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Germany
Mass evacuation after WW2 bomb found in Hannover
More than 14K people were evacuated yesterday as the authorities in Hannover dealt with a WW2 bomb found at a depth of 7.5 metres at the parking site of a supermarket in the South Linden area, a 1,000-metre safety zone was established, 89 patients from the Siloah clinic, including 7 intensive care patients, had to be relocated. 31st December 2007.
Romania
Plane hits car on foggy runway
An investigation is underway into an accident on Sunday at Bucharest's Otopeni airport where a 737-330 aircraft of Tarom Airlines struck a car checking runway lights, the collision occurred in thick fog, damaging the plane's landing gear, all 120 passengers on the Egypt-bound flight evacuated safely by emergency chute. 31st December 2007.
Poland
Accident prompts thin ice warning
The authorities in Masuria, northeast Poland, are urging people to be aware of the danger of thin ice following the weekend deaths of 2 men aged 33 and 34 at Olsztyn on Kortowsky Lake where they fell through thin ice attempting to rescue a dog. 31st December 2007.
Vietnam
7 killed in cliff slippage at quarry
The collapse of a cliff at a quarry in Thach Ha in central Vietnam where stones were being loaded on to a lorry has killed 7 workers, 6 of whom were women, another worker is critically injured, no locally heavy rain had caused the slippage. 29th December 2007.
Russia
Seamen recovered from burned out boat
The bodies of 4 dead seamen have been recovered from the burned-out Cambodian-flagged vessel Vincent in the Sea of Okhotsk, 10 miles off the Sakhalin coast, from where Korean owners ITC Ltd have initiated plans to tow it back to Pusan. This may have to be deferred as a criminal investigation into the seamen's deaths has been launched. 28th December 2007.
Austria
Gas convector overheats at print shop
Fire in a copy and print shop in the basement of an apartment block in the Wien-Neubau district of Vienna caused considerable damage on Thursday, the cause was a gas convector heater, it is speculated that material was placed too close to it, restricting its ventilation. 28th December 2007.
South Korea
Boxer collapses after world title fight
Emergency brain surgery was performed on 33-year old South Korean boxer Choi Yo-Sam shortly after his successful defence of his WBO flyweight title which he won on points. He had taken a heavy blow shortly before the end of the 12-round contest and only just beat the count to regain his feet. However, shortly afterwards he lapsed into a coma and was admitted to Soonchunhyang University Hospital. Following the 2-hour surgery he has been receiving medication to relieve intra-cranial pressure, doctors may not have a clearer picture of his recovery prospects until early next week. 27th December 2007.
Philippines
Laundry worker injured in gas explosion
A female worker has been left with 3rd degree burns following a gas explosion at BG Laundry Place in Barangay East Kamias, Quezon City, the premises had been closed for a couple of days and it is suspected that gas had been leaking from a gas-powered clothes dryer. 27th December 2007.
Iraq
12 dead in level crossing collision
The collision of a freight train and a vehicle on a level crossing in Sayahiyya, 10 miles north of Hilla, left 12 people dead, the train driver is understood to have absconded the accident scene. 25th December 2007.
South Africa
6 drown in Free State boat accident
The capsize of a boat on a lake at a resort at Henneman in the Free State resulted in 6 drownings on Monday. An attempt was being made to bring an adult and a child who were in the water on to the boat when it capsized, 2 of the victims are believed to be people who attempted a further rescue from the side. 25th December 2007.
Egypt
16 drowned as bus rolls off Nile ferry
Either a failure to apply a handbrake or a technical malfunction of it is being attributed as the cause for a minibus to roll off a ferry at Deir Mawas on the Nile, an incident which led to 16 deaths, the driver survived the incident. 24th December 2007.
Poland
Overloading causes fatal electrical fires
Overloading of power supply points has been speculated by Polish police as the cause of 3 separate house fires which claimed 8 lives over the weekend.
Three people died in a fire in the attic of a 4-storey property in Lodz; 3 died in a summerhouse fire in Pruszkow, west of Warsaw; 2 died in a fire in Kalisz, west Poland. The use of additional heaters led to the overloading. 24th December 2007.
The Netherlands
Tunnel cladding kills motorist
The Dutch workplace inspectorate (arbeidsinspectie) is investigating a fatal accident at the Ijtunnel in north Amsterdam where a section of cladding fell and killed a motorist on Thursday, work has been ongoing at the Noord Zuidlijn of the tunnel.  21st December 2007.
Pakistan
Karachi Express derailment kills 58
The derailment of the Karachi Express near Mehrabpur has led to 58 deaths and 120 injured, scores of whom are in critical condition, initial speculation of the accident suggests faulty track. 20th December 2007.
Russia
Firemen injured in secondary blaze at paint works
Seven firemen were injured when a container of combustible materials burst open while they were tackling a blaze in the adhesive production unit of a paint factory in Podolsk, near Moscow. 20th December 2007.
Russia
Sea of Okhotsk fishermen rescued, 4 dead
The Cambodian-flagged fishing boat Vincent is still on fire in the Sea of Okhotsk, 10 miles off the Sakhalin coast, 13 fishermen have been safely evacuated to Korsakov but 4 others are known to have died. 19th December 2007.
Austria
Driver of heavily overloaded pig transporter fined
Police from Bludenz stopped a Dutch lorry at 2am on Tuesday at Nuziders, Vorlarlberg, and discovered that its 57-tonne load of pigs being transported to Italy was exceeding its stated weight limit by 17 tonnes, also the animals' drinking water had largely frozen.
The driver has been fined €10K (£7,100), the load has been split between 2 lorries, 1 has gone to Ulm in Germany pending repair of the Dutch lorry's water provision system. 19th December 2007.
Canada
Electrocution at Saskatchewan farm site
A 19-year old Saskatchewan worker has died in an accident on a farm northeast of Regina where construction work was underway, it is speculated that he sustained a fatal electric shock during a concrete pour. 19th December 2007.
China
Miner survives 113 hours in flooded pit
Rescuers in Shangrao County have reached a surviving miner who was among 4 trapped by flood ingress at the licensed Qunfa coal mine, 6 miners escaped the accident, 3 other miners were found dead by search teams, the survivor is described as well despite enduring 113 hours underground. 18th December 2007.
Estonia
Live grenades found on German WW2 soldier's remains
Ordnance disposal experts were called upon to detonate live grenades discovered among the remains of a German soldier of WW2 whose skeletal remains and military insignia were discovered by a party of Saaremaa island hunters on the Sorve peninsula. Identification of the victim indicated a soldier of the 68th regiment of the 23rd infantry Wehrmacht who had fallen during retreat and lain unburied for 63 years, his boots were prominent above a thin covering of moss which had grown over the remains, now to be buried in Narva military cemetery. 17th December 2007.
China
19 fishermen missing after East China Sea collision
The Zhejiang Maritime Affairs Bureau has indicated that 19 Chinese fishermen are missing following the collision of their boat and the Liberian freighter, Formosa 10, off the east Zhejiang coast, only 1 fisherman was safely rescued. 17th December 2007.
New Zealand
Abseiler rescued from toxic mine shaft
Otago fire crews wearing breathing apparatus managed to rescue an abseiler who was overcome by toxic fumes in a former mine shaft in Kaitangata, 6 miles south of Balclutha, 2 others in the party managed to raise the alarm.
The "black air" atmosphere of the shaft, last worked 35 years ago, may have featured pockets of methane gas. 17th December 2007.
USA
Dry cleaner found dead in Texas
The 54-year old proprietrix of Ace Cleaners in south Austin has been found dead at her workplace, local police are attributing it to a freak workplace accident consistent with an equipment accident and are pursing a joint investigation with OSHA at the dry-cleaning premises. 14th December 2007.
The Netherlands
Military helicopter brings down power pylon
An investigation has been launched after a military helicopter struck a high power pylon at Zaltbommel an der Waal, 25 miles west of Nijmegen.
The pilot survived the emergency landing with light injuries, but extensive loss of power was experienced in this area of east Holland. A number of cables and the pylon came down in the river Waal whose high water and strong currents were making it difficult to recover the material. 14th December 2007.
Australia
Worker killed at Olympic Dam site
A worker was killed yesterday after being struck by a falling object at BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam mine and processing unit at Roxby Downs, 350 miles north of Adelaide, the accident occurred during maintenance work on the smelter. 13th December 2007.
Bosnia/Herzegovina
Coal waste tip slippage kills 2 workers
Two workers were killed on Tuesday by a coal waste slippage at the Stara Jama mine in Zenica, central Bosnia, efforts were being made later in the day to locate the body of one of the workers at the deep mine site where deposits are worked by the Kakanj group. 12th December 2007.
Spain
Laundry worker strangled by scarf and "Calandra"
A 47-year old laundry worker was strangled on Tuesday while operating the "Calandra" machine at a local laundrette in the Cordoban village of Rivero de Posadas, a scarf around her neck became entangled in the machine which performs drying and ironing functions, strangling her when it wound around the mangle. 12th December 2007.
Japan
Media helicopter in fatal crash
An NHK helicopter, hired from All Nippon Helicopter Company for news broadcast coverage, crashed just half a mile form a heliport in Shizuoka, killing the 57-year old pilot and leaving the 33-year old technician with serious injuries. It had left from Tokyo Heliport for Osaka, with a planned refuelling stop in Shizuoka, but 10 minutes prior to the accident the technician had reported rudder problems, the craft came down in a pronounced spin. 11th December 2007.
South Africa
Woman just survives building conversion collapse
A woman is listed in critical but stable condition after being rescued from under rubble following the collapse of walls and a ceiling at a retail property being converted to residential in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, high winds brought down scaffolding around the structure. Prior to her transfer to hospital in Alberton her survival hopes appeared negligible. 10th December 2007.
France
Seaman missing off Finistere
A seaman is missing, feared drowned, after falling from the bridge of the Normed Bremen during stormy weather off Finistere; northeast of Batz island, off Roscoff,  the 140-metre long Lithuanian-flagged Stropus with a 12-man crew broke down in 10-metre high sea swell conditions. 10th December 2007.
Algeria
6 children drown in village pond
Six children drowned in a marshy village pond on Saturday, after a 6-year old girl became stuck in mud of quicksand consistency 5 older children drowned in an attempted rescue, 2 others were rescued from the mud by the authorities. 9th December 2007.
Egypt
University fire claims 5 lives
Fire in a teaching room at the Azhar-run School of Islamic Studies in Zaqaziq, northeast of Cairo, has left 5 students dead, many others were injured in the ensuing panic as they tried to negotiate the narrow exits. 9th December 2007.
Switzerland
Double fatality during concrete pour
The collapse of a floor during a concrete pour on Thursday at a dwellinghouse site in Strengelbach, Zofingen, killed 2 construction workers aged 31 and 36, it took rescue teams 2 hours to complete the recovery of both victims from the mix of concrete and reinforcement steel. 7th December 2007.
Greece
Crew arrested over alleged human trafficking
Greek police have arrested 6 members of the 8-man crew of a freighter after it was intercepted by coastguards when it ran aground off Kato Zakro, north Crete, transporting 204 refugees, the boat is believed to have embarked from Egypt, 1 of the refugees was found dead on board following diabetic complications. 7th December 2007.
Germany
Accident prompts level crossing safety audit
The 53-year old driver of a livestock transporter was killed on Wednesday in a collision with a train at the Goldenstedt level crossing in Vechta, Lower Saxony, 9 passengers in the Nordwestbahn service were injured, the train driver and 2 female passengers sustained serious injuries. The lorry driver was recovered from a water-filled ditch by the track. Nordwestbahn are expressing concern over the number of such open crossings which feature on the Osnabruck-Bremen stretch of line which see 6 accidents annually. The only warning drivers have of an oncoming train is the train's horn as it approaches the crossing. 6th December 2007.
Tonga
Missing fisherman spotted on deserted island
One of the 3-man crew of the missing fishing boat Kalepi has been sighted on the deserted island of Hunga Haapi, 60 miles northeast of the Tongan capital of Nuku'alofa, the boat has been missing since Friday. 6th December 2007.
Denmark
Fatal chemical store explosion at veg fat manufacturer
An explosion in a chemical storage basement at AAK Aarhus Karlsham in the Danish port of Aarhus killed one worker on Tuesday morning, the port was closed as a precaution for fear of secondary explosions, given the presence of Hexan used to extract edible oils from vegetables at the vegetable fat manufacturers. 5th December 2007.
USA
Pennsylvania gas drilling fatality
A worker has been killed and another injured at a gas drilling site in Dry Tavern, west Pennsylvania, after pressure caused a gas valve to blow off during capping of the well, gas companies have been drilling for methane in the area in Greene County. 4th December 2007.
Ireland
Baltic fishermen drive off pier, 2 drown
A car with 3 Lithuanian and Latvian fishermen drove over a 6-inch barrier at Rossaveal Pier, county Galway, the car was a recent purchase for the trio who have been working as fishermen out of Rossaveal, only 1 survived the accident by escaping through the roof hatch. 4th December 2007.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Soldier in serious burns accident
A Balkan soldier in the EUFOR task force sustained 2nd degree burns yesterday in an accident involving flammable liquid while he and a mechanic were trying to start a vehicle, after initial treatment at Butmir, near Ilidza, he was transferred to Sarajevo. 4th December 2007.
Ukraine
Further explosion at mine emergency site
The Public Prosecutor's office in Donetsk has filed a case on Penal Code Article 272, Part 2, following Saturday's methane gas explosion at the Zasyadko mine where 47 workers were injured, 3 listed in critical condition.
The accident occurred at the 13th western longface, the 7th section, where 63 workers were engaged in remedial work following a recent explosion there, 385 workers in total were on site. The most seriously injured are being treated for CO poisoning at Kalinin Regional Hospital. 3rd December 2007.
USA
Confined space accident at New Jersey dry cleaners
A confined space fatality claimed 2 lives at the weekend at the Morey La Rue dry cleaning company premises on Linden Avenue, New Jersey, when 2 workers were overcome by chemical fumes while attempting to clean a 20K-gallon vat, fire crews deployed breathing equipment to recover the bodies. 3rd December 2007.
Germany
Rail joyrider electrocuted
A 19-year old joyrider was electrocuted and 3 others were hospitalised after contacting a 15K-volt overhead power line after getting on a goods train the incident occurred at Kaldenkirchen, the victim's body was recovered by the tracks yesterday. 3rd December 2007.
Serbia
Fire kills 3 homeless people in castle catacombs
A homeless woman and 2 young children died in a fire on Friday in improvised accommodation in the catacombs of the historic Petrovaradin fortress in Novi Sad, north Serbia, a male adult survived the incident, attributed to a candle, with serious burns injuries.
The locus was in an area adjacent to the arts studios, the occupation of the area by homeless people has been a contentious issue in recent years in terms of safety. 1st December 2007.
USA
Disney ride attendant succumbs to accident injuries
The 63-year old female Disney employee who was injured last week in an accident on the Primeval Whirl roller coaster ride has now died after succumbing to injuries sustained when she fell from a platform and hit her head after being struck by a moving car at the ride in Animal Kingdom on the Disney site in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Her condition deteriorated from midweek. 1st December 2007.

 

  
New Zealand
Fatal tractor rollover accident
A fatal tractor rollover accident occurred on Sunday in Urquharts Bay Road, Urquhart, Northland, the victim was towing a boat to the east of Whangerei Heads when the accident occurred. 31st December 2007.
USA
Fruit grove worker killed by reversing lorry
A 17-year old Florida fruit grove worker was killed in a workplace transport accident at the weekend when a reversing lorry struck him at High Acres Grove, Groveland, the victim was on his first day of work there. 31st December 2007.
Malta
Moves to control fireworks explosives
A government-appointed committee has recommended an immediate ban on the import of ammonium perchlorate, the use of which in mixtures for fireworks is deemed quite dangerous, it also recommends reducing the allocation of potassium chlorate to 75Kg for each fireworks factory. 28th December 2007.
India
Quarry accident inquiry critical of safety
An inquiry into the fatal accident at the weekend which claimed 5 lives at the Kuzhoor stone quarry near Irapuram, Kochi, has been critical of safety standards there although the quarry has current Mining & Geology Department certification. No competent blast man was on duty for triggering explosions, the practice of depositing spoil on boulders at the top of the quarry posed a stability risk given the 90-degree vertical cut procedure deployed. 28th December 2007.
Italy
Electric gate crushes 5-year old
A 5-year old child was fatally crushed by an electric gate yesterday at an under-construction apartment block site on the suburbs of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Casertano, the child, who died in Melorio hospital shortly after the accident, was a member of the only family currently resident there. 27th December 2007.
China
Communications tower falls from building during dismantling
A worker was killed during the dismantling of a China Unicom communications tower on Monday which was located on a 25-storey building in Shanghai's Xuhui district, the 10-metre high tower fell down some 80 metres, injuring another worker. 25th December 2007.
Egypt
House collapse kills 3 in Alexandria
The collapse of a 12-storey dwellinghouse in the Al-Raml district of Alexandria killed 3 residents on Monday, reports later in the evening suggest that the original figure of 5 fatalities may have included 2 women who were in fact injured. Some renovation work is believed to have taken place on the first floor recently, 5 of the building's 12 storeys had been added without authorisation since its 1978 erection. 25th December 2007.
Japan
4 killed in chemical plant fire
Fire at the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation plant in Kamisu, Ibaraki, killed 4 workers yesterday, 2 of the victims were preparing to pour oil at 190°C to produce ethylene when a valve opened and the oil ignited. 24th December 2007.
Guadeloupe
Arrests following shop fire fatal accident
Police in Pointe-a-Pitre arrested 3 youths aged 15-18 on Sunday following a fire in a shop in 2-storey premises at the weekend, an incident which led to 6 deaths. 24th December 2007.
USA
Worker dies in excavation
A construction worker of A W Oakes & son has died in an unstable excavation at the Wal-Mart construction site in Somers, Wisconsin, although the excavation featured steel box shoring this apparently did not extend to the full depth of the 10-metre deep trench where the victim was working. Colleagues strove to rescue the worker but the consistency of the mud defeated their efforts, his body was recovered 12 hours later.21st December 2007.
South Africa
Durban worker's leg caught in grain hopper
A worker at Durban harbour lost a section of a leg on Wednesday while cleaning a grain hopper machine.
It took a couple of hours for the victim to be rescued, it appears that the machine was accidentally activated and the man's leg became pinned in its rotating drum. 20th December 2007.
Indonesia
Tanker capsizes in Surabaya
Port authorities in Surabaya are attempting to tackle a potential oil spillage following the capsize of the Karisma Selatan tanker of the Pasifik Selatan company, the initial oil leakage may be emanating from the engine. 20th December 2007.
Dem Rep of Congo
UN helicopter crash, 1 dead
The emergency landing of an M1-8 helicopter of the United Nations mission in North Kivu led to the death of 1 of the 10 occupants who sustained a fatal heart attack shortly after the landing, the incident has been attributed to technical problems. 19th December 2007.
Norway
Stricken crew rescued from Barents Sea freighter
A Norwegian Sea King helicopter from the Banak station at Lakselv responded to a mayday on Tuesday when a Russian freighter lost propulsion in heavy seas and ran on to rocks west of Murmansk, all 12 crew were safely rescued and transported to Kirkenes, northeast Norway. 19th December 2007.
The Netherlands
Nitric acid leakage at Heerlen plant
A leakage of nitric acid from a vat at Philips Medical Systems on Jan Camperstraat in Heerlen saw a mass evacuation of staff yesterday from the premises which manufacture radiographic equipment, 1 employee was hospitalised with breathing problems. 18th December 2007.
Bhutan
Furnace material burst kills 2 workers
The issue of molten material from a furnace at Bhutan Carbide and Chemicals Ltd's plant in Pasakha, Phuentsholing, has now claimed the lives of 2 of the 6 workers injured in the incident, 3 of the survivors are listed in critical condition in hospital. 18th December 2007.
India
Gas leak kills cleaner
A gas leak at Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers in the Chembur district of northeast Mumbai (Bombay) has killed 1 cleaner and left 2 others injured, it is thought that a gas valve was inadvertently opened during cleaning work. 17th December 2007.
Japan
Electrical fire on warship
An electrical fault is speculated as the cause of the fire which broke out near the combat information centre of the Maritime Self Defence Force destroyer Shirane in Yokosuka, the fire took 8 hours to control and saw 4 MSDF members hospitalised for treatment for CO poisoning. 17th December 2007.
Serbia
Fatal hotel fire investigation
An investigation is ongoing into the fire at the Putnik Hotel in central Novi Sad which claimed 3 lives and left 8 people injured, none of the latter have critical injuries. 14th December 2007.
Uruguay
Cruise ship and barge collision in Montevideo
A judicial inquiry is underway into the collision this week of the Bahamas-flagged cruise ship Norwegian Dreams and a Paraguayan barge Papu Mar which collided at the entrance to the port of Montevideo.
The barge lost 5 of its containers and at least 2 cars which posed an immediate obstacle to shipping and led to the closure of the port on Tuesday.
The cruise ship which was leaving Montevideo had to wait until it was clear to return to the port for emergency repairs. 13th December 2007.
New Zealand
Fatal accident at landfill site
A 34-year old worker has died after becoming trapped in a 4-metre deep excavation at a landfill site in the Atawhai district of Nelson, around 1 tonne of landfill has been trapping his body, the situation was too dangerous to attempt his recovery prior to stabilising the locus, 2 other workers escaped the incident. 12th December 2007.
Ireland
Recycling plant fire investigation
HSA investigators have been studying the circumstances of a major fire at the Mulleady's recycling plant in Drumlish, Longford county. 12th December 2007.
USA
Burst hose douses lorry driver in sulphuric acid
A lorry driver sustained 90% burns when a hose burst during the transfer of 500 gallons of sulphuric acid at the Brazos Valley Energy Power Plant in Richmond, Texas, his condition is stable in hospital, a plant worker was less seriously burned in the accident. 11th December 2007.
Belgium
Coal barge sinks in strong currents
The 80-metre long barge, the Ampa, split in two after detaching from its moorings in strong currents with a full load of coal on the Escaut waterway south of Zele, timely rescue saved the lives of both crew members. 11th December 2007.
Bangladesh
Fatal accident at Dhaka demolition site
At least 4 workers died and scores were injured when the roof of the 22-storey Rangs Building in central Dhaka collapsed during demolition work which has been ongoing for a few months, the structure's demolition was ordered for failing to meet building control standards. 10th December 2007.
Spain
Portuguese tourist bus accident
At least 3 passengers died and 13 were injured when a tourist bus failed to negotiate a bend and came off a bridge near Lleida in Catalonia, the accident occurred in dense fog as the bus was travelling down from Andorra on its return to Portugal. 9th December 2007.
Italy
Worker killed, others critically injured in steel plant fire
A fire in a thermal treatment processing section at the ThyssenKrupp steel plant in Turin left a 36-year old worker dead yesterday, 9 others were injured, some with critical burns, an oil leakage was initially speculated as the cause of the fire. 7th December 2007.
USA
Hopes fading for missing Californian crab boat
Californian coast guards continued their search on Wednesday for the missing 8-foot crabber, Good Guys, and the 2-man crew which failed to return to port at Pillar Point on Tuesday. The boat's electronic beacon locator was picked up south of Pillar Point, 15 miles south of San Francisco.
Sea fog was hampering the search on Wednesday and the high swell conditions were also extending the experienced coast guards. 6th December 2007.
USA
Worker killed at New York paper mill
A fatal crush accident occurred on Wednesday morning at Brownville Speciality Papers in Brownville, northwest New York state, where a 2-tonne paper roll came off a machine and pinned a 21-year old worker. 6th December 2007.
Belgium
Beach cleaners find WW1 bomb at Ostend
WW1 ordnance of French manufacture was uncovered on Tuesday on Ostend beach at Fort Napoleon during beach cleaning work between Bredene and Ostend. The bomb measured 1.5m in length and 270mm in diameter, its 150Kg weight comprised 80Kg of explosive in good condition. 5th December 2007.
Norway
Fire on Songa Dee platform
Fire caused the evacuation of 100 StatoilHydro workers on Tuesday on the Songa Dee platform in the Troll oil field, all reported to emergency stations, some took to life rafts but no injuries were reported and they were able to return to the platform. No cause for the fire has been established. 5th December 2007.
Fiji
Propeller kills snorkelling tourist
An investigation is underway into the death of a 27-year old tourist who sustained fatal head injuries after being struck by a boat propeller while snorkelling off Matamanoa island, 20 miles west of Nadi, Fiji, the boat was being piloted by a hotel worker. 4th December 2007.
France
Missing fishermen recovered on Dunkirk beach
The body of the fisherman missing since Friday from the sunken fishing boat Mon Bijou was discovered on Monday on Digue beach, Dunkirk, the other 6 crew men were rescued from a lifeboat after the boat sank 20 miles west of Touquet. 4th December 2007.
Egypt
Nile cruise ship fire kills 5 crew
Five workers were killed and 43 European tourists evacuated after fire broke out in the engine room of the triple-deck cruise ship M/S Aurora as she was cruising the Nile between Luxor and Aswan, 2 other crew members have been hospitalised. 3rd December 2007.
South Korea
Piggery fire
An electrical malfunction in the heating system at a piggery in Cheorwon county in northern Gangwon province led to a weekend fire there in which 1,600 pigs were killed. 3rd December 2007.
The Netherlands
Lorry driver found dead in cab
Police in Barndrecht have discovered the body of a 40-year old Spanish driver in the cab of his lorry, the wagon had been parked for 3 days in front of the Barndrecht industrial centre causing attention to be drawn to it, the driver died of natural causes. 3rd December 2007.
UAE
Fatal scaffold collapse at Dubai Marina
A scaffold collapse at a multi-storey building site at the Dubai Marina has killed 2 workers and left 3 others badly injured.
Work was ongoing to install an elevator when the scaffold failed at the 27th floor level, the victims were employees of ETA Ascon, subcontracted to main contractor Dubai Civil Engineering. 1st December 2007.
 
Japan
Boy on club outing drowns at hotel spa
A 5-year old boy drowned in a pool at the Wel Sumpia Iga spa, in Mie Prefecture, while participating in an event organised by the Jacpa sports club of Osaka whose 11 instructors were supervising a group of 80 children aged 3-13. 31st December 2007.
Malta
Worker falls down empty shaft
A Balkan worker has been left with life-threatening injuries after falling 3 storeys down an empty shaft at a building in Manwel Dimech Street, Sliema. 31st December 2007.
USA
Confined space rescue at Toledo steel plant
Toledo Fire Department deployed its confined space rescue techniques to reach a worker stuck in a 1.2m-diameter pit into which he had fallen 3m while performing maintenance work on a machine at the Ohio Pickling & Processing steel plant in Toledo, an overhead crane on the premises helped complete the rescue. 31st December 2007.
Australia
Elephant handler fatality
A worker in his 60's of the Stardust Circus died on Thursday while handling a 50-year old Asian elephant at the Angourie Road Sports Reserve in Yamba, New South Wales.
Initial reports suggested he had been crushed during the animal's unloading from a lorry but it appears he may have died in the exercise enclosure where he was found. 28th December 2007.
Germany
Near fatal electrical accident at DB site in Hamburg
A crane contacted a 15Kv overhead power line on Thursday at the German rail(DB) construction site by the Oberhafen bridge in Hamburg, 2 workers aged 34 and 39 were injured in the accident, one of whom has life-threatening injuries, the crane driver was injured.
It remains unclear why power in the immediate vicinity of the site had not been deactivated. 28th December 2007.
Belgium
Helicopter crash kills family of 5
A helicopter crash in Brabant on Wednesday killed all 5 people on board, the flight had been making for Wevelgem but encountered technical problems and came down in a field between Merchtem and Wemmel. 27th December 2007.
Tajikistan
Bus driver raced train in Dushanbe level crossing accident
The collision of a train and a minibus on Monday morning on a level crossing in southwest Dushanbe, between the railway station and the river Varsab, produced 9 fatalities and 3 injured, police are indicating that the bus driver was at fault. 25th December 2007.
Japan
Subcontractor killed during lime furnace demolition
The collapse of an internal furnace wall during demolition work on Monday at a factory of Nakayama Lime Industry Company in Maniwa left 1 worker dead and 3 injured, 9 subcontract workers were demolishing the furnace which is 50-metres long and 3 metres in diameter. 25th December 2007.
Austria
Steier farmer killed during tree felling
A 56-year old farmer was killed in a weekend accident during tree felling in Rohrbach, Steier, where a couple of intertwined 35-metre tall trees were being felled, the victim was unable to get clear of the falling trees. 24th December 2007.
Switzerland
Ski instructor in off piste fatality
A ski instructor died on Saturday after moving into deep snow off-piste in Laax, as 3 students were approaching down an aisle in wooded area on a steep escarpment he moved out to allow them to pass. 24th December 2007.
Canada
Death at quarry
Quebec workplace health and Safety Board is investigating a fatal accident at the Dagenais quarry in l'Ange-Gardien, western Quebec, in which a 49-year worker died in a gravel crusher accident, it is speculated that he had been working under the conveyor belt when his clothes became snagged. 21st December 2007.
Australia
Mining incident affects miners
An explosion during routine underground firing at the Fosterville Gold Mine, 12 miles east of Bendingo, Victoria, left 12 miners exposed to a toxic atmosphere comprising of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, underground mining has been ongoing at the site of Perseverance Corporation for 18 months where firing is used to dislodge rock.21st December 2007.
France
TGV collides with heavy load on level crossing
A lorry driver was killed when his vehicle collided with a Paris-Geneva TGV express on Wednesday at Tossiat, between Bourg-en-Bresse and Amberieu-en-Bugey in the Rhone-Alpes, his vehicle was transporting an asphalt machine, at least 35 people were injured. 20th December 2007.
Bangladesh
Elephant kills rice farmers
A rampaging wild elephant has killed 4 family members at a rice farm 180 miles south of Dhaka in the Cox's Bazar district.  20th December 2007.
Media
Highest journo workplace deaths in 13 years
Latest available figures indicate that 64 journalists have been killed at work in 2007, the highest figure since 1994, 31 of the fatalities occurred in Iraq. 19th December 2007.
Belgium
Oil spills during pumping in port
A technical fault during the pumping of a cargo of oil from the Maltese vessel Ceynova at Herbouville on the Escauat river led to the spillage of 3K litres of oil which was flowing towards west Flanders late Tuesday.   19th December 2007.
USA
Utility vehicle reverses over pensioner
A 79-year old man was killed by a reversing utility vehicle in West Easton Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the driver has indicated that he was attempting to engage a forward gear at the time of the accident, the vehicle is being examined for technical malfunction. 18th December 2007.
France
Court jails stoner of fire crews
A court in Toulouse has handed down a 2-year fixed jail sentence against a 22-year old man found guilty of stoning fire crews fighting a library fire in the La Reynerie suburb of Toulouse in November, the accused, a parent and in full employment, was described as a ringleader at the incident. 18th December 2007.
Belgium
CO incident from defective heating system
Poorly installed central heating led to a carbon monoxide incident at the weekend in a house in Alost which saw 3 adults and 3 children hospitalised, 2 of the family are in serious condition, 2 firemen were also hospitalised after attending the scene. 17th December 2007.
Canada
Farmer caught in snowblower blades
A 70-year old Ontario farmer has been hospitalised in Ottawa after sustaining serious upper body injuries in a snowblower on his farm 2 miles south of Cobden.
The snowblower was attached to a farm vehicle and it is speculated that he had been attempting to clear a blockage in the equipment without deactivating the unit. 17th December 2007.
Canada
Electrocution at Calgary plant
A worker died yesterday in an accident at IKO Industries in southeast Calgary, it is thought that he contacted high voltage equipment and was electrocuted, 30 workers were evacuated. 14th December 2007.
Mexico
Instructor and zorros in explosives accident
A police instructor lost a section of a finger and sustained serious facial and limb burns during an explosives handling exercise at a unit in Tlahuac, Mexico City, 5 other members of the Agrupamiento Fuerza de Tarea, known as "zorros", who were receiving instruction were also injured and taken to Mocel Hospital. 14th December 2007.
Norway
North Sea oil spillage during loading at platform
A spillage of 4Km³ of oil, the equivalent of 24K barrels, occurred on Wednesday during loading on to the tanker Navion Britannica at a StatoilHydro platform in the Stafjord Alpha oil field 125 miles west of Bergen, the incident is regarded as the worst in 30 years. 13th December 2007.
South Africa
Unstable excavation kills diamond miner
An unstable excavation claimed the life of a 32-year old miner on Tuesday at the Sonop Diamond Diggings diamond mine in Sydney-on-Vaal in the northern Cape when a wall collapsed during digging. 12th December 2007.
India
Body recovered after NFR rail crash
Northwest Frontier Railway is investigating the accident in which 14 carriages of a train travelling from Guwahati to New Delhi derailed 10 miles from New Jalpaiguri Junction, the body of a restaurant carriage employee was recovered on Monday, 55 others were injured. 11th December 2007.
Red Sea
Tanker/container collision in Bab al Mandeb
A container ship collided with the Total oil tanker SAMCO-Europe south of the Bab al Mandeb Straits at the exit from the Red Sea, no injuries were reported and no breaches of the cargo occurred, the Korean-built tanker has only been in commission since April this year. 11th December 2007.
Ukraine
Czech charter flight crashes outside Kiev
A charter aircraft flying from the Czech Republic crashed on Sunday in a field close to the old Jouliany airport, 5 miles southwest of Kiev, both pilots and 3 passengers died in the accident.10th December 2007.
Switzerland
Boy falls through castle window
A 3-year old boy in the company of Italian tourists fell 8 metres from a window on to the courtyard of Chillon Castle on Lake Geneva on Saturday, he was transferred by helicopter to Lausanne University hospital. 9th December 2007.
Mexico
Fatal explosives accident in film studio
An explosives accident caused the death of a Mexican soldier providing specialist advice at the Baja Studios in Rosarito when some containers with explosives became unstable during handling.7th December 2007.
South Africa
Leaking flange causes refinery blaze
A leaking flange led to a fire on Thursday in the Vacuum Unit at the Engen oil refinery in Durban, no injuries were reported and the plant's in-house fire crew dealt with the incident. 7th December 2007.
Austria
Worker killed in fall from goods hoist
A worker was killed on Wednesday in a 10-metre fall from a goods hoist at a site in the Ottakring district of Vienna, this is the 3rd fall from height fatality on a Viennese site in the last 26 days. 6th December 2007.
The Netherlands
Tractor derails Dutch train
A train with 30 passengers travelling from Zwolle to Emmen struck a tractor drawing a trailer at a level crossing at Coevorden leading to the Europark industrial estate, the middle carriage of the train derailed but only 1 passenger injury was reported, both occupants of the vehicle were uninjured. 6th December 2007.
USA
Falling piping kills Georgia worker
A 21-year old worker sustained fatal head injuries in an accident on Tuesday morning at Pond Piping Systems in the industrial estate in Macon, Georgia, he was apparently securing strapping around a 0.25 tonne section of PVC piping when it snapped and the load fell on him. 5th December 2007.
USA
Reversing HGV driver kills Port of Oakland worker
A worker at the Port of Oakland in California has been crushed by a reversing vehicle which was taking up position to have a container loaded. 5th December 2007.
Bulgaria
Drunk bus driver arrested
A bus driver transporting workers to the ski resort of Pamporovo was stopped by police in Smolyan in the Rodopi Mountains and found to have a blood alcohol reading of 3.25 promilles. 4th December 2007.
India
Unstable earthworks kill worker
A worker at the Bhusan Steel and Power Ltd plant in Sambalpur, west Orissa, has died under unstable earthworks which also left a colleague badly injured, the accident occurred close to the recently built chimney. 4th December 2007.
Indonesia
Electrical fire at Sumatra airport terminal
Fire destroyed a large section of the domestic arrivals terminal at Polonia Airport in Medan on Sumatra island, an electrical fault on the 2nd floor is suspected as the cause. 3rd December 2007.
USA
Worker missing after refinery fire
An intensive search was taking place over the weekend for a missing worker following a fire when a 10-K barrel oil tank ignited at the Marathon Petroleum Company's plant in St Paul Park, southeast Minneapolis/St Paul.  3rd December 2007.
USA
Train collision in south Chicago
An Amtrak train with almost 200 passengers travelling from Chicago to Grand Rapids, Michigan, struck a goods train in a rail yard in south Chicago on Friday, both trains apparently on the same track. Rescue teams have categorised the injured as 50 green (ambulatory), 4 yellow (stretcher) and 5 red (serious injuries).1st December 2007.
 
England
Landlord ignored HSE notice
A landlord letting a property in Fleetwood, Lancashire, has been prosecuted and fined for ignoring gas safety duties owed to his tenants. The man failed to have an annual safety check of a gas flue carried out at the property and subsequently failed to comply with an Improvement Notice requiring him to carry out that safety check. He was fined £1,250 with costs of £4,651 by Blackpool Magistrates Court.
An HSE Inspector commented: “Every year about 30 people die due to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues which have not been properly installed or maintained. Lives are put at risk if landlords do not carry out statutory gas safety checks. We acted after receiving a complaint. The landlord was given several opportunities to carry out the safety check after which an Improvement Notice was served, but he still failed to have the check carried out." 31st December 2007.
Scotland
 Man injured in mixer
An employee of Norvite Animal Nutrition was seriously injured last week after falling into mixing equipment at premises in Insch, Aberdeenshire. He sustained multiple injuries in Monday's accident and is said to be now making a recovery in hospital. 29th December 2007.
Scotland
Vehicle fall kills worker
It is reported that a driver has died in an accident at the premises of Northern Peat and Moss Ltd of Kininmonth, Aberdeenshire.
The dead man was found at his lorry trailer, it is speculated that he fell whilst upon it. 28th December 2007.
England
Change of plan exposed workmen to risk
An unsafe system of work taken up by the employees of John Ruck Construction Ltd of Leominster, Herefordshire, resulted in an accident in which one of them fell more than 4.5 metres through a roof, sustaining injury on a concrete floor, whilst working at Leadon Court near Ledbury.
Investigation by HSE inspectors found insufficient measures had been taken to support or protect anyone from falling off, or through, the fragile roofs adjoining the one where the company was undertaking re-roofing. The accident victim fell through one of those adjacent fibre cement sheet roofs onto a concrete floor below.
The employer was fined £3,500 with £1,165 costs after pleading guilty to breaching r.9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
An HSE official explained: "The roof where John Ruck Construction Ltd was contracted to work had measures in place to protect employees but, when the work plan changed, those employees were passing across other roofs which were totally unprotected." 27th December 2007.
England
Fire kills 2 at Lincolnshire commercial premises
Fire at the offices of a taxi operator has claimed the lives of 2 persons and badly injured another.
The outbreak of fire occurred just after 8am on Monday at the premises in Pelham Road, Immingham. 25th December 2007.
England
Recycling site death
A workman has died in an industrial accident at the recycling plant operated by Alex Smiles Ltd in Sunderland.
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, no details are available. 24th December 2007.
Scotland
3 presumed drowned in Clyde incident
Three crewmen of the tug Flying Phantom remain missing following the vessel's capsize on the River Clyde near Rothesay Docks, Clydebank, on Wednesday evening, one crewman was rescued by a workboat.
The 40m tug, owned by Svitzer of Denmark, had run aground whilst towing a vessel to Glasgow and had parted its towline. Rescue attempts were hampered by thick fog. 21st December 2007.
England
Public require protection from building work
A self-employed property developer from Manchester has been fined £17,500 with costs of £9,500 after admitting breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in connection with an accident in which a member of the public was killed by a collapsing wall made unstable after it was hit by a site vehicle.
It was on March 3rd 2005 that a resident of Hall Street in Sale stepped out of his home into an alleyway when the bucket of an excavator, driven by the convicted developer, hit the wall unintentionally causing it to fall on the resident. 20th December 2007.
England
Woman killed by overturning forklift truck
An inquest jury has determined a verdict of accidental death having considered submissions concerning the death of a 24-year-old forklift truck driver in an industrial accident at a scrapyard in Oulton Broad, Suffolk, during February 2006.
While moving a food mixer suspended from its forks the truck overturned, inflicting fatal injuries on its operator. 19th December 2007.
England
Servicing and maintenance of diving equipment crucial
HSE has prosecuted Jurassic Coast Divers, of Exmouth, Devon, for failing to adequately maintain diving equipment.
It was fined £6,000 with costs of £6,000 having admitted breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Diving at Work Regulations 1997, the case followed an investigation into the death in July 2005 of a recreational diver at the site of the wreck SS Bretagne off Torbay. The investigation found breathing systems used by the company to be assembled incorrectly. 18th December 2007.
Wales
Recycling death in Wales
A workman has died in a workplace transport accident at a recycling plant in Buckley, Flints.
One account states that he appears to have been struck by a vehicle in Friday afternoon's incident at West Pennine Recycling. 18th December 2007.
England
Workman reported critical after industrial accident
An employee of Karas Industries is critically ill after reportedly falling into a tank containing a solution of potassium cyanide at its Leigh premises.
The incident occurred early yesterday morning, the man required considerable decontamination by emergency services before he could be taken to hospital for treatment. 14th December 2007.
England
Hotel chain failed to report accidents
Travelodge Hotels Ltd has been fined £20,000 with £50,000 costs relating to 2 accidents in which guests slipped and sustained injuries while using bathrooms. After the first incident the enforcing authority for health and safety, Mid Beds District Council, asked Travelodge to comply with their own risk assessment which identified the risk of slipping in the bath but they failed to take adequate action to eliminate or minimise slipping dangers for 2 years after the initial accident.
The failures were compounded by non-reporting as required under the Reporting of Injuries and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).  13th December 2007.
England
Unsafe work at height
Maghull Construction Company Ltd of Bootle has been prosecuted over standards of safety at one its construction sites. During November 2006, an HSE inspector discovered work in conduct which was placing workmen in danger because inadequate measures were in place to protect against falls from height, despite earlier warnings. The company was fined £3,000 plus £1,908 costs having breached the Work at Height Regulations 2005. 12th December 2007.
England
Man falls at castle
It is reported that an elderly visitor to Warwick Castle died after an incident on Sunday.
The deceased fell 5m into a dry moat, there has been speculation that he may have become ill shortly before. 11th December 2007.
England
Fatal accident at Kent quarry
It is reported that a man died last Wednesday in a workplace accident at the Salt Lane Quarry in Cliffe.
The account states that the deceased was driving a dumper truck at the time when it entered a deep pond. 10th December 2007.
England
Essex school pupil's fancy dress catches fire
A 17-year-old girl has sustained 40% burns in an incident on Friday at St Bernard's High School in Southend. She was wearing a snowman costume made largely of cotton wool when a candle ignited the material which was rapidly consumed by the flames. 9th December 2007.
Scotland
Marathon drive
Tachograph records discovered by police in Fife when they stopped a lorry driven by a man from Azerbaijan show that he had driven from that country without any proper rest period, with the exception of one break he took when he crossed the English Channel.
He is enjoying an enforced 45-hour rest at the insistence of the police and awaits a decision on possible prosecution. 7th December 2007.
England
Fire authority declares new rules on automatic fire alarms
With the number of false alarms doubling over the past 5 years, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is to ask businesses to check for signs of fire when their alarm goes off and, if there is, to then call them.
Last year only 60 of 13,500 automatic fire alarm calls required firefighters to use equipment. The new policy means that alarm receiving centres will be asked if there are any signs of fire before firefighters are sent and, if this is confirmed, or a back up call is received, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service will then give a full emergency response. 6th December 2007.
England
Farm death in Cumbria
A tractor accident has claimed the life of a 53-year-old woman at a farm in Burgh by Sands, 5 miles west of Carlisle.
She was struck by the tractor on Saturday and died at the scene. 5th December 2007.
Scotland
Death at textile works
It is reported that a 62-year-old employee of Don & Low Ltd died on Monday at his workplace in Forfar.
It is unclear if he may have taken ill shortly before falling from his forklift truck. 5th December 2007.
Wales
Company operated without risk assessment
An accident resulting in severe injury to an employee brought to light a company's failure to implement safe systems of work and properly assess risks.
During October last year the employee was disposing of waste glass at the company's premises. He was riding on a stillage being used to carry the glass, which was itself being carried by a forklift truck into the company's yard. The stillage, with the man still on it, was then raised by the forklift truck over a skip for the purpose of dropping the waste. A gust of wind caught a pane of glass being placed in the skip, causing him to fall into the skip with the glass falling in after him. The accident victim needed major reconstructive surgery on his face, suffered a fractured skull and lost the sight in one eye.
Vizor Tempered Glass Ltd, of Port Talbot pleaded guilty to breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Reg. 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for which it was fined a total of £50,000, with costs of £11,171, at Swansea Crown Court. 4th December 2007.
Wales
Custodial sentence for roofing contractor
A Director of Wrexham Roof Services Ltd, Wrexham, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death in an industrial accident of a 33-year-old workman who fell 8m through a rooflight of Comet's Wrexham retail outlet.
At Mold Crown Court he was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in jail, an HSE inspector commented on the need to provide safety harnesses for this type of work. 3rd December 2007.
Scotland
Man dies in work accident
It is reported that a man in his 60's has died following an accident at the Sandyholm Garden Centre near Lanark on Thursday.
One account states he succumbed to injuries after being struck by an excavator. 1st December 2007.