BURIED IN PHOSPHATE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1078, 16 September 1930, Page 7

BURIED IN PHOSPHATE

THE WESTFIELD FATALITY EVIDENCE AT INQUEST I The inquest concerning the death of William John Cowell, who was killed ! in a phosphate hopper at Westfield ! on September 8, was resumed at the Otahuhu Court this morning, before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M. A verdict was returned that Mr. Cowell died from suffocation through accidental immersion in phosphate. The coroner expressed the opinion that something in the way of a ropff ladder should be installed, suspended from the roof of the hopper, as an emergency means of exit. Mr. R. D. Bagnall, who appeared for Messrs. Kempthorne. Prosser and Company, said such an arrangement was contemplated. Edward Olliver Popple, chief engineer at the works, said the hopper where the accident happened had been in use 15 j'ears. The phosphate was put into the hopper on a conveyor belt and the fall from the belt tended to pack the phosphate tight. On a level surface a man could walk on it and not sink into it more than eight inches. If a man walked on the piTosphate over the top of the chute, when the phosphate was being drawn off into bags, he would be drawn down toward the eliute with the falling phosphate. He had never heard any complaints from any of the men that the work was risky or dangerous. There were four similar hoppers in the works in constant use; for the same class of work, and no other accidents had ever occurred. Ernest Richard Kendrick, a foreman at the works, said that one of Mr. ' Cowell's regular jobs was to dig down the ground phosphate in the hoppers. He had been doing this work for the past 13 years. The work was not considered dangerous. About 1.30 p.m. on the day of the accident witness told deceased to “dig down the hopper," and he left the ground floor to do the work. Witness did not again see him alive. On being told that somebody was hurt, witness immediately had the machinery stopped, and r went to the top of the hopper. He was told by another employee that Mr. Cowell was buried in the hopper. On looking into the hopper, witness could see Mr. Cowell’s hat. Three men were in the hopper removing the phosphate from around Mr. Cowell. Orders 1 were given for the chutes to be closed, to prevent any further phosphate coming in. Witness then sent for a carpenter to cut holes in the side of the hopper to enable the contents to be removed and get Mr. Cowell clear. At one period his head and shoulders were above the surface, but a fall of phosphate engulfed him again. Alfred Flatten, a labourer, said that

as the result of hearing a scream he, in company with another employee named Booth, went to the top of the hopper and commenced to clear the phosphate away. The alarm was given and three other men went into the hopper. While working in the hopper lie spoke to Mr. Cowell, who was conscious. Dr. A. M. Ross, of Otahuhu, said that on his arrival Mr. Cowell was completely immersed in the phosphate dust and men were working to uncover him. He went into the bin and injected strychnine, but Cowell was dead. Death was due to suffocati'*'