car + moving train = medical helicopter ride

There are always incidents that are dumbfounding because of the actions of the individual(s) before the accident. Though far and few between these incidents can be a learning experience. Here is a recent story that the Aluminium Plant Safety Blog initially shook our heads in disbelief of the actions of the injured.

A 62-year-old man had to be cut from his car after it was struck by a freight train south of Perth one morning during the week of January 18, 2015.

Firefighters were called to the crash in Waroona, 110km south of Perth, just before 3am.

The train was pulling 36 carriages of alumina and travelling south from Pinjarra to Bunbury when it smashed into the 62-year-old's Toyota Landcruiser.

Police said it appeared the vehicle was parked on the tracks. He was freed from the wreckage and airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries. The train driver was treated for shock.

The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog prays that the injured driver recovers fully from his physical and mental injuries. In addition the APSB prays that the train driver is provided counseling to ease the mental torment that he is experiencing.

On site visits the APSB occasionally will ask our hosts about incidents that have recently occurred. Unfortunately, there are some incidents where the worker(s) motive or behavior can be determined. The above mentioned story of a vehicle parked on a railroad track would fall into that category. The APSB will use this incident as an example to show workers that some incidents are beyond explanation. That sometimes I bet the individual workers can remember when they did something that was for lack of a better word, stupid or dumb and survived. All workers need to be aware not to lose their focus and concentration when they are performing their job function. There are been too many incidents that the APSB has posted where there will never be a full understanding on why a worker behaved or acted prior to an incident. Why? Because the dead do not talk.

Please Comment.