FATAL FALL FROM POWER POLE

Southland Times, Issue 23680, 1 December 1938, Page 9

FATAL FALL FROM POWER POLE

INQUEST ON LINESMAN

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 30. No reason for the fatal fall of Vivian Frederick Hall, aged 37, from an electric light pole in Hataitai was found by the Coroner, Mr E. L. Gilbertson, at the inquest today. ... , Hall fell while working, but his mate, who was also working on the pole, did'not see him slip. This witness, James Maddock,, said Hall’s position was quite safe. The use of a safety belt would only hinder him/ Maddock could not say whether Hall had received a shock. The work . being done, made necessary. the stripping of a live, low-tension wire. To Mr H. E. Swindell, appearing for the Electrical Workers’ Union, Maddock said that if Hall received 230 volts it would be sufficient to make him over-balance. There were cases where men working on live wires got a “bit of a nip.” , „ Mr Swindell, to the Coroner, said that the wearing of a safety belt was not mandatory, except in certain cases. Mr Swindell said there must be some way of stopping such accidents. What linesmen were’called on to do

was suicide. With men stepping over 11,000 volt lines, last year there were 42 accidents. This year there had been 27, five in one week. He suggested that the power should be cut off when men were working on lines. Mr O’Shea, appearing for the Wellington City Council, said there was no need for the men to walk over hightension wires.

Mr Swindell: They have to do it. Mr O’Shea: I am instructed that they don’t.

•The Coroner found that death was due to a haemorrhage caused by a fractured skull received by Hall when he accidentally fell from the pole.