Man Killed When Drum Exploded

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 10

Man Killed When Drum Exploded

HAD CONTAINED CRANK CASE OIL CORONER DRAWS ATTENTION TO DANGER Tho danger attaching to a practice of putting crank case drainings into drums, the tops of which were to be removed subsequently, was commented upon by the Coroner, Mr A. J. Graham, when inquiring yesterday into the death of Frederick Charles Morton, aged 53, ground engineer, who was killed at Milson aerodrome on May 3 when an oil drum exploded. William Bower, ground engineer at Union Airways, Milson, said he understood deceased had taken tops off drums previously. Norton was using an acetylene welding torch. Witness was standing nearby when the explosion occurred. Norton was killed instantly. The drum which caught fire, originally contained lubricating oil. The usual practice was first to ‘‘steamout” th 6 drum, to remove any gas. He understood Norton had not done this. Constable Chapman said it was evident Norton had been filled instantly by being struck by tho lid of the drum. Norton had already removed one lid in the same manner that morning. Vv itness noticed that the bungs had not been removed from either drum. A sample of the drainings in the drum was submitted to the Government analyst who reported that drainings from aeroplane crank cases were present and these contained a percentage of petrol which lowered the flash point. Witness had discovered that it was the usual practice to cut the tops off lubricating oil drums iu the way Norton adopted but Mr Girling Butcher, Chief Inspector of Explosives, had pointed out that it was a most dangerous practice to put crank case oil into the drums. There had been a similar explosion at Westport and even with the bungs removed, there was still a pofenbal danger. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death with no blame attachable to Union Airways’ officers. He presumed Norton kuew of the practice to “steam out,” the drums before removing the tops. However, from the report of Mr Butcher, it would be as well to issue a warning that those handling such drums should see that no material containing petrol distillate was put into them. Crank case drainings were likely to give off gases and that should be realised. Sergeant O’Donnell conducted proceedings for the Police and Mr A. M. Ongley appeared for Union Airways.