Latest news with #safetybarriers
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Footage emerges of terrifying crash that brought the Sydney Harbour Bridge to a standstill - as collision reignites calls for huge change
Terrifying footage has emerged of the horrific four-vehicle crash that shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge as locals reignite calls for movable safety barriers. The cars collided on the southern side at about 8am on Wednesday, with two people rushed to hospital and four of the six lanes closed. Traffic backed up for kilometres, with queues reaching suburbs as far as Artarmon, Drummoyne and Woolloomooloo, as well as the Anzac Bridge. Dashcam footage showed a Kia hatchback driving northward before it drifted into the oncoming lane and clipped a blue Mitsubishi SUV. The SUV hit the vehicle beside it while the Kia collided head-on with another vehicle, immediately bringing traffic to a standstill. Separate footage from the scene showed a man on a stretcher being placed into the back of an ambulance after paramedics treated three patients at the scene. One was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital, while another was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital. Both were in stable conditions with minor injuries. The multi-vehicle crash has prompted locals to demand safety changes to the reversible lane system on the bridge and the installation of movable barriers. The calls were first made following a fatal crash in October when two men died after colliding head-on in the infamous 'suicide lane'. Jamal Choukri, 44, who was on his way to work in Botany in Sydney's south, at the time. A 51-year-old driver of a Hyundai i30, who was driving in the northbound lanes, crossed over into traffic in the southbound lanes before colliding with a Mercedes. The vehicle then hit Mr Choukri's Hyundai Accent and the two drivers died on impact. Sydneysiders have raised concerns about safety on the bridge and the digital direction signs that allow the flow of traffic to change directions on the interior lanes. The direction of lane four, better known by locals as the 'death' or 'suicide' lane, is often reversed after peak-hour traffic each morning, before servicing northbound lanes in the afternoon. Many agreed that concrete crash barriers or bollards needed to be installed on the bridge between the northbound and southbound traffic. Others wanted the reversible lane system done away with entirely. 'Variable lanes without a concrete physical barrier like they do on Victorian roads are simply dangerous,' one woman wrote online. The crash on Wednesday led to locals renewing calls for safety barriers. 'It's stupid: there's not a barrier between the opposing lanes. We have that on the Westgate Bridge and the Bolte Bridge,' one wrote. Another added: 'It's either physical barriers or it's bigger, brighter arrows.' 'I never understood why they are not using the Movable Lane Barrier like on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. I think the Kiwis had it for 35 years,' a third wrote. Transport for NSW said in October it would be considering the findings of a police investigation. 'In 2022, Transport installed clearer signage for motorists on the Bridge following a speed zone and signage review,' a spokeswoman said. 'The Sydney Harbour Bridge is not wide enough to fit a movable barrier system and retain all lanes in what is Sydney's most important traffic route. 'In 2015, following a serious collision, the use of a 'zipper' machine, similar to that used on Victoria Road at Drummoyne to move the barrier, was considered. However, it was found not to be suitable as it would force the removal of one lane from the bridge, reducing traffic capacity by 15 per cent.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Transport for NSW with regard to Wednesday's crash.
ABC News
6 days ago
- ABC News
Upgraded safety barriers for Hobart's Tasman Bridge needed as coroners warn of suicide risk
A coroner's report has found there is an "immediate need" for the installation of safety barriers on Hobart's Tasman Bridge. Warning: This article contains details that readers may find distressing. Four coroners wrote the report due to a disproportionate number of deaths by suicide, which has continued since the last coroner's report on the issue in 2016. Its release coincided with the publishing of findings into nine deaths. The report noted that safety barriers had reduced suicide deaths on Brisbane's Story Bridge since their installation in 2015, and resulted in no deaths on Melbourne's West Gate Bridge since 2011. It found that similar works must be progressed for the Tasman Bridge. "Findings in this report further emphasise the immediate need for structural intervention through the installation of a safety barrier," the report reads. In 2022, the Tasmanian government released a concept plan for the Tasman Bridge that included wider pathways for cyclist and pedestrian safety, and higher safety barriers. The upgrades were expected to be complete by this year, but the design was changed in 2024, with the government citing a significant level of structural changes that would be needed. There are now plans for a three-metre-high safety barrier on the water side, and a 1.4-metre-high barrier on the traffic side. The plans also include improving pathway connections on the eastern and western shores, exploring 'one-way pathway' options for each side of the bridge, and adding passing bays and a slightly wider pathway. A spokesperson for Tasmania's Department of State Growth said the improvements would occur in the near future. "Targeted consultation has already occurred and we will be seeking broader public feedback on the designs for the bridge pathways and barrier designs in the coming months. "Pending the outcome of that consultation, construction is targeted to start later in 2025 and be complete in late 2026." The 2016 report made seven recommendations, including the installation of additional camera surveillance and an assessment of the effectiveness of telephones and signage on the bridge. Police attend an average of 195 "concern for welfare" incidents per year on the bridge, and there are an average of 2.6 deaths by suicide per year — about 3 per cent of total suicides in Tasmania. The data came from the Tasmanian Suicide Register, which was established as part of one of the 2016 recommendations. The coroners' report released this week found that more improvements are needed to build on these recommendations. "Measures such as camera surveillance, police data and the Tasmanian Suicide Register are important for investigation and reporting purposes," the report reads. The 2016 report also recommended that the government formulate a "plan" for structural modifications on the bridge, with a key aim of eliminating suicide risk. Graeme Peck has been pushing for safety improvements on the bridge for over a decade, and is part of a consultation group run through the Department of State Growth, along with cycling and pedestrian advocates. He said he was pleased to see works coming closer to fruition to prevent further deaths by suicide. "I think State Growth — all of the people directly involved in this — have now got all the facts, there's two coroners reports, no-one can defend not going ahead with it," Mr Peck said. "It will also make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians from falling into traffic … the one-way arrangement will add to it being more efficient and safer."
Entrepreneur
18-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Indana Steel Unveils Advanced Flange Guards for Enhanced Industrial Safety
The groundbreaking safety barriers are designed to stop hazardous chemicals such as acids, steam, and oils from leaking into the workplace, dramatically reducing workplace accidents, equipment losses, and environmental pollution. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Indana Steel, the global industrial safety leader, unveiled its newest innovation—Flange Guard—transcending workplace safety by putting an end to the threat of fatal spray-outs and leaks from high-pressure piping systems. The groundbreaking safety barriers are designed to stop hazardous chemicals such as acids, steam, and oils from leaking into the workplace, dramatically reducing workplace accidents, equipment losses, and environmental pollution. With state-of-the-art materials and cutting-edge technology, Indana Steel is rewriting the standards of industrial safety. Industrial pipes face constant pressure, vibration, and chemical attack, and leakage becomes unavoidable. If left unregulated, the leaks will cause deadly damage, regulatory violations, and costly production shutdowns. Flange Guards, or Flange Spray Shields, provide a hardened protection by surrounding high-pressure spray-outs, guarding man and machine, and making strict compliance to OSHA, ANSI, and EPA standards. Through minimized compliance risk, lower maintenance costs, and improved workplace safety rates, these guards are an economic necessity in every industry worldwide. In chemical processing, pharmaceutical, water treatment, and food manufacturing business operations, to the oil and gas industry, safe and efficient business operations are dependent on Flange Guards. PTFE (Teflon) Flange Guards are specifically well-suited for use within the chemical and pharmaceutical industries given their increased level of resistance towards high-strength chemicals and temperature. Multi-layer mesh-strengthened Stainless Steel (SS316) Flange Guards are employed in offshore or very corrosive applications. Polypropylene (PP) and PVC Flange Guards provide economical choices with medium chemical resistance and easy leak detectability. Transparent and lightweight, Polycarbonate Flange Guards provide instant visual inspection, while pressure- and temperature-resistant fabric Flange Guards provide excellent protection under severe conditions. Indana Steel's innovative Flange Guards establish standards for safety excellence, with new functionality for greater safety. Litmus Leak Indicating Patch can be used to detect leaks before the leaks become disasters, allowing industries to treat potential risks before they turn into risks. Safe fasteners such as Velcro cutouts and drawstring locks provide a repeat fit and effortless installation, minimizing downtime. To ensure its commitment to quality, Indana Steel provides a 24-month replacement warranty on each Flange Guard, ensuring customers with unsurpassed dependability and durability. Proven in actual field usage, Indana Steel's Flange Guards have emerged as an industry changer regarding workplace safety. One of the large chemical plants employing PTFE Flange Guards saw its maintenance costs reduce by 70% as well as a notable reduction in site accidents. One oil refinery employing stainless steel Flange Guards on high-pressure steam lines achieved an 80% reduction in safety violations and a notable reduction in burn injuries. These success stories reveal the significance of Flange Guards in hazardous industrial applications. Approaching nearer to its international reach, Indana Steel exports Flange Guards to top destinations like the United States of America, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Australia. Dedicated unabashedly to high-performance materials and austere testing, the company keeps extending the boundaries of industrial protection, gaining the confidence of industries all over the world. Indana Steel is also investing in future-generation smart Flange Guards on the basis of Internet of Things (IoT) technology-based real-time leak detection sensors. The future-generation safety devices will provide real-time alerts to the maintenance teams so that the latter can take preemptive measures before the leak becomes a crisis. With the increasing level of workplace safety, such smart solutions will be a part of industrial risk management. Flange Guards are not an afterthought—They're an intelligent investment in workplace safety. Stopping dangerous leaks, enforcing compliance, and optimizing peak performance, they are providing industries with their strongest line of defense against workplace hazards. Indana Steel's new products are helping companies create stronger, safer workplaces. Integrating these cutting-edge Flange Guards is not a question of regulatory compliance—it's about safeguarding people, assets and creating a healthy industrial future.
