Since his accident Ken has..
- Ridden a Harley Davison motorcycle
- Been tandem freefall parachuting
- Driven at over 90mph around a race track.
- Learned how to play guitar
- Abseiled three times
- Lectured in Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia
- Was key note speaker at the 2002 IOSH Conference
- Presented to 1420 people in a single training session in Ireland
- Flew a plane around the British Isles to raise funds for the RNIB
- Landed on Blackpool beach in a helicopter
- In one year: made 112 flights, 19 overseas trips and 285 presentations to stop others being hurt
- Ridden a Harley Davison motorcycle
- Been tandem freefall parachuting
- Driven at over 90mph around a race track.
- Learned how to play guitar
- Abseiled three times
- Lectured in Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia
- Was key note speaker at the 2002 IOSH Conference
- Presented to 1420 people in a single training session in Ireland
- Flew a plane around the British Isles to raise funds for the RNIB
- Landed on Blackpool beach in a helicopter
- In one year: made 112 flights, 19 overseas trips and 285 presentations to stop others being hurt
When changing product from one drink to another, the lines have to be cleaned and sterilised. A SIP clean was the process used to keep the drink production system clean.
The normal chemical they used was a proprietary cleaner called "Solchlor" a mixture of Caustic Soda and Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach). They ran out of the pre-mix soloution several weeks before, instead opting to mix their own by ordering the chemicals seperately. As the mixing machine was broken the process was carried out in open containers. Despite a couple of unreported near-misses, this cheap shortcut had become the norm.
On the day of Ken's accident he was asked at the end of his shift to carry out the SIP clean. He had never done this before, but was prepared to help his boss and make sure the day shift didn't have to do it. Although experienced staff were around, there was that feeling of anxiety to get home as the end of the shift drew closer.
Ken tried to find the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (a chemical suit and eye goggles) but there was nothing available. He later found out that the chemical suit was in such a poor condition it would have been unusable anyway.
The normal chemical they used was a proprietary cleaner called "Solchlor" a mixture of Caustic Soda and Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach). They ran out of the pre-mix soloution several weeks before, instead opting to mix their own by ordering the chemicals seperately. As the mixing machine was broken the process was carried out in open containers. Despite a couple of unreported near-misses, this cheap shortcut had become the norm.
On the day of Ken's accident he was asked at the end of his shift to carry out the SIP clean. He had never done this before, but was prepared to help his boss and make sure the day shift didn't have to do it. Although experienced staff were around, there was that feeling of anxiety to get home as the end of the shift drew closer.
Ken tried to find the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (a chemical suit and eye goggles) but there was nothing available. He later found out that the chemical suit was in such a poor condition it would have been unusable anyway.
When the two chemicals were mixed together there was an instantaneous violent reaction that flew in to Ken's face - just 18 inches away from the explosion. The reaction was so extreme it hit the 70ft high factory ceiling. His life was saved by his colleagues who manhandled him into a nearby emergency shower and held him in while he struggled to get out.
The last person Ken would ever see was his friend and manager Grahame Norris.
Ken was severely burned and eventually it was confirmed that he had lost his sight (his eyes had to be removed), his sense of smell and sense of taste (absent, except from the occasional really strong curry). He had just got engaged to Sue and offered her the chance to leave rather than be stuck with him. Thankfully, she decided to stay.
Ken was severely burned and eventually it was confirmed that he had lost his sight (his eyes had to be removed), his sense of smell and sense of taste (absent, except from the occasional really strong curry). He had just got engaged to Sue and offered her the chance to leave rather than be stuck with him. Thankfully, she decided to stay.
- He was born in 1950 at Dudley Road Hospital in Birmingham
- While growing up Ken often saw Ozzy Osbourne roaming around.
- Ken has three boys and one daughter.
- He is a soccer fan and supports Aston Villa Football Club
- Ken appeared on UK TV on Channel 4's Moment Of Crisis with his son.
- Appeared on TV (NBC) in the US.
- Broadcast on BBC radio and ABC radio in Australia.
- Infamously, Ken once put his hand on Lily Savage's knee on the Big Breakfast Show mistaking him/her for Gaby Roslin. It was later he discovered that Lily savage is a drag artist!
- Ken used to be a lecturer in an Art college.
- He has met the Queen, Prince Phillip and Prince Andrew.
- Amongist his favourite music are bands UB40, Dire Straits, The Eagles. Ken also takes an interest in Classical Music.
Many of his colleagues were severely traumatised by what they had witnessed at their shift changeover time and needed counselling. Lee Birks (Ken's closest friend) blamed himself for not stopping Ken carrying out the procedure he knew little or nothing about. Although he saved Ken's life by holding him in the shower, he never truly came to terms with letting his friend down.
The subsequent investigation revealed that there had been at least two previous near misses that were not investigated properly and merely put down to operator clumsiness. A lab test had been carried out on the CIP process used at the plant, the results of which were sent via internal mail and arrived 7 hours too late after Ken's accident. Had they been transmitted to the plant immediately, the accident would never have occured.
The subsequent investigation revealed that there had been at least two previous near misses that were not investigated properly and merely put down to operator clumsiness. A lab test had been carried out on the CIP process used at the plant, the results of which were sent via internal mail and arrived 7 hours too late after Ken's accident. Had they been transmitted to the plant immediately, the accident would never have occured.
No one explains his experience better than Ken himself. But you may be interested to learn some of the details that surrounded the horrific incident that completely changed his life.
In November 1990 Ken Woodward was working at a Coca Cola Schweppes factory in Sidcup, Kent (UK).
He was an acting Team Leader on a line handling returnable bottles at the time of the accident.
Video: Taken from a television documentary featuring Ken's fundraising work for the RNIB, flying a light aircraft around the UK
Ken's Accident - What happened?
"The subsequent investigation revealed that there had been at least two previous near misses that were not investigated properly..."
The chemical reaction was found to be down to stabilisers in the two chemicals that acted as catalysts in the resulting exothermic reaction.
The company was fined under COSHH regulations. It is estimated that after lost production time, compensations and fines the company took a total financial loss of £2.6 million. They changed their systems and procedures and introduced their Zero Accident Behaviours (ZAB) programme, using Ken and Lattitude Safety consultant Martin Woodall to change the way they thought about and acted upon safety. One site not only stopped their annual fatality record but had a motivated workforce that increased productivity by 15%, working safer than ever before. The company went from a "Chase the case" culture to a safe behaviours culture.
Ken now presents his story and teaches the benefits of safety to organisations, workplaces and individuals all over the world. In 2006 he was presented with the O.B.E from Prince Charles for his efforts toward safety excellence.
Some interesting facts...
©2009 KEN WOODWARD