www.safetynews.co.uk 

          Home                                                                   October 2007                                           Archives

 

 
France
Major gas explosion north of Paris
Gaz de France has confirmed that a gas main was breached yesterday during roadworks at the junction of Jules-Guesde and Roger Salengro Streets in Bondy, northeast of Paris, causing an explosion in which 1 person died and 46 were injured, 4 of whom are in perilous condition. Plan Rouge was invoked to deal with the emergency. 31st October 2007.
Somalia
Korean crew repel Somali pirates
The 22-man crew of a North Korean-flagged cargo ship are believed to have successfully overcome Somali pirates who boarded their vessel late on Monday night, the ship is heading back to Mogadishu. 31st October 2007.
India
Fireworks factory explosion leaves worker dead
An explosion at a fireworks factory in Suthakulam, near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, has killed 1 worker and left 7 injured, 4 are listed in serious condition with 60% burns. 30th October 2007.
Canada
Stop-work order after accident on Ontario site
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has issued a work cessation order at a construction site on Bloor Street in Applewood Heights, south Mississauga, where Unique Restoration Ltd is renovating a multi-storey property.
A worker was struck on the head by a falling timber section which fell 7 storeys, his head injury is not life-threatening but could leave him with permanent neck damage. It remains unclear whether the timber fell from a hoist or from a concrete balcony formwork. 30th October 2007.
China
Race to rescue trapped miners
Rescuers are racing against time to reach 10 miners trapped in the flooded Lingxian mine in Jiangxi's Le'an County where 500m³ of water ingress has occurred, 12 miners were underground at the time and 2 came out; 9 miners have been trapped for more than 2 days at the privately owned Yaotou mine in Weinan, Shaanxi, rescuers are optimistic given the low gas density there and higher oxygen levels. 29th October 2007.
USA
Patient injured during oxygen therapy
A 76-year old Michigan female cardiac patient is listed in fair condition after sustaining flash burns from oxygen and surgical equipment during the administration of oxygen therapy at the Henry Ford Macomb Hospital 20 miles north of Detroit, it is believed that the oxygen and electricity from a surgical tool caused a spark and explosion which inflicted burns to her mouth, throat and lungs. 29th October 2007.
Switzerland
Double fatality in light aircraft crash
The pilot and passenger of a 50-year old veteran light aircraft died in a crash at the weekend shortly after take-off from Colombier airfield.
The flight failed to gain altitude and the pilot was attempting to return to the airfield. 29th October 2007.
Germany
Structural collapse kills 5 at RWE power site
The collapse of a steel girder structure (Seitenwandbandage) supporting a large furnace at the new RWE (Rheinisch Westfalisches Elektrizitatswerk) site at Grevenbroich led to the deaths of 5 workers on Thursday evening, 6 others have been injured and 1 remains unaccounted for.
The victims fell from heights varying from 160 metres to 70 metres as the 100-tonne structure crashed down.
The site is a prestige project for RWE and is due for commissioning in 2009. 26th October 2007.
Mexico
Platform and rig storm collision leaves 10 dead
Petroleos Mexicanos has indicated that 13 oil workers are still adrift in the Gulf of Mexico following the collision of the Usumacinta platform and the Kab 101 oil rig in the Campeche sound 20 miles off Dos Bocasi, Tabasco.
In winds gusting up to 80 mph and 8-metre high waves 81 workers took to liferafts, 58 have been rescued but 10 have died. Gas and oil leaked and fire broke out after the collision, the Usumacinta platform is owned by Compania Perforadora Central. 25th October 2007.
Bulgaria
Miner killed, another missing
A search was being conducted through Wednesday for a miner missing in an earthworks collapse at the Oranovo mine near Simitli, southern Bulgaria, the accident has already claimed the life of a 43-year old miner. 25th October 2007.
USA
Connecticut arborist on ground electrocuted
An arborist of ABC Tree Services was electrocuted during tree canopy maintenance for Connecticut Light & Power Company during work in east Haddam, Connecticut.
The victim was standing on the ground adjacent to a vehicle whose boom contacted the power lines from where current travelled down to the vehicle and across to the victim.  24th October 2007.
Malta
Italians join missing trawler search
The Italian Military Mission's search-and-rescue helicopters were scouring the Mediterranean yesterday for signs of the missing trawler Lorenzo Madre, last reported 10 miles south of Malta, the Tunisian-crewed ship on contract for Fish-to-Fish Ltd was overdue in its return to the Maltese port of Marsaxlokk. 24th October 2007.

UPDATE. 25TH October. The Lorenzo Madre has been found 72 miles southeast of Malta and an injured crew man has been airlifted to hospital.

China
Fire kills 37 in improvised shoe factory
An electrical fire at the Feida Shoe Upper Manufacturing Workshop in Putian, Fujian province, has killed 37 employees and left 19 others injured, the premises comprise of a workshop, storage rooms and residential accommodation.
The premises were unlicensed, having allegedly failed to comply with the installation of effective fire prevention measures, local police have arrested the owners. 23rd October 2007.
The Netherlands
Fire in Amersfoort museum
A major fire broke out around midday Monday in the Armando museum in the 19th century Elleboog church in Langegracht in Amersfoort, no-one was inside the museum at the time and no cause has yet been established.
It is thought that the entire Armando collection has been lost. 23rd October 2007.
Nigeria
Oil supply workers kidnapped
Gunmen have kidnapped 3 foreign workers from a support vessel at the Royal Dutch Shell EA field in the Niger Delta, they are believed to be of Croatian, Russian and either British or American nationality. Work at this outlet had been suspended since a previous attack early last year and was in the process of reopening. 22nd October 2007.
France
Stairway collapse leaves fireman with broken arms
A fireman broke both elbows and sustained serious head injuries when a stairway on which he and colleagues were standing collapsed during firefighting at an office block in Montbrison, the premises had been converted from a school into offices.
The roof of the property was badly damaged by the fire. 22nd October 2007.
Indonesia
Dozens drowned and missing in ferry sinking
At least 30 passengers have drowned and as many more are feared missing following the sinking of the ferry Acita 3 in the Kadatu Straits off southeast Sulawesi.
The unreliability of ship manifests in these waters leaves rescuers hazarding a guess at accurate figures, however 125 people are known to have been rescued. If the weather remained fair in the Straits the search and rescue efforts would be continued through Friday night. 20th October 2007.
Switzerland
Youth fatality on tractor training course
Investigators are studying the circumstances of a fatal tractor rollover accident in Lyssach, Berne, this week in which a 15-year old youth was killed on a training course for G40 tractors, the vehicle overturned on a bend. 19th October 2007.
Greece
Captain missing after ship collision
The captain of the Greek cargo ship Diamond 1 was listed missing after his ship sank in a collision at midday on Wednesday 1 mile offshore at Thessalonica, the Diamond collided with the Panamanian-flagged Dubai Guardian which was approaching Thessalonica harbour.
The other 6 crew members of the Diamond were safely rescued, the Thessalonica Port Authority has launched an investigation. 18th October 2007.
Switzerland
Production error produces hydrocyanic acid release
At least 30 people were hospitalised in Basle on Tuesday when a release of hydrocyanic acid occurred at the RERO metal plant in Waldenburg, apparently cyanide was wrongly mixed with sulphuric acid during a production process, a further 80 people had to be evacuated. 17th October 2007.
Canada
Rowdy air passenger succumbs to Taser pulses
A coroner in Vancouver is investigating the death of an air passenger, believed to be East European, who died at Vancouver Airport at the weekend after receiving 2 pulses from a Taser gun, his allegedly aggressive behaviour led to the delivery of the first Taser pulse, from which he fell, the second was delivered as he was kicking and flailing on the ground. He subsequently lapsed into unconsciousness from which Emergency Medical Services could not revive him. 16th October 2007.
North Korea
Suspension bridge collapses at friendship resort
The collapse of a suspension bridge at the Mt Kumgang resort in North Korea has left 20 South Korean visitors injured, 6 seriously, the resort was opened in 1998 by an affiliate of the Hyundai Group to afford Koreans from both sides of the border an opportunity to meet. 16th October 2007.
Ukraine
Gas explosion claims 13 lives
Further bodies were recovered on Sunday from the collapsed 10-storey building in Dnipropetrovsk where 13 people died in a gas explosion at the weekend, many more were hospitalised. Initial speculation pointed to a technical problem with a heating valve, a sudden surge in pressure was also suggested as a possible cause of the explosion. 15th October 2007.
Thailand
8 drowned in flood wave at cave
A 21-year old British tourist survived floodwater ingress at the Nam-Talu cave in the Kao Sok national park in Surat Thani, 400 miles south of Bangkok, an accident which claimed the lives of 6 other European tourists and 2 Thai guides.
Several hours of monsoon rains caused a flood wave to occur, the tourists based in floating bungalows on the Koh Sok reservoir had taken a boat trip to the 500-metre long cave 2 miles away, the British woman was rescued after a 20-hour ordeal, having survived in an air pocket at a higher point. 15th October 2007.
Austria
3 track workers killed by train
Three rail track workers of OBB (Osterreicher BundesBahn) were killed on Friday morning after being struck by a train on the eastbound track at Gotzendorf station in the Bruck an der Lietha district in Lower Austria.
The victims were aged 42-45 and described as experienced workers, initial speculation discounts technical fault and suggests human error. 13th October 2007.
New Zealand
Arborist fatality case wound up
The District Court in Taupo, North Island, has fined J & R Harvesting a total sum of $85K(£34,137) in respect of the death of an arborist during tree felling in Lake Taupo Forest in summer 2006 but as the company has no assets and is being wound up it will not become effective.
The company had pleaded guilty to breaching Section 6 of the Health & Safety in Employment Act 1992 by failing to ensure the safety of employees. The fatal accident occurred when the victim's chainsaw became wedged in a large tree being felled, a colleague was attempting to fell adjacent trees to strike the one wedging the saw but a tree fell in the victim's direction.
The court heard that the victim's experience was limited to smaller trees, on this occasion more competent arborists had not been deployed. The judge commented on the failure to observe the "2-tree rule" whereby a worker remained outwith a 2-tree length of the tallest tree being felled, average tree height in the area was 40 metres.
The company was also criticised for failing to monitor the victim's alcohol and drug use, both were evident in a post-mortem examination. 12th October 2007.
Turkey
Egyptian plane's emergency landing in Istanbul
An Egyptian aircraft with 126 passengers and 7 crew was forced by technical problems to make an emergency landing at Istanbul yesterday during a flight from Cairo to Warsaw, fire broke out as the plane touched down but all on board were safely rescued. 12th October 2007.
Russia
Elephant kills handler during loading to transport
A 40-year old female elephant handler has been killed at Moscow City Zoo during the loading of elephants on to vehicles for transfer to Valencia, 1 of the 3 African elephants struck the victim with its trunk and then stepped on the prone victim. 11th October 2007.
USA
Nitric acid reaction
An accident during the production of silver nitrate at Catalyst Refiners Inc of Charleston, West Virginia, saw 4 workers hospitalised, the nitric acid reaction was apparently caused by pressure and not spillage. 11th October 2007.
Italy
Simmel weapons factory explosion
An explosion at the Simmel Defence weapons factory in Colleferro, southeast of Rome, killed 1 worker and injured 8 others yesterday, 1 of the injured is being treated for serious burns in the St Eugenio Hospital in Rome.
The accident occurred in the "miscele illuminanti" area, the site was the scene of a major accident in 1938 during the Benito Mussolini regime when an explosion killed 60 workers and left 1,500 injured.10th October 2007.
The Netherlands
Police boat and ferry collide in Noordzee canal
The collision of a police launch and a hovercraft of Connexxion in the Noordzee canal on Monday morning has left 5 people injured, the captain of the police boat and 4 hovercraft passengers were injured, 3 of whom seriously, the hovercraft was sailing between Amsterdam and Velsen with 34 passengers. 9th October 2007.
Belgium
Fire in plastic works
An outbreak of fire was being attended by fire crews on Monday night at the Durobar plastic cup manufacturer in rue Mademoiselle Hanicq in Soignies, southwest of Brussels, where hot material issued from a furnace. 9th October 2007.
South Africa
Illegal gold miners' bodies recovered
The bodies of 23 illegal miners have now been recovered from the St Helena mine of Harmony Gold Ltd in Welkom in the Free State, fire had broken out in the mine on September 18th, the victims had been operating illegally in an abandoned section, more than 100 trespassing arrests had been made. 8th October 2007.
Guinea
Dazzled lorry driver crashes into river
At least 9 people died and 4 were injured when a lorry transporting passengers and merchandise left the road and ran into a river at Mamou, 160 miles east of Conakry, the driver was apparently dazzled by the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. 8th October 2007.
Nigeria
Unlit boats collide on Dola-Kaina
The collision of a freighter and a passenger ferry on the Dola-Kaina river in the Dandi region of Kebbi state has left 33 people dead and a further 48 missing, many of the victims were traders returning from a market, neither vessel is reported to have been displaying night lights when the accident occurred. 6th October 2007.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Dozens killed as cargo plane crashes in Kinshasa
At least 38 people have died when an Antonov 26 cargo aircraft of Africa 1 airline crashed shortly after take-off from Ndjili International Airport, Kinshasa, the aircraft struck a number of houses in the Kimbaseke district of eastern Kinshasa, residents number among the fatalities.
The airline is one of 50 Congolese carriers whose landing has been banned within the EU. 5th October 2007.
Uganda
New case of haemorrhagic Marburg fever at gold mine
A mine worker has been stricken with Marburg fever at the Kitaka gold mines in the Kamwenge district of Uganda, 260 miles west of Kampala. The mines have been closed since the August outbreak, following which the health ministry has commissioned a research team to collect 1,000 bats from the area.
It is believed that the victim had been guiding the research team but had gone into the mines unprotected from hazards. 4th October 2007.
USA
Fatal accident during utility pole erection
An employee of Okay Construction Company has been killed during a utility pole replacement in Becker, Minnesota, the 44-year old victim was struck by the falling timber pole when a supporting member failed during lifting. 4th October 2007.
Russia
Fire claims 7 lives in Moscow institute
At least 7 people died and 49 were injured yesterday when fire broke out in the Institute of State and Corporate Management in southeast Moscow, the fire largely destroyed the 4th and 5th floors of the 68-year old building. 3rd October 2007.
USA
Cleaner killed on Arizona highway
A female employee of Anderson Maintenance was killed on Tuesday while clearing litter from the roadside along Route 87 between Gilbert and Fountain Hills, east of Phoenix, Arizona, details of the accident remain unclear but it appears that she may have stepped on to the highway to collect debris. 3rd October 2007.
Yemen
Volcanic island eruption kills 8 soldiers
A volcanic eruption has claimed the lives of 8 Yemeni soldiers based on Jabal al-Tair island, 65 miles off the coast of Yemen, an army official in El Hudaidah confirmed on Monday that they had been caught in a lava stream, 49 others were rescued, 4 plucked from the sea by the Canadian navy.
Earth tremors of 4 and 4.3 on the Richter Scale had been recorded in the area although the volcano had been dormant since 1883. 2nd October 2007.
France
Paraglider electrocuted
A paraglider was electrocuted on Monday after flying into a 20Kv EDF power line at Saint-Alban-les-Eaux in the Loire valley, his body was recovered from the cables 6 metres above the ground. 2nd October 2007.
Netherlands
Female (24) drowns when works outing raft overturns
A young woman drowned yesterday when a raft overturned during a works outing on the Berkel river at Rekken in Achterhoek, a party of 18 female employees of a chain store had been on the raft when it approached a weir and became unstable, divers recovered the body on Sunday evening , 5 of the party were hospitalised after experiencing hypothermia in the cold water. 1st October 2007.

 

  
Ukraine
Car hits marching Lvov cadet column
Two members of a marching column of military cadets of the Lvov University of Land Forces died and 6 others were injured after being struck by a car near Starychi, in the Yavoriv district of Lvov, the column was marching from Shklo railway station to a military exercise ground. The victims who were struck were at the rear of the column, the car driver was allegedly drunk. 31st October 2007.
Algeria
Farmer killed in stable roof collapse
A 60-year old farmer has died when the roof of his stable collapsed on him while he was attending his stock during very inclement weather in M'sila, 150 miles southeast of Algiers. 31st October 2007.
USA
Florida timber treatment plant fatality
A worker has been killed at the Robbins Manufacturing Company plant in Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, where pressure-treated wood products are produced, the victim was apparently moving between machines when a section of timber emerged with force and struck him. 30th October 2007.
Spain
Worker trapped in Galician rail tunnel site
An accident on a construction site in the Alveiros AVE high speed rail tunnel near Trasalba, between Orense and Santiago, northwest Sapin, left a worker trapped on Monday, efforts were continuing to release him. 30th October 2007.
Moldova
Rescuer killed at gas explosion site
A search and rescue worker was killed yesterday when a building in Soroka damaged by a gas explosion experienced further collapse and a wall fell, killing the victim and injuring 2 colleagues, 4 people died in the gas explosion on Saturday. 29th October 2007.
Denmark
Slovak freighter sinks in Baltic
The 80-metre long Slovakian freighter Omer N sank in the Baltic Sea yesterday 20 miles off Gedser on the Danish island of Falster, 7 of the 11-man crew were reported missing, a Russian boat rescued 3, the other seaman has died. 29th October 2007.
Ukraine
Fire at Fruzne mine
Fire at a depth of 870 metres in the Fruzne coal mine in the Donetsk basin has led to the evacuation of 500 miners, no reports of injuries have been received.
In recent days in the Donetsk area mining accidents have been recorded at the Izvestia, Gagarin and Knibshevskaya collieries. 29th October 2007.
Russia
CO poisoning kills 5 in far east
Carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty gas heater has killed 5 people in adjacent apartments in the town of Okha in Sakhalin, a centre for the petroleum industry, the bodies were discovered on Thursday. 26th October 2007.
Australia
Gold miners safely rescued after lorry fire
Fire broke out on a lorry in the Kanowna Belle gold mine of Barrick Gold Corporation 13 miles northeast of Kalgoorlie on Wednesday, all 54 miners sought immediate shelter in the underground refuges and by evening all had been safely rescued. 25th October 2007.
Australia
Gold Coast lineman in MEWP electrocution
A lineman of Country Energy has been electrocuted while working in a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) in Burringbar, 50 miles south of Brisbane. 24th October 2007.
Somalia
Missing cargo ship points to act of piracy
It is feared that the missing Comoros-registered cargo ship Al Marjan has fallen into the hands of pirates off the Somalian coast, it was sailing from Somalia to Kenya. At present 2 Tanzanian fishing boats and 1 Taiwanese boat are being held off the coast by pirates.23rd October 2007.
Russia
Stowaway's body recovered near Domodedovo airport
The body of an Asian youth was discovered in close proximity to Moscow's Domodedovo Airport and is believed to be a stowaway who fell from an aircraft, post-mortem established the cause of death as hypothermia prior to the fall.
Last month a Russian youth survived a flight in an aircraft body from the Urals to Moscow with extreme hypothermia. 23rd October 2007.
South Africa
Cape Town substation explosion
An explosion in an electrical substation in the Plumstead suburb of Cape Town has left 3 electricians with critical burns, initial speculation suggests a malfunction of switchgear.   22nd October 2007.
The Netherlands
Light aircraft in midair collision
The pilot of a light aircraft and his passenger died following a midair collision with another light aircraft on Friday near Lelystad on the Ijselmeer, the more stricken plane crashed to the ground and ignited, the other is believed to have made an emergency landing in a field. 20th October 2007.
USA
Arboreal fatality in Texas
A municipal worker was killed during tree felling operations on Thursday morning in Waterloo Lake Park in Denison, 60 miles north of Dallas. 19th October 2007.
USA
Injured worker rescued from under Tacoma bridge
Fire crews in Tacoma, Washington, safely rescued a construction worker who had sustained a leg injury on Thursday and became trapped 50 metres under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge while undertaking concrete work. 19th October 2007.
South Africa
Air conditioning worker dies in library fire
An employee of Raven Trading died in a fire on Wednesday morning during maintenance work on an air conditioning system in the library of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, a colleague is in hospital with serious burns.
The workers were in a chamber under the floor, it has been speculated that highly inflammable glue being used for the insulation of the air conditioning may have dripped on to a light. 18th October 2007.
USA
Worker found dead at Ohio plant
An investigation has been launched into the death of a worker at the TDK Ferrites work which manufactures magnetic components in Shawnee, Ohio, the victim's body was discovered on Tuesday morning but the time and nature of his death have yet to be established. 17th October 2007.
China
Miners' bodies recovered after gas explosion
The bodies of 19 trapped miners have been recovered from the Jiangxin Colliery in Shangtang, Fengcheng City, where a gas explosion caused a 360-tonne blockage of coal in a 30-metre long tunnel, 283 miners were underground at the time.
The 49-year old mine, owned by the Jiangxi Coal Group Company, has been beset by high gas density levels in recent decades, Monday's readings were 0.2%. Two miners are recovering in hospital, 1 is listed in stable condition. 16th October 2007.
Azerbaijan
Helicopter victims recovered from Caspian Sea
More bodies were recovered from the Caspian Sea on Monday following the weekend crash of an Mi-8T Hip helicopter of Azal which crashed into the sea 12 miles offshore during the transportation of an ill engineer from the Khazar 4 drilling platform of Socar in the Caspian Sea's West Absheron Field, 4 crew members and 2 workers were on the flight. 16th October 2007.
Colombia
21 killed at Suarez gold mine
The collapse of a wall and subsequent landslide at a gold mine in Suarez has seen 21 "barequeros" miners killed, a further 28 have been injured.
The "barequeros" are allowed on to the premises near the La Salvajina works on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday when they can work on the earth banked up by the excavators. However, near the end of their shift on Saturday a wall by the River Suarez failed. 15th October 2007.
Egypt
Passengers drowned in Nile ferry sinking
At least 3 passengers drowned when a Nile ferry sank crossing the river at Bani Hassan, 125 miles south of Cairo, 35 people were on board. 15th October 2007.
South Africa
Gun accident kills 9 soldiers
An accident involving a 35mm MKF anti-aircraft gun during Exercise Seboka killed 9 military personnel on Friday at the Lohatla base west of Kimberley, a further 15 of the 27 soldiers participating in this exercise with the gun were injured. 13th October 2007.
France
Volunteer fireman killed
A 35-year old volunteer fireman has died fighting a blaze in north Bailleul, 15 miles northwest of Lille, a colleague has been hospitalised in Lille with 15% first degree burns to his chest and shoulder but is not in life-threatening condition. 12th October 2007.
Mexico
Maintenance trio succumb to fumes
Three Pemex workers have died after inhaling toxic fumes while repairing the Potrero del Llano -Naranjas pipeline at Alamo Temapache in Veracruz, state officials have alleged that the victims were not wearing appropriate safety equipment. 11th October 2007.
New Zealand
Worker injured as yacht tips in dry dock
OSH is investigating an accident at Ashby's Boatyard in Opua, Northland, in which a yacht became unstable in a cradle in dry dock and lurched forward, causing a worker of Bay Spars and Rigging, who was 17 metres up the mast, to sustain multiple leg fractures in its fall.
The yacht's engine was being lifted out at the yard owned by Far North Holdings. 11th October 2007.
Bulgaria
Worker killed in Arsenal explosion
Fire in a warehouse at the Arsenal armoury in Kazanlak led to an explosion and fire on Tuesday which saw the roof collapse and left 1 worker dead and 4 others hospitalised after inhaling toxic fumes. 10th October 2007.
Sweden
Bear kills Jamtland elk hunter
The body of an elk hunter was discovered on Monday morning close to his cabin near Valsjobyn, 350 miles northwest of Stockholm, the marks on his body are consistent with a bear attack, a theory supported by the presence of bear excrement in the vicinity. Experts opine that such an attack on humans has been rare in northern Sweden, only a handful being reported within the last century. 9th October 2007.
South Korea
Commuting death ruled not work-related
The Korean Supreme Court has ruled that traffic accidents during commuting cannot be regarded as work-related accidents, following a test case brought by the widow of a worker making a claim against the Korea Labour Welfare Corporation. The Court ruled by a majority verdict that the accident did not occur in transport supplied by the company and that commuting is not considered time during which workers are controlled by their employer. The worker determines methods and routes of commuting and that this fell outwith an employer's control. 9th October 2007.
USA
Arborist killed as rotten tree collapses
A 44-year old arborist of Stack Tree Service has died in an accident in Orangeburg, South Carolina, when a diseased pine tree which he had ascended to trim tree canopy on an adjacent tree failed to bear his weight. 8th October 2007.
Syria
Training flight crash kills crew of 3
The crash of a Navajo aircraft of the General Establishment of Survey claimed the lives of 3 aviators on a training flight on Sunday, the flight had apparently encountered technical problems and was attempting to land when it crashed in an olive grove in al-Moa'damya, 3 miles west of Damascus. 8th October 2007.
Germany
Error in transfer of hydrochloric acid produces chlorine accident
A worker's error in introducing hydrochloric acid into the wrong channel led to a reaction which produced a chlorine cloud which left 54 people injured in the Frankfurt district of Fechenheim on Friday morning, the worst affected was the worker at Brenntag GmbH whose condition is stable. 6th October 2007.
France
Explosion injures Signals personnel
An explosion in an administration block of the 18th Signals regiment in Bretteville-sur-Oden, on the western outskirts of Caen, has left 4 personnel badly injured on Thursday evening. 5th October 2007.
Bulgaria
Transport fatality at mine
Investigation is underway into the death of an excavator driver who was found dead on the premises of the Obedinem mine near Pernik, it is speculated that the severe head injuries were sustained after being struck by a bulldozer while walking in an unlit area of the premises. 4th October 2007.
Albania
Children contract hepatitis at Tirana clinic
Poor hygiene practice relating to needles and blood transfusions is thought to have been the cause of more than 50 cases of Hepatitis C contracted by children at a clinic for blood disorders in Tirana, around 25 adult Hepatitis C patients are currently being treated there. 4th October 2007.
USA
Fatality at North Dakota plant
Early on Tuesday morning a worker was killed while assisting with the loading of large sections of scrap metal on to a lorry at DMI Industries wind tower manufacturing plant in West Fargo, southeast North Dakota. 3rd October 2007.
Romania
Policeman ran out of petrol
A Romanian police officer was stopped while driving in the wrong direction at speed on the hard shoulder of the A4 motorway, he claimed that he had been running low on fuel and was attempting to get back to the nearest petrol station. 3rd October 2007.
Australia
Detached HGV wheel kills grounds worker
An employee of VicRoads was killed after being struck by a detached wheel while engaged in grounds maintenance work alongside Melbourne's Geelong Freeway, the victim was operating a tractor mower when a wheel detached from a passing Traianon lorry and struck him after bouncing off a wall close to the West Gate Bridge, it is speculated that axle failure contributed to wheel seizure, causing a spare wheel to detach. 2nd October 2007.
Austria
Go-cart spectator injured
A go-cart spectator sustained serious head injuries yesterday at the Bruck an der Leitha Arena  in Lower Austria after being struck by a cart of which the 18-year old driver lost control on a bend, the cart broke through a timber boundary fence, it is alleged that the spectator had encroached from behind a 2nd outer timber perimeter fence to be closer to the action. 1st October 2007.
Switzerland
Student dies in fall
A helicopter and cable winch were deployed on Sunday to recover the body of a 28-year old man from the waters of the Zulg near Koppisbrugg in the Bernese Oberland, the victim had been undertaking diploma work on ramblers' footpaths in the area when he fell into a ravine on the Zulg, a 15-mile tributary of the Aare. 1st October 2007.
 
UAE
Fatal fall at cement factory
A 40-year old worker has fallen to his death during maintenance work in a tunnel at a cement works in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, the victim sustained fatal head injuries in the fall while tackling water leakage. 31st October 2007.
Saudi Arabia
Boy succumbs to fairground fall injuries
A boy who fell from an amusement park ride earlier this month in Medina has been pronounced brain dead following a period of hospitalisation.
The fairground owner is facing allegations that he failed to enforce safety regulations and that staff were negligent in failing to properly secure the boy who fell 10 metres from the ride. 31st October 2007.
Austria
Child trapped in disused post box
Fire crews had to use hydraulic cutting gear and crowbars to free a 7-year old boy from a disused business post box in Innerhof Street in Graz on Monday, the child had managed to open the 1-metre high box and climb in, but in closing the door he locked himself in. 30th October 2007.
Norway
Aerial photography helicopter crashes on petrol tanker
The 3-man crew of a Robinson R44 helicopter had a fortunate escape yesterday when their craft crashed into a parked petrol tanker during aerial photography at a site in Rudskogen, the helicopter crashed into the lorry's cabin, 1 of the crew was hospitalised in Oslo after fainting during the accident. 30th October 2007.
USA
Tractor crush fatality in Arizona
An employee of Zeller Excavating has sustained fatal crush injuries in a tractor accident while working at a site in County 24th Street in San Luis, Arizona, details of the accident have yet to emerge. 29th October 2007.
Sweden
Cooking appliance gives off CO
Carbon monoxide poisoning claimed the life of at least 1 person in premises in the industrial area of Harryda, east Gothenburg, at the weekend, 4 others were found unconscious, it is believed that the group who were preparing for a religious event had been using a cooking appliance designed for outdoor use. 29th October 2007.
New Zealand
Stingray barb severs fishermen's leg artery
A North Island fisherman has survived an accident in which he lost a substantial amount of blood when a stingray barb severed a main artery in his leg. A stingray had become entangled in the nets near Mercury Island, off the northeast coast, and he had a section of the net between his legs attempting to shake it out when the barb entered his leg. Between the moment of the accident and his hospitalisation in Auckland he lost almost 25% of his blood, a situation which could have been helped by leaving the barb in his leg until a paramedic arrived on the boat by helicopter. 26th October 2007.
Canada
Stokes Basket recovery at Ottawa site
A Stokes Basket rescue was deployed on Thursday to lift an injured construction worker in a tricky rescue on a site on Besserer Street, Ottawa, after he had become pinned by material which was being lowered by crane on to a platform in an excavation, it is believed that the platform became unstable during the operation. 26th October 2007.
Argentina
Fire guts Cordoba car parts factory
Fire has destroyed the Sachs Automotive car parts factory in San Francisco, 130 miles northeast of Cordoba, the locus appears to have been an area with solvents and cleaners, all 60 workers were safely evacuated. 25th October 2007.
UAE
Tower crane collapses from rooftop
A tower crane collapsed during assembly on the 25th floor at the Square General Contracting site in the Buhaira Corniche, Sharjah, killing 2 workers, a labourer on the roof and another on the ground. These have been the 5th workplace fatalities in 3 days in the Emirates, a falling wall killed workers at the weekend. 24th October 2007.
Bangladesh
Hospital elevator falls 8 floors
A malfunctioning elevator fell from the 8th floor in Block C of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, 15 persons sustained varying injuries, a nurse fractured a foot and a pregnant woman required emergency surgery. 24th October 2007.
USA
Electrician killed in West Virginia mine
Investigators are studying the circumstances of the death of a 54-year old electrician at the Pleasant Hill mine of the Carter Roag Coal Company in Mill Creek, West Virginia, where the victim apparently became caught in a conveyor roller in a 1.2m-high seam tunnel. 23rd October 2007.
Australia
Sulphuric acid transporter overturns
A road train vehicle transporting sulphuric acid crashed off the Flinders highway in Queensland yesterday, no spillage occurred and no serious injuries were reported.
The vehicle appeared to develop instability as another HGV was passing it 20 miles east of Hughenden, it was the 3rd trailer which overturned as the vehicle swerved across the road. 22nd October 2007.
Greece
Container ship collision
Two container ships collided on Sunday just north of Thessalonica, no losses have been reported. 22nd October 2007.
India
Farmer arrested after lions electrocuted
A farmer in Gujarat has been arrested following the electrocution of 5 rare Asian lions which contacted an electric fence which the farmer had illegally erected by the Gir National Park.
The farmer could face 7 years imprisonment if found guilty of the charge, the lions are a threatened species numbering only 350 now. 20th October 2007.
Russia
School roof collapse
The partial collapse of a school roof in Vologda, 250 miles north of Moscow, has left 9 persons injured, the building is believed to date from the Tsarist era. 20th October 2007.
Cyprus
Fatal fall from raised forklift forks
A 35-year old Syrian worker has been killed in a fall from the raised forks of a forklift truck at a site in Chloraka, it is speculated that he was working illegally on the site.
He sustained fatal head injuries in the fall, a colleague was operating the forklift. 19th October 2007.
Greece
Concrete chute kills site worker
A 44-year old construction worker died after being struck by a concrete chute at a site in Lagada, Thessalonica, where a canal is being constructed. 19th October 2007.
Switzerland
Unstable quarry embankment kills excavator operator
A 41-year old excavator operator died at the Grastatsch quarry site near Zernez, east Switzerland, on Wednesday when an embankment became unstable during the removal of boulders and earth which collapsed on the victim in his vehicle. 18th October 2007.
Bahrain
Fatal fall on Dubai site
A 34-year old sub-contract worker was killed in a fatal fall accident during marble fixing work at the Charilaos Apostolides site in Dubai. 18th October 2007.
France
Intoxicated school bus drivers arrested
In recent days 2 school bus drivers in the Pas-de-Calais region have been tested positive for alcohol.
A 30-year old female driver was found to have a reading of 1.6mg alcohol/blood following an accident in Boisdinghem in which her vehicle left the road and went over an embankment, 3 children were injured; a male driver appeared in court in St Omer after giving a reading of 2.94mg alcohol/blood when his school bus was stopped at the Therouanne tolls on the A26 motorway. 17th October 2007.
Australia
Unstable steel kills worker during loading
Falling steel sections weighing 1.7 tonnes have killed a worker during loading on to a vehicle at the OneSteel warehouse in Eagle Farm, east Brisbane, the load became unstable and fell from the side of the vehicle. 17th October 2007.
Senegal
Lightning strike leads to fishing champion's death
The captain of the Senegalese sports fishing team has died 2 weeks after falling into a coma following an accident at sea. The victim, who was a double world champion, received an electric shock when lightning struck his rod, causing him to fall and strike his head on the boat's engine. 16th October 2007.
Japan
Falling festival rockets clout bystanders
Flying debris from heavy hand-made rockets have inflicted separate injuries to persons in the vicinity of the Ryusa Festival at the Muku Shrine in Chichibu, Saitama, where rockets were being fired as high as 300 metres into the air. The rockets in question comprised of split red pine charged with gunpowder and were 20 metres long. A farmer in a field 200 metres from the site sustained head injuries after being struck by a falling 16kg section, in another case a spectator sustained a fractured shoulder. 16th October 2007.
Dem Rep of Congo
18 dead as speeding lorry crashes
At least 18 people died when the lorry which was transporting 50 passengers and merchandise from Kikwit in Bandundu to Kinshasa crashed 300 miles east of Kinshasa, speeding is speculated as the cause of the accident. 15th October 2007.
France
Light aircraft crashes in Pyrenees
A light tourist aircraft crashed on Sunday at Gououx-de-Luchon in the Haute-Garonne area of the Pyrenees just 6 miles after take-off from Bagneres-de-Luchon, 4 people were injured as the plane came down in woods at a height of 1,300 metres. 15th October 2007.
Austria
Light aircraft missing in Danube
A search was undertaken on the Danube yesterday for a Piper P-28 light aircraft which crashed into the river after clipping the mast of a Danube ferry, 4 persons were on board the light aircraft which had taken off from Krems-Gneixendorf for Dobersberg. 15th October 2007.
Colombia
Air ambulance flight crashes in Bogotá
A Cessna light aircraft on a medical assignment crashed on Friday in the La Rosita barrio of Bogotá shortly after take-off from El Dorado airport, killing both pilots and 3 medical personnel of Cuidado Humano, as well as the 2 occupants of a property in Calle 24 of the Fontiban district where it struck 4 houses.
The aircraft of Riosur had been contracted by EPS Saludcoop and was flying to attend to a child with critical burns in Leticia, Amazonas.  13th October 2007.
Germany
Unsecured load shed on autobahn
A 3.5-tonne excavator came off the rear of a lorry which undertook a sharp braking manoeuvre on the A57 motorway near Bickendorf, initial investigation suggested that the braking system was defective and the plant had not been competently secured on the lorry. 12th October 2007.
Bulgaria
Man's leg amputated in steel mill train accident
The Bulgarian Regional Labour Inspectorate is investigating an accident near the Kremikovtsi steel mill, northeast of Sofia, in which a man was run over by a train and has had a leg amputated. 11th October 2007.
Bangladesh
National stadium press box roof collapses
An accumulation of water during heavy rain has seen the collapse of the roof of the press box at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka only hours after a football international match between Bangladesh and Tajikistan which was covered by around 100 media representatives.
The welds on the roof bar supports apparently collapsed under the weight of 14 inches of water, the project was undertaken by Shahidullah Associates and consultants BRTC. 10th October 2007.
Spain
Basque arborist fatality
An arborist of Hermanos Vera Forestry Services was killed by a falling tree during timber felling yesterday in a pine wood in Txorita in Guipuzcoa(Gipuzkoa), northern Spain. 9th October 2007.
Cuba
Level crossing accident leaves 28 dead
Accident investigators are studying the circumstances of a level crossing collision between a bus and train in Yara, Granma province, 500 miles southeast of Havana, which left 28 dead and 73 injured, 15 of whom are listed in critical condition. 8th October 2007.
Germany
British WW2 bomb defused in Freiburg
A bomb disposal unit managed to effectively defuse a British WW2 bomb on Sunday which had been uncovered by an excavator on a building site in the Herdern suburb of Freiburg, the ordnance was later transferred to the disposal base at Boblingen for detonation, a precautionary evacuation of residents had taken place. 8th October 2007.
India
Floating bridge punctures
The failure of a temporary bridge on floats over the Sudani River in North Dinajpur saw a tea lorry fall into the river, the driver and assistant were rescued. The bridge at Domahana had been constructed by the army to replace a Bailey bridge, which itself had collapsed in August, leading to 1 fatality.
The present structure has 11 floats, 2 of which were breached, causing instability, its integrity is further compromised by the very low level of the Sudani at present. 5th October 2007.
 5th October 2007.
USA
Chemical fire explosion kills 5 at Colorado hydro plant
A chemical fire and explosion in an underground water pipeline has claimed the lives of 5 workers during maintenance work at the Xcel energy hydroelectric power plant outside Georgetown, Colorado.
The pipeline, which carries water from a dam to the turbines, is coated with a special chemical. 4th October 2007.
Australia
National Gallery fined for allowing unsafe workplace
The National Gallery of Australia has been fined $20K(£9091) following an accident in which a subcontract worker of Design Craft was injured in February 2005 when a temporary exhibition structure he was working on fell on him.
The Federal Court found that the Gallery had failed to have the contractor perform a risk assessment prior to beginning work as required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 4th October 2007.
Ireland
Bull kills farmer's wife
A 73-year old farmer's wife died yesterday on a farm in Drumraney, County Westmeath, after being attacked by a bull. 3rd October 2007.
Poland
Police arrest priest drunk at wheel
A spokeswoman for Warsaw police has reported the arrest of a priest who was found to be driving in central Warsaw with a blood alcohol reading of 2.2. grammes of alcohol per litre of blood, Polish alcohol limits are 0.2 miligrammes. 3rd October 2007.
Ireland
Navy joins missing diver search
Navy divers joined the Irish coastguard on Monday to search for a diver who had failed to return with the rest of his party to a dive boat off Killary Harbour, on the Galway/Mayo border. 2nd October 2007.
Italy
Tourist struck by falling building fabric
A tourist was hospitalised with serious leg injuries after being struck by a falling section of marble from a window arch of the Doges Palace (Palazzo Ducale di Venezia) in Venice, the section has been estimated as weighing 30Kg and measuring 30cm. 1st October 2007.
 
England
Sling option led to site death
A 42-year-old workman died when the sling bearing a pipe being suspended over a trench failed, crushing him against a trench box on a residential development in Highfield.
It had been the policy of DJN Construction of Wigan, his employer, to handle pipes using pipe-lifting equipment, however, a site foreman was unaware of this new policy, a Bolton Coroner's Court heard.
The jury determined a verdict of accidental death. 31st October 2007.
England
Boy, 15, lost part of arm in mincer
A young part-time worker sustained a horrific arm injury when he got it caught in a butcher's mincing machine, surgeons were required to carry out an amputation at the shop in September 2006.
Investigation established that a guard which should have been in place had been removed earlier. Butcher J and B Fitton of Oldham was fined £18,000 plus costs by local magistrates, the shop manager was fined £2,140 plus costs, both parties, as a consequence of their acts and omissions, had been found to have breached health and safety legislation. 30th October 2007.
Wales
Contract worker dies at Welsh power station
A man in his 30's has died in an industrial accident involving equipment at Uskmouth Power Station near Newport.
It is reported that he became trapped by the equipment during maintenance and died later in hospital. 29th October 2007.
England
Construction worker killed
It is reported that a man has died in an industrial accident at the new Heathrow Terminal 5 project.
The accident occurred on Saturday while the deceased was positioned in a lift shaft, he died at the scene. 29th October 2007.
England
Care home owners convicted over scalding death
The two proprietors of the Ormsby Centre, Littlehampton, Sussex, have been fined £16,000 each plus a total of £22,560 in costs having admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 following the death of a client, aged 86, who sustained scald injuries after being immersed into a bath which had not been temperature checked by care assistants in November 2005.
An HSE Inspector commented: “This case highlights the serious consequences of not sticking to the guidance set by Health and Safety for residential care homes. There are a number of reasonable measures the care assistants could have taken that would have prevented this tragic incident. These measures are set out in the Health and Safety guidance for residential care homes, which every care home should have access to.”  26th October 2007.
Scotland
Dumper caused trench to collapse
A workman in his 30's died when an unshored excavation collapsed in on him.
Investigation revealed that a dumper had been positioned too close to the excavation edge, precipitating its failure, it also revealed that the dumper driver was untrained.
WH Malcolm Ltd of Linwood, Renfrewshire, was fined £100,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of the accident at a site in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, during November 2004. 25th October 2007.
England
Toppling crane injures operator
The operator of a crane at Tilbury Docks has sustained multiple injuries in an industrial accident.
The cabin of his Tilbury Container Services tyred crane fell some 10m, the accident victim is not stated to be in a life threatening condition. 24th October 2007.
England
Horse riding accident
A woman in her 30's has died after falling from her horse last Tuesday at farm stables in Guiseley, Yorkshire. 23rd October 2007.
England
Historical re-enactment accident
The man participating in historical re-enactment scenes for television who sustained an eye injury last month has died.
The accident occurred on September 13th at Rockingham Castle, Northamptonshire. 23rd October 2007.
England
London NHS Trust failed to manage asbestos
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust of Wandsworth has been fined £5,000 with costs of £6,432, having admitted and been convicted for breaching the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
The prosecution arose from HSE investigation which revealed that despite being made aware of the presence of asbestos in a residential block, the Trust had not sufficiently managed asbestos-containing materials nor controlled the risks from exposure, exemplified by occasions when Trust employees cleaned up or repaired disturbed material following work. 22nd October 2007.
England
Construction fatality in Sussex
A workman died last Friday in an industrial accident on the site of a swimming pool project in Billingshurst. It appears he fell in front of an excavator, sustaining crush injuries. 20th October 2007.
England
2m fall sufficient to kill
On 15 May 2004, a driver sustained fatal injuries when he fell off a lorry parked at TNT Logistics UK Ltd's premises in Irlam, Lancs, while attempting to free a worktop on the back of the lorry.
The company was fined £120,000 with costs of £28,185 after pleading guilty at Manchester Crown Court to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
An HSE inspector commented: "Even falling a short distance can be very serious, or even fatal. Employers and self-employed people operating lorries need to avoid the need for work at height on the lorry wherever possible. Where that is not possible, they must take measures to prevent falls. Companies should ensure staff are adequately trained in how to reduce the risks. Climbing on top of loads should be avoided wherever possible and permanent platforms or gantries may assist with this." 18th October 2007.
England
 4 injured in retail accident
B&Q has been fined a total of £50,000, including costs, for health and safety failings that permitted an accident to occur at its Worthing retail premises in June 2004 which resulted in injuries to 3 customers and a paramedic who arrived to treat one of them who had a broken leg. All were struck by falling cupboard doors stored at a height of 5m. It was revealed that a forklift truck had inadvertently rendered the stack of goods unstable some hours earlier. 17th October 2007.
England
22-year-old fell to death from mezzanine
A young workman leaned against an unsecured handrail while working on a construction site in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire, in November 2003, it failed and he fell 10m to his death. He had been on the mezzanine area of a cold store under construction at the premises of Phil Hanley Ltd, on the Belle Eau Industrial Park, employer F J Chalcroft (Construction) Ltd of Kings Lynn, Norfolk, was fined £260,000 with £80,000 costs after pleading guilty to breaching S.2(1) and 3.(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. 16th October 2007.
Scotland
Handbrake error cost forklift operator's life
A farmer sustained fatal crush injuries on 12th May this year in an accident on a farm in Yetholm in the Scottish Borders.
A Jedburgh Fatal Accident Inquiry has concluded that the accident resulted from the forklift's hand brake either not being engaged or fully engaged. 15th October 2007.
England
Fisherman trawls up WW2 mine
The Royal Navy has detonated a 3m-long, World War 2 parachute mine believed to contain 1 tonne of explosives.
The mine was caught in the trawl nets of a fishing boat on Thursday night as it operated 10 miles off the Kent coastline. The boat towed the mine to around 1 mile off Margate where it was detonated on the seabed yesterday morning.
Such was the magnitude of the explosion it registered with the British Geological Survey's Edinburgh equipment recording 2.5 on the Richter Scale. 13th October 2007.
England
Workplace death at quarry
A man has died in an industrial accident at the Chatsworth Blue Haze quarry near Somerley, Hampshire.
It would appear that the deceased, reportedly a tyre fitter, was operating hydraulic equipment for changing vehicle tyres on Wednesday at the time when he sustained crush injuries . 12th October 2007.
England
Danger of removing a guardrail even for a short time
A Managing Director has been fined £2,500 with costs of £500 for failings relating to the death in an industrial accident in 2003 of a 29-year-old man who succumbed to injuries received when he fell 8m at the RTAL factory premises in Fort Road, Tilbury. He fell from the edge of a fixed platform, at which the protective guardrail had been removed temporarily to carry out some work of installing a kiln.

Tragic and wasteful
RTAL Ltd was fined £25,000 with £5000 costs, an HSE Inspector commented: "This was a serious breach of obligation to both its own staff and visiting workers, indicative of failure by the company to appreciate the risks from such complex work. The deceased's tragic and wasteful death could and should have been avoided by straightforward safety precautions. This case illustrates how things can go tragically wrong when plans are not thought through and risks are not properly controlled. HSE will not hesitate to take action against those who fall short of the law in such a way." 11th October 2007.
England
Overturning mower killed worker on embankment
An inquest jury in York has arrived at a verdict of accidental death having listened to submissions concerning the death in an industrial accident of a 54-year-old employee of City of York Council.
In May 2005, the deceased was cutting grass on an embankment when his machine slid on the slope, first unseating him then overturning, inflicting chest injuries. The slope was as steep as 26° in places. 10th October 2007.
England
Fatal workplace accident in Suffolk
It is reported that a workman contracted for work by Ec02 B.V died of head injuries last week in hospital after a fall from a ladder as he worked at the premises of Anchor Storage in Kenton, Suffolk. 9th October 2007.
Wales
One dead confirmed in LNG terminal accident
A 44-year-old man's body has been located at the scene of Saturday's accident at the South Hook LNG terminal at Milford Haven port in which a jack-up maintenance platform failed.
Several other workman were rescued from the platform and from the water. 8th October 2007.
England
Deadly improvisation
The HSE is warning construction companies who must dismantle heavy machinery that they should learn from the errors made by one company that cost a workman's life. Dawson-Wam Limited of Greenfield, Bedfordshire, has been fined £100,000, with costs of £76,128, at Croydon Crown Court, having breached health and safety laws when its employee was killed when the auger drive unit of a piling rig he was attempting to dismantle flew off its stand and struck him on 13 September 2002.
When a standard method of work failed, the deceased tried to free a motor by fastening chains to the auger drive unit and connecting them to the arm of an excavator. The excavator pulled the chains, causing the drive unit to fly off the stand, striking and fatally injuring him.

A very risky enterprise
An HSE Inspector explained:" "Employers need to ensure that where circumstances prevent the use of standard methods of work, then the risks arising from any method subsequently adopted should be very carefully assessed.  In particular, employers who are even considering departure from manufacturer’s guidance in respect of specialist equipment should assess the risks which may result very carefully indeed before proceeding. 
Attempting to dismantle heavy equipment in a way not recommended by its manufacturer is likely to be a very risky enterprise which should only be embarked on when absolutely necessary and, even then, only following very careful planning of a truly safe system of work." 6th October 2007.
Scotland
Forklift crushes workman
A 32-year-old workman has been killed in an industrial accident at farm premises at Denfind Stone outside Monikie, Angus.
One account reports that his forklift truck appears to have tipped over on top of him during Tuesday's accident. 5th October 2007.
England
Cumbrian farm death
It is reported that a 33-year-old man died on Tuesday in an accident on a farm near Brampton, Cumbria.
There is speculation that a vehicle may have been involved in the incident. 4th October 2007.
Scotland
Death fall at Glasgow concert
An 18-year-old man has fallen to his death while attending a concert at the Barrowland Ballroom venue in Glasgow.
Accounts state that he was attempting to sit on a stairway railing when he fell over backwards on Saturday evening. 3rd October 2007.
Scotland
Boy drowns in leisure centre pool
A boy aged 8 was found at the bottom of the deep end of the Olympia Leisure Centre pool in Dundee on Saturday and subsequently died despite efforts at resuscitation. The pool covers had been pulled over him, it is reported, the boy had lost contact with a relative who was with him.
Dundee Leisure Trust operates the pool on behalf of Dundee City Council. 2nd October 2007.
England
Slip was no joke
An employer landed in court when an employee slipped on ice on a freezer floor.
Noon Products Ltd of Southall was fined £13,000, with £2,561 costs, at City of London Magistrates Court having pleaded guilty to breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. In February 2006, the employee ran to avoid a pallet falling off racking when he slipped and dislocated his hip.
An HSE inspector warned food companies that the "accident was entirely preventable and simple measures could have been taken to avoid it as the employer was aware of the risk of injury. Slips and trip accidents are sometimes seen as trivial matters and the source of jokes, but they can have serious consequences as demonstrated here." 1st October 2007.