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France
Gas explosion kills fireman in central Lyon
A major gas explosion on Cours Lafayette in the 6th arondissement in central Lyon killed a fireman and left 26 other people injured on Thursday.
It is believed that road work crews struck a gas main which triggered a gas alarm, the explosion occurred 45 minutes later while fire crews were evacuating a building and assessing the situation, gas is likely to have entered the basement. 29th February 2008
Bangladesh
Collision leaves dozens of ferry passengers drowned
Dozens of ferry passengers drowned when a freighter struck the ferry as it sailed near Dhaka, more than 100 passengers were on board, many were feared trapped in lower decks. 29th February 2008
Chile
Police aircraft crashes in Santiago stadium
A police aircraft has crashed into the Villa el Mirador stadium in the Penalolen suburb of Santiago on Wednesday leading to the deaths of at least 8 people, the 6 occupants of the plane and 2 persons among a group of 30 taking part in gymnastics training.
The Cessna Centurion 210 flight had left from Tobalada airfield before shortly encountering technical problems. 28th February 2008
Germany
Ammonia issue at poultry plant
Around 40 people were injured on Wednesday when ammonia leaked at the Wiesenhof poultry plant in Lohne, north Germany, 12 of the injured were in serious condition, 4 were initially believed to be in life-threatening condition. 28th February 2008
Italy
Fire crews discover bodies of missing children
Fire crews in Gravina in Puglia made the grim discovery of the corpses of 2 missing children when they were rescuing a 13-year old boy on Monday who had fallen into a 22-metre deep chamber while playing with a ball near a derelict property. The 11 and 13-year olds had been missing since June 2006, it is not known whether they fell or were pushed into the chamber at the abandoned house, the children's mother will attempt to make an identification on Wednesday at the University of Bari Forensic Dept. 27th February 2008
China
Lion tears off boy's arm through cage bars
The arm of a 10-year old visitor to a zoo in Mengcheng, in the eastern province of Anhui, was torn off a by a lion, the gaps between the bars being sufficiently wide for the animal to access someone approaching too close. 27th February 2008
South Africa
Tremors lead to fatal accident at Kloof gold mine
Earth tremors on Monday morning measuring 3 on the Richter Scale produced a rock fall which killed a stoping worker at the Goldfields' Kloof mine 40 miles southwest of Johannesburg.
The accident occurred at level 37, 3,000 metres underground, in an area not in production where a small crew was performing cleaning and safety work in a narrow aperture in the rock wall. 26th February 2008
Switzerland
Refrigerant leaks at Zurich plant
An issue of fluid or gas in the refrigeration area of the Migros plant on Pfingstweid Street in Zurich on Monday saw 4 workers hospitalised and 250 others evacuate the premises, the incident happened during audit work, it remains unclear whether ammonia was involved, fire crews were attending through the afternoon. 26th February 2008
South Africa
Quadruple fatality at minerals factory
An explosion and fire at furnace 6 of the Assmang minerals plant in Cato Ridge, between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, killed 4 workers at furnace 5 on Sunday, 4 other workers are being treated for serious burns.
The minerals factory, a subsidiary of African Rainbow Minerals Ltd, is currently subject to an inquiry into a fatal accident in December involving an issue of molten manganese from a furnace. 25th February 2008
Russia
Hope fades for seamen missing in Sea of Okhotsk
An intensive search of the Sea of Okhotsk off Kamchatka took place on Sunday for 2 seamen missing from the vessel Sadovsk, although the weather is fine sea temperatures are around zero, diminishing survival prospects. 25th February 2008
North Atlantic
American aviator en route to Scotland missing in NE Atlantic
A search has been launched for an American aviator and his Cherokee Piper aircraft which disappeared from radar in the North Atlantic midway between the Faroe Isles and the Hornafjordur area of southeast Iceland, where the flight, headed for Wick in north Scotland, had stopped in Reykjavik due to icing.
Icelandic coastguards have been scouring the area where 9m high waves were prevailing.  23rd February 2008
Brazil
Hope fades for missing Amazon ferry passengers
There appears little hope of finding further survivors following the sinking of the ferry Almirante Monteiro which sank following a collision with a barge laden with fuel tanks at Itacoatiara in the Amazonas region of Brazil.
The twin-deck ferry was carrying more than 100 people, 9 bodies have been recovered, 10 others are missing, all the remaining survivors have been taken to Novo Remanso. 22nd February 2008
South Korea
Early demise of tyre workers probed by Korean OSH
The Korean Occupational Safety & Health Agency has commented that the deaths of 15 workers of the Hankook Tyre plant in Daejeon between May 2006 and October 2007 could "possibly" be linked to working conditions, speculating that high working temperatures and a heavy workload and shift pattern could have been contributory factors in early demise from heart disease.
The Agency regards the death toll as unusually high, given that the 15 fatalities involved workers in their 30's and 40's.  21st February 2008
Germany
WW2 Ankertau mine fished out of Lake Constance
A 1.3m large WW2 mine was recovered close to the island of Mainau on Lake Constance on Wednesday, initial checks suggested that it was empty and could be disposed of in the special furnace at Sindelfingen. It was of the Ankertau type deployed mostly in the North and Baltic Seas during the war, the Germany army had a test unit on Lake Constance. 21st February 2008
Indonesia
Boat sinks off Papua, 7 feared drowned
A boat sailing from Waren on Papua to Serui on Yapen, an island off Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, has sunk, 7 of the 12 persons on board are missing, feared drowned. 20th February 2008
Japan
Fishermen missing after destroyer hits trawler
A search was ongoing yesterday for fishermen missing from the tuna trawler, Seitokumaru, which sank after a collision early on Tuesday with the Japanese destroyer Atago 25 miles southwest of the Nojimazaki Cape in Minamiboso, off Chiba.
The impact broke the Seitokumaru, which fishes out of Katsuura, in two, visibility was around 12 miles at the time, with 2-foot high waves. 20th February 2008
USA
Overturning plant fatality on Wisconsin oil pipe site
A heavy plant operator of Welded Construction of Perrysburg, Ohio, was killed when his vehicle overturned on the Enbridge Energy site in Columbus, Wisconsin, the accident occurred on a section of the pipeline to carry oil from Saskatchewan. The worker was attempting to move a heavy concrete weight used to stabilise the pipeline in wetland conditions when his vehicle overturned. 19th February 2008
France
Anti-alcohol drive locks on school buses
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has announced that a rolling programme between now and the end of next year will see all school buses fitted with locks preventing them being operated by alcohol impaired drivers. 18th February 2008
New Zealand
Mid-air collision at regional airfield
The mid-air collision of a helicopter and a light Cessna aircraft near Paraparaumu Airfield on North Island's Kapiti coast killed 3 people on Sunday, the Cessna pilot and the instructor and pupil in the helicopter which came down in a local timber yard.
The collision occurred in uncontrolled airspace, main traffic uses Wellington, local traffic relies on visual flight rules and radio contact. 18th February 2008
Italy
1 dead, many injured in Milan bus/tram collision
The collision of a bus and tram in Milan's Porta Vittoria on Thursday has left 1 woman dead and 26 other people seriously injured, another woman has had a leg amputated. It is alleged that a car intruded into a bus lane, the bus involved was a Line 60 service to Central Station, the tram was on Line 12 to Roserio. 15th February 2008.
India
Wall collapses during excavation on Bangalore site
A wall collapsed on a building site in Bangalore on Thursday killing 1 worker and injuring another. Founds were being dug for concrete columns in a 12-metre deep excavation when an adjacent wall became unstable and collapsed. 15th February 2008.
Australia
Tractor runs over driver in NSW orchard
An agricultural worker has died after being run over by his tractor on Wednesday in an orchard in Old Tumbur, southeast of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The tractor had been towing a trailer with containers of apples, other workers caught sight of it rolling forward without the driver. 14th February 2008.
The Netherlands
Boats collide in dense fog
The Rijkswaterstaat reports that a ferry and a freight ship collided on the Maas between Waalwijk and Drongelen on Wednesday, dense fog had reduced visibility considerably at the time of the accident in which no injuries have been reported although both craft were noticeably damaged. 14th February 2008.
Switzerland
Painter succumbs to burns injuries
A 47-year old painter of a tank maintenance company died on Tuesday from burns sustained in an explosion on Monday while he was painting a tank at premises in Malters, Lucerne, a colleague is recovering from his light injuries. 13th February 2008.
Slovakia
School bus hits lorry in dense fog
Slovakian police are investigating a traffic accident which occurred in dense fog on Tuesday when a school bus hit a stationary lorry just outside Sala, the driver sustained multiple fractures and 17 children were injured. 13th February 2008.
The Netherlands
Pensioner with walking aid killed crossing railway line
A pensioner was killed on Monday crossing the railway line at Heiloo, she was attempting to make the crossing with a walking aid but was struck by an Amsterdam-bound train. 12th February 2008.
USA
Tiger bites female handler during training exercise
A female zoo keeper's fingers were bitten by a Malayan tiger during a training exercise at West Palm Beach Zoo in Florida, the incident occurred during feeding time after the zoo had closed to the public. 12th February 2008.
Indonesia
Crush claims 10 lives after rock concert
At least 10 people died in a crush accident at the end of a rock concert in Bandung, west Java, at the weekend, initial reports suggest that overcrowding was not an issue but for some reason panic gripped the crowd trying to leave, many others fractured limbs in the accident. 11th February 2008.
Germany
WW2 bomb found on north Hannover site
Work was halted at the weekend on a construction site in Hannover when a 113Kg WW2 bomb was uncovered by a digger, sections of the motorway between Hanover East and West were closed and 12K residents, including a care home, were evacuated while the ordnance, lacking a detonator, was dealt with.
Original reports referred to 3 bombs but 2 proved to involve harmless scrap metal. Hannover was subject to more than 100 air attacks during the war, experts reckon that a tenth of all bombs failed to explode. 11th February 2008.
Austria
11 die in retirement home fire
A major fire on Friday evening at the Vinzenz retirement home in Egg in the Bregenz forest of Vorarlberg has killed 11 elderly, mostly handicapped, residents.
The locus appears to have been a first floor room, the cause remains unknown. A serious risk of the building collapsing forced fire crews back for some time. Although the building is 140 years old its fabric was in good condition and its fire exits also were in operable condition. 9th February 2008.
England
Worker's award for milling machine amputation
A 38-year old Midlands worker has been awarded £42K in respect of an accident in September 2004 which resulted in 2 of his fingers being amputated after his gloved hand became caught in a milling machine at Hydro Aluminium Extrusion in  Warwick, the rotary cutter and grinder being deemed to have been inadequately guarded and the worker untrained in the use of the machine. 8th February 2008.
Ireland
Quarry accident fine
Kilkenny Limestone has been fined €4K (£2,800) in respect of an accident at a quarry in Paulstown in August 2006 when a bandsaw wire snapped and inflicted injuries to a worker who was standing 6 metres away, the machine being inadequately guarded. 8th February 2008.
Italy
Fireworks factory explosion kills 4
An explosion at a fireworks factory and store on Wednesday in San Egidio de Madonna delle Macchie, Orvieto, has killed 4 people, believed to be the proprietor and 3 family members, one other person is listed in critical condition, the premises were licensed by Terni municipal authority. 7th February 2008.
Romania
Driver falls under wheels of runaway engine
A train driver has died after falling under the wheels of a runaway locomotive which he had left unbraked in Odorheiu Secuiesc station in central Romania, the locomotive ran on for a further 8 miles prior to being halted. 7th February 2008.
Canada
Youth killed on Vancouver site
WorkSafe British Columbia is investigating a fatal accident at the Escada condominium development in Guildford, Vancouver, where a 13-year old youth became pinned between unstable sheets of drywall at the site where his father was working. Although the youth was not an employee, WorkSafe's mandate is to ascertain the safety of the workplace.  6th February 2008.
Cyprus
Girl swallowed cleaning fluid
A 2-year old girl is listed in stable condition after drinking a mixture of orange juice and detergent prepared unwittingly by a hotel barman. The girl was on a ventilator for 48 hours in Makarios Hospital after sustaining mouth and oesophageal burns, the detergent, speculated as nitric acid, was allegedly kept in a plain plastic bottle by the serving area. 6th February 2008.
South Korea
Commercial collisions off Incheon and Jeju
The collision of a 600-tonne freighter and a 270-tonne tug off Incheon on Monday has left 2 seamen dead and another missing, 3 others were safely rescued.
At the weekend a similar collision east of Pyoseon on Jeju island left 1 fishermen dead and 2 missing. 5th February 2008.
Japan
Trans-Pacific balloonist missing
Concern is being expressed over the safety of a missing 58-year old balloonist, an official of Kawajuna Municipal Government, with whom contact has been lost during his trans-Pacific crossing since his departure last Thursday from Tochigi. His fuel would be exhausted by now (Monday), last contact was made 500 miles south of the Aleutian Islands. 5th February 2008.
India
Ahmedabad hotel collapse kills 12
The collapse of the Hotel Shagun in the Kalupur district of Ahmedabad has left at least 12 people dead and scores injured. It is speculated that adjacent construction works undermined the integrity of the 3-storey hotel's foundations, the hotel was busy with applicants attending a railway recruitment exam. 4th February 2008.
China
Repeat of rail station crush accident
A woman passenger died in a weekend mass crushing accident at Guangzhou railway station, last month a station deputy manager and a platform worker were dismissed when a similar accident occurred at a station in Wuhu, Anhui province. 4th February 2008.
USA
Fatal collision at Atlanta airport
A 19-year old worker was killed in a vehicle collision on the tarmac at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta, on Thursday night, the impact with a catering vehicle saw him thrown out of the open-cab vehicle he was driving which provides in-flight toilet facilities. 2nd February 2008.
Turkey
Unlicensed Istanbul fireworks factory explosion kills 20
A fire and explosion in an unlicensed fireworks factory in Davutpasa, in the Istanbul suburb of Zeytimburnu, killed at least 20 people on Thursday, many others have been listed in serious condition. The explosion occurred on the 4th floor of the 5-storey building, the authorities may have been unaware of its operation, although a bleaching company also operating there had been ordered to close but was continuing to operate in the 19-year old building, which itself was allegedly built without planning permission. 1st February 2008.

 

  
Belgium
Explosion kills steel plant worker
A worker was killed in an explosion on Thursday at the ArcelorMittal Chertal steel works in Oupeye, it is speculated that an abnormally high build-up of oxygen caused the explosion after a supply line had been breached or cut. 29th February 2008.
Kazakhstan
Helicopter comes down in Kyzylorda
The crash of a Kazkhstan Emergency Situations Mi-8 helicopter on Thursday has killed 5 people when it came down  in the Zhalagash district of Kyzylorda, 13 others were injured. The flight was surveying flood damage in the area where principal occupations are agriculture and livestock. 29th February 2008.
Scotland
Hebridean fish farm death
Searchers have recovered the body of a fish farm worker in Loch na Creige Fraoich, Lewis.
He and 3 colleagues were turned into the water when their boat capsized on Tuesday afternoon in high winds, the survivors swimming to shore. 28th February 2008.
Japan
Lorry container falls from trailer
The entire container of a 38-ton lorry fell from the vehicle on Wednesday morning as it was driving towards Tokyo on Yokohama's Metropolitan Expressway Bay Route, the accident happened in the Tsurumi district, the driver of the lorry was unhurt. 28th February 2008.
The Netherlands
Hospitals less hygienic than in 1900
Speaking on a Dutch radio channel on Tuesday, an inspector of the Health Inspectorate, IGZ (Inspectie voor de Gezondheitszork), claimed that hospitals operated more hygienically in 1900, he was especially critical of a failure by staff to observe regular hand washing, 1,700 patient infections annually are deemed avoidable. 27th February 2008.
Russia
Gas explosion at property in Lipetsk
A gas explosion in a 5-storey residential building in Gryzevo, Lipetsk, left 6 people injured, fire crews were at the scene throughout Tuesday. 27th February 2008.
Cyprus
Worker killed during hotel refurbishment
An east European construction worker was killed yesterday when an internal wall fell on him during work at a hotel on Demosthenis Mitsi Street in Larnaca. 27th February 2008.
Germany
Gas explosion in Porsche factory paint dept
A gas explosion occurred on Monday in a paint-drying chamber at the Porsche production unit in the Zuffenhausen district of Stuttgart, 2 workers were injured in the incident which will restrict production of the 911 model in the coming days given the water ingress from the firefighting. 26th February 2008.
Austria
Dash 8-Q400's emergency landing in Vienna
A Dash 8-Q400 aircraft with 67 passengers and 4 crew flying from Nuremberg had to make an emergency landing at Vienna-Schwechat airport on Monday with problems apparently linked to its landing gear, a technical problem was signalled but then it appeared to refunction normally.
A similar incident last October in Copenhagen involving a Dash 8-Q400 of SAS led to the company grounding its fleet pending investigation. 26th February 2008.
Germany
Sack of hot potatoes
A worker grading potatoes for supermarket supply in Neuenkirchen came across a British WW2 hand grenade in extremely rusty and dangerous condition which had to be removed and detonated in an open area, the potatoes had been harvested in northeast France. 25th February 2008.
Cyprus
Fatal plant accident at desalination site
A fatal accident has been reported from the site of the desalination plant refurbishment on the Dhekelia coast where a 57-year old worker was struck by a bulldozer. 25th February 2008.
Greece
Piraeus derailment leaves 1 dead
A train derailed during maintenance or cleaning work in Piraeus Station on Friday, an accident which left 1 person dead and 6 others injured. The derailment occurred adjacent to a boundary wall, it is thought that the victim was walking on the other side of the wall. 23rd February 2008.
Venezuela
Santa Barbara plane crash located in Los Consejos
The Venezuelan Aeronautics Institute has announced the location of the Santa Barbara Airlines plane which crashed on Thursday with 43 passengers and 3 crew on a flight from Alberto Carnevalli Airport in Merida to Maiquetia. It came down in Los Consejos area at an altitude of 12K feet, no survivors of the accident were anticipated. 23rd February 2008.
France
Unstable forklift kills lorry driver
A 50-year old lorry driver was killed on Thursday when a forklift truck fell during the loading of pallets on to the vehicle at Chevilly-Larue, north of Paris Orly airport. 22nd February 2008.
USA
Michigan crush accident investigation
Investigation is ongoing at Michigan Sugar Company in Monitor Township into a crush accident this week which saw a worker hospitalised with a broken pelvis, his condition worsened with a subsequent heart attack. He was operating a loader at the plant but somehow became pinned between it and another machine. 22nd February 2008.
USA
Falling steel kills Ohio worker
A falling coil of steel killed a 38-year old Ohio worker on Wednesday at the AK steel plant outside Coshocton, 55 miles northeast of Columbus, the plant processes flat rolled stainless steel. 21st February 2008.
Spain
School bus accident near Toledo
A school bus accident near Talavera de la Reina has left 30 secondary school children and the driver injured, the latter and 6 of the children were badly injured as the bus left the road in foggy conditions, other vehicles were implicated in the accident. 21st February 2008.
USA
Crane operator electrocuted at Pennsylvania highway site
An electrocution has claimed the life of a crane operator at a road construction site at Harmar, Pennsylvania, where concrete barriers are being erected. Electricity arced when the crane neared an overhead high power cable, although the crane operator jumped off the vehicle, the electricity reached him on the ground. 20th February 2008.
Spain
Zaragoza girl hit by ambulance on pedestrian crossing
A 14-year old girl is in intensive care in hospital in Zaragoza after being struck by an ambulance while on a pedestrian crossing in the city's Via de la Hispanidad, it is alleged that the 37-year old ambulance driver passed through a red light, police are continuing the investigation. 19th February 2008.
New Zealand
Jules Verne crew rescued from Pacific
Helicopter crews on Monday rescued 10 sailors from the French trimaran Groupama 111 whose craft overturned 80 miles east of Dunedin during the Jules Verne Round the World Yacht Race.
The 10 crew members donned survival suits and positioned themselves on the upturned hull while awaiting rescue, 30 knot winds and 10-foot swells prevailed at the time. 19th February 2008.
USA
Ballistics fatality at Pennsylvania shooting range
The accidental discharge of a gun during handling by a worker produced a fatal accident at the Sunset Hill Shooting Range in Pocono, east Pennsylvania, they were being removed from an area under lock and key when a loaded 9mm Uzi discharged. 18th February 2008
Sweden
Woman killed in 3m well fall
A 63-year old woman died in a 3-metre fall into a well on a smallsteading in Dalsand at the weekend, it is believed that she was attempting to retrieve a fowl which had fallen into the well. 18th February 2008.
Canada
Worker killed at Alberta drill site
A. 32-year old worker of Bronco Drilling Services has succumbed to head injuries sustained in an accident 15 miles east of Wabasca-Demarais where they are working on a site with the Big Stone Cree Nation, 140 miles north of Edmonton. 15th February 2008.
Switzerland
Chlorine poisoning at swimming pool
A defective chlorine gas cylinder in the control room of a hotel swimming pool in Crans Montana saw 9 people hospitalised on Thursday, 2 children were detained overnight for precautionary observation. 15th February 2008.
Canada
6-metre fatal fall at New Brunswick works
A 48-year old New Brunswick worker has died from head injuries in a 6-metre fall after a scissors lift he was working on overturned in Caraquet, northeast of Bathurst. 14th February 2008.
Canada
Lorry boom electrocution in Alberta
A 33-year old oil worker was electrocuted when the overhead rig boom of a lorry contacted overhead power lines south of New Dayton, Alberta, the incident occurred when he made physical contact with the lorry. 13th February 2008.
Russia
Clinic fire investigation
Investigation is ongoing into a fire at the weekend in a psycho-neurological unit in the village of Petelino in Tula, the annexe roof collapsed in the accident, no serious injuries were reported of the 164 patients and staff. 13th February 2008.
Japan
CO poisoning claims ice fisherman
An ice fishermen has died from carbon monoxide poisoning in his tent at Tsubetsu on Lake Chimikeppu, Hokkaido, he had introduced a gas burner into the tent but failed to provide adequate ventilation. 12th February 2008.
New Zealand
Maintenance worker killed on Auckland ferris wheel
Health and safety inspectors are due on site at the Rainbow's End fairground in Auckland today (Monday) to investigate the weekend death of a 21-year old maintenance worker who sustained fatal crush injuries after becoming pinned between a carriage and the frame of the 8-metre high junior ferris wheel. 11th February 2008.
USA
NJ track welder killed by train
A 58-year old track welder of New Jersey Transit Corporation was killed at the weekend after being struck by a train in Ridgewood, the circumstances of the accident are under investigation. 11th February 2008.
Bulgaria
Cigarette led to chemistry lab fire
The fire which occurred in a chemistry classroom at a secondary school in Kalofer, central Bulgaria, on Thursday is being attributed to the careless disposal of a cigarette, initial investigation suggests no electrical malfunction. 8th February 2008.
Germany
Heart patient burned in operating theatre
A 75-year old patient sustained second degree burns to his face and throat during heart surgery in Coswig, Sachsen-Anhalt, when a tongue of flame licked out from equipment in the operating theatre and ignited cloths and swabs. 7th February 2008.
South Africa
Patients' lives lost in bus crash
Police are investigating a case of possible culpable homicide in the circumstances in which a bus carrying 27 hospital patients from Siyanda to Kimberley has crashed at Delportshoop, 12 patients died in the incident. 6th February 2008.
Germany
Fire controlled at Krummel reactor
A fire broke out in a ventilation chamber of the Krummel nuclear reactor on Monday, the reactor had been switched off since a fire there on 28th June last summer. The smouldering fire was safely controlled, it is speculated that it occurred in a filter. 5th February 2008.
The Netherlands
Deep-sea tugs try to float stranded freighter
A joint operation was underway on Monday involving Smit of Rotterdam and German deep-sea tug company Harms of Hamburg to refloat the 300-metre long freighter Zhen Hua 10 which ran aground off the Maas in storm conditions, the freighter is carrying 3 very large container cranes. 5th February 2008.
Sweden
Subcontractor killed at LKAB mine
A subcontract worker on a vehicle was killed in a weekend rock slide caused by an earth tremor at the Swedish government's Luossavaara Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag mine in Kiruna, 70 workers were underground at the time, after an 8-hour search the victim's body was recovered at a depth of 700 metres. 4th February 2008.
Australia
Aussie Rules teen dies at training camp
A 19-year old teenage player of Cranbourne Australian Rules Football Club has died at a training camp at Jamieson, 125 miles northeast of Melbourne, the teenager collapsed during a training run at the Sideling ground and could not be resuscitated. 4th February 2008.
Bulgaria
Children ill after consuming sedatives at nursery
An investigation in Sofia is studying how 2 children at a nursery in the Lozenets district in the south of the city managed to consume lexotan sedative pills this week, after hospital treatment the 5-year olds went home but are receiving ongoing treatment.
Lexotan's use was discontinued in the UK 6 years ago. 2nd February 2008.
South Africa
Snake bites tournament golfer
A night adder, a nocturnal snake which is norrnally passive, has bitten a 24-year old competitor at the Nashua Masters golf tournament in Port Edward, the snake inflicted the bites in his upper arm while he was searching in bushes for a lost ball. His arm is swollen and very painful, with the fang marks visible 2cm apart, its venom is less toxic than other adders. 1st February 2008.
Malta
Workers compensated for docks accident
2 workers have been awarded €105K(£73,500) and €81K(£57K) respectively following court action in respect of an accident at Malta Dry-docks 15 years ago which was deemed to have been caused by inadequate maintenance of a hydraulic platform on which they were working, the Dockyard having failed to provide the shipwrights with a safe place of work. 1st February 2008.
 
South Africa
Double fatality at Harmony gold mine
A seismic event has produced a rockfall at Harmony Gold's Elandsrand mine near Carletonville in which 2 workers have died. 29th February 2008.
China
Unstable explosive material accident in Shanghai
A Shanghai warehouse worker was killed on Thursday in an explosion during the unloading of ammunition caps for toy guns from a van at a store in the Nanhui Industrial Zone in Pudong. 29th February 2008.
England
West Sussex construction site death
A 48-year old roofer has died from injuries sustained in a 15-metre fall from scaffolding at the Crest Nicholson site at Folders Keep, Burgess Hill, he was employed by a roofing sub-contractor. 28th February 2008.
Ireland
HSA investigates Dublin Airport accident
A construction worker died on Wednesday morning in an accident during the refurbishment of Dublin Airport's old Central Terminal building, the accident occurred on the apron in front of the building, it is believed he was struck by a bulldozer. 28th February 2008.
Egypt
Tourists rescued after falouka's mast snaps
Seventeen European tourists were safely rescued on Wednesday after their boat's mast snapped as it crossed the Nile near Aswan and subsequently sank. 28th February 2008.
USA
Rochester Mine Safety Bureau investigates Wisconsin quarry death
A Wisconsin plant operator died when his backhoe fell through ice at Park View Sand and Gravel Pit in Rochester, the 62-year old driver was trying to free a cable frozen into a pond at the quarry when the accident occurred. His body was recovered 6 hours later some 2 metres from the backhoe.
Given that the plant features a water-tight cab he was either pitched out or attempted to leave it. 27th February 2008.
Canada
Unspecified accident at Nova Scotia workplace
OSH in Nova Scotia is investigating an accident at premises on McGregor Avenue Extension in Stellarton which saw a 38-year old worker injured, he is listed in stable condition in Aberdeen Hospital. 27th February 2008.
Australia
Irish diver's accident investigated
Workplace Standards Tasmania has been asked by police to investigate a weekend accident in which an Irish tourist lost consciousness during a dive at Eaglehawk Neck and was resuscitated by the Eaglehawk Neck Dive Centre dive boat crew prior to transfer to Royal Hobart Hospital where she is listed in critical but stable condition. 26th February 2008.
Dubai
Wall collapse kills site worker
A wall collapse killed a construction worker at the weekend on a site close to the Dubai Investment Park, 9 other workers in the crew managed to escape without injury. 25th February 2008.
Canada
Company fined after apprentice left paralysed
Cooling Tower Inc of Edmonton has been fined $150K(£75,903) after pleading guilty to charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act in respect of a fall accident in which an apprentice joiner was left paralysed.
On 22nd July 2005, the apprentice was traversing a work platform at a site in Whitby, Ontario, when he fell 6m on to a concrete surface, sustaining spinal injuries which left him paralysed.
Ontario Ministry of Labour investigation found that although he was wearing a safety harness it was unattached to a fixed support, the worker having been inadequately trained in safety procedures. Investigation also established that the site had been inadequately lit for the hazard to be visible. 25th February 2008.
Bulgaria
Exceedingly drunk banned driver arrested
Police in Vidin on the Danube in northwest Bulgaria have arrested a driver with a blood alcohol reading of 4.92 promille after his car struck a wall and burst into flames, he was also found to be driving while banned. 25th February 2008.
USA
Auger fatality in Washington orchard
An orchard worker has died in an accident involving an auger at Esport Fischer Orchards in Sunnyside, south Washington, the 39-year old worker's clothing became snagged in the machinery while he was excavating to erect posts. 23rd February 2008.
Germany
Electrical fire at BW piggery
Fire at a piggery in Tuningen, Baden-Wurttemberg, has left 2 farmers hospitalised with burns injuries and smoke inhalation, a considerable number of stock died in the blaze which police are attributing to an electrical malfunction. 22nd February 2008.
England
Fatal accident at Dorset confectioners
A 33-year old machine operator was killed in an accident early on Wednesday at the Tangerine Confectionery plant in Poole, Dorset, it appears that the starch room operator's leg became trapped in a depositing machine. 21st February 2008.
Japan
Unsecured snow clearer killed in 40m fall
A worker in his 40's has died in a 40-metre fall from the roof of a building in Atsubetsu, Sapporo, where he and a colleague were contracted to remove snow, neither was wearing a security line.
The authorities in Hokkaido have recorded 26 separate instances of accidents during snow clearing in 2008, 6 of which proved fatal. 21st February 2008.
Argentina
Scaffold collapse at Buenos Aires site
A scaffold collapsed at a building under construction on Tuesday between Roque Perez Street and Crisdogo Larralde in the Buenos Aires district of Saavedra, 3 workers were injured and taken to Hospital Pirovano but their injuries are not thought to be serious. 20th February 2008.
USA
HGV fatality at Kansas City  quarry
The driver of a 50-ton HGV has died after losing control of his vehicle while depositing rocks at a quarry in Carefree Industrial Park at Sugar Creek on Missouri Highway 291, Kansas City, he was reversing at the time, the lorry fell down a 100-metre embankment. 20th February 2008.
Malawi
Lorry driver jailed for 3 years
At a court in Dedza a lorry driver has been jailed for 3 years after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving which led to the deaths of 28 members of a 62-party of political workers of the Alliance for Democracy who died when the lorry in which they were travelling crashed as it was travelling to Lilongwe. The lorry driver admitted to having consumed a lot of alcohol the previous night, an initial charge of manslaughter had been withdrawn. 19th February 2008.
Serbia
Novi Sad cafe fire kills 7
Fire in the early hours of Sunday in the Lounge Cafe on Zmaj Jovina Street in Novi Sad, 50 miles north of Belgrade, killed 7 people and left 3 others badly burned, 1 person is listed in critical condition. 18th February 2008.
USA
Kentucky woodworker's fingers amputated
A Kentucky worker lost 4 fingers while operating a saw at Kentuckiana Wood Products in Jeffersonville, 30 miles east of Lexington, he was transferred to the Jewish Hospital in Louisville for further treatment. 18th February 2008.
Moldova
Gas cylinder explodes in Chisinau cafe
At least 13 people were injured, a number in serious condition, after a cooking gas cylinder exploded in a cafe in the Jumbo supermarket in Chisinau on Thursday. 15th February 2008.
USA
Unstable timber kills HGV delivery driver in New York
Falling timber killed a delivery driver of LJ Kennedy on Wednesday at Blue Linx in Yaphank, Long Island, the accident occurred during unloading. 14th February 2008.
France
Pilots eject from Mirage jet into the Gironde
Both pilots of a Mirage fighter jet were safely rescued from the sea when they had to eject from their aircraft which experienced technical problems during a training flight, a fishing boat and a coastguard vessel rescued them in the Gironde estuary. 14th February 2008.
South Africa
Fatal crush accident at foundry engine press
A fatal crush accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Atlantis Foundries premises, 30 miles north of Cape Town, where a subcontractor became caught in machinery which produces automotive castings for vehicles. 13th February 2008.
Belgium
Brussels tram derailment linked to incorrectly set points
A tram derailed on Tuesday afternoon on Line 82 in the Boulevard du Midi, Brussels, the driver was hospitalised with a head injury and a passenger with a back injury. Maintenance work had been undertaken earlier on the line, it is alleged that the points had been incorrectly reset. 13th February 2008.
Bahrain
Falling crane jib kills painter
An employee of Turk Heavy Transport Company has been killed when a crane jib fell on him while he was preparing to paint it in Mameer, 2 colleagues also sustained multiple fractures in the accident. 12th February 2008.
Canada
Sodium hydroxide leakage at CN Ontario yard
The Ministry of Labour in Ontario is investigating an accident early Monday at the Canadian National railyard in Vaughan, north of Toronto, when a leakage of sodium hydroxide occurred from a lorry carrying 1,000's of litres, 4 people required hospital treatment for non-life threatening injuries. 12th February 2008.
Austria
Helicopter hits mountain cable in Steier
Pilot error is being speculated as the cause of the weekend accident in which a Bell 206 helicopter struck the cable of a mountain cableway in Obersteiermark, the burned out helicopter was recovered on Saturday at an altitude of 1,600 metres having been reported missing after take-off from Wels on Friday, both pilots died in the accident. 11th February 2008.
South Africa
Sky diver's parachute fails
A skydiver's parachute failed in a weekend accident which claimed the life of the 35-year old female jumper whose body was recovered on a smallholding in Kenilworth, outside Bloemfontein. 11th February 2008.
Scotland
Roofer breaks leg
Fire crews in Livingston deployed a scissors lift to rescue a roofer who broke a leg on Thursday while working on the Iron Mountain building on the Houston Industrial Estate, the worker is recovering in hospital in Edinburgh, the circumstances of the accident are under investigation. 8th February 2008.
Fiji
Hazards of sealing fire exits
The sealing off of fire exits has become a health and safety issue at Lautoka Hospital in the west of Viti Levu, Fiji's principal island, the hospital's general manager has indicated that this exigency measure was in response to a spate of theft of patients' belongings although this would cause a major problem if fire prompted a speedy evacuation of the hospital. 8th February 2008.
Croatia
Turkish freighter fire in Adriatic
A major fire broke out on Wednesday on the Turkish freighter, Und Adriyatik, which was sailing from Istanbul to Trieste with a load of 200 lorries and 9 tonnes of hazardous chemicals, all 22 crew and 9 passengers were safely evacuated by a Greek ship, attempts were being made to control the fire on the 193-metre long ship some 15 miles west of Rovinj. 7th February 2008.
Iceland
Unsecured load falls from HGV
A heavy load of metal pipes weighing almost 1 tonne fell from a lorry of GG-flutningar in transit in Hafnarfjordur, southwest Iceland, although the load was being restrained by chains and side walls it is believed that it was projecting over the rear of the lorry, no injuries ensued. 7th February 2008.
USA
Connecticut arborist killed
 A 47-year old arboreal worker of Davey Tree Service sustained fatal head injuries during the trimming of tree canopy near power lines for Connecticut Light & Power Company in Tolland, northeast Connecticut. 6th February 2008.
Switzerland
Forestry worker killed by rolling timber
A 44-year old Zurich forestry worker was killed on Monday at a site in Marchtobel, between Saas and Klosters. He was stripping branches from a felled tree when a large section of felled trunk became unstable and rolled over him. 5th February 2008.
Spain
Butane cylinder explosion in Murcia
A 33-year old woman was fortunate to survive an explosion when a butane gas cylinder exploded in her apartment in Murcia where extensive damage has occurred in both storeys. 5th February 2008.
USA
Crush fatality at San Diego dry-dock
A fatal crush accident has killed a machinist in the dry-dock at the BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair unit at Bell Street, San Diego, where he was pinned between a crane and a post. 4th February 2008.
Somalia
Pirates seize Sakhalin-bound boat
The Switzer Korsakov and its 6-man crew have been kidnapped by Somali pirates during its voyage from St Petersburg to the DAO Gazprom's Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project on Sakhalin island where an LNG plant is being built. It is understood that the captain is a British national. 4th February 2008.
Japan
Defective heater and neglect claim infants' lives
A defective electrical heater is speculated as the cause of a fatal fire in an apartment block in Tokyo's Katsushika district which claimed the lives of 2 infants. The children's mother had left them alone in the flat to run an errand but was unable to rescue them herself from the smoke-logged flat, the children died in hospital on Thursday. 1st February 2008.
 
England
Carbon monoxide incident
A female in her 20's has died and a male in his 30's remains in critical condition after they were discovered in their flatted property in Hounslow, London.
It is suspected that they have been poisoned by carbon monoxide. 29th February 2008.
Northern Ireland
Belfast industrial accident
It is reported that a building worker died following an industrial accident at the site of the new Ormeau Bakery project in Belfast, one account states a forklift truck was involved. 28th February 2008.
England
Companies fall foul of work at height laws
HSE warns that companies who fail to implement safe systems for work at height will be prosecuted. Team Q Maintenance Limited of Chestnut, Hertfordshire, and Schawk UK Limited of Hackney, were each fined £20,000 with costs of £3,098 at City of London Magistrates' Court, both found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
During July 2005, an employee of Team Q Maintenance fell just over 2 metres while carrying out repairs on air conditioning units at the premises of Schawk UK Limited. He borrowed a step ladder from Schawk UK to access the roof which was neither suitable nor safe for the task, as a direct result of which he suffered a serious head injury.27th February 2008.
England
Mowing equipment killed its operator
An inquest has determined accidental death after hearing accounts of the circumstances of an accident last August involving a monk in the grounds of the Peace Pagoda in Milton Keynes as he cut grass there.
An onlooker described how the deceased ran to stop the tractor and its cutters as it moved down an incline but fell underneath its blades which inflicted severe injuries. Inspection of the tractor found it to be in a very poor state of maintenance. 26th February 2008.
Northern Ireland
Workman fell 4m
McAloon Construction of Enniskillen has been fined £4,000 plus costs for breaching Northern Ireland's safety legislation in connection with a site accident in September 2005 in which an employee fell almost 4 metres from a first floor of a structure being built in the town's High Street.
The necessary steps had not been taken by the company to prevent falls from height as part of a safe system of work, the workman sustained a major injury when he landed on a concrete surface below. 25th February 2008.
England
Workman crushed by earthmoving equipment
A man died accidentally last June at a gravel quarry site near Colney Heath, a Hatfield coroner's Court has decided. The deceased Lee Brothers employee was operating a bulldozer with a vibrating roller when it moved off while he stood by it. He attempted to arrest its movement down an incline but ended up being crushed by it.
Opinions differ as to whether it slid or rolled because the brake was not fully engaged. 22nd February 2008.
England
Council fined for gas safety management lapse
Local Magistrates have fined Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council a total of £10,000 with costs of £6,830 for gas safety lapses that obliged it to plead guilty to breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety Work etc. Act 1974.
An incident at Crookhill Primary School in Ryton on the 14th November 2006 led to 25 pupils and 2 members of staff requiring evacuation from a classroom when they were overcome by carbon monoxide, a result of carbon monoxide being produced by an inadequately maintained boiler in the boiler plant room and leaking into the classroom above.
An HSE inspector observed: "This incident resulted from a combination of factors. HSE's investigation showed that the failure by Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council to operate an effective gas safety management system was the most significant matter." 21st February 2008.
Wales
Safe system was not enforced
Corus UK Ltd, trading as Corus Packaging Plus, has been fined £0.25m plus costs of £42,965 at Swansea Crown Court for safety failures that permitted an industrial accident to occur on 4th January 2004 which killed an employee at the Trostre Tin Plate works in Llanelli.
The deceased was working in an area where rollers squeeze and stretch steel strips, making them thinner, and while assisting in a roll change he walked through a gap between the rollers as a deflector plate descended, striking him on the head.
Investigation found there were serious shortcomings in the systems of work in place to manage risks. 20th February 2008.
England
Workmen plunged through fragile roof.
During May 2006, 2 men working on a derelict farm building fell through its fragile asbestos cement roof, suffering multiple fractures and spinal injuries. The employers of the pair, Environmental Reclamation Ltd (ERL) of St Albans, Hertfordshire, had been contracted to demolish and clear farm buildings in Oving, Buckinghamshire.
ERL was fined a total of £30,000 with £21,360 costs for breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and r.4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Clarks Construction Ltd of Luton, Bedfordshire, the Principal Contractor for the project, was fined £7,500, and ordered to pay £9,388 in costs, having breached S.3(1) of the Principal Act.
The injured men were permitted to walk on the fragile roof of the unstable building, falling around 4 metres onto a concrete floor. 19th February 2008.
England
Reversing refuse lorry struck girl
The importance of a safe system of work for reversing refuse collection vehicles as they operate in public places has been illustrated by a tragic accident and subsequent prosecution.
On 4th April 2006, an 11-year old girl was on her way to school when she was struck and killed by a reversing Coventry City Council refuse collection vehicle in the Stoke area of Coventry.
The Council was fined £125,000 with costs of £40,000 at Coventry Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaching s.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. 18th February 2008.
Scotland
Man loses arm in accident
It is reported that a man in his 20's has had surgery to re-attach his arm which was severed in an industrial accident on Tuesday.
The accident occurred at the Rammerscales Sawmills in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway. 15th February 2008.
England
Quarry death in Somerset
It is reported that a man in his 20's, believed to an employee of a contractor, died in a workplace accident at Whatley Quarry on Saturday.
One account states that he was cleaning out a large storage bin when he was buried under limestone. 14th February 2008.
England
Boy dies following incident at Council swimming pool
An 8-year old boy has died following an incident in the swimming pool at the Wolverhampton City Council's Swimming and Fitness Centre in Wednesfield.
The incident occurred on Sunday, the centre is operated by DC Leisure on behalf of the City Council. 13th February 2008.
England
Reversing lorry killed workman
Coventry Crown Court has fined Easco (Midlands) Limited £200,000 with £55,000 costs, it having admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of a June 2005 fatal scrapyard accident in which an employee was struck by a reversing skip lorry.
An HSE Inspector commented: "Scrapyard owners need to ensure that they make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the movement of vehicles and pedestrians on site and, identify and implement appropriate control measures to prevent people being struck by moving vehicles. In this case, particularly between March 2004 and December 2005, there were inadequate precautions in place to segregate pedestrians from vehicles, despite previous warnings from HSE at other sites within the Easco group." 12th February 2008.
Wales
Fatal fall at Welsh college
A 27-year-old man has died following an accident at Bala College, North Wales, after apparently falling down a stairway in the early hours of Saturday morning.
It is reported that he fell a distance of nearly 10 metres at the youth centre owned by the Church of Wales. 11th February 2008.
Scotland
Fall from height death in Lanarkshire
A roofing worker fell to his death on 25th January as he worked on a roof in East Kilbride.
It is reported he fell more than 10 metres onto a public footpath and died some time later in hospital. 8th February 2008.
Scotland
Farmer killed in Aberdeenshire
It is reported that a farmer, aged 84, has succumbed to injuries he received while out using a tractor to feed his livestock.
The accident occurred on Wednesday near Rothes, the deceased was discovered by a neighbour. 8th February 2008.
England
Fine for unguarded machine
Pilkington Tiles Ltd of Manchester has been fined £18,000 with costs of £7,500 by Trafford Magistrates following an industrial accident in which a maintenance engineer lost part of his finger when a conveyor started unexpectedly. The failure to have guarding in place enabled the man to access a dangerous part as he carried out adjustments. 7th February 2008.
England
HSE inspector watched workman raised on forks of truck
The timely arrival of an HSE inspector at the premises of Dick Thompson and Co (Cumbria) Ltd of Carlisle last year allowed her to witness an employee being lifted nearly 3 metres into the air on a pallet on a fork lift truck to fit a company sign to their own premises.
She issued a Prohibition Notice, and a subsequent court appearance led to a fine of £2,835 including costs for the company after it admitted a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. 6th February 2008.
England
Workmen regularly carried 50kg bags
East End Foods plc of Wolverhampton has been prosecuted and fined £53,000 including costs for failing to meet duties owed to its employees under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. An accident in June 2006 brought to light a failure to control the manual handling risks when a 50kg bag of rice fell on an employee's neck.
Investigation established that large consignments of bags of rice were routinely being manually offloaded from containers without mechanical aids. Access to containers and retrieval of initial sacks of rice was also being carried out by employees being raised and lowered on a pallet placed on the forks of a forklift truck.
It was also disclosed that East End had also failed to heed advice given by both the HSE in 2002, including an improvement notice during 2002, and the company's own health and safety consultant in 2005. 5th February 2008.
England
Inquest into girl's equestrian death
An inquest has been opened and adjourned to establish the circumstances of the death of a 12-year old girl who died last week in a horseriding accident at the Milton Keynes Equestrian Centre, she fell from her mount as it tackled a jump. 4th February 2008.
Northern Ireland
Death at farm
It is reported that a man has died as a result of the outbreak of fire last Thursday at an outbuilding on a farm at Lisbellaw in County Fermanagh. 4th February 2008.
England
Body found on Teesside building site
A man, said to be a self-employed worker, has been discovered dead on a Miller Homes construction site at Ingleby Barwick.
No further details are yet available. 2nd February 2008.
Scotland
Workman killed working on tractor
It is reported that a man working on a tractor at the Humax Peat Works Ltd's Nutberry Moss, Dumfriesshire, site has died in an industrial accident. The report states that he died from crush injuries. 1st February 2008.