ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Patea Mail, Volume XLVIII, 21 January 1927, Page 3

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

FALL INTO EUTIEE OHUEN. Mr. J. Bungay, assistant, butter-maker at the Moa Dairy Company’s factory, Inglewood, on Tuesday morning had an experience that is probably unique in the annals of dairy factory operations. He can, however, consider himself very fortunate in escaping with a few bruises, after having had a remarkably close call. It appears that he was engaged in working a churning of butter, the churn used being one of the combination ones in common use in dairy - factories, and driven by a belt working on a fast and a loose pulley. The churn contained about half a ton of butter, from which the butter-milk had off, and the worker, consistingrjjof, two rollers on a table, had been run into the churn and was being operated as usual to avor#: the moisture out of the butter. Some of the butter, as is net unusual, clung to the top of the churn and Mr. Bungay leaned forward - into the churn, whicn was of the barrel shape, with part of the front open to release the butter, first placing the belt on the loose pulley, and thus stopping the churn. A lump of butter dislodged from the top of the churn and struck Mr. Bungay on the head, knocKing him partly into the churn, dazing him, and rendering him helpless, whilst at the same time the machinery started and he was in grave danger of being smothered. Fortunately, one of the employees in another part of the butter room noticed the belt slipping and saw the assistant’s legs protruding from the front of the churn. The chief buttermaker, Mr. C. Vosey, with commendable presence of mind, at once reversed the churn,' and the unfortunate man was released from his dangerous plight just in time, as he was almost suffocated. Dr. McAllen,* who .was on the scene before Mr. Bungay was extricated, discovered that he had escaped with bruises about the back and legs and, though severely shaken by the accident, he should be able to resume work in a few days.