CONDUCTOR'S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 19124, 16 December 1925, Page 9

CONDUCTOR'S DEATH

FATALITY AT CAR SHEDS COMMENT BY CORONER. The adjourned inquest into the circumstances of the death of Alfred Franklin Bernard, a temporary conductor in the employ of the city tramways, who met his death on the evening of November 17, was held before Mr H, \V. Bundle, S.M., at the courthouse yesterday afternoon. Mr H. E. Barraclough appeared for the City Corporation, Mr A. C. Hanlon for the relatives of the deceased, and Mr J. M'Tigue for the Tramway Union.

Motorman Fleming, cross-examined by Mr Hanlon, said" bo had never seen a conductor standing on the stop of the trailer, the practice always being for conductors to stay well inside the platform. There was not sufficient clearance between the car and the wall when a man was standing on the step facing the direction the trailer was going. Sergeant Gilligan gave evidence of having made measurements at the tramway sheds. He found that there was a clearance of 4 Jin between the platform and the brick wall at one part, this being reduced to 3Jin owing to an iron bar.

J William Handel M'Kenzie, tramway [manager, said that the deceased had [received his full seven days’ training and started duty on the day of the accident. Ho had worked about 9J hours. To Mr Hanlon: There was no rule which laid it down where a conductor of a trailer was to stand either in the shed or on the trailer. There was a mark in the shed at which motonnen were to stop. There had been a rule which provided that conductors on trailers were to assist motonnen, and to do iso they had to stop at the spot until the tram was stationary. This had been superseded, however. There had been la previous accident in which a man was [jammed between the end of the car and the wall, and he was off work for a fortnight. It was not thought necessary for any special rule to be devised to meet the position, as he considered that if a man obeyed the rules there would be no danger at this spot. Rule books were issued to the chief inspector, but he could not say whether the deceased had been supplied with one or not. He did not think that there had been any reprint of the rule book that had been printed in 1913, and he was not in a position to say whether there were any spare copies in existence nr not. A trainee was informed that the safety of the public was the first consideration, and witness considered that the training conductor would inform tho beginner of any dangers, though there was no specific instruction regarding the matter. The spot where the accident occurred was well lighted. To Mr Barraclough: There was no particular difficulty in connection with the parking of cars in tho shed. In connection with the accidents in tho shed there had been no claim made against the City Corporation other than in respect to ' workers’ compensation. There was a pointsman on duty on the evening of tho accident, and it would not be necessary for cither conductor to leave tho car. NEED FOR INSTRUCTION. The Coroner, in reviewing the evidence, said that it had been shown that deceased had worked 9J hours on the day of his death. He considered that it "was unwise for the department and also for the recruit that such long hours should be worked. This might 'have had some bearing on tho accident, and ho considered that it was only proper to mention it. It was clear from the evidence given by Motorman Holley that when that witness noticed the dangerous position the deceased was in he called out, and deceased half turned round and was crushed between the wall and tho side of the car. There was only a clearing of a few inches between the car and the wall. The only point to consider was whether any steps should have been taken to minimise the danger of accidents at this spot. Mr M’Kenzie stated that it was well lighted, and that if a man observed the rules there was no danger. Ho agreed with that statement, but it had to be remembered that conductors on last cars wore naturally anxious to get away as soon as possible, and this added to the danger. Should any steps, he asked, be made to make the entrance less dangerous? Conductors should at least know that the entrance was dangerous. _ . , “I cannot refrain from saving,’ added Mr Bundle, “ that no training is given to the men regarding tho parking of cars. There is no danger for experienced men, but for a recruit it was not such a, simple matter.” Ho stressed bis belief that definite instructions should bo issued to conductors. “It could hardly be suggested,” ho continued, “ that a recruit was efficient after only seven days’ training.” A verdict was returned to the effect 'that tho deceased met his death by [being accidentally crushed on Novem;her 17 at tho corporation tram sheds.