killed, according to an explosives expert.

And Mr. Chris Challanor left Bermuda on Saturday claiming he was lucky to be alive himself.

Over the past six years he says that he has had to work with explosives in conditions that were unnecesarily dangerous, he claimed.

Works Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira yesterday defended safety regulations on Government sites, but has promised to look into complaints made by Mr. Challanor.

Originally from Staffordshire, England, Mr. Challanor, 50, lived with his wife, Mary, in Kilderry Close, Smith's Parish.

He has worked with explosives since 1960 and gained a number of internationally recognised qualifications and experience working all over Europe.

He said: "I started work as a quarry driller and I started to notice things when I first arrived in Bermuda. On my first day in the job my boss nearly blew me up! "I have worked on the Dockyard, the Bailey's Bay Quarry and the building works for the new incinerator.

"I have complained about health and safety a number of times but nothing was ever done. I suppose my complaining was the reason that I was never promoted.'' Mr. Challanor says drilling and placing explosives in rock walls and quarries are dangerous enough occupations without the other factors.

He said: "If you go to the quarry at Bailey's Bay you can see what I mean.

There are rocks hanging over the area where I was supposed to be drilling. If one had fallen I would have been dead.

"I also predict that someone will be killed at the incinerator works because there is no health and safety. They made me work in a hole on my own on a job where I was supposed to be working with someone else because of the danger involved. I do not envy anyone taking over my job.'' Mr. Challanor said his contract was cancelled without the correct period of notice and the Government had left him with problems involving his rent.

He said: "Anyone else would probably just have left without paying anything, but I intend to sort the matters out as long as I am treated fairly.

"I am having to go back to England and hopefully my qualifications will help me find a job, but it will not be easy.'' Mr. Terceira said: "It may be sour grapes on his part. I have not heard about this man or his complaints and I am confident our health and safety officer would check these things. We try to oversee health and safety matters as best we can.

"But I will ask if this man has made official complaints about safety and I will look into them.''