PLUMBER'S FATAL FALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20882, 26 May 1931, Page 10

PLUMBER'S FATAL FALL.

SLIPPED ON IRON ROOF. GRAPHITE PAINT CONDEMNED. "USE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS." "The evidence given at this inquest satisfies me that the use of graphite paint for painting roofs is extremely dangerous and should be prohibited," said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, yesterday afternoon, at tho inquiry concerning the death of Mr. James Waite, aged 49, plumber, who received fatal injuries when he fell from the iron roof of a house in Harcourt Street, Grey Lynn.

Minnie Burt said that at about 11.30 a.m. on May 11 she saw deceased slip and fall heavily from tho roof of tho houso at No. 20, Harcourt Street. In falling he struck the spouting of tho adjoining houso and also a paling fence. Ho was rendered unconscious and died about ten minutes later. Messrs. W. L. Cooke and W. Malono said they had been deputed by the Auckland Master Plumbers' Association to place before tho coroner the association's views regarding tho dangers resulting from tho use of graphite paint on roofs. They poinLed out that the surface of a roof so painted was extremely slippery and constituted a danger for even tho most experienced workman.

"Had tho roof from which deceased fell not been painted with graphite paint I am satisfied tho accident would not havo occurred," said Mr. Malono. Mr. J. Clark, secretary of the Plumbers' Union, and Mr. 11. Campbell, secretary of tho Painters' Union, said that for years efforts had been mado to get the uso of graphite paint on roofs prohibited. Numerous accidents had occurred in tho past owing to the uso of this paint. In returning a verdict of accidental death tho coroner said the evidence satisfied him that the use of graphite paint on roofs was extremely dangerous. Ho undertook to bring the matter under the notice of tho authorities.