Employer's Liability.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 6, 1 April 1907, Page 209

Employer's Liability.

We he<ji of much carelessness of emplo) ers and their neglect of the interests of their workpeople, but seldom does anyone tell of the othei side. The following report of a fatality tluows a powerful light on the risks which experts in the employment of others choose to lun without any compulsion, simply for then own convenience We take it from a London paper of last January In the City Coioner's Couit on Friday, Mr. F. Danford Thomas held an inquest with reference to the death of Frank Win Moore, aged 36 years, an installation inspector in the employ of the City of London Electnc Supply Co and lately living at East Dulwich Giove Peckham S E Fiank Joseph Mackey, chief engineer m the electric lighting section of the Commercial Sale Rooms Mincing Lane EC , said that three days pnor to the deceased's death two men called at the sale 100 ms to make up an estimate this being a private generating station On Tuesday last the deceased came officially to deliver this estimate and whilst there witness asked him what it "would cost to run an exhaust fan electrcallv The}' walked over towards the fans m use at the piesent time which were in motion but witness did not imagine for one moment that he would go near them, as he knew

the danger. The deceased knew every hole and corner of the room in which the electric plant was, and he knew that no one could go near the fans without a terrible danger to life. Witness turned round to see what the load was on the switchboard when he heard a sound like the crushing of a hat. He thought a bolt or belt had gone wrong so turned off the current, and, on going to see what the matter was, was horrified to find the deceased lying on the stone at the side of the fan shockingly mangled. So far as witness could make out he had attempted to get over the rail at the side of the fan with the idea of squeezing past the ten inches of space between the fan and the wall, and had been caught by the belt and been whirled round and round to his death. It was only the fact that the deceased knew so much of electrical work that could have caused him to take such an awful risk. So great had been the force with which the deceased had been dashed against the stones that they were smashed m many places The fan was fixed on the edge of the wheel-race, and witness would never have attempted to go past the fan whilst in motion, and certainly never have allowed anyone else to do so had he been able to prevent it. Mr. James Parker Buck, chief inspector, said his opinion was that the deceased was going to look to find a suitable place to fix a motor for the working of the fan by electricity. There was no doubt he ran a terrible risk. Dr. Kaufmann, of Dunstei House, said that death was due to terrible injuries, the deceased's left leg having been torn off and his skull fractured in many places The Coroner said that the curious part of the case appeared to be the fact that it was the deceased's knowledge of his business which caused him to be indifferent and run the risk, where a layman would not have attempted such a thing. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death "