SHUNTER’S DEATH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 145, 20 June 1936, Page 11

SHUNTER’S DEATH

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST CASTLECUFF FATALITY PROJECTION FROM WAGON QUESTION OF LOADING TRUCKS. A verdict of accidental death, the result of injuries received when he was crushed between two trucks while following his ordinary occupation as a shunter in tire employ of the Castleulilli Kailway Company, was returned by the coroner, Mr. b. M. Dixc-u, at an inquest held in Wanganui yesterday afternoon concerning Thomas Alfred Underwood, aged 53 years, who was injured at Castlecliff on June 5, and who died in the Wanganui Public Hospital on June 8. Sergeant i\ C. Harrison, conducted the enquiry on behalf of the police, Mr. N. K. Bain watched the interests of the Castlecliff Kailway Company, and Mr. K. S. Withers appeared for the relatives. Dr. A. D. Nelson, medical superintendent of the Wanganui Public Hospital, said the deceased was admitted to hospital on June 5, 1936, suffering from injuries as the result u-f being crushed. On the left side of his chest live ribs were fractured about three inches from the spine. His left lung was lacerated. The deceased died on June 8, the cause of death being pueumonic-infectiou supervening in fractured ribs of the lelt chest and a lacerated left lung. Robert Mill, an engine driver employed by the Castlecliff Kailway Company, said that on the morning ot June 5 he was driving the locomotive which was shunting at the Castlecliff Wharf. The deceased was in charge of these operations. They had worked together in this capacity for the past 15 years. Trucks containing scrap iron were being shunted so as to get them back on the line along the wharf. The scrap iron was for the steamer Chifuku Marti, which was discharging and taking cargo. Two wagons were stationary on the branch line. The other two wagons were attached to the engine. Witness w r as backing the two trucks along the branch line so that they could be coupled up with the stationary vehicles. Crushed Between Wagons. 4 ‘The deceased was walking alongside the trucks signalling me back,” witness continued. “He gave me tne slop signal and 1 turned my head away irom his direction while 1 stopped the engine. On lu-oking back again 1 noticed the deceased lying beside the line, on his back, and with his feet pointing toward the trucks. There was no impact caused by the two lots of trucks coming together as a result of the shunting, lhe stationary trucks had nut been moved, and the engine was stopped. “As soon as 1 noticed the deceased lying beside the line, 1 vs ent along to him and heard him say ‘That pipe got me.’ He meant a piece of piping that was protruding over the end of the lirst stationary truck. This wagon was of the low type. 1 did not measure the distance Ue pipe was protruding, but 1 did notice that there was only about live inches of space from the end of the piping to the end of the adjoining truck. 1 did uu-t see the deceased go in between the two trucks to couple them up. 1 had always known him to be very careful and cautious. He took no unnecessary risks with his work.” Mr. Withers: Were there any other low-type wagons in this rake? No. The omy low wagon was the one with the pipe protruding. Wnere was the truck loaded?—At Imlay. Were vou present when it was loaded? —No. Have you ever before seen one of the low wagons with a protruding load? —No. To the Coroner: It was a regular thing not to have an assistant on the engine. He always kept his own look-out. Foreman's Evidence. Gordon McKay, locomotive foreman for the Uastiecliit Kailway Company, said, it was part of his duty to su P er ' vise the shunting al the Castlechff Wharf and yards. The deceased was employed as guard and shunter. At about 9.40 a.m. on June 5, witness was standing on the wharf at the northern end of the Harbour Board sheds. He nad a clear view of the trucks which were being shunted, and was standing about 20 yards from them. He noticed the engine with one or two trucks attached backing down the branch line. There were two stationary trucks of scrap iron on this branch line and it was intended that the trucks attached to the engine should be coupled up to the stationary vehicles and Backed down on to the wharf. Witness did not actually see the engine back on to the stationary trucks, but had previously given the deceased instructions for this to be done. Witness did not take any further notice of the shunting operations until he heard the deceased call out. Witness immediately looked up and noticed the deceased fall from between the lirst stationary truck and one of the trucks attached to the engine. Witness ran over to where the deceased was lying and asked what had happened. The deceased pointed to a piece of piping which was protruding from the end of the stationary truck. He said the piping had crushed him against the on-coming truck. Witness | examined the two wagons and iound the coupling hook was down, but they were not completely coupled. The wagon with the pipe protruding was a low-sided one and the piping was pro-

trading for a distance of 21 inches. This left only a six inch clearance from the end of the pipe to the end of the adjoining truck. The piping was about level with the deceased’s chest. The adjoining true” was a high-sided owe. Witness said it was a common occurrence for trucks to have portion of their load protruding over the ends. He knew no by-laws prohibiting such a practice. The deceased had been an efficient shunter and never took unnecessary risks. He was always active and on the alert. His eyesight was good. Mr. Withers: The truck which was being coupled to the one with the protruding iron was an “L” wagon? — Yes. It would have been impossible for the driver to see the deceased between the two trucks? —Yes. Do you know where the truck was loaded? —Only from what I have been told. It was an Imlay wagon and these are commonly used by our company. "Witness admitted that wagons loaded with an over-hang were dangerous to shunters. Loading Supervision. To Mr. Bain: The only supervision exercised in respect of loading was that of outward loading on Government trucks from shipping at Castlecliff. Mr. Bain: Ou every train of the company carrying passengers and goods there is a driver and a guard?—Yes. At the Castlecliff end of the company’s line the supervision of truck loading and unloading is your care? — Yes. That is in regard to shipping. I supervise the loading and unloading of trucks, assisted by the guards. At t'he city end of the line, when lhe Government trucks go off the Castlecliff line, they are taken over by the Government Kailways?—That is so. Can you say to your own knowledge , whether the trucks loaded at Castlecliff under your supervision are accepted by the Government with an over-hang?—Yes. They have been conveyed over their lines in that condition. Experienced. Driver. Mr. Mill is an experienced driver?— : Yes. Brom your own observation that day would you say he was conducting the shunting operations in a normal and proper manner? —Yes. At what speed would the trucks and ' engine be approaching the stationary vehicles? —They would be approaching at a decreased speed. Roughly two miles to one mile an hour. What is your usual practice in regard to overhanging goods? —What we look for is to see that the overhanging j does not interfere with the running oi the i'ollow’ing truck. This piece of iron did not do that? — No. If you had inspected this particular truck, with the overhanging iron, prior J to shunting operations being commenc- , cd, would you have taken any action? —No. Why?—Because its quite a common □ thing to see overhanging cargo on trucks. You told us there was danger for shunters if trucks were loaded in that . way. What is the danger if a shunter is careful? —There is an element of danger in any shunting operation. The deceased has from time to- time operated trucks with overhanging loads and has not met with accidents. There have been no fatal accidents in the company with shunting since I have been in its employ. The driver pulled up dead. I know this from the position of the deceased’s foot. If the train had moved it would, have got his foot. | Downward Projection. ■ This piece of piping had a downward bend on the projecting end? —Yes. , If it had not been for this downward bend, do you think the accident would have happened? —No, I don’t think so. j To the Coroner: The train crew was sufficient to carry out shunting operations. John Roderick, a butcher of Castlccliff, said he was standing on the Castlecliff Wharf on the morning of June 5. He noticed the deceased carrying out shunting operations, but. did not take any further notice until he heard him call out. He noticed the deceased falling from between . twotrucks on to his right side. Witness later observed the piece of piping which was protruding. There was little space from the end of it to the end of the adjoining truck. Witness did not see the deceased go in between the two- trucks. Coroner’s Comment. j After hearing evidence, the coroner I said it would appear that there were I no regulations regarding the loading | of trucks on the Castlecliff line. The . evidence, however, inferred the neces- i sity of some regulation with regard to overhanging loads. There may pos- | sibly be no danger if an over-bang protruded at a high angle, but a piece of iron protruding from a low truck and level with a man’s chest, obviously created danger for the shunters. In giving his verdict according to medical evidence, the coroner said there was no blame attachable to the driver.