STRUCK BY BOOM

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1934, Page 7

STRUCK BY BOOM

KILBIRNIE FATALITY

CORONER'S VERDICT

"It was an accident, but at the same time I think greater precaution should be taken in the working of the crane," said the Coroner (Mr. E. Gilbertson) at an inquest yesterday into the death of Axel Lund berg, aged 55, who was killed while working in the yard of Lainberg, Ltd., contractors, Kilbirnie, on September 24. A lOin x lOin Oregon boom, 50 feet long, which was being lowered, got out of control and struck the deceased. Harry Thomas Clout said that in company with the deceased and Oscar Lamberg he was manoeuvring a hand crane into position to lift an elevator on to a lorry. Ho was about to lower the jib using his right hand to work the handle and his left to hold up the pawl or the safety catch, when the handle suddenly jerked out of his hand. By the time he could apply tho hand-brake the momentum of the falling jib- was such that control could not be gained. The jib struck Lundberg, who was arranging a sling, and killed him almost instantaneously. Witness said he alone was operating the crane. Similar evidence was given by Oscar Lamberg. James Alexander Suiter, Inspector of Scaffolding, said that an examination of the crane showed that it was in fair, working order and the attachments were of sufficient strength for the work required of it. There were six broken cogs and these, with one exception, appeared to be of good grey cast. The faulty cog showed a flaw near the top edge, and it was probably due to the pawl striking it and breaking a piece off it that allowed the gear to get out of control. The wheels would turn so fast that the pawl would not engage until some braking power had been exerted when a sudden jerk would probably cause the other teeth to break. In witness's opinion it would be advisable in future for two men to work the crane. "It appears to me that the crane should be worked by two men," said the Coroner. There must have been a certain amount of play, he said, to allow the jib to release itself and fall. Also, it looked as if the brake was not sufficiently large. It might be • all right to steady a load, but in the case of an emergency it did not appear to be adequate. He could not say there was direct carelessness. His finding was that the deceased was accidentally lulled.