Crossrail worker dies during SCL works
11 Mar 2014
Peter Kenyon, TunnelTalk
- A worker on London's Crossrail project has died after being hit by falling shotcrete as he carried out SCL works during construction of a crossover cavern between the two main western running tunnels in Holborn. In the wake of the accident, contractors working at other SCL (sprayed concrete lining) sites on the project have had to give Crossrail assurances prior to being allowed to resume construction activities.
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Fisher Street shaft, Holborn
- The 43-year-old man who died, who was yet to be named, is believed to be a sub-contractor to the C300 Western Tunnels main contractor BFK (Bam Nuttall/Ferrovial Agroman/Kier).
- The accident happened at about 5am on Friday (7 March 2014), prompting a "full and thorough investigation" by Crossrail and the UK Health and Safety Executive. Work at the site and similar SCL works taking place at other sites was immediately suspended. This has since resumed at other locations, but remained suspended at the accident site as of Tuesday (11 March).
- Crossrail said in a statement: "Sadly, at approximately 5am on Friday 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 family has been informed.
- "When the incident occurred, work was taking place to build a new crossover tunnel between two [main] train tunnels that have already been constructed by Crossrail's TBMs. The worker was spraying concrete onto the excavated ground when a piece of concrete from the ceiling of the tunnel fell and hit him. A full and thorough investigation into this tragic incident is being undertaken.
- Safety is our number one priority and Crossrail sets the most stringent safety requirements in the industry. Despite this terrible incident, Crossrail's accident rate is below the industry average."
- Work at the site had been progressing nine months ahead of schedule following early completion in December 2013 of permanent waterproofing and concrete lining works to a 15m diameter emergency shaft in Holborn. The shaft was also being used to support tunnelling works on the large crossover cavern currently under construction below Red Lion Square, the location of the accident.
- The 6.4km Western tunnels between Royal Oak and Farringdon were the first to be completed on the £15 billion project, with the TBMs achieving final breakthrough on 9 October last year, and 24 January this year.
- London Fire Brigade, which dispatched 50 firefighters to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 5.38am, reported that the fatality happened 10m into the tunnel.
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Worker killed in Washington metro accident - TunnelTalk, October 2013
Falling shotcrete kills worker in New York - TunnelTalk, November 2011
Five breakthroughs in 14 days for Crossrail - TunnelTalk, February 2014
SCL to create Crossrail junction caverns - TunnelTalk, September 2012
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