WATERSIDER’S DEATH

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 9

WATERSIDER’S DEATH

ACCIDENT WHILE LOADING BUTTER EVIDENCE AT INQUEST The death of Alister William Chisholm, a waterside worker, who was struck by a box of butter while working in the hold of the steamer Tainui on March 21, was the subject of an ipquest opened at Lyttelton yesterday before Mr F. F. Reid, Coroner. SeniorSergeant D. Wilson conducted the inquest. Mr C. S. Thomas appeared for the relatives of Chisholm; Mr J. H. Upham appeared for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, and Mr J. Flood, acting-secretary of the Lyttelton branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, watched the proceedings on behalf of the union. George Percival Evans, superintendent of the Marine Department at Lyttelton, gave evidence that all the gear had been inspected both before and after the accident and had been found to be in good order and in accordance with the regulations. The accident appeared to have been caused by the failure of the human element, in that either the hatchman did not give the signal to stop or that the crane-driver did not obey the signal quickly enough. The use of nets or trays for handling butter was optional so far as his department was concerned. He regarded the tray system as safe. Crane-driver’s Evidence John. James Fenton Geayley said he was the crane-driver working No. 3 hatch of the Tainui. About 9.30 a.m. he hoisted a iray containing 54 boxes of butter, each weighing 561 b. While lowering the tray it had a slight swing, which caused it to graze the deck combings, dislodging one of the boxes slightly. ' When the tra-' swung away the box overbalanced and fell down the hold. He could not say if the hatchman gave the customary warning to those below. To Mr Thomas: In his 12 years’ experience as a crane-driver, he had never known a box to fall from a’ tray when the tray was lowered without touching the sides of the holds. Mr Thomas: Then it must have been the human element that caused the box to fall out? —That is so. To Mr Upham; There is always a certain amount of oscillation in working a sling. This could be prevented to a certain extent. To Mr Flood: It was the custom to take signals from the hatchman when the sling was about to enter the holds. He was familiar with the set of signals issued in Wellington for the use of hatchmen and crane-drivers. Use of Spider Nets James Heeney, foreman for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, said he saw the sling strike the forward combing, dislodging a box. The sling continued down and struck the combing of the ’tween deck. The box fell off the tray on to the combing and then fell down into the hold. He saw that it must strike Chisholm. To Mr Upham; Some slings come over steadily, and others swing. The hatchman warned those below to stand from under before he brought the sling over the hatch. , ... To Mr Flood: He considered that spider-nets, as formerly used, were safer than trays, if properly loaded. Formerly guard-ropes were used round the trays, but these were discarded by the men - themselves. The guardropes were always used for cheese. To Mr Thomas: Witness also called out a warning when he saw the box falling. , , , James William Day said he was hatchman at the hold where Chisholm was working. As the tray came over he saw that a box had become loose. He immediately called a warning to those below and stopped the. tray. Four men jumped clear, but Chisholm did not. He did not know whether Chrisholm heard the warning or not. To Mr Thomas: The tray system was quite safe if the sling did not bump and the boxes were properly packed on the tray. The trays should not hit the combing if everything was properly worked. An electric bell or gong in each hold would provide a better means of warning than calling out. The tray struck the combing amidships forward, and the box was projected across to the corner of the hatch where Chisholm heard the warning or not. Keith Bate, a watersider, who was working in the hold, said he heard the hatchman. Day, shout a warning and saw the box fall and strike Chisholm.

Arrangement with Dairy Board Walter Scott, master mariner, and superintending stevedore for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, said that formerly spider-nets were used for butter, except where the boxes were chuted through the meat ports. As the result of ap arrangement between the shipping companies and the Dairy Board, the tray system of loading butter was introduced. The loops on the slings of the trays were to be used only when loading cheese. An accident of the nature of the one before the Court could not happen with spider-nets. If the human element failed, the trays became unsafe. To Mr Flood: The change from nets to trays might have been made because of the risk of damage to butter boxes, due to the pressure when the nets were lifted. _ „ , , , The Coroner said that he had ordered a post-mortem examination to be made, but the report was not yet available. The inquest would therefore be adjourned sine die.