A WORKMAN’S DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1922, Page 6

A WORKMAN’S DEATH.

CORONER’S INQUEST. A NEW PLYMOUTH FATALITY. The Coroner, Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., held an inquest at the New Plymouth court-house yesterday into the circumstances surrounding the death of Charles B. Andrews, a married man, aged 42, who died in the New Plymouth Hospital on Wednesday morning. Andrews was a builder’s laborer, and was in the employ of Messrs. J. T. .Julian and Son on the alterations at the premises of Messrs. White’s, Ltd., Devon Street. On Tuesday afternoon he fell from the first floor of the building, sustaining injuries which led to his death. Detective-Ser-geant Cooney led the evidence for the police, and Mr. W. T. Mountjoy, Inspector of Factories, watched proceedings on behalf of the Labor Department. Norman H. Purdy, manager for Julian and Son, said h e was in the building on Tuesday, and wai bist about to lenve, when he saw Andrews come on to the first floor from the roof of the verandah. Witness had just turned round when he heard a crash, and, looking round, he saw Andrews lying on the concrete floor near the first door. It was seen that Andrews was seriously hurt, and medical aid was immediately summoned. What Andrews was .engaged in at the time of the accident he could not say. He appeared to be going in the direction of the foremen and the rest of the men, and to do so he had to cross a beam 12ft x Gin. The beam was not used as a thoroughfare, as the floor was there in the morning, but had been pulled up in the course of the work.

To the Coroner: It was not necessary for Andrews to have crossed the beam, as he could have gone by the stairs from the other floor or by a ladder at the back of the building. However, when anyone wanted to see the foreman they generally chose to cross the beam instead of going the'long way round. CONDITION OF THE BEAM. The foreman in charge of the operations at White’s, Ltd., Herbert Dickson, said that Andrews had been on the contract for seven weeks, ana had been an employee of the firm for over two years. He was an experienced man. At the time of the accident witness did not know that Andrews was on the first floor. The distance between, the joists through which the deceased fell was about 3ft Gin., and it was the only place he could have fallen. The height from the ground was about 12ft. To Mr. Mountjoy: Just prior to the mishap Andrews was working on the front scaffolding. No instructions had been given as to which particular route the -workmen were to take, and if deceased had wished to adopt a safer course he could have done so by going through the main shop. In that ease he would not -haw had to traverse the Gin. joist Witness considered the beam perfectly safe.

Charles Renner, a carpenter, said he saw Andrews enter from the roof of the verandah through a door. The beam which Andrews subsequently crossed was an old one, and was not exposed till the floor had been-removed that morning. It would be usual for a workman to cross such a beam.

Harold V. Sharroek, builder’s laborer, said he was working on the roof of the adjoining building doing cleaning up work after the bricklayers had finished. Andrew's said to him that the foreman wanted some work done, and proceeded down below, witness following later. To Mr. Mountjoy: If they had chosen they need not have gone by way of the plank, as there was a ladder at the back of the building to let them down, and they could have come up through the door of the main shop. THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

Dr. E. A. Walker, who was called to attend Andrews, said the injured man was unconscious on witness’ arrival, and was bleeding profusely - from the interior of the right ear. During the following ten minutes he became semi-con-scious, and was able to give a little assistance to those putting him on the ambulance stretcher. Andrews was admitted to the hospital at a quarter to four: From then on till five-thirty he was very restless, hut subsequently became unconscious. This condition persisted till 12.30 a.m on the 22nd, when Iris breathing became embarrassed, and he died somewhat suddenly. The cause of death was inter-cranial haemorrhage following a fracture of the base of the skull.

Mr. Mountjoy said he did not desire to give evidence. If the gangway had been used regularly as a pathway of course it should have been covered, but the floor was just in the course of removal, and no precautions beyond those adopted could be taken. It was naturally a hazardous occupation at any time. (Evidence of identification was given by David R. Johnston, brother-in-law of deceased. The coroner found that death was due to the injuries as described in the medical evidence, and that there was no blame attachable in connection with the mishap. ' Before the conclusion of proceedings, Mr. Purdy said he would like to tel’ His WorSjhjip . w« was one f the best men in tne fir fit’s employ and would be hard to replace. The Coroner: It is often those men who go. Andrews was a South African eran, having seen two years’ campaigning and also put in three and a half years’ service in the late war. attaining the rank of sergeant-major. He will be accorded a military funeral at New Plymouth this afternoon. ,