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USA
Youth worker killed at Texas carnival site
OSHA is investigating a fatal accident in Victoria, southeast Texas, where a youth worker sustained fatal head injuries when a section of the Hammer Slammer ride of Blue Ribbon Entertainment fell during dismantling at a carnival site, it is alleged that the ride's annual safety certificate expired 6 months ago. 31st January 2008.
Germany
Workers charged over Emsland rail deaths
An Osnabruck court has indicated that it is to proceed with charges of death by negligence and injury by negligence against a former and current employee in respect of the fatal collision between a train and a maintenance wagon in Emsland on 22nd September 2006 which claimed 23 lives. 31st January 2008.
Northern Ireland
Lifeboat grounds on Rathlin rocks
The RNLI Portrush all-weather lifeboat, Katie Hannan, became stranded on rocks at Rathlin Isle during an attempted rescue of a boat with 3 passengers which was itself drifting dangerously towards the rocks. 2 of the Katie Hannan's crew took to the lifeboat's small inflatable craft but ended up in the water and had to scramble to safety. The remaining 5 crew men had to abandon the lifeboat for their own safety, the local coastguard and the Larne lifeboat joined the efforts to refloat the Katie Hannan. 31st January 2008.
South Africa
Mud slide kills ore loading worker
In the early hours of Tuesday a worker was killed in a mud slippage at the Great Nolingwa mine of AngloGold Ashanti, he was engaged in the loading of ore at an ore pass when the accident happened. 30th January 2008.
The Netherlands
Missing sailor's body recovered
Amsterdam police recovered the body of a missing seaman on Tuesday at Distelweg on the Ijselmeer, his 20-metre long historic boat had been involved in a collision on 17th December, a 49-year old colleague was rescued from the water. 30th January 2008.
Norway
Clearer handling procedures demanded of seafood companies
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Mattilsynet, has stressed the importance of food processing companies observing clear demarcation between "clean" and "unclean" zones in food preparation areas, with special focus on seafood processors. Food safety inspectors have met management of Aker Seafoods of Melbu over such concerns, recently a Russian company raised such concerns over a prospective contract with a Norwegian seafood company. 30th January 2008.
East China Sea
Mixed reports of the Captain Uskov
Conflicting reports were circulating on Monday regarding the missing Cambodian-flagged freighter, Captain Uskov, and its 17-man crew last reported 212 miles east of Shanghai on Friday during a voyage from Nakhodka to Hong Kong with a cargo of 4,500 tonnes of rolled steel. Alleged sightings of the 26-year old ship of Alazara Navigations on Monday are awaiting authoritative confirmation. 29th January 2008.
Canada
Toronto worker falls through scaffold
A worker fell through a gap in a scaffold on Monday morning at Yonge & Dundas in Toronto, where work was ongoing on one of the video screens on top of the Eaton Centre, it is believed he fell at least 2 metres, his condition remains unknown. 29th January 2008.
Russia
Volgograd training flight fatality
An air force pilot was killed during a training flight on Monday in Volgograd region, no other details have been reported. 29th January 2008.
Ukraine
6 killed crossing rail tracks
Rail company UkrZaliznytsia is investigating a weekend rail accident in western Ukraine in which 6 teenagers were killed after being struck by a train while crossing the permanent way after visiting a night club, the train's estimated speed was 55mph upon sighting the group but emergency braking proved ineffectual. 28th January 2008.
South Africa
Survey plane crash kills 2 in KZN
The crash of an Ikarus C42 light aircraft conducting an aerial survey of agricultural land in KwaZulu Natal killed both occupants of the aircraft of SIQ of Pretoria, the plane crashed at Sterling Farm close to Howick. 28th January 2008.
South Africa
Earth tremor leads to mine fatality
An earth tremor of 1.8 on the Richter scale produced a rock fall on Thursday at the Buffelsfontein mine of Simmers & Jack in North West Province which killed 1 miner and left 4 others injured, 1 of whom is listed in serious condition. 25th January 2008.
Australia
Rail freight company fined over Tasmanian shunting fatality
Rail freight company Pacific National have been fined $30K(£13,953) at Launceston Magistrates' Court in Tasmania in respect of a fatal accident 2 years ago at its Launceston maintenance depot in northern Tasmania. A worker was inspecting a wagon which was unexpectedly shunted, producing a fatal crush accident.
Pacific National pleaded guilty as an employer to failing to maintain a safe system of work and failing to provide supervision. The presiding magistrate commented that the company had failed in many regards, including a failure to display red flags when a worker was under a wagon, summing up that the accident was a "serious degrading of Pacific National's culture of safety." 25th January 2008.
Ireland
E-coli in water samples
The Environmental Protection Agency, which has analysed a quarter of a million water samples over the last 2 years, has indicated that e-coli bacteria is present in more than 33% of private water schemes in Ireland and in more than 8% of public water schemes.
The Agency has drawn up an "amber" list of schemes with unacceptable levels of the bacteria which it will police and prosecute if necessary. 25th January 2008.
Singapore
Worker killed in scaffold collapse at biodiesel plant
The collapse of a scaffold and a newly constructed tank at the Natural Fuel biodiesel plant in Singapore killed an employee of Rotary Engineering on Wednesday, an investigation into the accident at the world's largest such plant is now underway. 24th January 2008.
Canada
Vancouver crane fatality
An overturning crane claimed the life of an employee of RSL Contractors on Monday during materials transfer at the InTransit BC site on a bridge spanning the Fraser River in Vancouver. The accident occurred at the Sky Train span over the North Arm as the 9-tonne crane was lifting material from the main deck to a pedestrian walkway at a lower level, during this task the crane became unstable and overturned. 23rd January 2008.
Philippines
Accident investigation underway at Hanjin shipyard
Initial investigation of the fatal explosion which killed 2 shipyard workers at Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction on Friday points to a leaking oxygen line compounded by the presence of lubricants on the floor of the work area, workers had speculated that a leaking acetylene hose and welding sparks caused the accident.
The yard has been closed while the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on the west coast of Luzon, Zambales, investigates the accident and considers other allegations of lax workplace safety. 22nd January 2008.
India
Earth collapse crushes worker at Delhi Metro site
An unstable excavation claimed the life of a worker, 40, on Monday at a Delhi Metro site in Laxmi Nagar, New Delhi, although he was able to be freed from the earth ingress he later succumbed to his injuries. 22nd January 2008.
Canada
Engineer killed during Quebec ski-lift maintenance
An unexpected activation of a ski-lift during maintenance work at the Stoneham ski resort, 12 miles north of Quebec, has killed a 27-year old engineer who became caught in the moving mechanism, an accident under investigation by the workplace health and safety board (Commission de la sante et de la securite du travail). 21st January 2008.
Angola
12 bodies recovered in Bailundo plane crash
Recovery workers have found 12 bodies at Bailundo, 100 miles north of Luanda, where a Beechcroft-200 twin-engine aircraft of Gira Globo crashed on Saturday during a flight from Luanda to Huambo, it is thought that 25 people were on the flight. A helicopter travelling to the site with media personnel itself crashed landed, no injuries were reported. 21st January 2008.
Morocco
Building collapse on Khenitra site kills 14
The collapse of a 2-storey building under construction in Khenitra, 25 miles north of Rabat, has killed 14 workers and left another 26 injured, further casualties are feared under the rubble. 18th January 2008.
The Netherlands
WW2 bomb find closes Venlo site
A building site was closed late on Thursday on Pepijn Street in the Blerick district of Venlo when WW2 ordnance was discovered, bomb disposal experts are due on site today (Friday) to examine it.  18th January 2008.
Trinidad
Worker's chemical burns after overall ignites
The ignition of chemicals has left a 21-year old Trinidadian worker with 2nd degree burns to the face and upper body when his clothing ignited as he leaned over a drum containing the chemicals and industrial waste in the Waste Treatment Facility of Kaizan Environmental Ltd on the La Brea Industrial estate, north of Point Firmin in southwest Trinidad. 17th January 2008.
Albania
Workers arrested following furnace explosion
Albanian police arrested 3 workers on Tuesday in Elbasan, 35 miles south of Tirana, where Kurum Steel Company operates a scrap metal factory, the accused, 2 Turkish furnace technicians and 1 Albanian worker, face allegations of negligence following a furnace explosion which killed 1 worker and left 6 others with critical injuries.
Kurum Steel of Turkey operate the factory, it is thought that unexploded ordnance had been negligently thrown into the furnace. 16th January 2008.
English Channel
Crewman breaks leg as Greek freighter sinks
A crewman of the Greek freighter Ice Prince sustained a broken leg in the incident in which the ship sank in the English Channel 25 miles off Portland Bill, the 20-man crew were safely rescued. The cargo of 6K tonnes of timber became unstable in heavy seas and the ship sank in 60 metres of water, concern is being expressed over 313 tonnes of lubricants on board. 16th January 2008.
Cambodia
Man attends own funeral after erroneous presumption
A 24- year old man apparently attended his own funeral recently when he turned up in his village several days after it was assumed he had been murdered. A decomposed body had been discovered in woodland and erroneously presumed to have been the 24-year old who had in fact been subject to a violent attack and was himself dumped in nearby woods. 16th January 2008.
Russia
7 dead in separate gas explosions
Two separate gas explosions claimed 8 lives on Monday: 6 people died when a gas explosion occurred in a 5-storey block in Zheleznovodsk, Stavropol, initial speculation suggests improper handling of a gas heating device; in Novokuibyshevsk in Samara 1 person died and a worker was badly burned while carrying out maintenance work in a 4th floor apartment. 15th January 2008.
China
Fatal explosion at sulphuric acid plant
An explosion occurred during the loading of sulphur powder at Yunnan Sanhuan Chemical Industry Co Ltd's sulphuric acid plant in Haikou Town, Kunming City, which left 5 dead and 33 injured as well as 2 workers listed missing, the explosion occurred adjacent to a warehouse. 14th January 2008.
Kazakhstan
High temperatures and methane concentration prevent recovery work
Hope has been abandoned of rescuing alive the 23 miners missing following the methane explosion 500 metres underground at the Abaiskaya coal mine of ArcelorMittal Temirtau, raising the fatalities to 30.
A further inspection of the site is scheduled for today (Monday) but temperatures of 90°C and methane concentrations of 6.2% precluded further weekend rescue attempts. 14th January 2008.
Macedonia
11 dead in military helicopter crash
The crash of an M-17 military helicopter near Skopje on Saturday has killed 11 military personnel who were returning home from Bosnia following participation in a EUFOR group. 13th January 2008.
USA
Unsecured ad hoarding worker in fatal fall
A 3.5-metre fall and subsequent impalement on a buried cable marker claimed the life of a worker at an Allison Outdoor Advertising hoarding on US highway 64 outside Murphy, in the southwest corner of North Carolina. The victim was unrolling vinyl when he lost his balance, the utility marker was 1.3-metres high and 0.1-metres wide. His fall protection was incomplete, his safety belt was unsecured to a lanyard. 11th January 2008.
Baltic Sea
Lifeboat falls during maintenance, 2 dead
Two crew members of the Panamanian-flagged freighter MSC India have died following an accident during maintenance of a lifeboat which fell 18 metres into the Baltic Sea between Bornholm island and the Swedish mainland. 11th January 2008.
Mozambique
Fertiliser company hazards probed
Respiratory problems have claimed the lives of 2 workers of the Mozambique Fertiliser Company in Gondola, in the central province of Manica, where the Labour & Health Ministry closed the plant last week amid allegations of hazardous working conditions.
The inspectorate cited a lack of protective clothing and equipment, such as gloves and face masks, and a lack of first aid stations for the 150-strong workforce.
The plant commenced fertiliser production last summer, apart from the 2 deceased workers, others have recently been hospitalised with respiratory problems and chest secretions. 10th January 2008.
Canada
Company fined for confined space fatality
The Ontario Court of Justice has fined Sure Fresh Foods of Bradford $150K(£79,787) in respect of a confined space fatal accident which claimed the life of a welder in a water tank.
On April 7th 2006, the worker entered the tank to weld and upon ignition an explosion occurred, inflicting fatal 3rd degree burns. Investigation established the fuel source to be clear and odourless, probably methane gas which had entered the tank from the company's well. The absence of a confined space policy and air monitoring protocol allowed the explosive build-up of gas to go undetected. The company had no written procedures for confined space entry or appropriate testing equipment for monitoring air quality in the tank.
The worker had not been provided with appropriate confined space training, the company pleaded guilty to failing to provide information and instruction and supervision to the worker to protect his health and safety as required by Section 25(2)a of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 9th January 2008.
Iceland
Fatal apartment fire investigation
An apartment fire on the 3rd storey of a 4-storey block in the Breidholt district of Reykjavik has claimed the life of a 40-year old man, other residents were rescued by fire crews deploying a crane from the upper floor given the extensive smoke-logging of the building. Although an electrical malfunction has not been ruled out, it is speculated that a candle may have caused the blaze in the apartment which appeared to lack a smoke detector. 9th January 2008.
South Korea
Welding may have sparked warehouse blaze in which 40 died
Fire at the Korea 2000 frozen goods warehouse construction site in Icheon, 40 miles southeast of Seoul, has killed 40 workers and seriously injured 7 others. At the time of the accident installation work was ongoing in the basement under the 2 upper storeys, electrical cable work and Freon gas pumping were being undertaken.
Fire inspectors speculated that hot metal work may have sparked the blaze in an atmosphere rich in flammable vapours, given the presence of urethane foam on the walls and ceiling and also the presence of LPG cylinders and ammonia gas. 8th January 2008.
Germany
6-year old twins fall through thin ice
Police in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are investigating to see if adequate safety precautions were taken following the weekend drowning of six-year old twins in a frozen pond by a bridle path in Passin, near Butzow, the twins fell through thin ice into the 1.5m-deep pond.
Warnings over thin ice hazards and appropriate safety measures have been issued throughout the northeast in recent days. 8th January 2008.
France
Speeding intoxicated HGV driver jailed
An HGV driver received a 6-month prison sentence (plus 9 months suspended) at Versailles on Monday after being found guilty of traffic infractions on the motorway near Paris, including driving at 143kph, being under the influence of cannabis and neutralising his vehicle's speed governor. 8th January 2008.
Switzerland
Dutch youth ski jumper in fatal training accident
A 14-year-old Dutch sport student has died in a ski jump accident during training at the Oberstdorf sport centre, falling awkwardly on landing and later dying of his injuries. He had been training at the centre since late summer and had completed 100 jumps this winter season. 7th January 2008.
USA
6 dead, 4 survive Alaskan light aircraft crash
The crash of a twin-engine Piper-PA-31 Navajo Chieftain aircraft at Kodiak island, Alaska, claimed 6 lives at the weekend, with 4 persons surviving the crash which occurred shortly into the local flight from Kodiak, south of Anchorage, to Homer.
The flight operated by Servant Air encountered technical problems immediately upon take-off and came down in the bay, the accident occurred in clear weather with a 20-knot wind. 7th January 2008.
Belgium
7 WW1 bombs found in pond
The Belgian bomb disposal corps, SEDEE (service d'enlevement des engins explosifs), will conduct a detonation on Monday of 7 WW1 bombs discovered in a pond in the centre of Merchtem where the owner, a restaurant proprietor, found 1 in the middle of the week, further investigation uncovered the presence of 6 others. 5th January 2008.
Ukraine
Storm conditions hamper rescue in Sea of Azov
Storm conditions were hampering attempts to rescue crew members of the freighter Vanessa which sank earlier on Thursday in the northern stretches of the Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov. Some of the 11-man crew were sighted in life rafts, the ship's engineer has been rescued but 2 other seamen were recovered dead. The Vanessa sails out of Burgas in Bulgaria. 4th January 2008.
Japan
Worker succumbs to ski-lift station fall
A 63-year old part-time worker at the Palcall Tsumagoi Ski Resort in Tsumagoi, Gunma, died in hospital on Thursday following a 15-metre fall at the ski station summit on Wednesday. He had reached into a gondola to fetch a passenger's gloves when it began to move off in descent, his arm becoming trapped in the automatic door. It carried him off from the boarding platform and when a colleague saw the incident and deactivated the system the door opened, causing the victim's release and fall. 4th January 2008.
Macedonia
Transport accident at lignite mine
A 26-year old mining engineer was killed in a transport accident on Wednesday morning at the Suvodol lignite mine of REK Bitola in southwest Macedonia, the victim was driving his vehicle at the mine adjacent to the thermal power plant when he was struck by a reversing bulldozer, a colleague in the car survived the accident. 3rd January 2008.
Switzerland
Octogenerian dies in hospital fire
An 86-year old female patient has died in a fire in her room on the 9th floor of the Kantonsspital Baden AG hospital, the blaze was spotted by a nurse, her room in the 30-year old, 11-storey building did not have a smoke/fire alarm, it is speculated that a bedside light caused the fire. 1st January 2008.

 

  
Argentina
Explosion at agro-chemical lab
An explosion on Wednesday morning at the agro-chemical lab of LYCA on Niza Street in the La Paternal district of Buenos Aires left 2 workers injured, 1 sustained hand burns and has been treated in Alvarez hospital. 31st January 2008.
Republic of Ireland
Passenger breaks leg in airport bus crash
An airport coach travelling between Dublin and Cork overturned on the N8, 1 of the 6 passengers on board sustained a broken leg, the accident is under Gardai investigation. 31st January 2008.
Australia
Falling ramp kills worker
An unstable ramp has killed a worker during the loading of heavy plant on to a lorry at a site in Fairfield Heights, west Sydney. 30th January 2008.
Belgium
Short-cut leads to death on rail tracks
A student from Tournai was killed on Tuesday by a train while crossing the tracks at Antoing near the ITCF school in the Val d'Escaut, the train was travelling at 88mph, compounding the tragedy is the fact that an underpass is located some 15m from the locus. 30th January 2008.
South Africa
Worker drowns at flooded platinum mine
A maintenance worker has drowned at the Amandelbult mine of Anglo Platinum in Rustenburg where recent heavy rains led to water ingress and a reduced production capacity.
The Department of Minerals and Energy will investigate the accident, 221 mineworking fatalities occurred in South Africa last year, an increase of 11% and the first rise in 5 years. 29th January 2008.
Australia
Crush fatality on S Australia oil rig
A 36-year old subcontract worker was killed on Sunday in a crush accident at the Weatherford Drilling International site on the Santos oil and gas drilling field 50 miles east of Moomba, South Australia, the victim became pinned between 2 sets of machinery on an oil drilling rig. 28th January 2008.
Germany
Hot balloon accident in Bavaria
An accident involving a hot air balloon in Bavaria on Saturday has left 5 people injured, most seriously the 32-year old female operator. The balloon had completed a controlled landing at Schleching, near Traunstein, and was in the process of being anchored when wind caused it to become airborne again just as the operator was alighting to anchor it, the balloon travelled up and down for a further 100 metres across a field dragging the operator by a safety line. 28th January 2008.
China
Sulphuric acid leak from underground pipe
Dozens of people were hospitalised when sulphuric acid leaked from an underground pipe which fractured at a chemical plant beside the Xiaoping coal mine in Banqiao, in Hunan's Chenxi county, the extent of local contamination has yet to be ascertained. 25th January 2008.
Norway
EASA confirms Dash safety concerns
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which has been pursuing a safety audit of 27 Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) "Dash" aircraft, has indicated that of 18 aircraft inspected, 16 displayed defects such as rust damage in the landing gear or lacked filters in the hydraulic system. SAS, who acquired the fleet from Bombardier 8 years ago, grounded them last October, one Dash Q400 had to make 2 emergency landings last year. 25th January 2008.
USA
Pressure testing fatality at Alabama water plant
A pipefitter of Brassfield and Gorrie of Birmingham, Alabama, was killed during pressure testing of a water pipeline at Tuscaloosa's new water treatment plant on New Watermelon Road.
The 10cm-diameter steel pipe emerges from the pumping chamber floor and makes a 90° turn along the ceiling. The pipe failed during testing and fell on him, workers had to use a forklift to raise the pipe which weighed  more than 1 tonne. 24th January 2008.
England
Lancs bakery fined for dough machine accident
Franco's bakery in Bolton has pleaded guilty at Trafford Magistrates' Court to failing to ensure the health and safety of an employee whose hand was injured in a dough machine accident for which it has been fined £5K.
In August 2006, the worker was standing on a table to reach the dough machine which was 2 metres above the floor to pour flour inside, but he slipped and his hand entered the machine's unguarded rollers, inflicting serious damage to his fingers. The investigating HSE inspector noted a number of unguarded machines during his visit and termed the incident a "wholly avoidable accident" for which the company was fined £2,750 plus £2,250 costs. 24th January 2008.
Germany
Hearts beat too fast at World Cup
Based on figures collated during the 2006 football World Cup in Germany, the Universitatsklinik Munchen has indicated that a higher than average incidence of circulatory and heart emergencies were recorded by health authorities in the Munich and area health boards.
The figures were compared with similar situations between 2003 and 2005. The Red Cross recorded more than 100 calls on average, twice the average for a league match, with 5% of patients requiring hospitalisation. Doctors will be releasing fuller details at a press conference on 31st January. 23rd January 2008.
Uruguay
Firemen withdraw from unsafe roof
Firefighters had to withdraw from a blaze they were tackling on Tuesday at an alcoholic drinks factory on Defensa and Nicaragua Avenues in Montevideo when a roof collapse appeared imminent, a spokesman for the Bomberos of Montevideo indicated that although the fire was being tackled satisfactorily the firemaster had to withdraw his men given the state of the roof, the source of the blaze was a tank containing 1,000 litres of alcohol. 23rd January 2008.
China
Dozens killed at abandoned Shanxi mine
More than 20 illegal miners were killed in a gas explosion at the abandoned Weijialing coal mine near Linfen in Shanxi province. The mine had been opened 4 years ago but was closed shortly afterwards and had been exploded and partially collapsed to prevent its reuse. 22nd January 2008.
Zambia
Power outage trapped copper miners
The Zambia Electric Supply Company (Zesco) is investigating a major power blackout at the weekend which left 400 copper miners stranded underground at 3 central Copperbelt mines, only connection to the power supply from bordering Democratic Republic of Congo relieved the situation. 22nd January 2008.
USA
Forklift accident kills  New York boy
A 13-year old New York youth died in a weekend forklift accident at Miron Building Supply in Brooklyn where his father is employed as a forklift operator, it is believed the boy was operating the forklift unofficially when it overturned during a manoeuvre. 21st January 2008.
India
Rock slide kills worker at Kerala quarry
A rock slide at a quarry at Oorakkad, Kizhakkambalam, 15 miles from Kochi, has killed a 44-year old Kerala worker at the premises operated by GK Granite. 21st January 2008.
Spain
Missing Galician fishermen feared drowned
Hopes have faded of finding the 4 fishermen missing from the Galician boat Cordero, although improved weather means that the search has intensified.
Three other survivors were rescued by the Praia de Esteiro, the director general of the Recursos Marinos de la Xunta defended the decision to use this means of recovery as it was too dangerous for a helicopter rescue. 18th January 2008.
Switzerland
French HGV driver's traffic infractions
The French driver of an Italian HGV was stopped yesterday on the Gotthard Pass at Erstfeld and found to have a blood/alcohol count of 1.12 promille, additionally he had failed to observe regulatory rest periods and the vehicle was overloaded. 18th January 2008.
USA
Worker's leg lost in machine accident at Florida factory
A 39-year old Florida worker lost a leg and had the other one badly crushed in a machine accident at Metecno-Aluma Shield in De Land, north of Orlando, after becoming caught in the machine which wraps 5-metre panels at the plant which manufactures doors and panels for industrial warehouses. 17th January 2008.
USA
Hand injury at Chicago printing press
A worker has been hospitalised after his hand became trapped in an industrial printing press at Miracle Press Company in west Chicago, no further details of the accident are known. 17th January 2008.
USA
Kentucky plant fatality
A Kentucky worker has died in an accident at the Link Fork Compressor Unit of the Kentucky Oil Gathering Corporation's plant in Hallie where his arm became caught in a power shaft while he was operating a lorry. 16th January 2008.
Austria
Boy injured in fall from school window
A 12-year old pupil broke his thigh and elbow after falling 8 metres from a window at Egg Secondary School in Vorarlberg, he had been sitting on the sill of an open window when he lost his balance and fell on to frozen ground, he was hospitalised at Dornbirn. 16th January 2008.
New Zealand
Handling fatality involving unstable machinery
A 26-year old worker died on Monday morning when machinery he was moving became unstable and toppled on to him at Sue John Berry Fruits in Tahuna, Nelson. 15th January 2008.
USA
Amtrak officer severs thumb in Chicago station door
An Amtrak police officer's thumb was severed in an accident early on Monday at the front door of Union Station, South Canal Street, Chicago, it is believed that attempts were being made to reattach it surgically. 15th January 2008.
Russia
Fire kills 7 at St Petersburg site
At least 7 workers have died following a fire in a timber building at Elektropult on Khimiki Street, St Petersburg. 14th January 2008.
Japan
Door mode issue after boy fell from moving bus
A 33-year old man has been charged with negligent driving resulting in death following a recent accident on the Tokyo Gaikan Expressway in which an 11-year old boy fell from a door in a minibus and was run over by following traffic.
The accused is a football team coach who was driving the Coaster bus of the Toyota Motor Corporation, the door in question can be operated manually by passengers if it is set to manual mode, the accused is alleged to have failed to apply automatic mode to the door. 14th January 2008.
Namibia
Cessna crashes on take-off at Windhoek after refuelling stop
The crash of a Cessna 210 light aircraft of Atlantic Aviation has killed 5 tourists and the pilot who were stopping at Windhoek to refuel before travelling on to the Etosha reserve in northern Namibia. 13th January 2008.
Canada
Overturning forklift fatality
The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating a workplace accident at Air Power Products in Cambridge where an overturned forklift truck killed a worker on Thursday morning. 11th January 2008.
Bulgaria
Fatal fall at Danube shipyard
A shipyard worker was killed in the early hours of Thursday in a fall into water at the shipyard in Ruse on the Danube while he was checking on frozen installations. 11th January 2008.
Russia
Gas leak explosion kills 8 in Tatarstan
A gas leak led to a major explosion in a 3-storey apartment block in Kazan, 500 miles south of Moscow in Tatarstan, an accident which killed 8 residents of the 48-year old property.
The leakage appears to have occurred on the 3rd floor, survivors have been taken to temporary accommodation in local nurseries and a car plant's social club. 10th January 2008.
France
Missing fishermen recovered off Brittany
The Brest coastguard reports the recovery of the 4 missing fishermen from the 24-metre long boat, "La petite Julie", which sank north of Ile Vierge, off Plougerneau, northwest Brittany, from where its last mayday was sent. Six of the 7-man crew died, 1 Portuguese fishermen survived against the odds, given his apparel.
Around 20 French fishermen are killed at work annually. 10th January 2008.
Japan
Triple confined space fatality
A confined space fatality has claimed 3 workers' lives in a tunnel at a site in Yahatanishi, Kitakyushu, where the laying of water pipes has been taking place. 9th January 2008.
Malta
Swinging crane arm clouts worker
A 23-year old construction worker has been left with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a swinging crane arm at a site on Wizna Street, Swieqi, northeast Malta, where the arm sheared off and swung against 2 workers, one of whom escaped with light injuries. 9th January 2008.
Romania
CO poisoning kills 11 people in 4 weeks
The Romanian authorities have reported 11 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning during the last 4 weeks as a result of malfunctioning heating systems. 8th January 2008.
Uruguay
Worker killed in Montevideo supermarket roof collapse
The collapse of a section of roof of the Frigo supermarket on avenida Uruguay y Paraguay in Montevideo has claimed the life of a 31-year old man, a female employee was hospitalised at Medical Uruguay in the city and a 77-year old customer sustained a broken arm, the Seguridad Edilicia of Montevideo's municipal body is investigating the accident. 8th January 2008.
Australia
Elderly farmer killed by reversing tractor
The 76-year proprietrix of a dairy farm just east of Echuca, northern Victoria, has died in a crush accident involving a tractor, it is believed that the victim was directing the tractor which was reversing towards an irrigation channel bank, against which she became pinned by the tractor's rear-mounted gear.  7th January 2008.
Norway
Coastguard collects stranded Russian trawler
The Norwegian coastguard has responded to a mayday issued by the Kaliningrad trawler, Nemansky, whose engine failed in the Barents Sea north of Murmansk, and has towed it to the Norwegian port of Kirkenes where the trawler's engineer has been hospitalised with serious leg burns. 7th January 2008.
Bosnia/Herzegovina
Skiers stranded in chair lift for hours
The technical failure of a chair lift at the Jahorina winter resort led to some of the 120 passengers waiting for up to 7 hours for rescue in temperatures well below zero, bad weather and the difficult terrain led to a protracted rescue, no injuries were reported. 5th January 2008.
Switzerland
Jungfrau chair lift fatal accident
An accident on Thursday in which a chairlift jumped out of its rail at the Kleine Sheidegg alpine station on the Jungfrau glacier railway killed 1 passenger and left another in critical condition.
Around 75 people were travelling on it between Grindlewald and Kleine Scheidegg when the accident occurred, wind speeds of up to 55 mph were being recorded on the Jungfrau glacier area on Thursday. 4th January 2008.
Israel
Boiler engineer killed in roof fall
An engineer died this week in a fall from the roof of a 3-storey building in Netanya where he was installing a solar-powered boiler, the details of the accident are under investigation. 4th January 2008.
USA
Worker's arm amputated at Texas concrete plant
A 52-year old worker's arm was amputated in a machine accident at Alamo Concrete in Manor, east Texas, on Wednesday morning, the victim's sleeve became caught in the equipment and following a 15-minute ordeal he managed to free himself, his lower arm left in the machinery. He raised the alarm himself and is listed in critical but stable condition in Brackenridge Hospital. 3rd January 2008.
 
USA
Fatality at San Francisco printing press
A 26-year old San Francisco female worker has died in a printing press crush accident at Digital Pre Press International after becoming caught in it and sustaining head and chest injuries. 31st January 2008.
Azores
Bulgarian presidential flight in emergency landing
Technical problems forced the emergency landing in the Azores of a Tupelov Tu 154 aircraft carrying Bulgaria's president Georgi Parvanov on a state visit to Mexico, no injuries were reported. 31st January 2008.
USA
Fatality at Florida recycling unit
On Tuesday Pensacola Police Department attended a reported fatal accident at Auto Shred Recycling in Warrington, Florida, no details of the accident are available. 30th January 2008.
Azerbaijan
Air force plane crashes in Caspian Sea
An MiG 29 of the Azerbaijan Air Force has crashed into the Caspian Sea during a training exercise and is lying in 30m of water, the bodies of both pilots have yet to be recovered. Unconfirmed allegations suggest a collision with another aircraft during a training flight. 30th January 2008.
USA
Roofer killed at Nebraska store site
A roofer died in a 14-metre fall at the site of a new Wal-Mart store in Omaha, Nebraska, the accident occurred during the placement of roof panels, the victim and a colleague, employees of D & BR Building Systems of Texas, fell through one which failed. 29th January 2008.
Indonesia
737 hits livestock on runway
A Boeing 737 of Merpati Nusantara Airlines struck a calf which strayed on to a runway while landing at Merauke airport in Papua province, no injuries were reported but undercarriage damage occurred in the accident. 29th January 2008.
Turkey
Express derailment leaves 9 dead
The derailment of the Pamukkale express train travelling between Istanbul and Denizli left 9 people dead and at least 21 injured, the train, with 450 passengers in 5 carriages, derailed on a bend in Kutaya. 28th January 2008.
Austria
Farmer killed in tractor rollover
A 54-year old farmer was killed at the weekend in a tractor rollover accident during tree felling at Perwang am Grabsee in Braunau, Upper Austria. The farmer had partially felled 2 tall intertwining trees and was attempting to complete the task using an old tractor. During the operation, control was lost and when its front wheels mounted, it overturned, the age of the vehicle meant it was not fitted with a cabin or roll bar. 28th January 2008.
Sweden
Dangerous gas leak at Stockholm retail outlet
A major gas leak on Sunday led to the evacuation of the Pub retail store in central Stockholm, gas measurement instruments indicated a build-up of an "explosive mixture", the locus was thought to have been a basement cafe. 28th January 2008.
Hungary
Catholic church tackles new drink driving laws
The Hungarian Justice Minister will rule next week on the position of catholic clergy who have been seeking exemption from the country's new 'zero tolerance' on drink-driving offence. This month police have been empowered to confiscate licences on the spot if a driver provides any evidence of alcohol on a breath test, the catholic hierarchy has sought exemption as their priests imbibe alcohol in the form of sacramental wine in the course of work and the national shortage of priests means they often have to double up. 25th January 2008.
Germany
WW2 bomb uncovered in Braunschweig
Bomb disposal teams were planning the detonation of a 225Kg WW2 bomb found in a field on Thursday in the Leiferde district of Braunschweig, initial investigation found the detonator in too delicate a condition for it to be removed for detonation, a local evacuation of 2K people was ordered. 25th January 2008.
Bulgaria
Sofia demolishing dangerous buildings
The Municipal Building Control Department of Sofia is pursuing a rolling programme of demolishing hundreds of buildings deemed to be in dangerous condition.
Dozens have already been demolished, with courts ratifying orders for a further 145 to come down. The programme will be extended elsewhere, earlier this month a falling bank canopy killed a woman in Varna. 25th January 2008.
South Africa
Cleaner killed in underground diamond mine accident
The Department of Minerals & Energy is investigating a fatal accident in which a contract cleaner, 27, of Makolometja Business Enterprise was killed in an underground accident at the Cullinan diamond mine this week.24th January 2008.
Scotland
Aberdeenshire farm worker electrocuted
A man working on his tractor in a field at Drum of Wartle, Aberdeenshire, has died after contacting an overhead power cable. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, power had to cut to enable his body to be recovered. 24th January 2008.
China
Burst valve hits Hong Kong water inspector
The Hong Kong Water Supplies Dept is investigating an accident in the east of the city in which a worker was hospitalised after being struck by water under pressure and a fractured valve, the victim and a colleague were investigating a leakage in Shing Tai Street when the leaking 400mm valve finally broke under pressure. 23rd January 2008.
Belgium
Fire training courses for flashover and backdraft
Fire training colleges in Brussels and Brabant are to collaborate on new accredited training courses based on firefighting techniques involving the incidence of Backdraft and Flashover, highly dangerous thermal phenomena which cause loss of life among firemen.
Backdraft involves the explosion of inflammable gases when an oxygen supply contributes to the incident, Flashover occurs when flammable material reaches auto-ignition temperatures during a general blaze. 23rd January 2008.
Australia
Elderly worker survives 6m ladder fall
A 59-year old Victoria worker has survived a 6-metre ladder fall at Starts Buslines, Warracknabeal, where he sustained fractures, a brain injury and lung damage, his condition in hospital in Melbourne is listed as serious but stable. 22nd January 2008.
Malta
Roof collapse during renovation injures 2 workers
A roof collapse during renovation work on a former restaurant in a 2-storey building in George Borg Olivier Street in St Julians has left 2 workers injured, another worker managed to evade the accident. 22nd January 2008.
Djibouti
Cadet killed in firing range accident
A firing range fatal accident is under investigation following the death of a French cadet officer during target practice, a Tunisian cadet officer was also badly injured in the accident. 21st January 2008.
France
Lithuanian's u-turn causes fatal crash
The Lithuanian driver of a vehicle with a trailer was involved in a fatal accident while attempting a u-turn on a motorway link road off the A35 at Sessenheim, eastern France, after misinterpreting a sign he attempted the manoeuvre but struck a car, 1 of whose occupants was killed, the other sustained critical injuries. 21st January 2008.
USA
Plant crushes worker on New York site
An employee of J Fletcher Creamer & Son, subcontracted for United Water, was killed in a transport accident at a site on Maple Avenue, Hillsdale, New York, when a plant vehicle apparently overturned and crushed him during the installation of a water main there. 18th January 2008.
Botswana
Two wheels on my wagon
The fire engine of the Ledumang Fire Sub Station in Gaborone lost both rear wheels after its propeller shaft broke as it was travelling to answer a call in Broadhurst, the engine skidded across the highway but the driver was able to brake it safely, no injuries occurred. 17th January 2008.
Japan
Septic tank removal leads to unstable excavation accident
An unstable excavation collapsed on 2 workers during the removal of a septic tank at a dwellinghouse in Nakatsugawa, a 66-year old worker is in critical condition, his 30-year old colleague broke his pelvis, the accident occurred after the old septic tank had been removed and a 3-metre deep pit caved in on them. 16th January 2008.
Zimbabwe
Lion kills 3 people in Mashonaland
A lion has killed 3 villagers in Guruve in Mashonaland Central province in northern Zimbabwe, police and park wardens managed to kill the animal. 16th January 2008.
India
Kiln explosion kills 8 maintenance workers
An accident at the Dust Section Chamber of the Sponge Iron Kiln at Godawari Power & Ispat Ltd on the Siltara Industrial Estate in the Raipur district of Chattisgarh killed 8 workers and left 2 others injured, 15 workers in all were engaged in maintenance work at the time of the accident. 15th January 2008.
Vietnam
Wall collapse kills 2 at old school site
A wall collapse during demolition work at an old school site in Luc Binh Commune, Bach Thong, in Bac Kan province has left 2 workers dead, the demolition work is part of a project to build a new nursery school there. 14th January 2008.
USA
Fatal crush accident at steel mill highlights operator hazard
A 23-year old worker was killed in a transport accident at the weekend at the ArcelormIttal Steel mill in East Chicago, Indiana, after becoming trapped between a rail car he was operating by remote control and a vehicle on the site.
Rail cars are used to move supplies inside the mill, workers accompany them on foot with radio controls or ride on top of the cars. 14th January 2008.
Mexico
Helicopter crash kills voluntary workers in Peubla
A helicopter crash in the Sierra Norte of Puebla on Saturday has killed both pilots and 6 women who were travelling on a voluntary social project for Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF), recovery work is proving difficult in the hilly terrain. 13th January 2008.
Denmark
Loud kids force nursery staff to wear ear protection
The fact that many nursery workers have been wearing ear protection at work has generated a debate over its suitability and whether the children themselves might benefit from hearing protection, one survey suggested that no other occupational group was exposed to such levels and range of noise. 11th January 2008.
Austria
Hungarian lorry with explosives fails safety check
An HGV traffic control at Rudersdorf in Burgenland found a Hungarian lorry transporting 15 tonnes of explosives to a mine in Eisenerz to be in extremely poor mechanical and structural condition with particularly defective brakes and was prevented from continuing its journey pending an extensive overhaul. 11th January 2008.
Madagascar
Plague deaths increasing
Concern is growing over the number of deaths from rat-borne infections, such as Weils Disease, which have now claimed 20 lives recently, 3 in the last week in Manjakandriana, 30 miles east of Antananarivo, with 5 other patients listed very ill with Bubonic plague.
Vavatenina on the east coast has recorded 15 deaths in the last 5 weeks, most recent figures indicate 182 deaths globally per annum, all but 2 occurring in Africa.
The rainy season and poor hygiene are cited as significant factors, but focus is being placed on waste disposal and sometimes the lack of fuel for refuse vans to operate. 10th January 2008.
South Korea
Single-hull tanker era nearing end
In the wake of the recent oil spillage, the South Korean government is considering banning all single-hull crude tankers from its waters as early as 2011, ahead of international proposals, at present almost half of all crude deliveries arrive there in single-hull tankers. 10th January 2008.
France
Speleologists rescued in eastern France
Late on Tuesday afternoon rescuers reported reaching 2 of the 6 speleologists trapped in an underground chamber at Deservillers, in the Doubs district of Franche-Comte, the rescue was achieved a few hours after making contact with them at the location on the 2nd Jura plateau, east of Besancon. 9th January 2008.
Australia
Forklift rollover fatality on Queensland nursery
A forklift operator has died after losing control of his vehicle at a plant nursery outside Gatton, 55 miles west of Brisbane, the forklift went down an embankment and overturned. 9th January 2008.
Iraq
Worker killed in Baiji refinery fire
A technical malfunction caused a fire on Monday which destroyed the LPG unit at the Baiji refinery, 110 miles north of Baghdad, 1 worker died and 36 were injured.
The locus was a storage tank holding 5 mio. litres of fuel, other areas of the Baiji production are continuing as usual. 8th January 2008.
Italy
Fatal bulldozer rollover on Cuneo site
A bulldozer operator was killed in his overturned vehicle on Monday evening at a construction site near where the Torino-Savonna highway intersects with the Caramagna Piemonte-Sommariva del Bosco route 29, the vehicle overturned into a water-filled ditch, recovery work was ongoing late on Monday. 8th January 2008.
Austria
Speeding bus falls 8m off bridge
More than 40 Macedonian workers returning to Denmark were injured when their bus came off a bridge in the Webling district of Graz, Austria, police have speculated that the driver of the Danish-registered bus missed the turn-off for the Plabutsch tunnel and the bus was travelling at an estimated 60mph in a 35mph zone. 7th January 2008.
USA
Fatal head injuries on Wyoming drill site
A teenage worker died of head injuries while working at a drill rig site 20 miles north of Gillette, northeast Wyoming, where Trecoby Services are working, he was struck by a tension line which threw him against a lorry where he sustained the head injuries, the whiplash effect caused his head protection to detach. 7th January 2008.
Venezuela
Missing plane search
An extensive search of land and sea was undertaken at the weekend for a missing light aircraft with 2 pilots and 12 passengers which became lost in flight from Caracas to the Los Roques National park, 80 miles from Caracas.  7th January 2008.
South Africa
Game reserve caretaker eaten by lions
A caretaker (36) has been mauled and eaten by a pride of lions on the Aloe Ridge Lodge game reserve at Swartruggens, 90 miles west of Johannesburg, it is unclear why the worker of 4 years experience entered the enclosure. 4th January 2008.
Austria
Hepatitis outbreak linked to shop worker
The Salzburg regional health board (Landessanitatsdirektion) has announced that 13 people have contracted hepatitis A in Salzburg in recent weeks, an investigation has focused on a retail outlet in the city's Parcelsus Street where a contract worker with acute hepatitis is engaged in the meat department. 4th January 2008.
Mexico
Navy search for diver missing off Cozumel
The Mexican navy has been searching the sea off Cozumel in eastern Mexico for a 40-year old female Japanese diver who failed to return to the dive boat during a diving tour being undertaken there. 3rd January 2008.
 
UK
Suspected carbon monoxide death
An elderly woman has been found dead at her home in Flanderwell, Rotherham, carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected.
The importance of properly maintaining gas appliances has been drawn to the attention of landlords with the prosecution of a Treorchy landlord who was fined a total of £6,000 with £4,478 costs after pleading guilty to breaching the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The landlord fitted a boiler by himself at a flat he owned in Tonypandy, his tenant noticed there was a gas leak and reported it to Transco, who made it safe. 31st January 2008.
England
Dangerous demolition
A prosecution following the injury of a demolition worker when he was struck by a falling building facade has resulted in a fine for the proprietor of SJB Demolition & Groundworks, of Bovingdon, Herts, of £12,500, with costs of £12,500, at the Old Bailey.
He admitted breaching r.10(1) of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 in the circumstances of the August 2005 accident, having failed to ensure safe systems of work in place when demolishing a 2-storey former garage at Kilburn Lane, Brent.
An HSE inspector commented: "During demolition work it is essential to calculate and maintain an exclusion zone, and provide protection for members of the public. Demolition is potentially one of the most dangerous sectors of the construction industry and requires very careful planning." 30th January 2008.
Wales
Workman succumbs to accident injuries
The man who fell in an industrial accident last Tuesday at a development site at Meridian Quay in Swansea has since died.
The development is being undertaken by Carillion and comprises of several tall apartment buildings. 29th January 2008.
Northern Ireland
Construction site death
A man, reported to be a workman, has died on a construction site accident in Fintona, Northern Ireland.
The account states he died on Friday morning receiving his injuries when he was struck by falling bricks. 28th January 2008.
UK
Ladder initiative destroys over 4k unsafe ladders
The HSE, in collaboration with Local Authorities and ladder retailers and hirers, has declared that nearly 4,200 unsafe ladders have been removed from service, a direct result of its Ladder Exchange 2007 initiative.
Participants Bury Metropolitan Borough Council carried out ladder inspections in October and November, inspecting 87 premises finding 73 ladders of 228 examined being not up to scratch, with 2 enforcement notices issued.
This success means that it is planned to run a new Ladder Exchange initiative in Autumn this year, continuing to raise awareness of the need to inspect, maintain and replace ladders where necessary. 25th January 2008.