In Memorium
Updated 28 September 2024
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it".
George Santayana
As with everyone in the health and safety profession, we do our job in order that we can reduce, and indeed aim to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries in the workplace. Everyone has the right to go home at the end of their working shift in exactly the same condition as they arrived. Families and friends have the right to live with workers knowing that they are safe and healthy in the jobs they do. Nobody should suffer grief as a result of an accident or ill health caused at and by work.
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Here we remember everyone who has died as a result of a workplace accident and ill health caused by the job they did. The list is endless. Below is a list of just a few of the many who died in a workplace accident.
We remember them all, and all who failed to go home at the end of their shift.
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Remembering the thousands who die each year of lung disease caused through exposure to asbestos, dust, fumes and other carcinogens. (Currently about 2,500 people a year in Great Britain, although some figures suggest up to 12,000 per year)
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Remembering those killed in workplace accidents each year, including those listed on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/fatalities/in-year-names.htm
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Remembering those killed in work-related road traffic accidents each year.
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Remembering those killed in major disasters with health and safety causes since 1700, including (This list is nowhere near exhaustive, this list is for the UK or involved UK citizens, with the odd exception such as Bhopal. For rail accidents, only accidents involving at least four people recorded. Prior to 1948, when British Railways was formed, only rail accidents with significant loss of life recorded.):
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10 December 2022: St Helier gas explosion, Jersey - 10 fatalities
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9 December 2022: St Helier fishing vessel collision, Jersey - 3 fatalities
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3 December 2020: Avonmouth water recycling centre chemical tank explosion - 4 fatalities
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12 August 2020: Stonehaven train derailment and fire - 3 fatalities
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4 August 2020: Ammonium nitrate explosion, Beirut, Lebanon - over 200 fatalities, over 7000 seriously injured, 300,000 made homeless
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2019 - 2023: All workers who died through their work of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus (COVID-19) related symptoms. It is known that at least 202,157 people (24,243,393 known cases) in the UK and 6,700,506 people (661,544,494 cases) worldwide have died in total (including non-work related cases) as of 16 January 2023. The number who died as a result of work in the UK (reported via RIDDOR) between April 2020 and April 2021 was 387 (with 32,022 work related cases).
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10 March 2019: Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 from Addis Ababa - 157 fatalities, including seven UK citizens
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14 June 2017: Grenfell Tower Fire - 72 fatalities
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9 November 2016: Croydon Tram derailment - 7 fatalities
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23 February 2016: Didcot power station collapse, Oxfordshire - 4 fatalities
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22 August 2015: Shoreham Airshow Disaster - 11 fatalities
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17 July 2015: Bosley Mill Explosion, Cheshire - 4 fatalities
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22 December 2014: Glasgow Bin Lorry Crash - 6 fatalities
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29 November 2013: Glasgow police helicopter crash - 10 fatalities
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23 August 2013: Puma helicopter crash, off Sumburgh, Shetland - 4 fatalities
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13 May 2013: Rana Plaza garment factory collapse, Dhaka, Bangladesh - 1134 fatalities and over 2000 injuries
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15 September 2011: Gleision Colliery Accident, Neath Port Talbot - 4 fatalities
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1 April 2009: Bond helicopter crash, North Sea, off Peterhead - 16 fatalities
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2 November 2007: Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire warehouse fire - 4 firefighters killed
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23 February 2007: Grayrigg train derailment, Cumbria - one fatality and 30 serious injuries
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27 December 2006: Morecambe Bay helicopter crash - 6 fatalities
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6 November 2004 - Ufton Nervet rail crash, Berkshire - 7 fatalities
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11 May 2004: Stockpile (ICL) Plastics Explosion, Glasgow - 9 fatalities
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15 February 2004 - Tebay Rail accident, Cumbria - 4 fatalities
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5-6 February 2004: Morecambe Bay Cockle-picker Disaster - 21 fatalities
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15 January 2004: Bugaled Breizh trawler sinking, off Lizard Point - 5 fatalities
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August 2002: Barrow-in-Furness leisure centre Legionella outbreak - 7 fatalities
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10 May 2002 - Potters Bar Rail Accident - 7 fatalities
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28 February 2001: Great Heck (Selby) Rail crash - 10 fatalities
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17 October 2000: Hatfield rail crash - 4 fatalities
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25 July 2000: Air France Concorde Disaster - 113 fatalities
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11 January 2000: Solway Harvester scallop dredger sinking off Douglas, Isle of Man - 7 fatalities
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5 October 1999: Ladbroke Grove Train Crash - 31 fatalities
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19 September 1997: Southall Rail Accident - 6 fatalities
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21 December 1995: Industrial gas leak explosion, Wallsend - 3 fatalities
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21 December 1994: Air Algérie crash, Coventry Airport - 5 fatalities
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15 October 1994: Cowden rail crash - 5 fatalities
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28 September 1994: Sinking of the MS Estonia, Baltic Sea - 852 fatalities
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2 June 1994: RAF Chinook crash, Mull of Kintyre - 29 fatalities
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26 February 1994: Clerkenwell Cinema Fire - 11 fatalities
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22 March 1993 - Lyme Bay Kayaking Disaster - 4 fatalities
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21 July 1991 - Newton South Lanarkshire rail accident - 4 fatalities
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8 January 1991 - Cannon Street Rail Crash, London - 2 fatalities
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20 August 1989: The Marchioness Disaster - 51 fatalities
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15 April 1989: Hillsborough Football Disaster - 97 fatalities
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4 March 1989: Purley Station Rail Crash - 4 fatalities
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8 January 1989: Kegworth Air Crash, Leicestershire - 47 fatalities
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12 December 1988: Clapham Train Disaster - 35 fatalities
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6 July 1988: Piper Alpha Disaster - 167 fatalities
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18 November 1987: King's Cross Fire - 31 fatalities
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19 October 1987 - River Towy rail crash - 4 fatalities
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6 March 1987: Herald of Free Enterprise Disaster - 193 fatalities
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26 July 1986 - Lockington rail crash, East Yorkshire - 9 fatalities
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26 April 1986 - Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station explosion - up to 100 fatalities
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22 August 1985 - Manchester Airport Disaster - 55 fatalities
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11 May 1985: Bradford City Fire - 56 fatalities
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10 January 1985: Putney Gas Explosion, London - 8 fatalities
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2 December 1984: Bhopal, India - at least 3787 fatalities, possibly up to 16,000
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30 July 1984 - Polmont Rail Crash, near Falkirk - 13 fatalities
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23 May 1984: Abbeystead Pumping Station Disaster, Lancashire - 16 fatalities
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19 December 1981: Penlee Lifeboat Disaster, Mousehole, Cornwall - 16 fatalities
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11 December 1981: Seer Green rail crash, Buckinghamshire - 4 fatalities
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25 April 1980: Dan-Air Flight 1008, Tenerife - 146 fatalities
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27 March 1980 Alexander Kielland Drilling Rig Collapse, Ekofisk oil field, North Sea - 123 fatalities
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22 October 1979 - Invergowrie rail crash - 5 fatalities
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18 March 1979: Golborne Colliery Disaster - 10 fatalities
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16 April 1979: Paisley Gilmour Street rail crash - 7 fatalities
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8 May 1979: Woolworths Fire, Manchester - 10 fatalities
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6 July 1978 - Taunton rail fire - 12 fatalities
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6 June 1975 - Nuneaton rail crash - 6 fatalities
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28 February 1975 - Moorgate Underground Crash - 43 fatalities
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1 June 1974: Flixborough Chemical Explosion - 28 fatalities​
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19 December 1973 - Ealing rail crash - 10 fatalities
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30 August 1973: Shields junction rail accident - 5 fatalities
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2 August 1973: Summerland Leisure Centre Disaster, Douglas, Isle of Man - 50 fatalities
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10 April 1973: Invicta International Airlines Flight 435 - 108 fatalities
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1 June 1972 - Eltham Well Hall rail crash, south east London - 6 fatalities
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30 May 1972 - Battersea Park rollercoaster crash, London - 5 child fatalities
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2 January 1971 - Second Ibrox Stadium Disaster - 66 fatalities
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3 July 1970: Dan-Air Flight 1903 - 112 fatalities
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26 December 1969: Rose and Crown Hotel Fire, Saffron Walden - 11 fatalities
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7 May 1969 - Morpeth rail crash - 6 fatalities
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4 January 1969 - Marden rail crash, Kent - 4 fatalities
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18 November 1968: James Watt Street Upholstery Factory Fire, Glasgow - 22 fatalities
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16 April 1968: Beckingham (Gainsborough) level crossing crash - 5 fatalities
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6 January 1968: Hixon rail crash, Staffordshire - 11 fatalities
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5 November 1967 - Hither Green derailment - 49 fatalities
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31 July 1967: Thirsk rail crash - 7 fatalities
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4 June 1967 - Stockport Air Disaster - 72 fatalities
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5 March 1967: Connington South rail crash, Huntingdonshire - 5 fatalities
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28 February 1967: Stechford rail crash, Birmingham - 9 fatalities
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1 September 1966: Britannia Airways Flight 105 - 98 fatalities
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21 October 1966: Aberfan Disaster - 146 fatalities
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5 March 1966: BOAC Flight 911 Disaster - 124 fatalities
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26 December 1962: Coppenhall Junction Rail Disaster, Cheshire - 18 fatalities
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4 March 1962: Caledonian Airways Flight 153 - 111 fatalities
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16 July 1961: Singleton Bank rail crash, Weeton, Lancashire - 7 fatalities
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2 December 1960: North Belton level crossing crash Dunbar - 4 fatalities
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22 June 1960: Henderson’s Department Store fire, Liverpool - 11 fatalities
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28 March 1960: Cheapside Street Bonded Whisky Warehouse Fire, Glasgow - 19 fatalities (including 14 fire fighters)
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25 August 1958: Eastbourne station rail crash - 5 fatalities
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6 February 1958 - Munich Air Disaster - 23 fatalities
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30 January 1958: Dagenham East rail crash - 10 fatalities
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4 December 1957 - Lewisham rail crash - 90 fatalities
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23 February 1956: Eastwood Mills Fire, Keighley - 8 fatalities
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2 December 1955: Barnes rail crash - 13 fatalities
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20 November 1955: Milton rail crash, Oxfordshire - 11 fatalities
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31 January 1953: MV Princess Victoria Ferry Disaster - 133 fatalities
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23 January 1953: Sutton Coldfield rail crash - 17 fatalities
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15 August 1953: Irk Valley Junction rail crash, Manchester - 10 fatalities
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5 May 1953: Ystrad Caron level crossing crash, near Tregaron - 6 fatalities
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12 October 1952: Harrow and Wealdstone Rail Crash - 112 fatalities
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21 September 1951: Weedon rail crash, Northamptonshire - 15 fatalities
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29 May 1951 - Easington Colliery Explosion - 81 fatalities
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16 March 1951: Doncaster rail crash - 14 fatalities
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26 September 1950 - Creswell Colliery Mining Accident - 80 fatalities
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27 August 1950: Penmaenmawr rail crash, North Wales - 6 fatalities
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8 June 1950: Beattock Summit train fire - 5 fatalities
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30 November 1948: Stockport viaduct train crash - 5 fatalities
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19 May 1948: Wath Road Junction derailment - 8 fatalities
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17 April 1948: Winsford rail accident - 24 fatalities
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15 August 1947:William Pit Disaster, Whitehaven - 104 fatalities
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9 March 1946: Burnden Park football disaster, Bolton - 33 fatalities
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10 May 1938 - Markham Colliery Disaster - 79 fatalities
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22 September 1934: Gresford Mining Disaster - 266 fatalities
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5 May 1930: Silo explosion, Liverpool - 11 fatalities
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31 December 1929: Glen Cinema Disaster, Paisley - 71 fatalities
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1 July 1918: National Shell Filling Factory Explosion - 137 fatalities
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12 January 1918: Minnie Pit Disaster - 155 fatalities
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19 January 1917 - Silvertown TNT Factory explosion, West Ham - 73 fatalities
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2 April 1916: Faversham Gunpowder Mill Explosion - 109 fatalities
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22 May 1915: Quintinshill Rail Crash - 226 fatalities
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14 October 1913: Senghenydd Colliery Disaster - 439 fatalities
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9 July 1912 - Cadeby Coal Mine Disaster - 91 fatalities
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15 April 1912: RMS Titanic disaster - 1500+ fatalities
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11 July 1911: National Pit Explosion - 119 fatalities
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21 December 1910: Pretoria Pit Disaster (Hulton Bank Colliery, Westhoughton) - 344 fatalities
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11 May 1910: Wellington Colliery Disaster - 136 fatalities
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16 February 1909: West Stanley Pit Disaster - 168 fatalities
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18 August 1908 - Maypole Colliery, Abram (near Wigan) disaster - 75 fatalities
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27 July 1905: Liverpool to Southport Line Train Accident, Crosby - 20 fatalities
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5 April 1902: First Ibrox Stadium disaster, Glasgow stand collapse - 25 fatalities
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24 May 1901: East Side Pit explosion, Senghenydd - 83 fatalities
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12 May 1899: Kurtz Chemical Explosion, St Helens - 8 fatalities
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23 June 1894: Albion Colliery Explosion - 290 fatalities
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4 July 1893: Combs Pit Disaster - 139 fatalities
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26 August 1892: Parc Slip Colliery Gas Explosion - 110 fatalities
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10 March 1890 - Morfa Mine Gas Explosion, Port Talbot - 87 fatalities
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6 February 1890: Llannerch, Cwmnantddu Colliery Explosion - 176 fatalities
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12 June 1889 - Armagh Rail Disaster - 88 fatalities
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5 September 1887: Theatre Royal, Exeter Fire - 186 fatalities
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28 May 1887 - Udston Mining Disaster, Hamilton - 73 fatalities
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23 December 1885 - Mardy Colliery Disaster, Rhondda Valley - 81 fatalities
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18 June 1885: Clifton Hall Colliery (Lumn's Mine), Swinton Explosion - 178 fatalities
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1 November 1884: New Star Theatre of Varieties stampede, Glasgow - 14 fatalities
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7 November 1883: Moorfield Colliery Explosion, Accrington - 68 fatalities
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16 June 1883: Victoria Hall Sunderland Stampede - 183 child fatalities
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16 February 1882 - Trimdon Grange Colliery Disaster - 74 fatalities
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10 December 1880: Naval Steam Colliery Explosion - 101 fatalities
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8 September 1880: Seaham Colliery Accident - 164 fatalities
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15 July 1880: New Risca Pit Explosion - 120 fatalities
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7 June 1878: Wood Pit Disaster, Haydock - between 189 and 204 fatalities
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11 September 1878: Abercarn Mining Disaster - 268 fatalities
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3 September 1878: Princess Alice Disaster - 640 fatalities
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22 October 1877: Blantire Mining Disaster - 207 fatalities
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6 December 1875: Swaithe Main Colliery Disaster - 143 fatalities
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8 November 1867: Ferndale Colliery Disaster - 178 fatalities
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12 December 1866: The Oaks Colliery Disaster - 361 fatalities
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1864 - Great Sheffield Flood (dam collapse) - 270 fatalities
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16 January 1862: Hartley Colliery Disaster - 220 fatalities
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1 December 1860: Risca Blackvein Disaster - 146 fatalities
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19 February 1857: Lundhill Colliery Explosion - 189 fatalities
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13 July 1856: Rhondda Colliery Gas Explosion - 114 fatalities
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10 May 1852 - Middle Duffryn Mine Explosion - 64 fatalities
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5 February 1852 - Bilberry Reservoir Dam collapse - 81 fatalities
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17 February 1849 - Theatre Royal Glasgow panic - 65 fatalities
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28 September 1844: Haswell Colliery explosion - 95 fatalities
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10 June 1837: Union Steam Packet disaster, Humber Dock Basin, Hull - 23 fatalities
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11 May 1833: Lady of the Lake Disaster - 215 fatalities
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25 May 1812 -Felling Mining Disaster - 92 fatalities (lead to use of Humphrey Davy's lamp)
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16 August 1806 -Meikle Ferry Disaster - 99 fatalities
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8 September 1727 Puppet show barn fire, Burwell, Cambridgeshire - 78 fatalities, including 51 children
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22 August 1711: Walker Expedition disaster - 890 fatalities
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22 October 1707: Scilly Naval disaster - estimated 1550 fatalities
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