from Devon and Cornwall's major crime team have been drafted in to investigate.
The woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, is believed to have died some time before the collision.
The male driver of the Fiesta van has been arrested on suspicion of murder and was last night being questioned by officers at Heavitree Road police station, in Exeter.
The crash happened at around 10am yesterday.
Officers were alerted to the incident by members of the public.
The Fiesta van collided with a hedge on the A386 close to Hatherleigh, near Okehampton.
The woman is believed to be from the Hatherleigh area.
Former councillor for Hatherleigh Dennis Bater said she would be well known in the community.
"I heard that local firemen who were called out to the crash found the woman was dead and that she had died a long time before the accident," Mr Bater said.
"They had to leave the woman for body recovery – it must have been pretty obvious to the firefighters that she hadn't just died.
"The police helicopter has been circling around for a while.
"If the woman is from Hatherleigh, I probably know her as I know most people in the area – it's that kind of place.
"It won't be long before people start talking names."
He added: "At one time, this would have been a tremendous tragedy but these days nothing surprises me anymore."
Police closed the road between the junction with Jacobstowe and the road which leads towards Crediton while investigations were carried out, not far from South Langabeare Farm.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "A 54-year-old man, local to the Hatherleigh area, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody."
Anyone who has any information regarding the incident is asked to contact the police on 08452 777444.
source: thisisnorthdevon.co.uk
Devon Claims
Accident causes A36 delays
AN accident involving four vehicles caused delays on Southampton Road in Salisbury this morning.
There was s four-vehicle shunt on the A36 by the entrance to Wiltshire College Salisbury’s car park at 8.15am.
One person was stuck in the car due to a problem with their central locking and had to be cut out by the fire brigade and one woman suffered a small cut to her head.
All the emergency services attended but the road was cleared by 9.47am.
source: salisburyjournal.co.uk
Wiltshire Claims
There was s four-vehicle shunt on the A36 by the entrance to Wiltshire College Salisbury’s car park at 8.15am.
One person was stuck in the car due to a problem with their central locking and had to be cut out by the fire brigade and one woman suffered a small cut to her head.
All the emergency services attended but the road was cleared by 9.47am.
source: salisburyjournal.co.uk
Wiltshire Claims
Make safety top priority for a safe harvest
Continuing high numbers of death and serious injuries on farms have led leading rural insurer NFU Mutual to call for farmers and smallholders to take extreme care through this year’s harvest.
“There were more than 40 people killed last year in agricultural accidents and with harvest often the most stressful time of the year for both workforce and machinery, close attention to safety is essential,” said NFU Mutual farm safety specialist Clive Harris.
“Our experience dealing with farm accident claims clearly shows that it’s crucial to make safety top priority for all harvesting operations to avoid accidents which can cause injuries and death - as well as the emotional trauma experienced by all involved”
With the start to this year’s harvest now only a few weeks away, Clive runs through preparations which can help prevent harvest accidents and fires.
Pre-harvest checks · Good preparation, a thorough check-over in conjunction with the normal regular maintenance will minimise mechanical breakdowns and failures. It is quite common for extensive rodent damage to be detected the day the machine is first started-up after being stored.
· Tractors and trailers should be thoroughly checked to ensure they are up to the rigours of harvesting and are roadworthy with particular attention to signals, lights, efficiency of brakes and wear on links, pins and couplings. The BAGMA scheme provides a good code of practice to use as a basis for machinery maintenance.
· Check fire extinguishers are of the correct type, fully charged and in good working order.
· Provide regular and casual harvest staff with training on the correct use of machinery – with particular attention to hazards such as overhead power lines, yard operations and steep slopes.
· Check that field entrances are not obscured, for example by overgrown hedges or long grass.
· NFU Mutual Risk Management Services offers a full range of risk management services to help farmers identify and minimise the risks to their businesses and comply with legislation.
During Harvest · You can never overdo cleaning out dust and chaff from hot spots. This is just as important in difficult weather when dusty crops can lead to high build-ups of debris.
· Resist the urge to keep going when temperature gauges are ‘in the red’ or warning devices are alerting the operator to a problem or fault.
· While clearing blockages or carrying out maintenance ensure machines are switched off and parts have stopped moving – taking short cuts still leads to horrific injuries and deaths.
· Make sure drivers are aware of the locations and heights of power lines and check that the machinery will safely pass under wires and restrictions.
· In very dry conditions, keep a sprayer filled with water on hand attached to a tractor to lay a fire break in the event of a crop fire.
In the yard · Instruct drivers to keep to safe speeds in the grain yard · Check signs are in place to help lorry drivers go to the right place, and alert members of the public to any potential hazards · Ensure children are kept away from working areas · Clean dust regularly from grain dryers – and ensure that all staff running the drier are fully trained and know what to do if fire breaks out.
· Ensure fire extinguishers are readily accessible for all.
· Make sure ladders and platforms used for maintenance are up to the job and a safe system of work is in operation.
“Trailer towing eyes are a classic example of a worn machinery part which can fail causing serious damage and injury with fatal consequences if not professionally replaced when worn,” he said.
“There appears to be an increase in the number of worn tow eyes which have failed when trailers are fully loaded. This can lead to the trailer tipping backwards and the drawbar penetrating the tractor cab with the driver at risk.”
source: smallholder.co.uk
Machinery Claims
“There were more than 40 people killed last year in agricultural accidents and with harvest often the most stressful time of the year for both workforce and machinery, close attention to safety is essential,” said NFU Mutual farm safety specialist Clive Harris.
“Our experience dealing with farm accident claims clearly shows that it’s crucial to make safety top priority for all harvesting operations to avoid accidents which can cause injuries and death - as well as the emotional trauma experienced by all involved”
With the start to this year’s harvest now only a few weeks away, Clive runs through preparations which can help prevent harvest accidents and fires.
Pre-harvest checks · Good preparation, a thorough check-over in conjunction with the normal regular maintenance will minimise mechanical breakdowns and failures. It is quite common for extensive rodent damage to be detected the day the machine is first started-up after being stored.
· Tractors and trailers should be thoroughly checked to ensure they are up to the rigours of harvesting and are roadworthy with particular attention to signals, lights, efficiency of brakes and wear on links, pins and couplings. The BAGMA scheme provides a good code of practice to use as a basis for machinery maintenance.
· Check fire extinguishers are of the correct type, fully charged and in good working order.
· Provide regular and casual harvest staff with training on the correct use of machinery – with particular attention to hazards such as overhead power lines, yard operations and steep slopes.
· Check that field entrances are not obscured, for example by overgrown hedges or long grass.
· NFU Mutual Risk Management Services offers a full range of risk management services to help farmers identify and minimise the risks to their businesses and comply with legislation.
During Harvest · You can never overdo cleaning out dust and chaff from hot spots. This is just as important in difficult weather when dusty crops can lead to high build-ups of debris.
· Resist the urge to keep going when temperature gauges are ‘in the red’ or warning devices are alerting the operator to a problem or fault.
· While clearing blockages or carrying out maintenance ensure machines are switched off and parts have stopped moving – taking short cuts still leads to horrific injuries and deaths.
· Make sure drivers are aware of the locations and heights of power lines and check that the machinery will safely pass under wires and restrictions.
· In very dry conditions, keep a sprayer filled with water on hand attached to a tractor to lay a fire break in the event of a crop fire.
In the yard · Instruct drivers to keep to safe speeds in the grain yard · Check signs are in place to help lorry drivers go to the right place, and alert members of the public to any potential hazards · Ensure children are kept away from working areas · Clean dust regularly from grain dryers – and ensure that all staff running the drier are fully trained and know what to do if fire breaks out.
· Ensure fire extinguishers are readily accessible for all.
· Make sure ladders and platforms used for maintenance are up to the job and a safe system of work is in operation.
“Trailer towing eyes are a classic example of a worn machinery part which can fail causing serious damage and injury with fatal consequences if not professionally replaced when worn,” he said.
“There appears to be an increase in the number of worn tow eyes which have failed when trailers are fully loaded. This can lead to the trailer tipping backwards and the drawbar penetrating the tractor cab with the driver at risk.”
source: smallholder.co.uk
Machinery Claims
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