PAINTER'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 26

PAINTER'S DEATH

EVIDENCE AT; INQUEST An inquest-on.Clement Bird, a painter, aged 38; who died in the Hospital on'lsth June as the result of injuries received through -falling from a steel column,in the new' railway workshops at Petone on. 2nd June, was held before the Coroner (Mr. E. Page, S;M.) yesterday, afternoon. Mr. 1!..,-Parry re- : presented the Sir .William jArrol Co;, by whom the deceased: was :'employed, and Mr. P. J. O;'Kegan- acted for the WidOW. ■ .-...•:• ;, ■ .';. ■•'■., . Medical evidence was given -that the -primary cause: of death was1 bronchial pneumonia following extensive injuries, which included a : fractured skull, concussion, and a fractured pelvis. Another painter said that the deceased was standing on a stay near the top of the column, holding on with his right hand and painting with his left. Witness saw the deceased's right' hand slip and then saw him fall heavily to the ground, a distance of about twenty feet. All the painting work in- the building similar to that on which the deceased was engaged was done without scaffolding. There were two methods of painting the columns in safety. At the time, of the. accident the deceased was painting his first column. . The Coroner asked whether the Inspector of Scaffolding was aware that no scaffolding, was used. ' ' : Mr. Parry replied that he underI stood the' inspector had examined the column and raised, no. objection to the method employed. . ' .'..-. This was confirmed "by James Brown, .constructional agent in charge of the work, who said that the inspector hud suggested no alteration in tho methods employed. Witness did not know of any rule compelling the use of scaffolding on such work. Every precaution was taken for the protection of the painters. .'..'_ ,'■'.. . The inquest was adjourned until this morning for the evidence of the Inspector of Scaffolding. • ,