ELECTRICAL WORKERS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28531, 10 March 1958, Page 13

ELECTRICAL WORKERS

Coroner Warns Of Dangers

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 9.

•SThere appears to be an inclination for electical workers to become contemptuous of the danger involved in their work,” said the Lower Hutt Coroner (Mr P. Keesing) during an inquest into the death of Maurice Stanley Wilkinson, aged 49, an electrician, who died in the Lowe Hutt Public Hospital on February 15; “It is quite clear from the evidence that this death resulted from a fall from a ladder following an electcric shock received while the deceased was carrying out electrical work,” said the Coroner. “This is yet another case of an experienced electrician meeting his death through working at, or near, a live wire, without taking proper precautions, and, in particular, without first disconnecting the power. “A special element in this case was the use of a ladder strengthened by wire up each upright and across the top of the ladder. It appears to have been the contact with the wire which enabled the electricity to earth strongly. The deceased thus received the full force of 230 volts.”

There had been considerable publicity on the necessity for care, he continued. “This unfortunate death should be taken as yet another warning against contempt for safety precautions. “In particular, the special danger involved in using wirestrengthened ladders should be particularly noted and remembered by all working with or near electric wires.” The Coroner found that Wilkinson died from multiple fractures and haemorrhage received on the same day that ,he fell from a ladder through suffering an electric shock while engaged as an electrician in cutting a live electric wire.