OT? UK Medical school explosion

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BBC

"Louise Sturgess, a spokeswoman for Avon Ambulance, said: "One of the men was cutting through a copper gas pipe, using a disc cutter, believing the gas supply had been blocked off."

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), February 18, 2000

Answers

Another article at Sky News

This may be totally off-topic, but I'm curious to know just how such an incredibly serious mistake can be made. Assuming the experience of the workers, who know full well the volatile nature of their job, how could a mistake like this happen?

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), February 18, 2000.


Friday, 18 February, 2000, 12:28 GMT

Five workmen have been taken to hospital after a blast at Bristol Medical School.

One is believed to have lost several fingers in the explosion.

The blast happened as the five men were carrying out renovation work on the third floor at nine o'clock on Friday morning.

Louise Sturgess, a spokeswoman for Avon Ambulance, said: "One of the men was cutting through a copper gas pipe, using a disc cutter, believing the gas supply had been blocked off.

"There was a small explosion , sending shrapnel into his chest, abdomen and upper legs. We believe he has also lost several of his fingers."

Gas inhaled

The man's colleagues dragged him to safety before they too were taken to hospital suffering from shock and the possible effects of inhaling gas.

The most seriously injured man is believed to be 53, and to come from South Wales.

He is being treated in the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

He was undergoing exploratory surgery on Friday morning to see how bad his injuries were, said a spokeswoman for the hospital.

The other four men had been treated for inhalation problems. One also suffered minor arm injuries.

A spokeswoman for the medical school said the explosion happened in a building that was being renovated, and no staff or students were using it.

The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the incident.

-- sad (need@all.fingers), February 18, 2000.


"how could this happen?"

Each of the above are unlikely, and I'm sure normal procedures are in place to stop them happening. Sadly, every so often, due to a lapse in attention or a slip in communication or some other unfortunate combination of circumstances, these things happen.

-- randomdigits (no pun intended :o( ) (r@r.r), February 18, 2000.

randomd's

I know that's the obvious, easy explanation. It just seems so hard to believe....

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), February 18, 2000.


Rachel,

In my younger days I worked for a couple of contractors, and you would not BELIEVE some of the stupid, life-threatening events that occurred by people you hope would know better. Fortunately, usually no one gets hurt.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), February 18, 2000.



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