The London Fire Brigade was called at approximately 5.30am today (7th March 2014) after a 43-year-old man suffered head injuries in a tunnel in Fisher Street, Holborn, WC1. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Health & Safety Executive is investigating.
Crossrail Ltd said that the victim was spraying concrete onto excavated ground when a piece of concrete from the ceiling of the tunnel fell and hit him.
"When the incident occurred, work was taking place to build a new crossover tunnel between two train tunnels that have already been constructed by Crossrail’s boring machines," the project client said in a statement.
It added: "Crossrail has suspended all work at Fisher Street and associated works across the project. 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."
Crossrail’s western tunnels contractor BAM Ferrovial Kier (BFK) and its subcontractor Barhale completed excavation of the 15m-diameter shaft in Fisher Street in December, nine months ahead of schedule.
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