Seven fatal injuries occurred during Stora Enso’s operations in 2004 – including four fatal accidents in Russia. In addition there was one fatal accident at the joint venture Veracel.

There have been full investigations into each of these fatal accidents, and the necessary actions have been taken in order to prevent such incidents in the future.

Four of the fatal accidents during 2004 involved employees of Russian harvesting companies; and two involved contractors’ employees at mills.

• There were four fatal accidents at Wood Supply Russia. On 5 January, an employee of the harvesting company ZAO STF-Strug, a Stora Enso subsidiary operating in the Pskov region, was killed by a falling tree. On 7 May, an employee of the harvesting company ZAO STF-Gdov, a Stora Enso subsidiary, was killed by a falling tree during logging work in the Pskov region. On 17 June, a truck maintenance worker employed by the harvesting company OAO Ladenso, a Stora Enso subsidiary, died after being run over by a timber transportation vehicle. An employee of the harvesting company OOO Russkij Les, a Stora Enso subsidiary operating in the Tikhvin region, was hit by a falling tree on 23 November and died four days later. At Wood Supply Russia, a thorough internal safety audit is to be conducted during spring 2005, and safety training has been intensified, particularly where newly acquired personnel are concerned. Furthermore, safety culture at Wood Supply Russia is being developed by comparing the safety practices applied by Finnish and Russian loggers, and by investing in modern logging equipment that provides better protection for staff.
• On 12 January, a contractor’s employee was killed at Baienfurt Mill by a high-voltage electric shock during rebuilding work.
• On 15 July, a bulldozer operator was killed at Kemijärvi Pulp Mill, due to injuries caused by a wheel loader.
• On 29 September, a contractor’s employee was killed at Veitsiluoto Mill when a lever gear door fell on him during maintenance work.

• On 12 May, a forest surveyor working for Veracel, Stora Enso’s joint venture company, died in a traffic accident.

Reporting procedures

Since August 2004, all Stora Enso units have been required to report any fatal accidents involving Stora Enso’s own employees or contractors’ employees to the Group management within 24 hours. All other serious accidents have to be reported within 48 hours. Units are also required to run thorough accident investigations, and to make all the necessary improvements indicated during these investigations.