Near-fatal accidents spark Corus safety alert
SAFETY drills on the Scunthorpe Corus steelworks have been stepped up after company chiefs revealed there had been 22 near- fatalities in less than a year.
In one case, a fork lift driver escaped death when his truck was overturned by a lorry.
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Corus Steelworks in Scunthorpe
In another case, a contractor warehouseman was trapped against a stack of coils in the town's rod mill after the handbrake on his pole truck was not applied properly.
He managed to escape by crawling through the coil on to the truck.
The Scunthorpe site director Sean Lyons has told the 4,500-strong workforce: "We still have a job to do and we owe it to ourselves to do it safely.
"Health and safety remains our utmost priority above everything else we do."
Mick Tutty, the company's health and safety manager, confirmed there had been 22 near fatalities in less than a year.
Mr Tutty said: "Our business is facing a difficult and unsettling time, so it's crucial to take time out to think about safety."
The Scunthorpe Corus spokeswoman Rachel Cox stressed safety remained the number one priority on the 2,000-acre site.
Miss Cox said: "Corus actively encourages employees to report all incidents, regardless of their seriousness.
"Investigations then look at whether there was potential for more serious consequences and how improvements could be made."
Miss Cox said, following the first narrow escape, lorry drivers were now required to hand over their keys to forklift drivers until they had completed the manoeuvre and were safely parked away from the other vehicle to avoid any potential mishap.
9 Comments
by Mr H&S, Safe and well
Thursday, July 16 2009, 11:17AM
“I do believe that the description of these accidents should be potential fatalities, if an accident is of such a serious nature that a person could have been killed but out of pure luck they have managed to survive then the accident has the potential to have had a fatal outcome. Now if the person had sustained such serious injuries that only by medical intervention their lives were saved then that would have been classed as near fatal.”
by Leaving, On a Higher Plain
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 3:52PM
“Safety?????
Dont make me laugh - the workers are ACTIVELY discouraged from reporting any accidents so that the laughable bonus for accident free weeks can be claimed....”
by wary, ashby
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 1:01AM
“take notice of below, all those people that say it is better to have a job... what kind of job do you want? the kind the Indians want you to have? at least fight for your dignity, ok things will not be as bad as the common Indian has it but it wont be from lack of trying on Tata's part, remember they still need scunny in some capacity and cannot afford to loose it”
by insight, scunny
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 12:52AM
“I have worked in India, welders falling out of roofing due to electricution, the standard footwear is flip flops, no safety helmets, their working conditions are worse then slaves and when you can no longer work you are replaced by another body from the gate,this excludes management of course, because of class divisions, scunny is only needed as a stock yard and a gateway to europe as reputable buyers will eventually start to campaign for better working conditions and they know it”
by Me, my gaff
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 7:19PM
“Corus safety : sign here now you have read the risks = Corparate disclaimer. FACT!”
by Two Meter Peter, Mill Office
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 6:47PM
“When was the last time a Corus worker heard 'Safety - number one priority'?
Since Tata took over, it's 'Money - number one priority'.”
by Gordon Onad, Barton
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 5:56PM
“Try it and find out.”
by Me, My gaff
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 4:53PM
“Probably all suicidal after recent events!”
by Samantha, Brigg
Tuesday, July 14 2009, 2:19PM
“Eh? What's a "near fatality"? Is that like an almost broken neck?”