TERRIBLE ACCIDENT

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12252, 25 September 1925, Page 7

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT

YOUNG ENGINEER’S DEATH MANGLED IN BELTING SHAFT. An inquiry Into the death of Thomas Arthur Cook, aged 20 years, who died of injuries as the result of being caught in machinery belting at Niven’s foundry on Monday morning last, was held by the coroner, Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday. Dr J. O. Forsyth said that the de-, ceased was admitted to the hospital suffering from terrible injuries, and had died without regaining consciousness,

The works manager at the foundry, Samuel Everett Luke, said that the deceased had been employed there for four years, and had been a splendid and capable worker. He was working near the deceased at the time of the accident. He heard a peculiar noise, and, looking up, saw a human form revolving m the shaft overhead. He at once stopped the machinery and removed the body. It was usual for workmen when wishing to adjust a belt to ask for the motor to be slowed down, as it was highly dangerous to touch the belt when it was going at high speed. William Hudson, the works foreman, gave evidence on similar lines. The coroner: Do you instruct employees as to the precautions they must take when wishing to adjust belts? Witness: They must always ask foi the motor to be slowed down. The coroner: Have the apprentices been instructed? Witness: Yes. Was the deceased aware of this danger?—Yes. I cannot understand why he tried to adjust the belt while the machinery was running fast. There had never been a similar accident at the foundry before. Alan Amerell Mathers, the driver of the motor attached to the lathe at which the deceased worked, said that at the time of the accident he was attending to the boiler. He bad not been asked to slow down the motor. Horace Stuart Baldwin, inspector of machinery, said that he examined the lathe and shaft after the accident, and found them in perfect order.

“It is most extraordinary how this accident happened,” said the coroner, “because the witnesses say that the deceased was very csrefal. end had been previously instructed in the manner of adjusting belts. There is no evidence to show why the deceased attempted to adjust the helt while the motor was running at a high speed. It might be that he took the risk without thinking, and was killed.”

A verdict of accidental death, with no blame attachable to anyone, was returned.