Nigeria
Oil worker killed, 2 others
taken hostage
A Colombian oil worker has been killed and 2 colleagues from Colombia
and the Philippines taken prisoner following an armed raid on Thursday
at a construction site of Italian-owned oil services company, Saipem,
in the Niger Delta, the gunmen approached the yard in the guise of
soldiers, earlier this week specific threats were issued following the
arrest of a rebel group leader in Angola.
28th September 2007.
|
USA
Fatal accident at Tennessee
concrete works
A worker was killed yesterday at Ready Mix Concrete in Knoxville,
Tennessee, when a chain failed during the movement of a concrete
section which fell on the victim.
28th September 2007.
|
Vietnam
Can Tho City bridge section
collapse kills scores of workers
More than 60 workers are feared dead following the collapse of a
90-metre long sectional span at the construction site of the new Can
Tho City bridge spanning the Hau river in the Mekong Delta, 100 miles
south of Ho Chi Minh City.
Almost 250 workers were on the approach road section when it failed on
Wednesday, concrete pours have been taking place in recent days and it
is speculated that the support frame system has been too weak.
27th September 2007.
|
Slovakia
Guard dogs maul watchman
Two Rottweiler guard dogs have fatally mauled a watchman at a building
site in Senica, northwest Slovakia, the victim had released the dogs
for exercise as usual within the fenced compound but they attacked
him, Slovakian police are to charge the site owner with death by
negligence.
27th September 2007.
|
Kenya
Steel mill furnace explosion
kills 5 workers
A furnace explosion at the Devki Steel Mills in Athi River, 25 miles
southeast of Nairobi, has killed 5 workers and seen 6 others admitted
to Kenyatta National Hospital, some with 80% burns.
Of 16 workers in the furnace room at the time, 3 were unaccounted for
early on Tuesday morning. The company procures scrap metal, including
exploded mortar shells, for the manufacture of steel bars, it is
thought that unscreened live ordnance was mistakenly thrown into the
furnace.
26th September 2007.
|
USA
Californian docker killed in
container accident
Investigation is ongoing into the death of a 39-year old docker at the
Port of Oakland, California, it has been speculated that he was struck
by a 15-tonne shipping container.
26th September 2007.
|
USA
Worker drowns in acid vat
An 18-year old worker drowned in a sulphuric acid vat at the Coastal
Circuits factory in Redwood City, California, it is speculated that
the victim was overcome by fumes while treating circuit boards in an
acid-copper plating tank and fell in, it is alleged that he was not
wearing facial protection against the hazardous chemicals.
25th September 2007.
|
New Zealand
Falling machinery kills
Christchurch worker
A worker was killed yesterday when a machinery section fell on him at
the Skellerup factory in the Woolston district of Christchurch.
25th September 2007.
|
Bangladesh
Trawlers missing in Gulf of
Bengal storm
Fears were expressed at the weekend for the lives of 1200 fishermen
from the Barguna area after more than 100 trawlers were caught by
surprise by high seas in the Bay of Bengal.
24th September 2007.
|
France
Bungee elastic fails, jumper
survives
A student of the Parisian Ecole des Mines survived with a broken jaw
and hand when the elastic of a bungee jump failed during an
integration event in the Ardeche, the accident occurred on the Rejus
Roman bridge in Pont-de-Labeaume, the elastic failed at its maximum
extension and the student's estimated fall was 12 metres.
22nd September 2007.
|
USA
Aircraft crashes into Carolina
diner
The pilot of a single-engine Navion aircraft died on Friday when his
60-year old plane crashed into the McCall's BBQ &Seafood Restaurant in
Clayton, North Carolina, no fatalities of restaurant staff were
reported, apparently no flight plan had been recorded.
22nd September 2007.
|
Germany
Recalling the Fate of the Pamir
It is now 50 years since the Pamir sank in mid-Atlantic in Hurricane
Carrie, the loss of 80 of the 86-man crew, including 50 teenage cadets
on their first ocean voyage, remains one of the more controversial
maritime disasters of the last century.
Full article.
21st September 2007.
|
USA
Wyoming trona mine fatality
A trona (hydrous carbonate of soda) mine worker has died when
transport in which he and a colleague were travelling overturned at
the mine near Green River, southwest Wyoming.
21st September 2007.
|
Trinidad and Tobago
Worker without safety harness
survives fall
Investigation is ongoing into an accident in which a worker released
himself from his safety harness to perform a task and later fell
through one storey at the new RBTT financial site in St Clair, the
employee of Beaver Construction Ltd admitted he was not secured when
the accident occurred, he has been discharged from Port-of-Prince
General Hospital.
21st September 2007.
|
Bosnia
Child machine gunned
A 5-year old child was killed by a 6-year old who fired off a machine
gun which they found in a garage in their neighbourhood in Bijeljina,
northeast Bosnia, the child died later in hospital from wounds
inflicted in the accident, it is feared that many such weapons remain
concealed from the 92-95 Balkan conflict.
20th September 2007.
|
Russia
Schoolchildren afflicted by food
poisoning
Food poisoning is alleged to have led to the hospitalisation of 18
children of Secondary School 3 in Novy Urengoy, the Ministry of
Emergencies for the Yamalo-Nemets Autonomous region is alleging
breaches of hygiene in the school dining room, the children's
condition is reported as moderate to serious. 19th
September 2007.
|
Lebanon
Unexploded ordnance fatality in
rural location
A 24-year old Syrian worker has died in an explosion after handling
unexploded ordnance while working in a field in As-Sawah village, 50
miles northwest of Baalbek, 4 others were also injured. 19th
September 2007.
|
Morocco
Bus crash claims 15 lives
Fifteen people died when a bus travelling from Errachidia to Marrakech
crashed into a ravine after failing to negotiate a tight bend near
Errachidia, last year's annual figure of 3,622 Moroccan road
fatalities represented an increase of more than 4% on 2005. 18th
September 2007.
|
Thailand
Scores dead in Phuket air crash
At least 87 people died yesterday when a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 crash
landed at Phuket airport, struck a group of trees and broke in two,
123 passengers and 7 crew were on board the One-Two-Go flight from
Bangkok, it is believed that the pilot and co-pilot survived the
accident.
Strong winds and rain prevailed at the time, it is thought that the
pilot had sought to abort the landing, this is the worst Thai aviation
accident in a decade. 17th
September 2007.
|
South Africa
Tourist transport clips railway
bridge
At least 13 tourists from Europe and Canada were injured yesterday
when their vehicle struck a railway bridge in Atlantic Road,
Muizenberg, 2 seating compartments were badly damaged as the vehicle
became wedged under the bridge. 17th
September 2007.
|
India
Pilgrims killed in northern rail
accident
As many as 15 Hindu pilgrims have died in a railway accident near
Sarya Ghat station in Uttar Pradesh after being struck by a Lucknow
intercity express train. Indian railway authorities indicate that a
number of pilgrims, known as "Kanwarias", had stopped their train by
emergency braking as it approached a bridge, with a view to collecting
holy water, some were killed by an approaching train on an adjacent
track, others jumped from the bridge in panic and drowned, divers had
recovered 12 bodies by Friday. 15th
September 2007.
|
Canada
Exhibition Place fined over
electrical accident
An Ontario court this week fined the board of governors of Exhibition
Place $100K (£46,512) in respect of an electrical accident at the 2005
Canadian National Exhibition in which 2 workers sustained 2nd and 3rd
degree burns when an electrical explosion occurred and their clothing
ignited during investigation of a power loss at a stand, Exhibition
Place pleaded guilty as an employer to failing to ensure workers were
provided with protective equipment. 15th
September 2007.
|
Austria
Fatal shotgun accident on east
Tyrol farm
A Tyrolean farmer accidentally killed his brother on Thursday while
attempting to slaughter a cow in a closed trailer at a farm in Kals.
The victim had loaded the animal into the trailer and was inside
himself when the farmer elected to dispatch the animal with a shotgun,
however the weapon apparently discharged prematurely as he poked it
through a vent in the trailer. 14th
September 2007.
|
France
Ddass refutes legionella
epidemic fears in Pas-de-Calais
Ddass (Direction des affaires sanitaires et sociales) of the
Pas-de-Calais and interregional epidemiological units stated yesterday
that they are not speaking at this stage of an epidemic regarding the
8 cases of legionnaires disease confirmed since late August in the
Lens area. 14th
September 2007.
|
Bangladesh
Lorry plunges off bridge, 11
workers killed
At least 11 workers have died when a cement lorry carrying a squad of
farm labourers to Bogra came off a bridge near Sherpar, 175 miles
north of Dhaka, the accident occurred in heavy rain, it is alleged
that the bridge was in a broken condition at the time of the accident.13th
September 2007.
|
Israel
Toxic spillage affects
Ben-Gurion ground staff
A spillage of toxic material, thought to be fertiliser ingredient for
carriage to the Czech Republic, injured 3 ground staff workers at
Ben-Gurion International airport, the material was stored in the
vicinity of aircraft and the leakage was inhaled by the workers who
are now satisfactory after hospital treatment in Rishon Letzion.
12th September 2007.
|
Haiti
Light injuries as domestic
flight crashes in marsh
L'Office Haitien de l'Aviation Civile (OFNAC), the Haitian civil
aviation authority, has indicated that a domestic flight of
Caribinter, undertaking the 30-minute flight from Port-Au-Prince to
Cap-Haitien in the north, came down in marshland shortly into the
flight yesterday after experiencing engine failure, of 9 people on
board only the pilot and 1 passenger were slightly injured.
12th September 2007.
|
Mexico
Multiple fatalities in
explosives lorry crash in Coahuila
More than 30 people are feared dead following a lorry collision and
the ignition of a load of ammonia nitrate at Celemenia, between
Monclova and Cuatro Cienegas on Mexico's highway 30.
A number of the casualties, including rescue teams and journalists
from the Zocalo, Tiempo and Prensa newspapers, died when a secondary
explosion occurred during rescue operations, a 3-metre deep and
25-metre wide crater was produced by the explosion.
11th September 2007.
|
Germany
Emergency landing
Engine problems led to the emergency landing in Hamburg of a Finnair
Airbus A321 flying from Helsinki to Paris, all 156 passengers and 7
crew were uninjured in Monday's incident.
11th September 2007.
|
India
Overpass collapse claims 15
lives
The collapse of a highway overpass under construction through the
Begumpet area of Hyderabad has left 15 people dead, a further 10 are
being treated in NIMS and Apollo hospitals for injuries of varying
severity.
The structure has been 2 years in progress, using pre-stressed
concrete moulds.
10th September 2007.
|
Denmark
Twin-engine turboprop's landing
gear fails
The failure of landing gear to function caused a Dehavilland Canada
DHC-8-400 of Scandinavia Airlines with 69 passengers and 4 crew to
crash on landing in Aalborg on a domestic flight from Copenhagen, the
aircraft became unstable when the right side landing gear collapsed on
impact, no serious injuries occurred.
10th September 2007.
|
Ireland
Waterford tractor fatality
A 54-year old Waterford tractor driver died when he lost control of
his vehicle on Mellary Hill, Cappoquin, no other vehicles were
involved in the accident.
8th September 2007.
|
USA
Wisconsin boy killed in farm
crush accident
A 12-year boy has died this week in a fatal crush accident on a farm
in Marathon county, central Wisconsin, the boy was apparently
operating machinery with a loader taking animal feed from a silo when
he became pinned between the machinery framework and an arm of the
front loader bucket.
7th September 2007.
|
Kazakhstan
Rocket with telecom satellite
crashes
Further launches of Proton-M launcher rockets have been suspended
pending investigation of Thursday's accident in which an apparent
technical malfunction caused a Proton-M booster carrying a Japanese
JCSAT-11 telecommunications satellite to crash just 139 seconds into
flight from the Baikonur cosmodrome, 25 miles southwest of Zhezkazgan.
Russia leases the site for rocket launching, no injuries were
reported, the debris came down in rural land.
7th September 2007.
|
Spain
8 fishermen feared drowned off
Cadiz
At least 4 crew members of the fishing boat Nueva Pepite Aurora have
drowned and a further 4 are missing after the boat overturned on
Wednesday 15 miles southeast of Barbate, Cadiz, the fishing boat
Benamahoma managed to rescue 7 others who are now back in Barbate.
Rescuers were focussing on the search for the missing quartet of
fishermen late on Wednesday and had not ruled out that an air bubble
exists in the overturned boat.
6th September 2007.
|
France
British speleologists rescued in
Chartreuse massif
A rescue team of the CRS Alpes (Compagnie Republicaine de Securite)
rescued 2 British speleologists on Wednesday after friends raised an
alarm over their failure to return from the Glas cave under the
Crolles ridge in the Chartreuse massif near Grenoble.
The speleologists had set off on Tuesday, 1 is believed to have
fractured an ankle.
6th September 2007.
|
France
Heart attack was workplace death
The French Department of Social Security has indicated that it accepts
the death of a tyre factory manager from a heart attack as a workplace
death produced by "chronic stress", the 52-year old victim was a
manager at the Continental Tyre factory in Clairoux, Oise, and
sustained the heart attack on 31st January this year, he died on 19th
February. 5th
September 2007.
|
Croatia
Scale of loss of life sparks
firefighting management debate
An 8th fireman has died in a Zagreb hospital from injuries sustained
fighting fires on Kornat island, 2 other survivors have critical
life-threatening burns. The incident is regarded as the worst
firefighting accident in Croatian peacetime history, victims were
apparently trapped when the wind changed suddenly.
Some of the victims were teenage volunteer members of local brigades,
the incident was marked with a day of national mourning yesterday and
is generating much debate in Croatia over firefighting management
techniques. 4th
September 2007.
|
Guatemala
Election vehicle swept away
fording river in spate
At least 15 people from the community of Jutiapa, 110 miles from
Guatemala City, died when the pick-up vehicle on which they were
riding was swept away fording a river in spate at the village of Las
Pilas, 5 miles from their destination.
More than 30 of them had been attending a pre-election rally in
support of Basilio Cordero of the Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza
party ahead of next weekend's elections, rescue services were
searching for further victims on Monday.
4th September 2007.
|
Macedonia
Fire at handicapped children's
unit leaves 2 dead
Fire at an institution for 60 handicapped children in Bansko, 100
miles southeast of Skopje, left 2 children dead and 10 injured on
Sunday. 3rd September 2007.
|
Pakistan
Highway collapses in Karachi
As many as 15 people are feared dead following the collapse of an
overpass highway in Karachi, many vehicles including a bus were
trapped under the debris of the road, built by the National Highway
Authority, which only opened in recent weeks. Karachi features scores
of such bridges and highways, concern is being expressed over their
load-bearing integrity, especially pre-1995 structures.
2nd September
|
Germany
Child spent days beside dead
grandmother
Authorities in Kiel in northern Germany are investigating the
circumstances in which a 16-month old child was found living beside
her 44-year old deceased grandmother who had lain dead for a period of
3-7 days, the dehydrated child is recovering in hospital, the child
had apparently been staying with the grandmother while the 20-year old
mother was on holiday.
2nd September
|
|
Canada
Manager trapped in fish plant
freezer doors
WorkSafe British Columbia is investigating an accident at the Port
Fish plant in Port Alberni which saw the plant manager trapped in
freezer doors while working with a maintenance electrician, the
manager was hospitalised in Vancouver but was discharged on Thursday. 28th
September 2007.
|
Ireland
Double firefighter fatality in
Wicklow
Two firemen have died when a roof collapsed while tackling a blaze at
a disused warehouse on Lower Dargle Street in Bray, County Wicklow. 27th
September 2007.
|
France
Octogenarian killed in tractor
mower accident
An 89-year old man was found dead yesterday under his overturned 218Kg
tractor mower at his home in Romilly-sur-Aigre, Eure-et-Loir, it
appears that he lost control of it on a gentle gradient and it
overturned, pinning him underneath. 26th
September 2007.
|
Romania
3 dead as survey plane crashes
in Carpathians
A Diamond DA 42 light aircraft undertaking aerial topographical survey
work crashed near Vaideeni in the southern Carpathian mountains on
Tuesday afternoon, 1 Romanian and 2 Austrians on board died, an
Austrian company had been commissioned for the survey work, contact
was lost with the plane some time after it left Craiova. 26th
September 2007.
|
Australia
Toddler drowns in old farm silo
An 18-month old boy drowned on Monday in the water-filled structural
base of a former silo at a farm 220 miles southeast of Perth, Western
Australia. 25th
September 2007.
|
Croatia
Zagreb street collapses into
site
An underground retaining wall failed during construction work at an
excavation in Kupska Street, Zagreb, leading to the collapse of 3
dwellinghouses and a section of the street into the 27-metre deep
excavation, an underground water course is believed to have been
disturbed, leading to water ingress.
25th September 2007.
|
Germany
Parachute fails in mid-descent
A 46-year old parachutist died on Saturday when his equipment failed during a jump
from the Neuhausen airfield near Cottbus in eastern Germany, the
victim and 2 others had jumped at an altitude of 4,300 metres with his
parachute opening normally, however when he had descended to around
1000 metres it suddenly became tangled and failed.
24th September 2007.
|
South Africa
Helicopter hits power lines, occupants swim to safety
A helicopter pilot and his passenger managed to swim to safety from
their craft after it crashed into a dam by a farm at Eston, KwaZulu
Natal, after the Robinson 44 helicopter had struck power lines and
then fallen into the dam. 24th September 2007.
|
China
Canoe expedition survivor found
At least 1 Russian tourist in a party of 6 canoeing down the Yurungkax
River has been found alive near Hotan in the west of Xingjian, the
party had set off in the 12-day expedition for the upper reaches of
the river on 21st August, the alarm was raised when they failed to
meet with a Chinese guide in Hotan on 2nd September, 3 members of the
party of 6 have already been found dead.
22nd September 2007.
|
Japan
Crack in Boeing fuselage
A hairline fracture of the fuselage close to the tail section of a
Boeing 737-800 aircraft was discovered during post-flight maintenance
inspection of a China Airlines flight which had just arrived at Saga
Airport on the island of Shikoku from Taipei, the Japanese aviation
authority has launched an investigation.
22nd September 2007.
|
Malta
Ethanethiol released after lorry
cracks tank
Highly flammable and toxic ethyl mercaptan (ethanethiol) was released
into the atmosphere when a gas cylinder delivery vehicle struck a
45-gallon tank at the Enemalta Gas Depot in the Qaijenza district of
Birzebbaga, the site and nearby residents were evacuated while a
combination of cooling down and transfer of the gas took place.
21st September 2007.
|
Ireland
Man crushed in refuse
compactor
It appears that a man who
entered a refuse bin in Limerick has been killed when it was decanted
into a refuse vehicle's compactor.
The police were alerted following the discovery of his body at a
nearby recycling centre.
20th September 2007.
|
France
Electrician killed in hangar
doors accident
An Air France electrician has died after his head became caught
between sliding hangar doors at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport, it
is believed that he wad been working on the malfunctioning doors which
were preventing the exit of a Boeing aircraft.
19th September 2007.
|
South Africa
Rail tunnel site fatality
A construction worker has died in a tunnel accident at the Gautrain
Marlboro Station construction site after being struck by a vehicle in
the tunnel. 19th
September 2007.
|
Zambia
Children killed by ordnance
after accessing military camp
Two children died and 16 were injured when the children managed to
access a secure military area at Gondar Barracks in Chipata, eastern
Zambia, and began playing with a 40mm rocket device which exploded.
18th September
2007.
|
Montenegro
WW2 remains found on Podgorica
site
Montenegrin and German officials on Monday confirmed that the human
remains discovered on a building site in Podgorica are those of German
Wehrmacht troops from WW2, it is believed that around 90 bodies were
found on the site, probably engaged in combat with Marshall Josip Broz
Tito's partisans, the remains are to be buried in a cemetery in
Sukuruk, 10 miles away.18th September
2007.
|
Mexico
Bus crashes into ravine
A bus carrying 35 air passengers crashed 100 metres down into a ravine
at km9 on the Chapalvilla -Compostela highway in Nayarit, 18 are known
to have died, they had arrived from Arizona and were travelling on
from Puerto Vallerto to Guadalajara. 17th September
2007.
|
USA
West Virginia mining death
The 5th mining fatality of the year in West Virginia was recorded on
Sunday at the Mountain Laurel Complex of Arch Coal, 50 miles southwest
of Charleston, no details of the underground accident were immediately
available, this becomes the 25th national mine death of the year.
17th September
2007.
|
Japan
Patient's finger severed in
hospital lifting accident
Police in Kitakyushu are considering charges of professional
negligence resulting in injury in respect of an accident in Kokura
Rehabilitation Hospital where a 76-year old female patient lost the
top section of a finger which was severed in a belt-driven lifting
mechanism as she was being transferred from a bed to a stretcher.
15th September
2007.
|
Poland
Clandestine crossing claims
lives of 3 Chechnyan children
Polish border control guards have recovered the bodies of 3 Chechnyan
girls aged 6, 10 and 13 who died from apparent exhaustion during a
clandestine crossing of the Ukrainian/Polish border in the mountains
of southeast Poland, the children's mother and another 2-year old
child were found by the guards, the mother directed them to the
victims' location, the mother and surviving child are recovering in
hospital. 15th September
2007.
|
Bhutan
Worker fatalities at hydro dam
site
Three employees of Jaiprakash Company Ltd have died in accidents this
week at the work camp near the dam site, 5 miles from Chukha dzong in
Bhutan. In one incident the driver lost control of his vehicle
approaching the dam, in the other accident 2 workers died from
injuries when a landslide struck the camp, the other 8 employees were
at work, Chukha Hydro Power Corporation assisted with the rescue and
recovery efforts.
14th September 2007.
|
Ireland
Trawlermen plucked from sea
The RNLI successfully rescued 2 trawlermen from a liferaft after their
trawler fishing out of Dunmore East sank some 13 miles off Cork.
14th September
2007.
|
USA
Contract worker killed in
Colorado highway work zone
A 43-year old contract worker for the Colorado Department of
Transportation, an employee of American Barricade Rental, has died
after being run over in a construction work zone on Interstate 70 at
the Morrison exit, the victim was in the rear of a reversing vehicle
collecting marker cones when he fell out and was subsequently run over
by the vehicle, the driver unaware of his colleague's fall. 13th
September 2007.
|
Romania
Lorry kills mourners in cortege
At least 6 people in a funeral cortege were killed on Tuesday when a
lorry ran into the rear of the procession making its way to a cemetery
at Negreni, around 150 people were following the hearse on highway DN1
when the aggregate-laden lorry ran into the rear of the cortege on a
blind bend. 12th
September 2007.
|
USA
Compressor explodes at Georgia
refrigerant plant
A worker was hospitalised yesterday when a refrigerant compressor
became over-pressurised and exploded in front of him, the accident
occurred at the Bitzer US plant in Oakwood, 30 miles northeast of
Atlanta.12th
September 2007.
|
Italy
Fatal crash and fire incident in
Lombardy tunnel
A vehicular accident in the San Martino di Lecco road tunnel in
Lombardy has killed 2 people and left 10 others treated for smoke
inhalation in Lecco's Manzoni hospital on Monday afternoon, the driver
of 1 of the cars lost control of his vehicle which hit a wall and
ignited. 11th
September 2007.
|
Iran
Pilot killed during training
flight
An aviation instructor died on Monday when his plane crashed during a
training flight with a student pilot, the accident occurred near
Chiraz in southern Iran, the student is believed to have survived the
accident and has been hospitalised with unspecified injuries. 11th
September 2007.
|
South Africa
Helicopter training flight
fatalities
A helicopter pilot instructor and his pupil were killed when their
aircraft crashed on Sunday during a training flight from Port
Alfred, the accident occurred on farmland at Winterstrand, near East
London. 10th
September 2007.
|
Switzerland
Rail crane derails in Berne
A crane of SBB (Schweizer Bundesbahn) derailed and overturned at the
weekend at Tagerschi station, Berne, no injuries were reported.
10th September 2007.
|
China
Falling lighting standard kills
site workers
At least 7 construction workers were killed when a lightning standard
collapsed at a site in Zhengzhou city, Henan.
8th September 2007.
|
Australia
Judge criticises foreseeable
death
A Melbourne judge has fined Camden Neon Signs of Tullamarine
$300K(£122,010)in respect of a fatal electrocution last April in which
a 25-year old worker contacted a 240V live power source while fitting
a floodlight at a car depot in Coburg. The judge described the
company's safety instructions and equipment as inadequate and regarded
the accident as foreseeable, opining that only sheer luck had
prevented an earlier such fatality.
7th September 2007.
|
USA
Crane accident at Minneapolis
bridge
It is thought that a hydraulic failure caused a crane boom to fall on
to 7th Street Bridge in Minneapolis on Thursday morning, 2 workers
were engaged on work with a parking ramp facade when the accident
occurred, no injuries have been reported.
7th September 2007.
|
South Africa
Demolition fatality at gold mine
A demolition worker was killed on Wednesday when a 30-metre high silo
collapsed on the cab of the pecker he was operating to break up
concrete at East Rand Proprietary Mines in Boksburg, the pecker was
partially buried, rescuers may not be able to recover the victim's
body until later today (Thursday).
6th September 2007.
|
USA
Pipe falls on Texan worker's leg
A worker's leg was pinned by a falling 2-tonne pipe on Wednesday
morning at Le Tourneau Technologies in northwest Houston, his
condition is unknown.
6th September 2007.
|
Canada
Child killed in ATV rollover in
Manitoba
An 8-year old boy has died in an ATV rollover accident on rural
farmland in Morris, Manitoba, the boy was operating the vehicle in the
company of an adult and was wearing protective headgear.
5th September 2007.
|
South Africa
Driefontein miner killed in
earth tremor
An earth tremor measuring 1.5 on the Richter scale has led to the
death of a miner working 3km underground at the No 5 shaft of the
Driefontein mine of Gold Fields Ltd, 2 other miners were injured, work
has been suspended at the shaft. 4th September
2007.
|
Romania
Tourist bus overturns near
Giurgiu
A tourist bus displaying Polish plates overturned on Monday near
Giurgiu, 30 miles south of Bucharest, 3 of the 25 passengers, believed
to be Slovakian tourists heading for Bulgaria, were killed.
4th September 2007.
|
USA
Teenage worker killed at
Michigan car wash
An 18-year worker at the Goo Goo Express car wash in 28th Street
Southwest in Battle Creek, south Michigan, has been killed after
becoming caught in moving equipment, it is believed he had begun to
engage in cleaning the unit while it was still active after a customer
had passed through. 3rd September 2007.
|
Poland
Air acrobatic pilots killed at
Random Air Show
The collision of 2 aircraft of the Zelazny air acrobatic team at the
Random Air Display in Poland has left both pilots dead, 4 planes were
participating in the display when the accident occurred several
hundred metres from the public at the show in Random on Saturday.
2nd September
|
Kenya
Fatalities after lightning
strikes church
At least 6 people died when lightning struck a church in Munenge, near
the regional capital of Kakamenge, 16 others were injured, 3 are
listed in coma condition.
2nd September
|
|
Turkey
Istanbul workshop owner killed
in explosion
An explosion on Thursday afternoon at a 2-storey workshop in the
Eminonu district of Istanbul has left the owner dead and injured 4
others, sections of the premises collapsed and passers-by were injured
by flying glass shards. 28th
September 2007.
|
USA
Kansas fireman electrocuted by
downed power line
A fireman was electrocuted fighting a grass fire 10 miles south of
Wichita, Kansas, the fire was sparked by a power line brought down
after being struck by a lorry.
It remains unclear whether fire crews were aware of the live line
which the victim contacted. The lorry is alleged to have driven past a
detour sign, a female driver of US Xpress Enterprises has been
assisting the local police investigation. 27th
September 2007.
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USA
Fatal fall during radio tower
dismantling
A 51-year old worker has fallen to his death from an unspecified
height on a radio tower in East Deer, Pennsylvania, it is understood
that he was engaged on the dismantling of the tower which had been
damaged during inclement spring weather. 26th
September 2007.
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France
Dementia patient stabs health
workers
A 69-year dementia patient inflicted serious stab wounds on 2 female
staff at the Josselin Hospital, Morbihan, on Monday morning, both are
not in life-threatening condition.
25th September 2007.
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Ireland
Trench fatality
HSA is investigating an accident on a
construction site in Castleisland, County Kerry, in which a 29-year
old worker was killed in an unstable excavation. 24th September 2007.
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France
Spectators badly injured at
Corsican rally
Two spectators at the Corte rally in upper Corsica were badly injured
after being struck by a vehicle near Piedigriggio on Saturday
afternoon, it is believed that they were attempting to cross the
highway, the rally doctor attended to the injuries, it is feared that
1 of the victims is facing a double leg amputation. 24th September 2007.
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Pakistan
Hooch claims lives in Karachi
Illicit cuppi hooch has claimed at least 27 lives in Karachi, the
victims had been admitted to Civil Hospital Karachi and the Jinnah
Postgraduate Medical Centre with critical poisoning and blindness
after consuming the liquor in Railway Colony.
22nd September 2007.
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Botswana
Zeppelin blown off mooring
A crew member of the Zeppelin Company airship has been hospitalised
following an accident in which the airship detached from its
mast-truck mooring in gusting conditions during its contract lease to
De Beers Exploration at their Jwaneng mine base in Botswana.
22nd September
2007.
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USA
Unstable shoring injures Arizona
construction worker
An Arizona construction worker almost lost a leg when unstable shoring
shields apparently inflicted a serious leg injury at the Santa Cruz
Interceptor Project in Tucson, the employee of Don Kelly Construction
was left suspended in his safety harness halfway down the 14-metre
deep excavation in which sewer pipes are being laid, a basket was
lowered to effect his rescue.
21st September 2007.
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Argentina
Bank fire
Ten workers were admitted to Argerich hospital in Buenos Aires for
treatment for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out on the 6th floor
of Banco Central offices on Reconquista and Sarmiento Avenue,
maintenance work was ongoing in an electrical chamber which was
thought to be the locus.
20th September 2007.
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Egypt
Workers drown in manhole
accident
Seven workers are reported to have drowned during attempts to open a
heavy manhole at a village in southern Egypt.
19th September 2007.
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Canada
CNR goods train derailment in nw
BC
Investigation is underway into the derailment of 29 grain wagons of a
99-wagon Canadian National Railway train bound for Prince Rupert,
British Columbia, the accident occurred 30 miles east of Terrace, no
obvious cause has been suggested.
19th September 2007.
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USA
Worker crushed in Wisconsin
works
A 30-year old Wisconsin worker sustained fatal head and chest injuries
when a support failed during the movement of heavy equipment at
Brunner Manufacturing in Mauston, 125 miles northwest of Milwaukee
18th September
2007.
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Peru
Health ministry responds to
infected blood transfusions
All 240 blood banks and dialysis centres are to be subject to rigorous
checks with foreign experts expected to be invited by Health Minister
Carlos Vallejos to oversee and instruct, in recent weeks 4 hospital
patients have contracted HIV and 30 contracted Hepatitis C during
blood transfusions or dialysis, around 40 blood banks have already
been closed.18th September
2007.
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France
Pupil surprises teacher with WW2
grenade
Buisson school in Bethune, northern France, was evacuated when a
9-year old girl produced a WW2 grenade from her satchel, her teacher
had asked his class to bring an unusual item to school and the girl
brought the grenade which her brother had found. 17th September
2007.
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Australia
Come Home Safe (from work)
The Western Australia state government today launched its 6-week TV
and radio campaign, "Come Home Safe", to raise public awareness of
workplace safety in the wake of the latest annual figures revealing
that state workplace deaths have doubled from 12 to 25. 17th September
2007.
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Trinidad and Tobago
Unstable excavation kills site
worker in Port of Spain
An unstable excavation at the One Woodbrook Place 23-storey site of
Home Construction Ltd in Woodbrook, Port of Spain, has claimed the
life of 1 of 2 workers trapped in the 10-foot deep trench, engaged in
sewer pipe work when soil ingress occurred. 15th September
2007.
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Turkey
Freighter sinks in Black Sea,
crew rescued
The Panamanian-flagged freighter Sunny Day has sunk in the Black Sea,
30 miles into its journey from Trabzon to Sotchi in Russia, the
5K-tonne ship was transporting lorries, all 19 crew and 12 lorry
drivers were safely rescued by helicopter. 15th September
2007.
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Spain
Disabled ferry tourist's 5 hour
crossing in car deck
A disabled tourist had to spend 5 hours in his vehicle in the car deck
during the ferry crossing from Alicante to Ibiza because there was a
lack of suitable access to the passenger areas.
The only access upwards proved too narrow, the tourist described the
experience as "humiliating".
14th September 2007.
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Canada
Company fined for manual
handling injuries
The Ontario Court of Justice has fined Source Medical Corporation of
Mississauga $65K(£30,516) following an accident in which one of its
delivery drivers sustained fractures during a delivery.
On 7th April 2006, the driver was making a delivery in Brantwood, when
he attempted to unload goods in his vehicle they became unstable and
pinned him to the floor of the vehicle. The company pleaded guilty to
failing to have safe work procedures in place for employees. 13th
September 2007.
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Lithuania
Landing gear problems forces
Dash 8-400 groundings
A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Dash 8-400(Q400) flying from Copenhagen
to Palanga, west Lithuania, had to make an emergency landing when a
section of its landing gear failed, all 48 passengers and 4 crew
landed without injuries.
SAS has decided to ground all 33 aircraft of this type, this being the
second such emergency landing in 4 days prompted by landing gear
failures. Canadian manufacturer Bombardier has recommended the
grounding of all Dash 8-400's pending a safety inspection programme. 13th
September 2007.
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Sweden
4 dead as military helicopters
collide
The mid-air collision of 2 Bolkow Bo 105 helicopters on Tuesday near
Tingsryd, 30 miles northwest of Karlskrona, has left all 4 occupants
of both craft dead, it is believed that the helicopters of the
Linkoping fleet had left an airfield in Kallinge to engage in military
exercises. 12th
September 2007.
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Denmark
Ferry grounds on breakwater
The Norwegian ferry Pride of Telemark, operated by Kystlink, struck a
section of breakwater as it approached the port of Hirsthals in
Denmark, damage to the hull and propeller were sustained, the 150
passengers and 64 crew were safely evacuated. 12th
September 2007.
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France
Fire kills 2 residents of
handicapped home
Fire has claimed the lives of 2 women aged 45 and 47 at a home for
severely handicapped adults in Thann, eastern France, the fire broke
out on the 2nd floor level of the establishment, all other 28
residents have been relocated in the Saint-Joseph Institute. 11th
September 2007.
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Turkmenistan
Effective child labour ban
sought
President Berdymukhammedov has been reported in local media on Monday
as requesting an effective ban on the use of child labour in cotton
plantations, this has been demanded by previous administrations but
only received lip service.
Commercial exigency has seen schoolchildren pressed into work in the
cotton plantations, as well as service personnel, the latter are also
to be restricted from labour in cotton harvesting. 11th
September 2007.
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France
Hunter killed during wild boar
shoot
A 56-year old man in a hunting party in the north Gironde area has
been killed after being accidentally shot by a 57-year fellow member
of the hunting party during beating for wild boar near Maransin.
10th September 2007.
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USA
New Hampshire aborist injured
OSHA New Hampshire launches an investigation today (Monday) into an arboreal
accident in Tuttle Lane, Greenland, south of Portsmouth, which saw a
New Hampshire arborist, positioned in a tree, sustain serious chest
injuries while lopping branches with a chainsaw.
10th September 2007.
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France
Numero vert issued over
radiation scandal
The French Health Ministry on Friday issued a "numero vert" (hotline)
for patients who had received radiotherapy treatment at the Jean
Monnet Hospital in Epinal in recent years to make contact, 4,500
patients are thought to be involved.
721 patients have already been identified as allegedly having received
incorrect dosages of radiation, some with burns requiring skin grafts,
5 patients have died.
8th September 2007.
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Argentina
Gas leak at Buenos Aires college
A gas leakage occurred on Friday morning on the 3rd floor at the
Lenguas Vivas college on Carlos Pellegrini Street, Buenos Aires, 27
pupils aged 11 and 12 required medical treatment at Rivadavia and
Fernandez hospitals.
8th September 2007.
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Equatorial Guinea
Dangerous firemen behind the
wheel
The premier of Equatorial Guinea has criticised in a radio interview
the driving skills and comportment of firemen behind the wheel,
terming their driving "non-reglementaire" (illegal) and "temeraire"
(reckless), contributing to fatal accidents at times.
He pointed out that they are now equipped with modern equipment and
has called on the firefighters to comport themselves professionally.
7th September 2007.
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Thailand
Fire at hotel without sprinkler
system
An outbreak of fire at the Mandarin Hotel in Bangkok took almost 3
hours to control yesterday as the 30-year old building has no
sprinkler system.
The locus was the 2nd floor and smoke-logging occurred to 10th floor
level, 16 tourists required treatment for smoke inhalation, 400 others
were safely evacuated.
6th September 2007.
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Bahamas
Subcontractor injured in
switchgear accident
Grand Bahama Power Company is investigating an electrical accident in
which a subcontract worker of Mechanical Engineering Company was
injured while working on a 69kW transfer switch at the Steam Plant on
Peel Street, Freeport, the victim has been hospitalised.
6th September 2007.
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Cyprus
Worker's leg severed at tomato
nursery
A 36-year old East European worker lost the lower half of a leg in an
accident on a tomato nursery in Odou, Larnaca, this week. Irrigation
refurbishment work was taking place and it appears that 20-foot long
pipe sections being secured by wire became unstable and moved, the
wire attached to the rolling pipes caught the worker's leg, which was
severed and fell into a deep well, the narrowness of which precluded
recovery of the limb.
5th September 2007.
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USA
Fatal accident at Illinois
tractor event
Investigation is ongoing into a fatal accident at the St Rose Tractor
Drive in St Rose, south Illinois, in which an 18-year old driving 1 of
100 tractors participating in the event fell from his tractor and
sustained fatal injuries after being run over, a number of people on a
wagon being drawn by the tractor were also injured. The cause of the
fall is unclear.
5th September 2007.
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Italy
Overcrowded balcony collapse
leaves woman dead
The collapse of a balcony in Toritto, Bari, saw 1 woman killed and 7
other people injured, 15 people had assembled on the structure to
observe a church procession. 4th September 2007.
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Slovakia
Musicians killed in bus crash
Four members of the Hrinovcan folk music and dance group died when
their bus crashed after failing to negotiate a steep gradient near
Hrinova, 60 miles east of Bratislava, the bus and its 42 occupants
tumbled 50 metres down into a ravine.
The driver, who survived the accident with serious injuries, warned
passengers prior to the accident that he was losing control of the
vehicle and to secure themselves in their seats.
4th September 2007.
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Australia
Pilots injured practising
emergency landings
The crash of an ultralight aircraft on Sunday on the airfield at North
Stradbroke Island, east of Brisbane, has left 2 pilots injured, they
had been practising emergency landing drills when the accident
occurred, 1 was unconscious at the scene. 3rd
September 2007.
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Czech Republic
Train collision near Strakonice
The collision of 2 local trains near Strakonice has left 8 people
injured, 1 in serious condition, a total of 20 passengers were on
board both trains.
2nd September
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Bulgaria
Unit 5 at Kosloduj reactor out
for 1 week
Following an electrical malfunction Unit 5 of the 1K Megawatt VVER
reactor at Kosloduj has been switched off and is expected to be out of
commission for at least a week.
2nd September
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England
Language barrier prevents
communication of risk
A Romanian workman who understood little English and was engaged as a
labourer on a building site was in a loading shed sorting waste when
he was struck by a 20- tonne loading shovel. As a result he lost his
right leg, investigation found that there were no clearly identified
walkways on site, with heavy plant and pedestrians in close proximity
to each other.
Employer Ethos Recycling Limited of Cowley, Uxbridge, was fined
£35,000 with costs of £2,904, an HSE inspector commented:"With the
increase of foreign workers in Britain, it is essential that companies
who need their skills take care to ensure workers fully understand
what is required of them, and how to avoid risks in the workplace. In
addition, the risks arising from the movement of vehicles in the
workplace must be properly controlled."
30th
September 2007.
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England
One dead another escapes death
in tree work incidents
An arborist died in an accident on Monday on a farm near Beltingham,
Northumberland. He appears to have been struck by a falling tree.
In another incident a man contracted to work for Islington Council
escaped serious injury on Tuesday when he fell from a tree and was
impaled on railings at Wilton Square, Islington. 28th
September 2007.
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England
Boy badly injured by gate
A 5-year-old boy sustained what are stated to be very serious head
injuries in an incident involving a school gate.
The incident occurred at Delph Community Primary in Oldham, Lancs. 27th
September 2007.
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England
Filming marred by death
It is reported that a cameraman died following an accident on Monday
at a racetrack in Chertsey, Surrey, as he worked on the new Batman
film. He was injured when the vehicle he was in struck a tree. 26th
September 2007.
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England
3 die in North Sea standby
vessel incident
Three employees of Vroon Offshore Services have died following
Monday's incident on board an emergency response and rescue vessel.
The vessel was 25 miles off the Yorkshire coast at the time, there has
been speculation that the men may have died as a result of carbon
monoxide poisoning when stowing equipment.
25th September 2007.
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England
20 year old labourer killed by
loader
A young employee of Grundy and Co Excavations Ltd of Prescot ,
Merseyside, was struck and fatally injured on the 1st September 2004
as he walked across the company's yard at Ditton Road, Widnes. The
company, who reclaim building materials for the construction industry,
admitted breaching S2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
for which it was fined £100,000 with £9,034 costs, insufficient effort
had been made to separate vehicles and pedestrians. 24th September 2007.
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England
Explosion leaves man with burns
A man is being treated for serious burns following an industrial
accident on Thursday at the Hadley, Worcestershire, premises of GKN
Sankey.
One account states that an explosion took place associated with a
press, firefighters extinguished the fire.
22nd September 2007.
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England
Painter fell to his death when
rope failed
Industria Armamento Meridionale S.p.A (INARME) trading as The Grimaldi
Group, of Palermo, Italy, has been fined £75,000 with costs of £25,000
for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the
circumstances of a fatal accident. An employee died after a 12m fall
whilst painting a ship, seated in a bosun's chair supported by a rope.
He suffered fatal injuries when the rope parted and he and the chair
fell to the deck of a ship in Falmouth. The rope used to support the
bosun's chair was in poor condition, showing signs of abrasion and
ultraviolet degradation.
21st September 2007.
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Scotland
Fatal industrial accident in
Fife
It is reported that a man died following an incident on Wednesday at
the premises of Forbo Nairn Ltd in Kirkcaldy, Fife.
The company manufactures floor coverings, it has not disclosed the
nature of the accident.
20th September 2007.
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England
Building roof fall teenager
succumbs to injuries
A 16-year-old boy who last Thursday fell 7m through the roof of
industrial premises at the Royal Oak industrial estate in Daventry,
Northants, has died.
While in the company of several others he fell through the roof of the
vacant property, sustaining multiple injuries.
19th September 2007.
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England
Blackpool hotel fire
A man died in a Blackpool
hospital yesterday after he had been rescued from a major hotel fire
in Blackpool, Lancs.
Several other residents at the seafront Manor Hotel required hospital
treatment for smoke inhalation following the outbreak in the early
hours, neighbouring properties were evacuated as the building burned
fiercely. 18th September
2007.
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England
Workman survives 12m fall
A man in his 20's sustained multiple injuries last week when he fell
from a scaffolding structure.
The incident occurred at the site of a residential development being
built in Hartlepool for Castleoak Care of Cardiff, his injuries are
said not to be life-threatening. 17th September
2007.
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England
Simple action would have
prevented tragedy
In May 2004, a 9-year-old girl drowned after she and 3 other children
gained access to a company's reservoir when gates were left unsecured.
The children were playing in the car park of BSN Medical Ltd, a
textile dyeing and finishing factory, when they strayed onto the
nearby reservoirs at Briarfield Mill in Briarfield, Lancs.
Investigation established that the main gates to the factory were off
their hinges because work was being carried out on the site and a
second gate, which led to the reservoir, was only secured with a nylon
rope.Easy acess
BSN of Nelson and Empress Mills (1927) Ltd of Colne both breached
S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined
£175,000 with £36,228 costs, and £25,000 with £10,000 costs
respectively.
An HSE inspector commented: "This was a tragic accident that could
have been avoided if the simple and obvious precaution of closing and
locking the gates had been taken. These young children had easy access
to the reservoirs and the water, which led to the tragedy. The company
had a duty to ensure that the site was secure and there was no access
to the reservoirs. This case should serve as a warning to companies to
make sure that their premises are safe and secure and do not put the
public, including children, at risk." 16th September
2007.
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England
Construction fatality in Devon
It is reported that a man aged 20 died in an industrial accident on a
construction site in Cattedown, Plymouth.
One account states that he succumbed to head injuries after being
struck by a machine's bucket. 15th September
2007.
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England
Farmer killed by hay
A 68-year-old farmer from Aston, Cheshire, has died following an
accident last Friday.
It appears that he was at the roadside adjusting the restraints
holding a load of hay when part of the load fell and crushed him.
14th September
2007.
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Scotland
Lifting operation claims life of
teenager
An 18-year-old construction worker has died after being struck by a
pallet of bricks during a lifting operation that went badly wrong.
The accident occurred yesterday at a site in Troon, Ayrshire. | |