Canada
Sealers' boat under coastguard
tow capsizes, 4 drown
Three seal hunters drowned when their boat, L'Acadien 11, capsized
after striking ice while under tow by the Canadian coastguard.
L'Acadien had developed steering problems off the Iles de la Madelaine
north of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, but sank within 90 minutes of being
under tow, the accident occurred at night. Although some of the
sleeping crew were rescued, divers have been searching for another
missing sealer.
31st March 2008.
|
Austria
Traffic officers await radiation
test results
Two police officers based at the Nickelsdorf traffic control check in
Burgenland are awaiting the results of blood tests after possible
exposure to radioactive materials during the inspection of an HGV with
Dutch registration plates travelling from Romania to Luxemburg.
The lorry's load documentation was false, during the 7-hour check
contact was made with the material which included Caesium 137,
Americium and Beryllium. Although gamma rays were below the danger
borderline, there was concern over neutron levels. The load was
located 15 metres behind the cab, presenting no contamination risk for
for the driver.
31st March 2008.
|
Norway
Russian mining helicopter crash
in Svalbard
A Russian helicopter has crashed during landing in windy conditions at
the Russian mining settlement of Barentsburg on the Svalbard Isles,
300 miles off the Norwegian mainland, 3 of the 9 people on board have
died, 2 of the surviving injured have been transferred for
hospitalisation in Longyearbyen. The flight belonged to Arktikogal,
the Russian company which mines coal there, both pilots and a mine
worker were killed.
31st March 2008.
|
China
Fireworks explosion kills
detonation experts
The explosion of a consignment of dated fireworks being taken for
detonation on waste ground 5 miles outside Turpan, in Xinjiang
province, killed at least 25 people on Thursday with 5 others reported
missing. The group comprised of police, explosives experts and
journalists travelling in a convoy of 7 lorries.
28th March 2008.
|
Ukraine
Odessa helicopter crash kills 14
As many as 14 people may have died when an Mi-8 helicopter flying from
Odessa to Zmeiny came down in the Danube delta near Poludenny island,
the flight was carrying 2 tonnes of cargo and was carrying 10
passengers in addition to 3 crew. Another body recovered from the sea
is reckoned to have been an additional unlisted passenger.
28th March 2008.
|
Dubai
Explosion of illegally stored
fireworks
An explosion of illegally stored fireworks killed 2 people on
Wednesday in a warehouse in the Al Quoz industrial area of Dubai.
27th March 2008
|
Honduras
Bus crash on "angel's flight"
kills 23, 18 injured
At least 23 people were killed on Tuesday when a bus left the road on
the notorious "vuelo del angel" stretch of highway in western Honduras
and fell hundreds of metres down into a ravine. Copec (Comision
Permanente de Contingencias) gave the rollover as 120 metres, however
witnesses spoke of 400-500 metres at the site between San Jeronimo and
San Isidro, 12 miles from Jesus de Otoro.
26th March 2008
|
USA
Crane section collapse kills 2 at Miami site
A crane section fell 30 storeys at the Paramount Bay Condominium site
on Miami's North Bayshore Drive on Tuesday, killing 2 workers in a
building under its path, 5 others are injured, 1 listed in critical
condition. A subcontractor was attempting to raise a 7-metre extension
section at the site of developer Royal Palms Communities, Florida does
not currently license crane operation.
26th March 2008
|
China
Speculation over fate of
Ukrainian crew
Divers have located the wreck of the Neftegaz 67 tug in 37 metres of
water following its sinking after colliding with the Chinese freighter
Yao Hai off Hong Kong, there has been no sign of the missing 18
Ukrainian crewmen, leading to speculation that they may be trapped in
the sunken ship.
With sea temperatures of 17°C, survival would be in the 12-24 hour
range. Visibility is poor for the divers who are also experiencing
strong currents, the plan is to deploy Asia's largest floating
derrick, Hua Tian Long, to raise the boat but its present location on
Xi River precludes its arrival before Friday.
25th March 2008
|
USA
Search in Bering Sea for missing
trawlerman
The US coastguard in Alaska was coordinating an intensive search of
the Bering Sea on Monday for the fisherman missing from the
Seattle-based trawler, Alaska Ranger, which sank 120 miles west of
Dutch Harbour, on Unalaska island in the eastern Aleutians, an
accident which has already claimed the lives of 4 of the 47 crew.
The boat experienced rudder problems and ensuing water ingress saw the
crew take to lifeboats. Weather conditions have been good, assisting
the coastguard in the search for the fisherman in his orange survival
suit. 25th March
2008
|
Rep Ireland
Fatal accident during de-icing
at Dublin Airport
An employee of SR Technics was killed in the early hours of Wednesday
while de-icing a Cityjet aircraft at Dublin Airport, he sustained
fatal head injuries and died in Beaumont Hospital.
This was the 11th workplace fatality in Ireland in 2008.
20th March 2008
|
Kazakhstan
Bus crash kills 20
A bus carrying 90 passengers overturned during transit from Chimkent,
north of Tashkent, early on Tuesday, 7 people died and 20 were
injured.
19th March 2008
|
Indonesia
AOC withdrawn for 3 months
Following last week's incident, the Air Transport Minister has
announced in Jakarta the withdrawal of Adam Air's AOC (Air Operator
Certificate) on the grounds of passenger safety, the decision will be
reviewed quarterly. 19th March 2008
|
Egypt
Collision leaves 20 policemen
dead
The collision of a police wagon and a lorry on the highway between
Cairo and Alexandria has killed 23 people, mostly police officers who
were returning from a camp near Cairo, the severity of the injuries
could see this figure rise in the coming days.
18th March 2008
|
Austria
Fatal crush accident in Steier
dairy
A 53-year old dairyman died on Monday after being crushed by a heavy
1-tonne lid cover at a dairy in Knittelfeld, Steier.
A technical fault had developed and he was bending over the large vat
when the cover fell, it is speculated that a hydraulic malfunction
caused the accident.
18th March 2008
|
Iran
Bus crash kills 22 students
The collision of a bus and a petrol tanker on Sunday 450 miles
southwest of Teheran on the highway between Andimeshk and
Pol-e-Dokhtar killed 22 students who were returning from the
Rahiyan-e-Nour tour of battle sites of the Iran-Iraq conflict between
1980 and 88, the victims were unable to escape from the burning bus.
17th March 2008
|
Syria
Coach crash kills 23 students
A coach carrying more than 50 students crashed into a building in
Tartous leaving 23 dead and 9 in critical condition, it is alleged
that it was speeding and failed to negotiate a bend.
In response to high traffic accident figures President al-Assad last
month introduced stiffer fines, provincial roads feature an absence of
road markings and observation of speed limits and the coach industry
lacks regulation.
16th March 2008
|
Zimbabwe
Plane crash kills 2 doctors
Two Zimbabwean
doctors of Parirenyatwa Hospital were killed in a plane crash this week when
their PA24 single-engine light aircraft crashed on take-off at Charles Prince
Airport outside Harare, 1 other doctor survived, the trio were heading for
Seretse Khama University in Botswana when technical problems on take-off saw the
plane's wing clip the ground.
14th March 2008
|
Greece
Cruise ship grounds off Poros
Around 300
passengers had to be evacuated from the cruise ship Giorgis which ran aground on
Thursday off
Poros and experienced water ingress.
The ship was cruising the Saronic Gulf
among the islands of Poros, Hydra and Aegina, the passengers were taken to a
naval training base on Poros.
14th March 2008
|
Gaza
Contraband tunnel collapse
leaves 1 dead
The collapse of a border tunnel between Gaza and Egypt killed a
smuggler on Wednesday, the 600-metre long dormant tunnel 10 metres
underground running from the al-Salam district was in the
process of being recommissioned by a team of smugglers when it
collapsed. It is believed that a rod was being pushed through the
surface of fine sandy tilth when the roof failed.
13th March 2008
|
Austria
Search for workers missing at
explosives site
Search and rescue teams deployed sniffer dogs on Wednesday in the
search for 2 workers missing at the site of the explosion at
Austin Powder in St Lambert, in the Murau district of Upper Steier.
Both workers had been overseeing a process involving
nitro-glycerine and ammonium nitrate and 2 special mixers when some
350Kg of explosives ignited.
3 other workers were badly injured in the incident.
13th March 2008
|
Philippines
Double fatality at Sugar Bay
shipyard
An accident during a crane manoeuvre has killed 2 subcontractor
slingmen at the Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp shipyard in the Sugar Bay
Freeport. The crane was being relocated and the slingmen were removing
shackles when it came off a supporting trestle, pinning the men.
12th March 2008
|
Indonesia
Transport ministry demands air
safety improvement
The Indonesian transport ministry has warned local carrier Adam Air to
address its safety standards or face possible grounding of its fleet
following Monday's accident in which 5 passengers were injured when a
plane skidded off a runway.
Last year the European Union banned 51 Indonesian carriers from
entering its area until safety standards had improved. 12th March 2008
|
Canada
Hydrogen sulphide fumes kill
Alberta worker
A field worker has died after apparently being overcome by gas at a
hydrogen sulphide plant 120 miles northwest of Edmonton, Alberta, where he
was replacing a plate in a group separator building, he was working
alone and his unconscious body was discovered later by a colleague.
11th March 2008
|
USA
Vehicle recovery worker killed
by drunk driver
A Michigan vehicle recovery operator of Sakstrup's Towing Service was killed
after being struck by a drunk driver while he was winching a crashed
vehicle from a ditch at the side of Interstate 94 in Washtenaw County,
west of Detroit, the car which struck the worker had driven through an area
demarcated by police lights.
11th March 2008
|
Argentina
Level crossing accident kills 18
bus passengers
At least 18 people died on Sunday in Dolores, 125 miles southwest of
Buenos Aires, when an El Rapido Argentina double-decker bus collided
with a Ferrobaires train travelling from Buenos Aires to Mar del
Plata, police arrested both bus drivers who survived the accident over
allegations that the bus had attempted to negotiate the level crossing
while the barriers were down.
10th March 2008
|
Tajikistan
Mountaineers' helicopter crashes
in Pamir range
An Mi-8 helicopter carrying 11 European mountaineers and 3 crew
crashed in the Pamir mountains, resulting in the death of the pilot,
other injuries have yet to be confirmed.
10th March 2008
|
Greece
Intercity derails near Larissa
An Athens - Salonica Intercity train with 174 passengers derailed near
Larissa early on Saturday, 28 people, including 3 children, were
injured, later in the day 5 were still hospitalised although none is
in life-threatening condition. OSE (Helenic Railways Organisation) has
speculated that human error or points failure may have caused the
accident 225 miles north of Athens.
9th March 2008
|
USA
Shunting derailment fatality in
Wisconsin yard
A conductor of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad was killed in a crush
accident in midweek during the shunting of wagons in Random Lake, 30
miles north of Milwaukee, the victim was on the rear end of one of two
boxcars being shunted to a warehouse when it derailed and the impact
pinned him against a stationary wagon on an adjacent track.
8th March 2008
|
Albania
Overloaded lake ferry sinking
drowns 16
The sinking of an overloaded boat on Lake Farka, 3 miles east of
Tirana, left 16 of the 20 passengers drowned, including 14 from 2
families who had been celebrating a birthday in a restaurant by the
lake. The boat's capacity load would have been just 8 people.
7th March 2008
|
Norway
Tyr mini sub locates war wreck
off Narvik
During the Armatura Borealis military exercise this week the mini
submarine Tyr managed to locate the wreck of the British WW2
destroyer, Hunter, which sank in 300 metres of sea off Narvik. The
Hunter had been engaging German forces in Ofotfjorden, 100 lives were
lost when it sank in April 1940. The Tyr was set the task of
attempting to locate the Hunter and did so within 14 hours, a
commemorative service is planned for victims this weekend and the site
will be marked as a war grave.
7th March 2008
|
China
Coal dust explosion kills 17
miners
Spontaneous combustion of coal dust led to an explosion and fire which
has killed 17 miners at Jin'an mine in Dongliao County, Liaoyuan,
where 30 miners were working in a tunnel 85 metres underground.
The 13 survivors managed to avoid becoming trapped when the tunnel
collapsed. 6th
March 2008
|
Finland
Warm winter linked to rise in
ice drownings
The warmest winter in a century led to perilous thin ice condition on
many Finnish lakes and rivers and has seen a 66% rise in drownings.
Figures recorded for ice drownings between October and February is 26,
with 18 alone in January, previous figures over a commensurate period
would be 15. 6th
March 2008
|
The Netherlands
Century old building site
skeletons
NFI (Nederlands Forensische Institut) announced on Wednesday that the
skeletal remains uncovered recently on a work site on Hofstraat in
Dordrecht relate to 6 persons interred around a century ago, the
precise age is yet to be ascertained, comprising of men and women of
middle age and a months-old baby.
6th March 2008
|
China
Asphyxiation at steel works/ exploding
sewage pump
Five workers have died in 2 separate accidents in Beijing and
Shanghai. An exploding pump at a sewage works in the southwest of
Beijing saw a build-up of toxic fumes kill 3 workers and hospitalise
16 others; at the Baosteel Group premises in Shanghai 2 workers died
in a nitrogen rich atmosphere after entering a furnace while there to
repair the furnace door. 5th
March 2008
|
South Africa
Worker killed in gold mine stope
accident
The Department of Minerals and Energy is investigating a fatal
accident which occurred at Pamodzi Gold's Orkney No 2 Shaft where a
worker was killed when subsidence occurred at a stope in the rock
face. 5th
March 2008
|
India
Retaining wall collapse kills 4
workers
A retaining wall collapse on the project for the new road to the New
Capital Complex in Mizoram, northeast India, has killed 4 construction
workers, the 30-metre long wall was part of the support for the road
featuring a pillar every 3 metres, more than 30 workers were on site
when the accident occurred.
4th March 2008
|
France
Burn-out takes toll of GP'S
The recent suicide in the Pas-de-Calais region of a GP who had
reproached himself over a wrong diagnosis and a patient's subsequent
death has generated a debate over burn-out among doctors whose suicide
level is twice that of the general population and with female GP's
featuring a higher than average rate of premature births. A social
anthropology study commissioned by the Health Minister revealed
imbalances in GP's experiences, those who failed to triage patients,
worked in isolated areas or disadvantaged suburbs featuring worst.
4th March 2008
|
Guatemala
Uninsured bus crashes, kills 53
The Policia Nacional Civil has alleged that the Cubanita bus crash
near Guatemala City which claimed 53 lives at the weekend involved a
coach which was uninsured as the owner had failed to renew its
insurance last year. The vehicle had already incurred 2 penalties for
speeding and overcrowding. Its passenger capacity of 50 was being
exceeded by 27.
The implications of the non-insurance are considerable for victims'
relatives. 3rd
March 2008
|
Germany
Hamburg bridge reopens to sea
traffic
The Kattwyk bridge in the south of Hamburg harbour is now open again
to large ships after being closed since 8th February although no
vehicular, rail or pedestrian usage is possible.
Pressure is on to complete cable repairs as fast as possible, no
defects were found during the last inspection and refurbishment in
2005. 3rd March
2008
|
|
Germany
Fatal fire in Saxony social
residence
A 59-year old resident in a social welfare unit in Walsrode, in the
Soltau-Fallingbostel district of Lower Saxony, died in a fire there.
Initial speculation suggests that he stored a twin-plate cooker under
the bed in his room shortly after use which caused the mattress to
ignite. The locus was on the ground floor, fire crews with ladders
rescued other residents from upper floors.
31st March 2008.
|
Serbia
Vandals rampage through hospital
The incursion of 15 vandals into a hospital in the central Serbian
town of Kraljevo on Sunday left a number of nursing staff injured and
saw extensive damage to equipment.
31st March 2008.
|
India
Fatal crush accident at Delhi
airport
A 30-year old labourer working for Larsen and Turbo has been crushed
to death by a heavy road roller at the site of Indira Ghandi Airport's
new terminal in Delhi, the accident occurred by the new runway's
taxiway.
28th March 2008.
|
Norway
Building collapse kills 4
The collapse of a 4-year old building in Alesund on Wednesday has left
5 residents missing, feared dead under the debris which saw the lower
floors collapse following a rockslide. The building was located
against a mountainside, the movement saw the structure travel 8 metres
off its foundations.
27th March 2008.
|
|
Switzerland
English boy falls from Zermatt
chairlift
A 9-year old English boy was badly injured on Tuesday in a 13-metre
fall from a chair on the Findelbahn ski lift in Zermatt, he had been
travelling around 100 metres with a ski instructor when the accident
occurred, he is being treated in hospital in Lausanne. Around 12
people have fallen from Swiss chairlifts in the last 4 years,
including 8 children.
26th March 2008
|
|
England
Belgian fisherman recovered off
Newhaven
The body of the fisherman missing from the Zilvermeeuw boat was
recovered 15 miles south of Newhaven, he had not been attached to a
safety line nor wearing a lifejacket.
25th March 2008
|
|
Belgium
Antwerp Central station
electrical fire
Fire crews report no toxic issue following Monday afternoon's fire at
Antwerp Central station, the electrical fire was controlled by powder,
4 people were hospitalised.
25th March 2008
|
|
USA
Worker killed in fall from crane
at Iowa recycling plant
A 41-year old worker died in a 20-metre fall at the premises of Ipsco
Steel Inc in Blue Grass, Iowa, he was working on a crane at the melt
unit where scrap is recycled.
20th March 2008
|
|
Somalia
Ransom to pirates secures
release of Danish ship
In Puntland in northeast Somalia the Fisheries and Ports Minister,
Ahmed Said Aw-Nar, announced that the Svitzer Korsakov freight ship
and its crew have been released from custody by pirates, the boat was
seized off Somalia a month ago, it is believed that the Danish owners
paid a US$700K (£350K) ransom to secure its release.
19th March 2008
|
|
Bulgaria
Danube collision
A Slovakian barge laden with metal and coke has collided with a
Bulgarian twin-barge transporting vehicles and containers, the
accident occurred at Ruse on the Danube, the cause is under
investigation.
19th March 2008
|
|
Spain
Triple fatality in Barcelona gas
explosion
A gas explosion has killed 3 residents of a first floor apartment on
Andrade Street in the Sant Marti district of Barcelona, the explosion
destroyed 2 floors in the 8-storey block from which fire crews rescued
37 people by extension ladders.
18th March 2008
|
|
Australia
Worker succumbs to electrical
burns
A 33-year old worker who sustained severe burns in an electrical
accident at the end of last month on a site in Narangba, north
Brisbane, died at the weekend in Brisbane's Prince Charles Hospital,
the accident occurred when underground power lines were breached.
17th March 2008
|
|
Guatemala
Belgian tourists kidnapped
A small party of Belgian tourists and their Guatemalan tour guide have
been kidnapped while sailing on a stretch of the Rio Dulce, 150 miles
northeast of Guatemala City, police have intimated that initial
communication from the captors has been a specific warning not do
anything to compromise the tourists' safety.
16th March 2008
|
|
Albania
Major explosion at arms
decommissioning depot
A major explosion occurred on Saturday at an ammunition depot at
Gerdec, 10 miles north of Tirana, investigation of the incident was
ongoing through the day.
A number of people are known to have died
and as many as 243 have been listed as injured. An Albanian company,
subcontracted to an American company, has been decommissioning
ammunition there, some dating back as far as WW2.
16th March 2008
|
|
Kenya
Nitric acid casually dumped
As many as 1,500
Kenyans experienced illness following the leakage of a container of nitric acid
in Kipevu, near Mombasa, the chemicals had been imported by Ugandan company
Kasese Cobalt and had been casually dumped.
14th March 2008
|
|
Malta
Fatal fireworks store explosion
in residential area
At least 2 people are feared dead following a massive explosion of
fireworks in a domestic garage in the north central Maltese village of
Naxxar, army disposal experts were on site through Wednesday to move
further substantial amounts of fireworks from nearby garages, the
blast demolished 3 houses near 21st September Avenue.
13th March 2008
|
|
Iceland
Schoolboy's gym injuries prove
fatal
An 11-year old schoolboy has died from head injuries sustained in a
fall at a gym session in the southern Reykjavik suburb of Kopavogar.
He had been climbing a rope but slid and fell, although his fall was
cushioned by substantial matting. A physio attended him on the spot,
but he later succumbed to a brain haemorrhage.
12th March 2008
|
|
Mexico
Bodies of missing Yucatan
fishermen found
The bodies of 2 missing fishermen aged 41 and 29 have been found off
Yucatan, they had sailed from Progreso at the end of the week although
the harbour master had suspended navigation on account of stormy north
winds.
12th March 2008
|
|
Bulgaria
Girl survives 3-storey fall at
Sofia orphanage
An investigation is underway into a 3-storey fall of an 11-year old
girl at the Petko Slaveykov orphanage in Sofia, she survived the fall
with fractures and concussion and is not listed in life-threatening
condition.
11th March 2008
|
|
Dubai
Lifting operation claims life
A 23-year old crane operator has died during the hoisting of material
to 5th floor level at a building under construction in the Rolla
district of Sharjah, initial speculation suggests overloading or a
technical malfunction of the crane.
10th March 2008
|
|
Japan
Tractor falls on maintenance
worker
A 63-year old worker was crushed under a tractor he was servicing at
the weekend in a garage in Tobetsu, Hokkaido, it is speculated that a
supporting jack under an axle failed.
10th March 2008
|
|
Spain
Missing 5-year old girl's body
found in river
A fisherman in Huelva spotted the body of a missing 5-year old girl in
the river estuary close to the bank, it proved to be that of a local
girl missing for 50 days since going from her home to a nearby shop to
buy chips.
The child's body and clothing were readily identifiable, prompting
speculation that it would be unlikely that the body would have been in
the water since her disappearance.
9th March 2008
|
|
England
Falling skip kills worker at
Lancs site
A hook attached to a fully laden skip failed during raising to a lorry
at Blakely's Waste Management in Abram, Lancashire, which resulted in
the 15-tonne container falling and killing a 24-year old worker
earlier this week.
8th March 2008
|
|
Italy
Track worker killed by train in
Milan
A 50-year old worker engaged in track maintenance was killed yesterday
by a train at a work site in the Milan suburbs on the Turin- Milan
rail line where the site has been operating regular night shift
recently. 7th March
2008
|
|
Russia
Search for missing oil field
helicopter
An aerial search was ongoing yesterday in the Khanty-Mansi and Tyumen
areas for a missing R44 helicopter of AMK Visgas which had left the
Ust-Yagus oil field in west Siberia for the Samotlor field 25 miles
south of Nizhnevartovsk, 2 personnel were on board the flight.
7th March 2008
|
|
USA
Worker crushed at Pennsylvanian
foundry
A fatal crush accident killed a Pennsylvanian worker on Wednesday at
the US Pipe and Foundry plant off East Pearl Street in
Burlington,northeast Philadelphia, after he became trapped between 2
heavy pipes. 6th
March 2008
|
|
Malta
African worker falls 2 storeys
at building site
A Sudanese construction worker is listed in critical condition after
falling 2 storeys at a site on Triq il-Market Street in Swieqi,
northeast Malta.
6th March 2008
|
|
Canada
CO build-up killed carpet
cleaners
An accident in an apartment in Ash Street, Richmond, has been referred
to WorkSafe BC by police, 2 people died, possibly from a build-up of
carbon monoxide gas during carpet cleaning. 5th
March 2008
|
|
Argentina
Police raid illegal textile unit
On Tuesday police in Buenos Aires raided an illegal textile unit
operating from a house on Budapest and Caferati Streets in the
Florencia Varela district of the city where 7 Bolivian workers,
including minors, were being detained against their will and forced to
work in conditions akin to slavery. Police also confiscated sewing
machines and materials for textile manufacture, the owner is expected
to appear in court in Quilmes. 5th
March 2008
|
|
Nepal
UNMIN helicopter crash kills 10
A UNMIN (United Nations Mission in Nepal) helicopter crashed on Monday
in flight from Sindhuli in Janakpur to Kathmandu leaving at least 10
people dead, it came down in bad weather on high ground making rescue
and recovery access difficult.
4th March 2008.
|
|
Taiwan
Fatal explosion during barge
re-rigging
During preparatory work for re-rigging of Chaokuo No 6 barge moored at
Chiating, an explosion killed 2 workers who were using acetylene
equipment to cut off a steel plate on the barge.
The force of the blast blew one of the workers into the water, the
other was struck by the steel plate.
4th March 2008
|
|
Peru
Waves swamp Trapiche ferry
The sinking of the Santa Elena ferry in storm conditions on the
Trapiche river in the Requena district of Loreto, 700 miles northeast
of Lima, has left at least 15 people drowned, wave ingress led to the
boat foundering.
3rd March 2008
|
Japan
Bin vehicle driver arrested
after fatal accident
Police in Ibaraki have arrested a 26-year old refuse collection wagon
driver and charged him with negligent driving resulting in death after
it struck and killed an 84-year old woman crossing the road.
3rd March 2008
|
|
Tanzania
75 Tanzanite gemstone miners
drown
More than 75 Tanzanian gemstone miners drowned in a major flood at
Block B of the Mererani mine in Manyara, 25 miles southeast of Arusha.
Torrential rainfall saw water get into 8 pits then spread, the
electrical system was severely reduced by the rain which meant there
was a lack of power for the water pumps to clear the pits.
31st March 2008.
|
England
5 killed in Farnborough air
crash
A Cessna Citation light aircraft flying from Biggin Hill airfield to
France encountered technical problems shortly into its flight on
Sunday and came down in the Farnborough residential area of Broadwater
Gardens, killing both pilots and 3 passengers on board.
31st March 2008.
|
USA
Transport fatality at
South Carolina Pepsi plant
A transport accident has claimed the life of a mechanic at the Pepsi
bottling plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he was working on
the front registration plate of a vehicle in a parking area when he
was struck by another vehicle.
28th March 2008.
|
Belgium
Flanders workers hit by breached
gas main
A gas main was accidentally struck by 2 workmen on Thursday in
Rijkevorsel, west of Turnhout, a flying fragment of the main inflicted
severe injuries to one of the workers, a 300-metre exclusion zone was
established around the locus.
28th March 2008.
|
Sweden
Bear mauls forestry worker
A forestry worker was severely mauled by a bear on Wednesday while
cutting trees at Orsa, 180 miles northwest of Stockholm, colleagues a
few hundred metres away were unable to hear his shouts on account of
their equipment. The worker has been hospitalised in Mora.
27th March 2008
|
|
Japan
Carousel ride fatality during
inspection
The collapse of a section of ceiling of the Family Swinger ride at the
Family Ai Land fairground in Nagakute has killed a 46-year old
employee of Senyo Kogyo Company who was conducting a technical
inspection.
The Italian-manufactured ride features a cylindrical supporting
column, he was inside this column when the upper section fell.
26th March 2008
|
|
Poland
Candle fire at Warsaw church
More than 250 worshippers had to flee a fire during an Easter service
at St Andrew's Church in Warsaw when a candle in a tableau display
ignited, substantial damage occurred to art works in a side nave.
25th March 2008
|
|
France
Snow brings down circus tent
The weight of heavy snow collapsed the big top as the circus Zavatta
was performing at Saint Martin-Boulogne in the Pas-de-Calais, the
audience of 250 was safely evacuated before a prop and then lighting
fell down.
25th March 2008
|
|
South Africa
Overturning wine container kills
motorists
Both female occupants of a car were killed on Wednesday when a
30-tonne container of wine of an RB Carriers lorry fell on their
vehicle on the N1 Highway at the Koeberg intersection in the Cape Town
direction.
20th March 2008
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UAE
Lift shaft fire at Russian
embassy
An electrical malfunction is believed to have caused the fire in an
elevator shaft at the Russian embassy in the United Arab Emirates, no
injuries were reported.
19th March 2008
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Malta
Test flight skids on landing
A Tecnam p92J aircraft of the European Flight Academy skidded off the
runway during a post-maintenance test flight at Luqa on Tuesday, the
pilot was uninjured but extensive undercarriage damage occurred.
19th March 2008
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Guinea
11 drown in pirogue sinking in
Gulf of Guinea
An allegedly overloaded pirogue sank in the Gulf of Guinea half a mile
off Soro island, an accident which has led to the drowning of 11
people as it sailed towards Room on the Loos archipelago. On board
were 4 Guinean crew and 35 passengers, mostly Cameroonian students,
local fishing boats rescued survivors from the sea.
18th March 2008
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USA
CO death investigation at
Indiana plant
An investigation is studying the circumstances of a fatal carbon
monoxide incident at the Thermafibre plant in Wabash, 65 miles north
of Indianapolis, where a 58-year old maintenance worker was found dead
on the 3rd floor of the baghouse building at the plant which
manufactures mineral wool insulation products.
17th March 2008
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USA
Rhode Island contractor hit by
train
An Acela Amtrak train travelling from Washington to Boston struck a
group comprising of Amtrak workers and a contractor inspecting the
tracks just outside Providence, Rhode Island, the contractor was
killed by the train which had just departed from Providence.
16th March 2008
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France
Emergency braking prevents
suicide on Alsace rail line
By emergency braking a train driver in Schwindratzhein, on the Saverne
- Strasbourg line in Alsace, just managed to avoid a potential suicide
victim, 46, who had positioned herself on the track, he successfully
stopped the train with just metres to spare, the woman was transferred
to hospital in Strasbourg.
16th March 2008
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Germany
Ship fractures gas main on
Danube bridge
The crane arm of
a Dutch freighter, Sento Rotterdam, collided with the Protzenweiher bridge
spanning the Danube in Regensburg, the collision fractured a gas main on the
underside of the bridge. The gas ignited quickly and the bridge was damaged
beyond repair. All 5 crew of the soya and aluminium laden freighter escaped
uninjured, the captain was detained yesterday for blood alcohol tests.
14th March 2008
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China
Fishing boat rescues crew off
Zheijiang
The Panama-registered cargo ship, New Hangzhou, sank early on Thursday
off Zhejiang as it was sailing from Tianjin to Vietnam, a fishing boat
in the vicinity responded to the mayday call and rescued all 23 crew
members.
14th March 2008
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England
Worker's arm trapped at poultry plant
Fire crews attended an accident on Wednesday at Balham Poultry in
Attleborough, Norfolk, where a worker's arm was trapped in a
mechanical lift, cutting gear was used to release him.
13th March 2008
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Belgium
Falling stone hits lime quarry
workers
Material falling from a rock face at the Carmeuse limestone quarry in
Moha, Liege, struck 4 subcontract workers on Tuesday, 1 of whom was
more seriously injured, fire crews from nearby Huy attended the
incident.
12th March 2008
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England
Ceiling collapse traps Balham
worker
The partial collapse of a ceiling left a worker trapped on Tuesday at
a newbuild site to the rear of a mosque on Old Devonshire Road in
Balham, London. The 28-year old Polish worker was later rescued from
under the rubble, his condition is unknown.
12th March 2008
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Rep Ireland
Tipperary machine accident
fatality
HSA is investigating a fatal accident at the Proctor and Gamble plant
on the Gortlandroe Industrial Estate in Nenagh, Tipperary, where a
57-year old fitter sustained fatal head injuries in a machine
accident.
11th March 2008
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South Africa
Transport fatality at gold mine
A worker has died in a transport accident at the Simmers and Jack
Buffelsfontein mine near Klerksdorp, the accident occurred at the No 2
shaft and has led to a suspension of transport.
11th March 2008
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Greece
Electrocution
An investigation has opened into the electrocution of a maintenance
worker killed by overhead power lines at a site near Menemeni.
10th March 2008
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The Netherlands
Train hits moped on Limburg
level crossing
A moped rider and pillion passenger were killed after being struck by
a train on Sunday evening while negotiating a level crossing with semi
barriers on Fregatweg in Bunde, Limburg.
10th March 2008
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France
Primary school boy dies during
hockey match
A 9-year old boy has died while taking part in a school hockey match
in St Laurent d'Oingt in the Rhone district, a supervising teacher and
Samu (Service d'aide d'urgence) medics strove unsuccessfully to
resuscitate him.
The boy had undergone surgery for a heart abnormality within 5 days of
birth and later at 9 months, the success of the surgery and parental
wishes that he enjoy normal activity saw him participate in sport with
other children. 9th
March 2008
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Spain
Freighter grounds off north
coast
The Antigua-flagged merchant freighter, Maro, ran aground on Friday 2
miles off Cape Higer, opposite Mt Jaizkibel, after experiencing engine
failure, no injuries were reported of the 7-man crew.
On Friday evening the Alonzo de Chaves was sailing from Gijon to tow
the 96-metre long Maro which had been sailing from Bayonne in France
to Pasajes. 8th
March 2008
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Australia
Roads worker pulled into Hino
street sweeper
A Victoria roads worker has been killed after being pulled into the
sweeping mechanism of a street sweeping vehicle while working on the
Bass Coast Highway project in Grantville, 65 miles from Melbourne, he
was standing between the vehicle and the sweeper when the accident
occurred, the Hino sweeper has been removing surface gravel after work
was completed. 7th
March 2008
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USA
Weakened trees kill Georgia
utility worker
Falling trees weakened by storm conditions killed an employee of
Georgia Power who was sitting in his vehicle when they fell near East
Lake Golf Club in Decatur, 1 of the trees measured some 20 metres in
length. 6th March
2008
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Albania
Search on Mt Jezerce for missing
aircraft
An unidentified aircraft crashed on Tuesday in the vicinity of Mt
Jezerce near Albania's border with Montenegro and Kosovo after
Albanian and Italian flight control operators lost the aircraft from
their radar, rescue and recovery efforts have been focussed on the
slopes of the 2,693m high mountain.
5th March 2008
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Bulgaria
More rail crash bodies recovered
Recovery workers found 2 more bodies in the burned out wreckage of the
train which crashed en route from Sofia to Kardam but they were
charred beyond recognition, bringing the total fatalities to 8.
More than 60 passengers were on board the 9-carriage train when the
accident occurred, affecting 2 carriages.
4th March 2008
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Switzerland
Worker falls 20m during cliff
maintenance
A cliff maintenance worker has been hospitalised in Chur after falling
20 metres at a site between Fideris station and Kublis Dalvazza, work
has been ongoing following rock falls on the Landquart - Davos road.
3rd March 2008
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Belgium
6 survive Ghent CO accident
Carbon monoxide poisoning in an apartment in Hamerstraat in Ghent saw
6 members of a family, including 3 young children, hospitalised, none
is believed to be in life-threatening condition.
3rd March 2008
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England
Norfolk fatal industrial
accident
It is reported that a man died on Thursday following an industrial
accident at the Little Melton meat processing premises of B Brooks
(Norwich) Ltd, no further details are available.
31st March 2008.
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England
Crush accident at Heathrow
An Aviance worker was killed when a supporting jack failed under a
vehicle being lifted, the accident happened near Heathrow's Terminal
1.
28th March 2008.
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Germany
Girl's fatal fall from climbing
wall
A 9-year old girl fell 18 metres to her death from a climbing wall at
an internal arena in Munich. She had apparently been secured to a
safety line by her father but this failed through human error or
technical malfunction.
27th March 2008
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UK
HSE and HSC merger closer
Draft legislation is now before Parliament that will eventually lead
to the merger of the Health and Safety Commission and its Executive
arm.
The draft law will enable the change by amending the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974.
26th March 2008
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England
Workmen were electrocuted
Colas Ltd of Crawley, West Sussex, has been fined £90,000 with £24,000
costs by Teesside Crown Court for failures that permitted a double
fatality on the A66 near Bowes on 16th January 2002.
Two men were electrocuted when the mobile towerlight they were pushing
contacted a high voltage overhead power cable crossing a worksite for
which Colas was the principal contractor on a resurfacing project.
An HSE Inspector commented: "This tragic incident could so easily have
been avoided. Had the risks from inadvertent contact with overhead
power lines been recognised, the work activities properly planned and
suitable control measures put in place, then this incident would not
have occurred."
25th March 2008
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England
Man fatally injured by chainsaw
It is reported that a tree surgeon
has died in an accident while working on trees within a residential
property in Hailsham, Sussex.
It appears a wound was inflicted by his chainsaw and he died at the
scene.
20th March 2008
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England
HGV driving instructor killed in
Northants
HGV training has been suspended indefinitely at the Truck Stop site in
Northamptonshire following the fatal crush accident of an instructor
supervising a student there.
The student's 7.5-tonne vehicle struck the instructor and pinned him
against a stationary vehicle at the site on the A5 in Lilbourne.
19th March 2008
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Scotland
Search for missing diver on west
coast
A search for a diver reported missing on Sunday on the Sound of Mull
has so far failed to locate the 41-year old male.
The diver and his colleagues were diving at the site of the Rondo
which sank in 1935.
18th March 2008
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England
JCB companies prosecuted over deaths
Deficient risk assessments are leading to preventable fatal industrial
accidents, says the HSE.
On 16th November 2005, at Cheadle, Staffs, an employee of JCB Earthmovers
Ltd was testing the fuel tank of an earthmoving machine for leaks when
the inspection plate blew off, fatally injuring him. He had connected a
high-pressure airline instead of using low pressure, the lines were
similar and with identical connectors. JCB was fined £200,000 with costs
of £31,366.
JC Bamford Excavators Ltd was fined £266,000 with costs of £31,701
following the death of another employee on the company's site at Rocester, Staffs, on 11th September 2006. The deceased suffered fatal
head injuries after being crushed by the boom of an excavator,
investigation revealed that it was common practice for workers to
operate the controls for the boom whilst standing outside the cab of the
machine and leaning through the back window. On this occasion a fault on
the hydraulic system resulted in the control lever not working properly,
causing the boom to carry on moving, trapping the 43-year old man.17th March 2008
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England
Alfred
McAlpine fined £250,000 over roadworks death
Alfred McAlpine Capital
Projects Ltd has been fined £250,000 with £5,859 costs at Maidstone
Crown Court in connection with the death of a motorcyclist at a
roadworks site in August 2005. The company failed on this occasion to
properly plan, inspect and maintain the project while in progress. A
number of deficiencies in signing led to the motorcyclist colliding
with temporary concrete crash barriers laid in a line across the road
on the former A228 old Ratcliffe Highway near Hoo in Kent, no warning
signs or traffic cones were placed along the route to warn drivers of
the closure.
16th March 2008
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England
Man crushed in industrial accident
It is reported that a man sustained severe crush injuries in an
industrial accident on Wednesday afternoon at a water treatment works
in Lound, Suffolk.
One account states that he received his injuries from a 'loader'.
14th March 2008
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England
Alarm over possible bomb find
A large area of Coventry city centre was cleared yesterday after
workmen on the Belgrade Plaza project discovered what they believed to
be a WW2 bomb. Disposal experts attended the site off Upper Well
Street.
13th March 2008
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England
Employee splashed with molten
metal
Hereford Galvanizers Ltd of Hereford has been fined £13,000 with costs
of £6,564 by Hereford Magistrates following a June 2006 industrial
accident in which an employee received 12% burns when he was splashed
by molten zinc while undertaking galvanising work.
Various metal items were being dipped in a bath of 450ºC molten zinc,
the incident occurred when the hooks suspending 2 steel joists failed,
causing the joists to plunge back into the bath.
12th March 2008
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Northern Ireland
Floor collapses during concrete
pour at Belfast site
Six construction workers were badly injured on Monday when a floor
collapsed during a 2nd floor concrete pour at the site of the new
Northern Ireland Law Society building on Victoria Street, Belfast,
around 60 workers were on the Turkington Construction site at the time
of the accident.
11th March 2008
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England
Death on farm
A workman has died in an industrial accident on a farm in Bradley,
Staffs.
The deceased received crush injuries from an excavator, no further
information is available.
11th March 2008
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England
Resident of care home died after
bed accident
An 89-year old female resident of a Telford care home was found
slumped over a set of collapsed bed rails in April 2005, investigation
established that the incorrect type of rails had been fitted.
Operators Ashbourne Ltd was fined £35,000 with £33,000 costs for
breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
10th March 2008
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Wales
Farming fatal accident
It is reported that a man died on Thursday at a farm in Llangwyllog,
Anglesey, as a result of an accident involving a cow.
9th March 2008
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Northern Ireland
Man dies in NI explosion
A worker has died following the explosion of a vehicle tyre which was
being changed at Montgomery Transport's premises in Mallusk, North
Belfast. 8th March
2008
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Scotland
Resident suffocated at care home
Littleinch Ltd of Paisley has been fined £3,500 for failing to make
the necessary arrangements to secure the safety of residents at its
care home in Erskine, Renfrewshire, as a consequence of which a woman
in her 70's died when she slipped down between her bed and its
incorrectly selected security rails.
The rails had been selected and positioned by staff who had not,
investigation revealed, received adequate training on this matter.
7th March 2008
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England
Fire death at Bristol dock
A man has died following an incident at Bristol's Albion dockyard as
he worked on a yacht. The vessel was destroyed in the fire which
occurred in the early hours of the morning.
6th March 2008
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England
Accidental death verdict for
farm death
A jury at Worcestershire Coroner's Court has determined a verdict of
accidental death, having listened to the facts of the accident in which
a Polish worker in his 20's was electrocuted when the irrigation pipe he was
handling contacted overhead power cables on land at Offenham in the
course of his employment with Zenith Nurseries Ltd. 5th
March 2008
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Northern Ireland/ England
Workers escape death
Last week two separate industrial accidents came perilously close to
claiming lives.
A man removing a car radio was lifted by a grab at Clearway Disposal's
premises in Craigavon, Co Armagh, the grab operator was unaware of the
very seriously injured man's presence in the vehicle.
At Cockfield in County Durham the operator of a concrete pumping
vehicle was badly injured when his pump arm contacted overhead power
cables on a project for Northumbrian Water.
4th March 2008
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England
Council's weak risk assessment
A failure to conduct a suitable and sufficient risk assessment
contributed towards an accident in March 2007 in which an elderly
pedestrian was struck and injured by a street-sweeping vehicle as it
reversed in Brighton.
HSE holds the opinion that a number of low-cost simple steps could
have been taken to reduce the risks to members of the public such as
the use of signs, cones or barriers to separate the area from the
public or the fitting of a rear-view CCTV camera to the vehicle.
Brighton and Hove City Council was fined £7,500 with £3,763 in costs.
3rd March 2008
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