DEATH OF MILLHAND

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22424, 10 June 1938, Page 14

DEATH OF MILLHAND

Killed by Electric

Shock

COMMENT BY CORONER AT INQUEST

The necessity for some knowledge of artificial respiration on the part of millhands or those in charge of threshing mills was emphasised by, the. Coroner (Mr E. C. Bathurst) and others concerned in an inquest at Ashburton yesterday on the death of John Rodd, a single man, aged 52, of Winslow, who was electrocuted at Tinwald on May 12, when he attempted to lower the elevators of a threshing plant that had come in contact with a live wire on the farm of Mr. J. Merrin A verdict was returned that met his death from paralysis of the heart and respiratory muscles, and shock through a discharge of electrical current received by him from a power line carrying 6000 volts, when attempting to unwind the elevator of a combine which was fouled in an electric power wire. Sergeant J. F. Cleary conducted the inquest for the police. Mr F. S. Wilding represented Mr J. Soal. owner of the mill, and Mr C. S. Thomas appeared for the Ashburton Power Board. . At the conclusion of the inquiry, Mr Thomas said that all the crews and owners of mills should understand that there was a chance ot saving life in cases of electric shock.if they would only try artificial respiration in the ordinary way. Mr H. G. Kemp (secretary-engineer to the Ashburton Power Board) said he considered that one man at least should know something about resuscitation. He felt that the victims life in this case might have been saved and at least the life of one man in a similar accident at Mitcham some years ago. if artificial respiration had been tried. The Coroner agreed with the nedd for a knowledge of resuscitation. Evidence of Man in Charge Francis John Clucas, a traction-en-gine driver of Allenton, said that he was in charge of the plant belonging to Mr J. Soal on May 12. About 7.30 p.m. the mill reached James Merrin’s property. The elevators had been lowered to the usual height. He drove along the drive where the fence had been cut down and saw the poles on one side, but did not take much notice as he was about to turn to the right. Immediately he saw the wire was caught he stopped the combine and someone started to lower the elevator vyhich wound down three feet and then chme down with a rush, falling on the back of the engine. He saw someone lying on the ground and on going over he recognised Rodd, who appeared to be dead. He (Clucas) had never in his 20 years’ experience received ~ any warning from any power board or other authority about the lowering of elevators. He saw no sparks from the contact of the wire and the elevator. The elevator had never been lower than on that night. Had the power lines been at the proper height there would have been no danger. The lines were tightened by the power board on the following day. The line appeared to have caught the elevator about one foot from the top. Examined by Mr Thomas witness said he knew that as time went on power wires sagged. He had been told there was a danger if part c%. the plant fouled the line. He heard that at Mitcham some years ago twp men were killed after a combine fouled electric wires. After the Mitcham accident he did not hear of a warning issued by the Ashburton Power Board.

Mr Thomas; Do you mean to say that none of your employers have warned you about the danger of wires?

Witness: We generally get told about wires when going into a place. Lowering of Elevator Handle

Continuing, witness said he did not know that Rodd had attempted to lower the elevator handle. Witness would not have allowed any man to do that as he realised the danger. He nad never discussed the danger of power lines with Rodd. He would not think that a man could 'be on a mill for five or six years without knowing the danger of fouling power lines. "■ Mr Thomas: When the elevator fouled the wire did you call out “elevator”?—l did. 1

Mr Thomas: I put it to you that when you called “elevator” you intended someone to lower it.—l did not.

Continuing, witness said it was the only instance he had known of a man lowering the elevator without being asked to do so by him. Dr. J. Russell Wells said that the cause of Rodd’s death was paralysis of the heart-and of the l respiratory muscles, and shock caused by the discharge of an electric current of high potential acting on the brain centres. Constable J. E. R. Myers said the combine was 15ft lOin at the highest point. The span between the poles was 166 yards, the point where the combine met the wires being more than halfway. Sparks From Elevator Robert William Johnston, a forker on the mill, said that Rodd walked to the handle of the combine, touched it, then fell towards witness. Sparks were coming from the top of the elevator. It would be impossible to be on a mill in the Ashburton County for any time without being aware of the danger of electric power lines. He had never been told of circular letters issued to millowners by the Ashburton* Power Board giving warnings about mills fouling electric wires. Robert James Noble said he was steering the mill at the time of the accident. He had driven along Merrin’s drive on many occasions. The elevators on the combine were at their usual height. The electric wires were lower than he had seen them on any other occasion. The mill passed under the line without touching it in February last. In reply to Mr Thomas, witness said that on occasions when the driver called out “elevators,” it might have been a warning that he wanted them lowered. Voltage of Wires Charles Vial, foreman to the_ Ashburton Power Board, said the iron on the top of the elevator was in contact with the high tension line carrying 6000 volts. The voltage, which passed through the combine to the handle of the elevator, would be 1700. The power was cut off at the Ash- 1 burton power house. He was of opinion that the woodwork of the combine first caught the wires, which came into contact with a bolt as the elevators were lowered. The wire which had been dragged was 16ft 4in from the ground, the other wire being Bin higher at the point of contact. The transformer pole had been definitely drawn towards the combine. Both wires were pulled up to a reasonable clearance.

■ To Mr Wilding, witness said the regulation height for high tension wires on private property was 18ft. Government inspectors usually inspected the lines annually. He could not say what height the lines were before the accident. Herbert G. Kemp, secretary-en-gineer to the Ashburton Power Board, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness.

Wilfred F. O’Callaghan, electric wire inspector to the Public Works Department, said when he arrived next day the lines had been resagged and he could give no indication of clear-

ances. He did not measure the wires but they would be about 20ft from, the ground after temporary repairs had been made.

“It is rather astounding to me that the Public Works Department did hot give definite instructions about an investigation,” said the Coroner. Witness said that a report of his finding had been sent to headquarters.

The Coroner: The place for that report is here. He added that he had expressly asked for the report to assist with the inquiry. He would certainly, take up the matter with the Public Works Department through the Justice Department. Giving his verdict, the Coroner acid he thought the wires , were lower than they should have been. .