Need For Guarding Milking Machines

Northern Advocate, 7 October 1941, Page 7

Need For Guarding Milking Machines

[Special to “Northern Advocate"] ' KAWAKAWA, This Day. The Government should make sure through machinery inspectors that the shafting, belting and pulleys of all milking machine plants are properly guarded, stated the district coroner for Bay of Islands (Mr T. J. V. Dunlop) at the close of an inquest held at Kawakawa. It was in respect of Beverley Keogh, the three-year-old daughter of Mr and Mrs C. Keogh, of Towai, who died from injuries sustained when she was caught in the revolving shaft of a milking machine. On the day of the tragedy, the evening milking was late and Mrs Keogh decided to help her husband in the shed, this not being her usual practice. Shortly after the milking had commenced the little child who had wandered into the shed was caught by her dress by the revolving shaft of the machine. She was whirled round the shaft three times before the engine could be stopped. She died on the way to hospital. The superintendent of the Bay of Islands Hospital (Dr. G. J. Frengley) said that the injuries were consistent with the child being whirled around a shaft striking the back of the head on a concrete floor. Adequate guarding of milking machine plants was necessary in view of the number of similar accidents that had occurred throughout the Dominion, the coroner remarked, then giving his verdice, which was in accordance with medical testimony.