www.safetynews.co.uk 

Home                                                             October  2009                                                       Archives
 

 

 
Brazil
Military aircraft missing in northwest Amazon
On Thursday a search and rescue operation was launched after a C-98 Cessna Caravan aircraft  of the Forca Aerea Brasileira with 2 pilots, 7 health workers of the Fundacao Nacional de Saude and 2 army personnel was reported missing in the Amazon between Cruzeiro do Sul and Tabatinga. 30th October 2009.
Greece
Worker crushed in Thassos port accident
A 50-year old worker was crushed to death between a crane and a lorry at the harbour on Thassos where repair work to a cabin was being undertaken, charges of alleged occupational negligence are being considered against the crane vehicle operator and project supervisor. 30th October 2009.
Cyprus
Minefield clearer killed
A United Nations worker died in an explosion on Wednesday during clearing of a minefield 6 miles southeast of Nicosia, the victim was a Mozambique national and member of Mine Action Centre Cyprus which has been engaged in the 100-mile buffer zone under UN control. 29th October 2009.
India
3 dead as lift fails at power station chimney
A cable failed on a lift carrying 3 workers up to the top of chimney No1 at a private power station in Sriracha, Mundra, yesterday, 2 of them died instantly, the third succumbed to his injuries in hospital. 29th October 2009.
Belarus
5 dead in Minsk plane crash
It is feared that all 5 persons, 3 crew and 2 business passengers, on a BAe-125 Falcon of S-Air Company which had left Moscow's Vnukovo Airport have died when the aircraft crashed a couple of miles beyond Minsk Airport, having aborted its first attempt to land. Technical problems are suspected as visibility was 1.5 miles with light winds. 28th October 2009.
South Africa
Seamen's deaths probed
Investigators are studying the deaths of 2 East European crewmen found dead in their cabins on board the Maltese-flagged ferry Atlantic Eland (until 1996 the Krasnodar) which is docked in Richards Bay, 2 other crew members have been hospitalised, speculation has suggested either a confined space accident or food poisoning. 28th October 2009.
China
Explosives accident kills 4 Yunnan miners
Toxic fumes killed 4 workers in an explosion during excavation work with explosives at a lead-zinc mine of the Yunnan Haolong Industrial Group in Xiaohe, Qiaojia, it is believed they were the only workers underground at the time. 27th October 2009.
Canada
Transport fatality on Ontario poultry farm
A worker has died after apparently being knocked down by a moving trailer during the loading of chickens on to the trailer at a poultry farm south of Monkton, Ontario. 27th October 2009.
Egypt
Train accident linked to buffalo on track
The Health Ministry has indicated that a wandering water buffalo may have caused the weekend train collision at Al-Ajat, 30 miles south of Cairo, which saw 18 people killed and 39 injured. A train had apparently stopped after striking the animal and was rammed from behind by a following train travelling from Cairo to Assuit. 26th October 2009.
Venezuela
Caracas highway accident leaves 10 dead
A lorry struck the rear of a bus on the motorway in Caracas causing an accident which left 10 people dead and 12 others injured, on the previous weekend 24 people died in Venezuelan traffic accidents. 26th October 2009.
Kyrgyz Republic
Bear mauls circus manager at ice show rehearsals
A 25-year old circus manager has been killed by a performing bear during rehearsals for a circus ice show in Bishkek, another animal handler has been critically injured while attempting to rescue his colleague. 23rd October 2009.
Australia
Soldier killed during night training exercise
An investigation is ongoing in South Australia into the death of an army lance-corporal who died in a shooting incident during a night-time exercise practising close-quarters combat at the Cultana training area south of Port Augusta, another soldier was treated for shrapnel injuries to his arm. 23rd October 2009.
USA
Overturning lorry kills worker in New York boathouse
An overturning lorry which rolled 8 metres down an embankment has killed a worker inside the Finger Lakes boathouse in Milo, 40 miles southeast of Rochester, New York state, it is not clear why control of the vehicle was lost. 22nd October 2009.
South Africa
Overladen tractor fails weighbridge inspection
A tractor driver drawing a trailer which was allegedly considerably overloaded with cement was arrested at the Zeerust weighbridge on Wednesday and is expected to appear at Zeerust Magistrates' Court to face prosecution by the North West Province public safety department, penalties can run to 5 years imprisonment or fines of 120K rand(£9,745). 22nd October 2009.
Papua New Guinea
Worker shot dead at bridge site
A construction worker at the bridge site on the Kalome River near Mulia was killed during an armed attack at the site on Tuesday. 21st October 2009.
Switzerland
Child(2) killed in tractor accident
Early on Tuesday evening a 2-year old child died under the rear wheels of a tractor in Schwyz canton, having fallen from the moving vehicle. 21st October 2009.
Japan
Reform school pupil jumps off building
An 18-year old female reformatory pupil at he Totsuka Yacht school in Mihami has died after jumping from the roof of the 3-storey building which provides training for young people with delinquency problems. She was in the company of a coach and other pupils to air mats on the roof when she scaled a 1.5-metre fence and jumped.  20th October 2009.
Australia
Company fined over forklift accident
Southern Cross Trailers have been fined $15K(£8,414) over an accident 2 years ago in Dry Creek, New South Wales, where a 38-year old labourer was struck by an unsecured drum which fell from a forklift truck, head and finger injuries sustained prevented him from regaining work as a labourer. 20th October 2009.
Philippines
4 killed as test flight crashes in Manila
Four people died when an aircraft crashed in a suburb of Manila during a test flight, the pilot reported technical difficulties shortly into the flight which clipped the roofs of 14 houses before crashing into an empty warehouse. 19th October 2009.
Canada
Circus performer killed in trampoline training accident
A 24-year old Ukrainian circus performer died as a result of head trauma in a 5-metre fall while training on a trampoline with Cirque du Soleil in Montreal. 19th October 2009.
China
Blasting explosion kills at least 11 miners
An explosion at the Dafeng coal mine in Shizuishan has killed 11 miners and left 3 others unaccounted for, only 1 miner escaped the accident. Dynamite was being used to blast rock at the mine owned by the Shenhua Group. 16th October 2009.
USA
Oregon orchard worker drawn into auger
A 59-year old Oregon agricultural worker has been killed in an auger accident during hazelnut harvesting at an orchard on High Banks Road, Thurston. It appears that his clothing snagged in the auger as he tried to clear a blockage and as he was drawn in he was suffocated. 16th October 2009.
Spain
Fatal accident at paper recycling facility
A worker died on Wednesday in an accident at the Ecovidal paper recycling facility on avenida de la Constitucion, Torrejon de Ardoz, northeast Madrid. It appears that he entered machinery which had jammed to clear a blockage, but it reactivated with him inside, inflicting fatal internal injuries.15th October 2009.
France
Farmer rescued in tractor accident
A farmer was hospitalised in Saint-Brieuc, Brittany, following a tractor accident in a field yesterday in Vieux-Marche where fire crews rescued him from under his tractor. Although his head had become trapped between a mudguard and a wheel his injuries were reported as non-life-threatening. 15th October 2009.
France
All six survive plane crash off Corsica
Six people were recovering in hospital in Ajaccio yesterday following their rescue after several hours in the sea when their Cessna tourist aircraft crashed west of Corsica on a flight from Cannes. The 4 men and 2 women were wearing life jackets, the rescue was complicated by the hours of darkness and 4-metre high waves. All were treated for hypothermia, 1 woman has a broken arm. 14th October 2009.
China
Excessive lead in blood prompts evacuation of children
The authorities in Jiyuan, Henan, have announced that of 2,700 children under the age of 14 tested for lead poisoning, 968 have been found to have excessive levels of lead in their blood, all children within a mile of the Yuguang Gold and Lead Group, the Wanyang Smeltery Group and the Jinli Smelting plant are being temporarily relocated. Additionally, the Jiyuan government has suspended production at all but 3 of the 35 electrolytic lead plants in the area. 14th October 2009.
USA
Crane falls in central Philadelphia
A crane operator was killed when the crane he was operating from an attached mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) became unstable and crashed 40 metres to the ground in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon. Maintenance work was being undertaken on a church roof on Walnut Street, it is speculated that the crane may have run over a weak kerb gully which collapsed and created the crane's instability. 13th October 2009.
Montenegro
Climbers struck by lightning
Lightning struck a party of 11 climbers near Kolasin, north Montenegro, killing 1 person and inflicting severe burns and a broken arm to another. 13th October 2009.
Japan
Boy killed by training centre guard dogs
A 4-year old boy visiting a training institute in Nakagawa where his grandmother is the residential manageress died from bites inflicted by 2 guard dogs there on Sunday. 12th October 2009.
France
Dare to climb power pylon proves fatal
An 18-year old youth has died from severe electrical burns sustained in an incident while climbing a 20Kv high power pylon in Guerande, south Brittany, he was the first of 3 youths participating in a dare to see who would climb highest. 12th October 2009.
Scotland
Fisherman lost overboard off Orcadian crabber
The Coastguard Agency announced late on Friday that the search for a fisherman missing off the Kirkwall fishing boat Noronya was being stood down for the night although the crabber would continue searching overnight, the RN minehunter HMS Bangor had joined the search for the 22-year old for whom a mayday was issued at 4am on Friday. He was wearing neither a survival suit nor lifejacket and estimated survival time in the water was less than 4 hours. 10th October 2009.
England
Narrative verdict on Wilts farm combine harvester electrocution
An inquest jury at Wilts & Swindon Coroners' Court in Trowbridge has returned a narrative verdict in respect of the fatal electrocution of a 21-year old farmer at Crystal Palace Farm, Upper Chute, Ludgershall, Wiltshire.
The jury heard that a combine harvester being operated by the employee of contractor Velcourt Ltd had a faulty valve which prevented full closure of a telescopic arm. On August 6th 2007, the harvester's arm, extended to almost 6 metres, contacted overhead power lines. When the worker left the cab, he contacted the energy from the power source. The jury noted the absence of signage in the field advising of high power lines. 10th October 2009.
China
26 dead at tin ore mine as elevator brakes fail
Two elevators experienced brake failure at the Shanxing Antimony Industry Company Ltd's tin ore mine in Lengshuijiang City, Hunan, a total of 26 miners died at the scene or later from injuries. 9th October 2009.
Malawi
Transport accident at uranium mine
A contract minibus carrying 19 miners of the Paladin Energy uranium mine at Kayelekera in Northern Malawi was involved in a rollover accident leading to the death of 1 worker, the other 19 miners have been hospitalised in Mzuzu and Karonga. 9th October 2009.
Russia
Worker killed in pumping station explosion
A methane gas explosion on Wednesday in a sewage pumping station at the Khimvolokno-Amtel-Kuzbass chemical plant in Kemerovo killed 1 worker and injured another, the force of the blast causing the roof to collapse.  8th October 2009.
Australia
Workplace transport accidents
A 50-year old Queensland female worker was killed yesterday after being struck and run over by a lorry at a workplace in Mackay.
A 47-year old tractor driver was found dead in an orchard at Wandin North, Yarra Valley, it appeared that his vehicle had struck cables connected to a covering structure.  8th October 2009.
Australia
Forklift rollover accident claims teenage worker
An 18-year old worker has died in a forklift rollover accident at Swift Australia Food Partners food processing premises on River Road, Dinmore, southwest of Brisbane. 7th October 2009.
USA
Falling carpet kills Arizona flooring store worker
Mesa Fire Department attended a workplace accident yesterday at Ace Flooring in Mesa, east of Phoenix, Arizona, where a worker was killed by a heavy roll of carpet which fell on him. 7th October 2009.
Thailand
SPAD accident leaves 8 dead, 90 injured
It has been alleged that a train travelling from Trang to Bangkok passed a red light 8 miles south of Hua Hin and in the subsequent derailment of 6 carriages 8 people died and 90 were injured. 6th October 2009.
USA
Fatal accident on West Virginia drilling rig
A 20-year old worker has been killed after being struck by equipment while working on a drilling rig at a Frontier Drilling site on Cherry Camp Run, north of Salem, West Virginia, it is thought that a section of the equipment broke loose and recoiled against him. 6th October 2009.
Australia
Woman's leg caught in machine at Melbourne food plant
WorkSafe is investigating a weekend accident at a food processing plant in Kensington,Melbourne, where a 32-year old female worker's leg was trapped in machinery for an hour, she is being treated for a serious leg injury in the Royal Melbourne Hospital. 5th October 2009.
USA
American footballer's weightlifting neck injury
A University of Southern California American Footballer sustained a crushed neck and larynx injuries when a  275-lb bench press he was using in a weight training room fell on his throat, he is expected to make a full recovery in the course of time. 5th October 2009.
Japan
Triple fatality in silo confined space accident
Three people have died and a 7-year old boy remains unconscious in a coma following an accident at a silo storing livestock feed in Gokase. It is speculated that the boy had fallen into the 4-metre high, 1.2-metre wide silo and the others succumbed to the atmosphere in the attempt to rescue him. 2nd October 2009.
The Netherlands
Brabant level crossing accident
Around midday on Thursday a car was struck by a train on the level crossing at Bakhuisdreef in Boxtel, 1 person died and 2 others were badly injured. 2nd October 2009.
Philippines
Disgruntled employee severed boss's head
An employee with an alleged grievance over unpaid wages severed his employer's head and later gave himself up to police in Quiapo, Manila, producing a bag with the severed head.
The employee of the Bernadette Eatery on San Rafael Street accompanied police to his employer's house where they found the victim's headless corpse which also featured further mutilation. 1st October 2009.
Austria
Falling tree kills Salzburg forestry worker
A forestry worker has died from severe internal crush injuries after being struck by a falling tree during tree felling in the Abtswald forest close to Bad Durrnberg, Salzburg. 1st October 2009.

 

  
Belgium
Child dies in Limburg sand excavation
An 11-year old child has died when a large sand excavation in a waste area in Gingelom collapsed, 2 other children managed to escape the weight of sand. 30th October 2009.
Malta
Exploding tyre compensation award
A worker who sustained 50% disability when a giant tyre exploded during inflation at Brian Tyre Services has been awarded more than €323,000(£289,479) in compensation. 30th October 2009.
Japan
3 fishermen rescued from under upturned hull, 4 still missing
The coastguard has reported finding 3 survivors in the upturned fishing boat, the No 1 Kofuku Maru, off Hachijo Island, 180 miles south of Tokyo. A rescuer thumped on the hull of the capsized boat and  the exhausted fishermen, whose boat capsized 4 days ago in rough seas, indicated their presence. The fate of 4 other crew members remains uncertain, the captain was found dead on a life raft 12 miles north of the island. 29th October 2009.
USA
Unlicensed worker electrocuted
A 22-year old workman was electrocuted while carrying out electrical work under a trailer home in Sebastian, Florida, the local Fire Chief attending the incident has alleged that the victim was an unlicensed and uninsured worker hired by the homeowner. 29th October 2009.
Argentina
Falling wall kills worker on Buenos Aires site
A construction worker was killed on Tuesday morning when the internal wall of a building collapsed at a site on Sanchez de Loria Street in the San Cristobal district of Buenos Aires, he was drilling or screwing material at the wall when the 30-cm thick structure collapsed on him. 28th October 2009.
Canada
Builders fined over pumping station accident
At Ontario Court of Justice in Burlington a fine of $105K(£60,270) was levied against Kingdom Construction over an accident in April 2008 in which a worker died in a fall through a gap in a wall at a sewage pumping station in Halton Hills. A chamber, which collected sewage prior to pumping to a treatment centre, featured a wet wall on top of which were 2 apertures. When not in use, one was covered with wood. Investigation of the accident established that the timber was unsecured and unmarked to indicate it covered an opening.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Occupation Health and Safety Regulation 213/91, Section 26.3(2)(2) in failing to ensure that a protective cover over an opening on a work surface was securely fastened and adequately identified as covering an opening on a work surface. 28th October 2009.
USA
Worker's hand severed at Rhode Island business
An accident in which a worker's hand was severed is now under investigation at Providence Architectural Woodworking Group in Cranston, Rhode Island, no indication was available whether surgical reattachment was feasible. 27th October 2009.
South Africa
Oil tank explosion
Fire crews were continuing cooling down work on Monday of a 23-K litre oil tank which exploded at the Amanzimtoti container services plant on the Ezimbokodweni industrial estate, south of Durban, 4 workers sustained burns injuries in the accident. 27th October 2009.
Canada
HGV driver crushed between lorries
A lorry driver has died in a fatal crush accident at the Zellers distribution centre in Scarborough, Ontario, where his vehicle rolled  down a gradient after he had parked it and pinned him against another lorry as he walked in front of his own. Either the handbrake failed or it had not been applied correctly. 26th October 2009.
Austria
Electrocution after power arcs to fence posts
A 34-year old Tyrolean farmer died in an electrocution accident at the weekend in Tannheim during work with a wire fence, it is speculated that arcing occurred during the work. 26th October 2009.
USA
Worker electrocuted on Texas oil site
A fatal electrocution occurred at a rural oil site 13 miles south of Midland, Texas, during the erection of a small rig under high  power lines, a worker died when the rig contacted the 14K-volt lines. 23rd October 2009.
Greece
Worker's neck impaled on steel rod
A construction worker was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries after falling 2 metres on to a steel rod at a site in Dionysos, northeast Attica, it is believed that his neck was impaled on the rod. 23rd October 2009.
Singapore
Residual gas ignites during manhole work
Six workers of Ohin Construction have been injured, 2 of whom are being treated in intensive care, following a gas explosion in a manhole chamber at the junction of McPherson and Aljimied Road in Singapore.
The company has been contracted to seal sewage pipes in the manholes across the city, it appears that flammable residual gases were ignited by a live flame, the Ministry of Manpower has issued a stop work order on the project. 22nd October 2009.
Belgium
Fire at mentally handicapped care centre
Fire broke out on Wednesday at the One Tehuis care home for mentally handicapped people on Perksesteenweg in Kampenhout. The home cares for 90 residents and 30 day patients, no injuries were reported but the cause of the blaze, which took 30 minutes to control, remains unknown. 22nd October 2009.
Gaza
Fatal accident at contraband tunnel
A rope supporting a number of people in a contraband tunnel in Rafah snapped, leading to 1 fatality and a number of critical injuries, 1 has a broken neck, another a fractured back and skull, and another is listed in a coma in hospital.
The accident occurred near the mouth of the tunnel, causing them to fall back into it. 21st October 2009.
Canada
Ontario roofer killed in fall
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has been informed of a fatal accident at Pickford Drive, Kanata, where a roofer has died in a fall from a 2-storey house. 21st October 2009.
Russia
Chlorine-bromine incident at Moscow university
The valve of a 6-litre gas cylinder apparently malfunctioned in the Tushino complex of the Mendeleyev Chemical Technology University in Moscow on Tuesday, leading to a release of chlorine-bromine gas-3, around 50 people were evacuated with 3 being hospitalised with burns of the upper respiratory tract. 21st October 2009.
Bulgaria
Manslaughter charges after girl is savaged by dogs
A 6-year old girl has died after being savaged by a pack of dogs allegedly belonging to a 49-year old teacher in  Sushevo, Zavet, northeast Bulgaria, a manslaughter case is being prepared which could carry a penalty of 3-years imprisonment. 20th October 2009.
Malaysia
Worker fell 16 storeys on Terengganu site
An Indonesian worker has died in a fall from the 16th storey of a construction site in Kampung Ladang, Terengganu state. 20th October 2009.
Austria
 Tyre fitter killed under car as hydraulic lift collapses
A hydraulic lift failed during tyre fitting at a service depot in Innsbruck on Saturday, a young worker died when the front end of the car lurched forward and sideways. 19th October 2009.
France
 Midair collision leaves 4 people dead
A midair collision of 2 tourist Cessna light aircraft killed 4 people on Saturday, the accident occurring near Rochefort airfield, south of La Rochelle.
Last weekend 2 people died  when a Cessna 177 crashed in the Manche region.19th October 2009.
Australia
Fatal accident during concrete pour
A falling concrete pump has led to the death of a construction worker at the site of the former Pentridge prison in Coburg, Victoria. He was working at 2nd floor level when he was struck by the hose of the pump during the pour, knocking him into the concrete. It is speculated that the pump stand sank into mud and caused the structure to become unstable.
This was the 22nd Victoria workplace death of 2009. 16th October 2009.
USA
Illinois worker killed in coil accident
An accident involving a 1-tonne metal coil has killed a 63-year old worker at the Material Sciences Corporation premises in Elk Grove village, Illinois. 16th October 2009.
Japan
Falling shop shelves leave girls seriously injured
Three 2-tier shelves of books fell down at the Daily Books antiquarian shop in Sapporo, 2 girls aged 10 and 14 sustained head and chest injuries, the former is unconscious in hospital and is listed in critical condition. 15th October 2009.
Serbia
Tractor rollover death
A 62-year old tractor driver died in a rollover accident on a gradient in the Rudnicko Takovski district, near Mt Suvobor, the 6th such accident this year in that area. 15th October 2009.
Australia
Transport accident on Gold Coast industrial estate
A 30-year old chef of the Red Pear Catering factory in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, was killed on Tuesday upon being struck by a container vehicle which apparently mounted the kerb on Leda Drive where he and a colleague were waiting to cross, it is thought that the other worker has a broken ankle. The vehicle driver was treated for shock. 14th October 2009.
Poland
Drunk driver arrested after train derails
In the wake of yesterday's train derailment near Wroclaw, it has been intimated that train drivers will undertake daily breathalyser tests prior to their shifts. A train travelling from Krakow to Swinoujscie on the Baltic derailed after allegedly exceeding safe speed on a section of track near Wroclaw. The driver absconded immediately after the accident and when found in nearby woods was described by police as "completely drunk." 14th October 2009.
Malta
Demolition worker injured in fall from height
A worker was left with critical injuries in a 2-storey fall at premises on Howard Street, Sliema, on Monday where demolition work was taking place. It remains unclear whether he fell from a timber board on which he was standing or if it failed. 13th October 2009.
Canada
HGV driver fined for smoking in cab
Traffic police  in Essex County, Ontario, have fined a lorry driver $305 after spotting him allegedly smoking at the wheel, the 2006 Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits enclosed workplace smoking, the driver's vehicle was regarded as his workplace. 13th October 2009.
Scotland
Fall from inadequately protected platform
At Stirling Sheriff Court Superglass Insulation  Ltd of Thistle Industrial Estate, Stirling, was fined £20K after pleading guilty to a  breach of S.2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in respect of a fall from height accident which left a worker with cuts and ligament damage.
On 10th September 2008, a worker performing maintenance work on machinery fell in excess of 3 metres from a platform which lacked robust edge protection. 12th October 2009.
Romania
Double fall fatality at motorway site
Work Safety officers are investigating a double fatality accident in which 2 workers subcontracted under US company Bechtel died in 20-metre falls from a bridge viaduct on the new 25-mile Transylvanian Motorway site scheduled to open in 6 weeks. 12th October 2009.
England
Worker was killed during lowering of bulldozer into ship's hold
At Southwark Crown Court Tate and Lyle Industries Ltd of Sugar Key, Lower Thames St, London has been fiend £270K plus £90K costs in respect of a fatal accident at its premises on Factory Road, Slivertown, Newham, where a worker of Acclaim Logistics was killed during the lowering of a bulldozer into a ship's hold. The worker was inside the bulldozer when a lifting lug attached to the chain lowering the vehicle snapped.
The company pleaded guilty to breaches of S.s2(1) and 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in failing to provide and manage proper means of access to ships being unloaded and failing to manage and control staff and contractors. 10th October 2009.
Spain
Driver killed in Lezama station derailment
An Euskotren derailed and struck a wall after colliding with a buffer at Lezama station, Vizcaya, on Thursday afternoon, the driver was killed and 3 people have been hospitalised in Barakaldo, the most seriously injured being a 57-year old woman.
The Euskotren service runs between Deusto in Bilbao and Lezama. 9th October 2009.
Austria
Digger rollover and forestry accidents in Steyr
A 48-year old worker died yesterday in a rollover accident in the Deutschlandberg area of Rothwein, Steyr, when his digger overturned and rolled 100 metres down an embankment during cable laying work on a steep gradient.
Elsewhere in Steyr, the body of a Polish forestry worker was recovered from a location in Aigen in Ennstal where he had been struck by a falling tree, he had been working alone and his employer raised the alarm when he had failed to return to his base. 9th October 2009.
Canada
Modified safety device led to trencher accident
Brooke Telecom Co-operative has been fined $50K(£29,498) in court in Sarnia, Ontario, in respect of a fatal accident last year during cable laying in Warwick where a worker became crushed under a trencher and backhoe while attempting the equipment's removal from a steep-banked excavation.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety regulations, a safety device detecting the trencher movement when the backhoe seat was occupied had been disconnected. 8th October 2009.
England
Fall from height on Herts site
A 43-year old worker was hospitalised yesterday after falling from the loft down 1 storey at a building site on High Road, Essendon, it is believed he sustained a serious back injury in the accident. 8th October 2009.
Bermuda
British mechanic killed in forklift accident
A British mechanic working at the SAL site on Wilkinson Quarry, Coney Island, has been killed in an accident in which he became trapped under a forklift truck.
It remains unknown whether he was working on the vehicle or if it overturned on him during operation. 7th October 2009.
Canada
Ontario roads worker's death investigated
A post-mortem was being conducted on Tuesday in Kenora, Ontario, into the circumstances of the  death of the 63-year old operator of grading machinery at a roads site at Km 38 on Turtle River Road, east of Fort Frances. 7th October 2009.
Czech Republic
Regulation breaches suspected in Prague building collapse
All 4 bodies have now been recovered from the collapsed building on Soukenicka Street, Prague, where Sting Prague are redeveloping a derelict property into a hotel.
The danger of further collapse of external walls meant recovery work was protracted, it is speculated that a supporting internal wall may have been removed prior to the accident, breaching construction and safety regulations. 6th October 2009.
Switzerland
2nd conveyor fire in a month at cement works
Investigators are probing the 2nd conveyor belt fire in a month at the Holcin cement works in Eclepens in the Vaud canton, an electrical malfunction saw a similar fire there on August 13th. 6th October 2009.
Russia
Boy killed in train/ lorry level crossing accident
A Far Eastern Railways train collided with a lorry on a level crossing in the Khabarovsk region, the lorry driver and his 8-year old son were hospitalised, the latter died from his injuries. It is alleged that the lorry had ignored warning lights and signals at the crossing. 5th October 2009.
Greece
Hospital waste dumped at regular landfills
A report issued by the Association of Municipalities and Communities of Attica has claimed that dangerous medical waste, such as catheters, syringes, colostomy bags and bloodied articles have been deposited by almost all hospitals at regular landfill sites in breach of health and safety regulations.
The Association conducted 16 inspections of vehicles leaving hospitals for landfills as opposed to using sanitary incineration units such as those at the larger Athens hospitals. 5th October 2009.
Iraq
Siphoning led to fire at Baghdad refinery
A fire at the Doura refinery in Baghdad has killed 1 worker and left another with severe burns, it is believed that a tanker had been impounded over allegations of the resale of illegal fuel and the accident occurred in the grounds as workers were siphoning off petrol from it. 2nd October 2009.
England
Tractor death accidental
The 3-year old boy who fell and was fatally injured from a tractor driven by his grandfather on 13th June near Thrapston died accidentally a Kettering, Northants, inquest has determined. 2nd October 2009.
Australia
Smoking patient sparks Cairns hospital fire
Prompt action by a nurse saved the life of an elderly patient whose bed caught fire in the early hours of Wednesday while he was smoking in bed at Cairns Base Hospital in Queensland.
The nurse and another patient sustained burns themselves rescuing the patient from his burning bed, 10 patients in all were evacuated. 1st October 2009.
Romania
Tigers got loose at Hunedoara Zoo
An investigation was launched into the escape of 2 tigers from their cage at Hunedoara Zoo, keepers noted the open doors and managed to sedate both animals with tranquilising darts before they could escape from the zoo, no injuries were reported. It remains unknown whether negligence or a wilful act caused the incident. 1st October 2009.
 
USA
North Carolina lineman electrocuted
A North Carolina lineman of Pike Electric has been electrocuted on Thursday during subcontract work for Duke Energy on Camp Creek Road in Whittier. 30th October 2009.
India
Gas leak causes fire at Jaipur oil depot
Gas leakage from a tank at the Indian Oil depot in Sitapura, Jaipur, is speculated as the cause of Thursday's blaze in which 3 workers died and 70 were injured, most of the depot's 11 tanks ignited as the fire spread. 30th October 2009.
Canada
Proprietor killed by reversing HGV
Quebec's workplace health and safety board is investigating a fatal accident in midweek in Victoriaville, 85 miles northeast of Montreal, where the proprietor of an excavation company was struck and killed while crossing unsighted behind a reversing vehicle. 30th October 2009.
Rep Ireland
Machine fatality at Kerry quarry
HSA is investigating a fatal accident at the Arkil Quarry in Lispole, west Kerry, where a worker was killed operating machinery. 29th October 2009.
USA
Kentucky worker survives trench collapse
A worker was fortunate to survive an accident in an unshored excavation in Lexington after being trapped to his armpits in a collapsed trench. The trench had been hand dug adjacent to a house in Siesta Cove to tackle water leakage into the premises. Fire crews provided heat under a tarpaulin to raise the victim's body temperature in the cold clay as well as provide oxygen support.29th October 2009.
USA
Farm worker drowns in manure pit
A 31-year old Mexican worker has drowned in a 2-metre deep manure pit at Steven Weinzirl farm in Eau Galle, west Wisconsin, where he lost control of a skid steer vehicle which overturned into the pit as he was pushing manure in. 28th October 2009.
England
 RS joint struck labourer fatal blow
A self-employed plumber and sole-trader from Enfield has been fined £10,000 with £3,230 in costs at Harlow Magistrates’ Court having been convicted of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of the death of an employee as they worked during October 2006 to refurbish a domestic property.
As the joist was being lifted by the deceased, his employer and 4 other men, it fell on his head.
An HSE Inspector commented: “This tragic incident could have been prevented if the employer had made sure his workers were not left exposed to unnecessary risks." 28th October 2009.
Scotland
Risk assessment failure at explosives company
Orica UK Ltd has been fined £10,000 for safety breaches that resulted in an accident in which an employee was injured as he attempted to unblock an augur feed device in February 2008 at its Muirside, Fife, site. He lost two fingers and half of another when he inserted his hand into an inadequately guarded danger zone of the equipment which then started unexpectedly.
The company risk assessment was deficient, there was no safe system for fixing blockages and supervision and training were inadequate. 27th October 2009.
Malta
Worker wins damages after losing eye in bird incident
On Monday an employee of the Department for Rural Affairs and the Environment won €96,928(£88,297) damages against the government in respect of an accident 13 years ago when he lost the sight of an eye while handling an injured bird, the court heard that no provision of protective clothing had been made and as a result of the accident he had suffered a 40% permanent disability. 27th October 2009.
Scotland
Jackhammer breached 3.3kV power cable
A subcontract worker burned his hands and face after cutting through 2 power cables as part of work to widen an existing cable trench at the Ineos Manufacturing Scotland Ltd petrochemical site in Grangemouth.
Investigation established that the men worked without a safe system of work, Ineos pleaded guilty to breaching r.4(3) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and was fined £1,500 at Falkirk Sheriff. 26th October 2009.
England
Broken back after fall from height
Philpott Demolition and Recycling of Norwich has been fined £7,500 over an April 2007 incident in which an employee fell from the roof of a former RAF building in Norwich on
26th October 2009. The company had taken inadequate measures to prevent their employee from falling. 26th October 2009.
England
Somerset fruiter fined over ladder accident
At Bath Magistrates' Court, A David & Company has been fined £3K plus £3K costs in a prosecution brought by Bath & North East Somerset Council over an accident at the fruit and vegetable wholesaler's premises where a worker was injured in a fall from a ladder. 23rd October 2009.
UAE
Sudanese cargo plane crashes near Sharjah
All 6 Iranian crew members of a Sudanese cargo aircraft were killed when their aircraft crashed in the desert 2 miles from Sharjah Airport. 22nd October 2009.
USA
Collision and oil leakage off Texas coast
A leakage of 18K gallons of oil has occurred in the Gulf of Mexico following the collision of a Liberian-flagged oil tanker Krymsk and the offshore supply vessel AET Endeavour some 40 miles southeast of Galveston. The accident occurred after the Russian tanker Krymsk had "lightered" crude oil from a supertanker too large to dock at port 46 on the coast.  22nd October 2009.
Singapore
Employer attached safety harness to dead worker
On Tuesday, New Sun Electrical Contractors were fined $50K(£21,878) in respect of a fatal accident at a site on July 20th 2008 in which the employer attached a safety harness to a 38-year old worker who had already died in a fall from a roof where he had been hired illegally to install a lightning conductor. 21st October 2009.
Ukraine
Fire at Donetsk mine
An evacuation of the Bulavinskaya coal mine in Yenakiyevo, Donetsk, took place on Tuesday following an outbreak of fire in an exhausted shaft more than a mile underground, no injuries have been reported. 21st October 2009.
Bahrain
Construction site deaths double in 4 years
Figures released by the Labour Ministry reveal that construction site deaths have doubled in the last 4 years, with Occupational Health and Safety chief Abbas Salman Matooq critical of companies which "hire cheap labour and purchase cheap equipment to cut costs.. and fail to follow (health and safety) rules".
In 2009, there have been 35 deaths, 36 in 2008, 29 in 2007, 21 in 2006 and 18 in 2005. Principal causes of fatal accidents have been falls from height, falling materials and workers caught in machinery. The situation is compounded by the fact that only 4 occupational safety engineers carry out daily inspections and audits, just 10% of the necessary complement. 20th October 2009.
Greece
Boiler explosion in Athens newbuild apartments
On Monday, investigators were still trying to ascertain the cause of an oil boiler explosion in the basement of a newbuild apartment block in Athens which caused substantial damage and was audible over a wide area of the city. 20th October 2009.

Scotland
Fatal accident at Lochaber quarry
Northern Constabulary received a report of a fatal accident on Sunday evening at the Glensanda superquarry on the Morvern Peninsula, Lochaber. 19th October 2009.
England
 Unsecured barrier inflicted disabling injuries
At Chester Crown Court Morrisons supermarket was fined £172K plus £16,681 in costs after pleading guilty to a breach of health and safety law at its Crewe store where a driver approaching the petrol station in his car was struck by an inadequately secured barrier which crashed through his windscreen, inflicting injuries which left him unable to speak or swallow and cost the sight of an eye.
To prevent any recurrence of such an accident, a fishtail section has been added to the end of the barrier, which would force its trajectory across the lower bodywork of a vehicle. 19th October 2009.
England
 Fall from height
HSE is reminding employers of the need to prevent falls from height following an accident in which a man using a power saw fell through the side of a building.
The accident led to a fine for G Baskerville Ltd, of Stoke-on-Trent who breached S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which it was fined £8,000 with costs of £6,000.
The accident occurred at Barnfields Industrial Estate in Leek, Staffs, although there was a horizontal steel girder around the sides of the building there were still substantial gaps posing a significant risk that other workers could also have fallen 4 metres to the ground below. 19th October 2009.
England
Pig farm fined over near electrocution
Bowes of Norfolk Limited was fined £25K plus £23,095 costs and £600 compensation at Norwich Crown Court after pleading guilty to 4 breaches of health and safety legislation in respect of an accident at Great Cressingham near Thetford in which a teenager later required to have one toe and a section of another amputated.
On May 23rd 2007, the 16 and 18-year old workers were stacking hay bales when a telescopic arm of their equipment contacted 11K-volt power lines. The company admitted a failure to maintain a  safe system of work; failure to conduct a proper work assessment; failure to protect young persons in work; and a failure to carry out activities near an electrical system so as not to cause danger.
The judge in his summary described the stacking of bales under a power line as an accident waiting to happen. 16th October 2009.
England
Skipper over limit at helm
A 52-year old former skipper of the 30-metre fishing vessel Honeybourne III has been prosecuted for having 81mg of alcohol in his blood at the time his vessel ran aground near Filey, North Yorkshire. All 7 on board were rescued, he was fined £1,000 at York Crown Court. 16th October 2009.
Belgium
Sleeping Polish drivers died in lorry fire
The public prosecutor's office in Bruges has been given a report of an accident which occurred yesterday in a parking area by the motorway in Jabbeke, west of Bruges, where 2 Polish lorry drivers died in a fire which engulfed their vehicle, it is speculated that they were deep in sleep and were overcome quickly by the incident. 15th October 2009.
Rep Ireland
Air Corps training flight crash leaves 2 dead
A flight instructor and cadet were killed when their Pilatus PC-9 aircraft crashed during a training exercise near Cong on the Galway/Mayo border, 2 other Air Corps planes taking part in the drill returned safely to Galway Airport. 14th October 2009.
Greece
Falling gate kills girl (9)
A 9-year old girl who sustained critical injuries when a gate fell on her at the port of Karlovasi on Samos has since died of her injuries in a children's hospital in Athens. 14th October 2009.
England
Dorset worker crushed under car
The HSE is investigating a fatal crush accident at Stony Lane in Christchurch where a man in his 30's was found dead under a car by his wife who had become concerned over his failure to return from work. 13th October 2009.
South Africa
Fall of ground death at gold mine
A fall of ground accident has led to the death of a mineworker at Harmony Gold's Bambanai mine where face cleaning work was being done when the accident occurred. 13th October 2009.
Russia
3 killed in separate roof collapses
A partial collapse of the roof of a building ready for demolition at the Cherepovets metallurgical works in Volgograd killed 2 workers and injured another on Thursday, 15 workers had been inside when the accident occurred.
Elsewhere, a bakery worker was killed on Thursday when a bakery roof fell at premises in Samara. 9th October 2009.
England
 Legionella fine for hospital
The Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Trust has pleaded guilty to breaching S.s2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by putting employees and the public at risk of infection by legionella bacteria. It was fined £35,000 with costs of £12,862 after unsafe levels of legionella were discovered in the water supply system for the showers, baths and sinks at the hospital in Thomas Drive, Liverpool.
An HSE official explained: "The NHS Trust ignored the recommendations it had been given by a specialist contractor to control the levels of legionella in the water system. No one took, or was given, responsibility for managing the bacteria, and suitable control measures were not in place." 9th October 2009.
England
E Sussex arborist's death ruled accidental
At Lewes Magistrates' Court an inquest jury has returned a verdict of accidental death in respect of a fatal accident during arboreal work at Park Gate in Hailsham undertaken by Alan Russell Tree Surgery.
On March 19th 2008, a worker had ascended a tall willow tree using a Stihl MS200T chain saw to perform the task of removing the tree. For reasons unable to be confirmed the saw recoiled during the work and severed a major artery in his neck.
Expert opinion had found the saw to be in good working order and the task undertaken within good practice guidelines. 8th October 2009.
England
Lancs company fined over fall from height
Following a prosecution brought by South Ribble Council, Direct Display and Exhibitions Ltd have been £21,3000 over a near fatal accident in December 2007 in which a worker fell 4m and broke his back and ribs during the installation of a mezzanine floor at a site in Matrix Park, Buckshaw Village.
The company pleaded guilty to 5 breaches of health and safety regulations, the employee had been working at height without training, safety equipment or supervision. Additionally, the company failed to report the accident as required by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. 8th October 2009.
England
Diving accident at Somerset quarry
HSE is investigating an accident in which a 40-year old woman diver was left with critical injuries after diving at the Vobster Quarry Diving Centre (the former Upper Vobster Quarry) near Frome, Somerset.
She has been receiving treatment in a decompression unit in hospital in Plymouth, prompt and efficient work by paramedics at the scene restored her pulse and breathing  prior to hospitalisation. 7th October 2009.
New Zealand
Forestry work death investigation
A Wellington coroner has reported his findings from the inquiry into the death of a forestry worker of Montana Logging Ltd who died at a site in the Ngaumu Forest in Carterton. The worker's body was discovered under a 40-metre tall felled tree, which had fallen on another previously felled tree and rolled or bounced along it and struck the worker. 7th October 2009.
England
Bakery fined over cleaner's finger accident
At Oxford Magistrates' Court bakery company Spread Newco Four Ltd  was fined £6K plus £2,751 in costs after pleading guilty to 2 breaches of health and safety regulations in respect of an accident at a bakery it was operating on Nuffield Industrial Estate, Littlemore.
In January, a 24-year old female worker was cleaning machinery when the tips of 2 fingers were cut off and proved to be beyond surgical reattachment. The court heard that the machine was unguarded and lacked a full risk assessment. 6th October 2009.
England
Thames lifeboat men bitten rescuing dog
Two crew members of the Gravesend RNLI had to be treated in hospital after being bitten by a dog they were rescuing from the Thames off Canvey island where they had been alerted to an incident by Thames Coastguard. 6th October 2009.
Scotland
Scuba diver missing off Ardnamurchan
The Kilchoan Coastguard Rescue team has been searching for a scuba diver reported missing in the bay to the south of the lighthouse off Ardnamurchan Point where he was spear fishing, weather conditions locally were poor with a short sea and winds gusting 5-6. 5th October 2009.
France
Freighter/fishing boat collision
CROSS (centre regional operationnel de surveillance et du sauvetage) of Corsen, Finisterre, attended an accident 50 miles northeast of Ouessant where an Antiguan-flagged cargo ship, EEMS-Trader collided with the fishing boat Sagittaire, the incident happened in rough seas as the freighter was making for Bilbao. 5th October 2009.
Wales
Mustard gas incident on Gower beach
During the disposal of a wartime shell by an Army Ordnance Disposal unit on Whiteford Sands beach in North Gower a release of sulphur mustard occurred, 2 members of the unit required hospitalisation.
The beach was closed in recent days while decontamination work took place, members of the public who frequented the area at this time and may have skin symptoms consistent with exposure to sulphur mustard are advised to seek medical advice. 2nd October 2009.
England
Suffolk woodworking accident
A woodworker is recovering in Norfolk and Norwich Hospital after losing a section of finger and breaking fingers of the other hand while cutting timber off-cuts in machinery at Parham Airfield, Framlingham. 1st October 2009.
Denmark
Fishing boat sank with excessive load
The Danish Maritime Authority's investigation into the sinking of the Hanstholm fishing boat "Blue Lady" in the North Sea has concluded that overloading was a considerable factor in the accident, it was estimated to have been carrying 48 tonnes of fish, more than double its maximum load of 22.4 tonnes. 1st October 2009.
 
UK
DfT launches update to Port Marine Safety Code
The Department for Transport has issued a revised Port Marine Safety Code and accompanying Guide to Good Practice.
The improved guidelines and principles for Ports Safety Management System identify risks and steps needed to eliminate or keep them to a minimum for the 54,000 people who work in ports, vessels and the environment. 30th October 2009.
England
Trust failed in its duty to patient
The North East Essex Primary Care Trust has been fined £10,000 with costs of £4,972 after a vulnerable and partially-sighted 68-year old patient fell 4.3 metres from a first floor window at Clacton & District Hospital.
On 4th March 2008, he wandered into the ward’s day room and fell from a window, that was open to 254mm, to the ground below.
An HSE inspector commented: "North East Essex Primary Care Trust failed in its duty to ensure the health and safety of this retired gentleman, who was left severely injured after his fall, which should never have happened. The risk of vulnerable patients falling from windows above ground level is well known and there have been a number of similar cases. Equally, the control measures, in this case window restrictors, to prevent this risk are easy to fit and maintain." Since 1989, NHS standards have required such a window to only open to 100mm by fitting a window restrictor. 30th October 2009.
England
Asbestos exposure fines
Recon Packaging Ltd of Ashton-under-Lyne has been prosecuted after employees of another company, Industrial & Commercial Building Services Ltd (ICBS) of  Stockport, were exposed to asbestos fibres while demolishing part of its recycling plant in Miles Platting in 2006.
Recon did not carry out any assessment beforehand to find out whether asbestos was present in its premises; it was, in large sections of insulation boards and structural spray coating on steelwork.
ICBS and its managing director failed to ensure that the premises were free from asbestos, its workforce broke up materials using hammers, crowbars and power tools, without wearing suitable protective equipment and without a licence.
Recon was fined £3,000 with £5,000 costs, ICBS and its Managing Director were each fined £2,000. 29th October 2009.
England
 Landlord fined
A landlord from Lodge Hill, Addingham, Ilkley, has been fined £1,000 with £1,500 costs after  breaching r.36(3) of the Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations 1998 and of contravening an improvement notice.
Between July 2007 and January 2009, the landlord failed to ensure that a gas fire in her rented property  in Sea View Street, Cleethorpes, had been checked for safety. 29th October 2009.
England
Lifeguard who failed to apply proper standards fined
On 26th July 2006, a lifeguard on poolside duty at the University of Wolverhampton pool on the Walsall Campus was distracted from his duties and was not in a position to spot a 48-year old male pool user who had got into difficulties and was lying on the bottom.
He was convicted of breaching S.7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, a jury failed to reach a verdict on another lifeguard charged with the same offence in connection with the drowning incident. 28th October 2009.
England
Scaffolding collapses on passing motorist
A long length of 3-metre tall scaffolding collapsed on top of a motorist as she drove along a street in Bolton on Sunday.
The structure was erected around a police station in Le Mans Crescent,  the woman driver required to attend hospital for treatment for shock. 
 28th October 2009.
England
Mining fatality in Yorkshire
UK Coal's Kellingley mine remains closed following the death last week of a 46-year old man in an industrial accident.
Reports state an equipment failure may have been involved in the incident. 27th October 2009.
England
Gas cylinder incident on farm
A man with serious injuries required to be airlifted to hospital on Saturday from Hill Top Farm in Grewelthorpe near Masham, Yorkshire. He is described as being in a critical but stable condition with leg injuries.
The explosion damaged the building he was working in and spread debris over neighbouring properties. 27th October 2009.
Scotland
Fork lift truck driver prosecuted
A 21-year-old fork lift truck driver has been prosecuted following an industrial accident in which a banksman sustained multiple injuries.
He was fined £500 at Livingston Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to a charge under S.7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
While working during October 2007 on a construction site in Livingston, West Lothian, he was operating a telescopic forklift truck without deploying its stabilisers, and as he lifted part of a timber house kit it dropped its load on the banksman.
Investigation found he had provided misleading evidence to his employer concerning his training and experience. 26th October 2009.
England
Exploding drum killed novice welder
R J Bateman (Engineering) Limited of Midsomer Norton, Bath, and two of its directors have been fined for safety failures in connection with a fatal industrial accident on 3rd April
2006 at its Chumleigh, Devon, premises.
The 40-year old deceased was welding practice pieces on an improvised work bench comprising of a metal plate supported by a modified 200-litre coolant drum which was being used to collect waste materials, including highly flammable liquids. The liquids ignited and exploded, inflicting head injuries from which he died some days later.
The company was fined a total of £85,000 with £67,000 costs, the directors were fined £10,000 each. One of the charges related to an earlier unreported accident in November 2004 in which a self-employed worker fell from a roof at the premises. 26th October 2009.
Scotland
Young worker injures foot in chipper
It is reported that a 17-year old worker had a foot seriously injured on Monday while attempting to clear a blockage in a wood chipper in a forest outside Tomatin, Invernesshire.
The report states he was employed by Fasach Woodlands Limited, it is not known if his foot can be saved. 23rd October 2009.
Scotland
 Tractor driver missing in flood
A search continues for an elderly man who was driving a tractor when it was apparently washed into the River Don at Kintore, Aberdeenshire.
The tractor has been located but it is feared that he may have been swept away. 23rd October 2009.
England
Worker crushed between steel and platform
A 28-year old construction site worker was fatally crushed between the platform of his mobile elevating platform and structural steel as he tried to manoeuvre the equipment through a gap. He was caught when the platform lifted as a wheel ran up a spoil heap at the site of the new Marriotts Close shopping centre in August last year.
The net rigger died accidentally an Oxford Coroner's jury determined. 22nd October 2009.
England
Tanker detained
The ‘Vinalines Glory’, a Vietnamese flagged oil tanker managed by Thorne Ship Management Pte Ltd of Singapore, has been detained at the Fawley Oil terminal in Southampton after failing an MCA port state control inspection.
The ship failed to comply with regulations under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and the International Safety Management in respect of having a satisfactory abandon ship drill; not all crew members and officers having a satisfactory command of the English language; and unsatisfactory maintenance and record keeping. 22nd October 2009.
Scotland
Death may bring changes to trailers
A Fatal Accident Inquiry conducted into the December 2007 death of an employee of Mintlaw Transport at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, when he sustained a head injury in a fall from a lorry trailer, has resulted in the  Sheriff recommending "that steps should be taken by the Health and Safety Executive to publicise this determination within the haulage industry so that other operators may be aware of the dangers highlighted by this inquiry and may take steps, if need be, to guard against them."
The deceased fell as he entered the trailer, having first rolled aside the tarpaulin, falling as a result of slipping from the footholds or of cardiac dysrhythmia. The focus will be on finding safer means of access to trailers. 21st October 2009.
England
 Motorised scooter fell from tail lift
Southwark Council has been fined £20,000 with costs of £4,466 following a fatal incident in the car park of Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, in London.
On 20th September 2006, during a trip for Aylesbury Day Centre clients organised by the Council, the group was being loaded into a welfare bus via a tail lift at the rear.
One of the passengers, a 67-year old male on a mobility scooter, fell from the rear of the platform and sustained fatal head injuries. Investigation established that the scooter did not fit on the tail lift, causing the tailgate safety plates to fail to lock into position.
Additionally, no risk assessment and safe system for loading and unloading of people with motorised scooters existed. 20th October 2009.
Scotland
 Restaurant employees assaulted
Three intruders to the Maltings restaurant in Perth assaulted two employees there in the early hours of Sunday. The employees were relieved of a sum of money, one required hospital treatment. 20th October 2009.
England
 Farmer asphyxiated
A 65-year old farmer occupying a run down property in Horsingham on the Longleat Estate died accidentally after being poisoned by carbon monoxide from a blocked flue connected to a Rayburn cooker. A Wiltshire Coroner has undertaken to write to the appropriate authority to appeal for an amendment to legislation that would impose an obligation to maintain and inspect solid fuel systems in the same manner as gas ones. 19th October 2009.
England
 Man badly burned at farm
A man in his 20's has been badly burned and is in a serious condition after a length of steel he was carrying contacted an overhead power cable on a farm near Littleport, Cambs, on Thursday. 19th October 2009.
Scotland
Construction death in Glasgow
A workman aged 31 has died following an industrial accident on a site in Murano Street, Maryhill, Glasgow.
The accident occurred yesterday morning, reports describe him as sustaining crush injuries when a steel frame collapsed. 16th October 2009.
Wales
Refuse collectors injured
It is reported that 2 refuse collection employees of the Vale Council, South Wales, have required leg amputations following separate industrial accidents within 2 weeks. Both accidents involved the employees' feet being run over by a collection vehicle in Barry.  16th October 2009.
England
 Worker found critically injured
An employee at Tornado Wire Limited has sustained a serious head injury in an industrial accident at its premises in Millom, Cumbria.  It appears that the accident occurred during loading of a skip with a forklift truck and it is speculated that he either fell from the skip or was struck on the head by a container. 15th October 2009.
England
 No edge protection provided for worker
West Midlands Installations of  Tipton has been fined £10,000 with £7,561 costs after an employee fell more than 3 metres, breaking ribs and injuring his head.
During July last year he was working at height assembling a racking storage unit in Halesowen without edge protection when he fell. 15th October 2009.
England
 Tractor accident
A man has died after his tractor overturned and crushed him in woodland near Doddiscombsleigh, Devon. The accident occurred on Monday afternoon, it is reported that there were no witnesses. 14th October 2009.
England
 Director fined over workplace death
A Director at Butcher's Pet Care Limited has been fined £10,000 plus £4,000 costs for breaching health and safety law.
The Director, who was responsible for health and safety, had failed to ensure adequate measures had been taken to prevent access to dangerous parts of a palletising machine. The machine should have been fully enclosed with an interlock system to prevent access until the power is shut off. The deceased entered the caged area via a gap in the fencing created by the stair rails in order to reposition a blocked pallet. But when this was freed, the machine activated, trapping and killing him. 14th October 2009.
England
 Student badly disabled by classroom accident
The Governing Body of the Giles School of Boston, Lincolnshire, has been fined £16,500 with £2,500 costs having admitted breaching the requirements of health and safety law when a 6th form female student sustained burns to her hands from plaster of Paris as she attempted to make a cast of them in January 2007. The severity of the burns, caused by the reaction temperature of the hydrated plaster, meant she now has only 2 fingers in total, all the rest and both thumbs required to be amputated.
No risk assessment had been carried out meaning the student was unequipped and uninformed of the dangers. Additionally, the HSE only learned of the accident after it was contacted by the plastic surgeon working on the student's hands. 13th October 2009.
England
Hand was nailed to pallet
Pontrilas Timber & Builders’ Merchants Ltd of Pontrilas, Herefordshire, has been fined £3,500 with £8,973 costs at Hereford Magistrates Court having pleaded guilty to breaching r.11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 in the circumstances of an industrial accident in which an employee operating an automatic wooden pallet-making machine found his hand drawn in, trapped, and then nailed to the top of a pallet.
There was no guarding to prevent access to dangerous moving parts of the machinery, the machine had started unexpectedly. 13th October 2009.
UK
Chain injures trawler crewman
A chain which failed under load has badly injured a 24-year old crewman of the fishing vessel Olivia Jean.
The man was airlifted from the vessel 17 miles off Eastbourne on Saturday afternoon. 12th October 2009.
England
Meat blender traps woman's arm
It is reported that a 17-year old woman was taken to hospital on Saturday evening following an accident in which her arm became trapped in a meat blender at a restaurant in Hackney, London. 12th October 2009.
England
 Accidental death of man crushed in refuse vehicle
 An inquest into the death of a 54-year old man found at Biffa's waste site in Colwick, Nottinghamshire, in May has determined he died accidentally after falling asleep in a large commercial wheelie bin.
The deceased was a rough sleeper and frequented bins for food and shelter, collection staff had no instructions to inspect bins before decanting contents into the vehicle. 9th October 2009.
Scotland
 Golfing fatality
It has been reported that a 66-year old lady golfer playing at Strathendrick Golf Club, Drymen, Stirlingshire, died last week after being struck on the head by a ball. 9th October 2009.
England
Unlicensed contractor put worker's health at risk from asbestos
Workers exposed to asbestos dust while clearing 3,000m² of amosite asbestos insulating board at premises in Enfield may have unwittingly spread the fibres into their homes, vehicles, and onto public transport.
In 2005, Noble Gift Packaging Ltd contracted A & T Roofing Ltd to remove the roof from a building and for 12 weeks the broken tiles were swept into bags.
A & T Roofing Ltd of Enfield pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court of breaching r.3(1) of the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983, and S.s 2(1) and 3(1) Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for which it was fined £25,000 with costs of £33,844.
Noble Gift Packaging Ltd of Enfield, pleaded guilty at the City of London Magistrates’ Court to breaching S.3(1) Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for which it was fined £40,000 with costs of £19,223.
An HSE official commented: “The actions of A & T Roofing Ltd in this matter were unpardonable; they were told 2 weeks into the project that they were working with brown asbestos but carried on for another 10 weeks. Noble Gift Packaging Ltd should have taken the basic step of having a full asbestos survey done after they were informed in a valuation survey that the roof contained asbestos." 8th October 2009.
Northern Ireland
County Antrim firm fined
Creevecastle Ltd has been fined £15,000 for failing to meet the requirements of health and safety legislation after an employee of the Randalstown company was killed when a woodworking machine he was moving fell on him in May 2008. No safe system of work had been enforced for the task, nor had the risks been adequately assessed or controlled. 8th October 2009.
England
 Work at height must be planned and supervised
Carillion (AMBS) Ltd of Glasgow has been fined £40,000 with £8,300 costs at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, having breached the Work at Height Regulations 2005 in the circumstances of an industrial accident in October 2007 in which a cleaner working at height at the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in the county sustained multiple injuries in a 6-metre fall.
The work involved cleaning ducting and 2 of them featured a gap to be crossed, exposing the temporary cleaner to the risk of a fall, given that no edge protection was in place.
As the cleaner unclipped his harness to move, he fell. He had no prior training in harness use, only receiving instructions on the equipment. The company had failed to ensure the work was properly planned and supervised and failed to take measures to prevent a fall.
 7th October 2009.
Wales
Risk assessment failed to prevent second accident
Warwick International Group Ltd of  Holywell, Flintshire, has been fined a total of £26,000 with costs of £1,947 following 2 incidents, one in which an employee's gloved hand became trapped in the rollers of a bagging machine, causing severe friction burns, and another on the same equipment in which an employee sustained burns and tendon damage.
An HSE inspector commented: “The company clearly failed to learn from the first incident and it took a second similar incident before the necessary guarding was put in place on this machine. The company has now put much tighter procedures into place for those working on it." 7th October 2009.
England
Tired driver killed mechanic
A 62-year old woman, who it is believed fell asleep at the wheel and struck and killed a breakdown mechanic as he worked on a vehicle in June last year, has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and jailed for 2 years.
The accident on the A31 at Poulner, Hampshire, occurred after the driver, it had been established, had been awake for over 16 hours.
A jury at Southampton Crown Court reached its verdict by majority. 6th October 2009.
Scotland
Diver dies in Orkney
A recreational diver lost his life in an incident while diving in Scapa Flow off Orkney on Sunday morning. He was retrieved by lifeboat but was declared dead when taken ashore. 6th October 2009.
England
 Truck death
It is reported that the driver of a dumper truck has died after an incident in Shaldon, 3 miles north of Torquay. One account states that the deceased 65-year old man was killed when the truck overturned. 5th October 2009.
England
Reindeer attacks woman
It is reported that the HSE and Fenland District Council are making enquiries into last week's incident in which a 51-year old woman was badly injured by a reindeer kept on a farm at King's Dyke on the outskirts of Peterborough. 5th October 2009.
England
Fatal W. Midlands industrial accident
A man has died in an industrial accident at the Universal Beverages premises in Ledbury, Herefordshire. It is reported that the he fell from a scaffolding lift or hoist on Thursday morning. 2nd October 2009.
UK
Lorry driver failed to apply brakes on ship
A Maritime Accident Investigation Branch report has confirmed that the cause of the incident in which an articulated lorry crashed through the stern door of the Stena Voyager as it left Stranraer for Belfast on 28th January 2009 was that the road tanker driver neglected to apply his brakes and leave it in gear.  Additionally, the vehicle had not been secured in accordance with the vessel's securing manual and this had permitted it to move. The deck securing points and the vehicle securing points were also not in accordance with applicable codes of practice.
Recommendation has been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency that they communicate these failings to all it concerns and issue appropriate advice. 2nd October 2009.
Wales
Unguarded machine removed man's fingers
A. Schulman Inc. Ltd of Crumlin, Monmouth, has been prosecuted and fined over machine guarding failures that permitted an industrial accident in which an employee lost 3 fingers as he cleaned a bagging machine probe.
In October last year, the employee accessed a moving part of the machine that was inadequately guarded, additionally he worked without the benefit of a clear procedure for cleaning and maintenance.
The company was fined a total of £18,000 with costs of £3,827. 1st October 2009.