LINESMAN’S DEATH

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 64, 9 March 1933, Page 7

LINESMAN’S DEATH

CONTACT WITH LIVE WIRE FRACTUBE OF THE SKULL The inquest into the death of John Beatty, aged 45, a Railway Department linesman, who died on February 15, after coming in contact with a live wire concluded before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in Christchurch. Beatty, who was married and lived at 83, Sullivan Avenue, Opawa, was working on the overhead gear of the Lyttelton-Christ-church line, neo? the Woolston station, and he fell to the ground when his companion pulled away the ladder to break the contact. Death from a fracture at the base of the skull was the Coroner’s verdict. Mr Holmes appeared for the widow. Mr Brown for the Railway Department and Mr W. S. E. Moyle represented the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. Dr. Mary Russell, house surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital, said that Beatty was admitted on the morning of February 15 suffering from burns and showing signs of a fractured skull. He became worse and died in the evening without regaining consciousness. In her opinion a fracture at the base of the skull was the cause of death. The injury could have been the result of a fall. Thomas J. Forrester, electrical fitter, employed by the Railway Department, said that at 9.45 a.m. on February 15 he was working with Beatty, who was an electric linesman. They were inspecting insulators twenty feet from the ground near the Woolston station.

Beatty went up a wooden ladder while witnes remained on the ground steadying it. Previously three or four insulators had been inspected without mishap. Flames Round Head Beatty had been on the ladder ten minutes when witness heard a crack and saw that Beatty had made contact with a live wire. There were flames round Beatty’s head. Witness moved the ladder to break the contact and Beatty fell to the ground. Both of them had been on the particular work for four years and had never had any accidents. Witness did not know what caused the accident but he did not think it could have been caused by a faulty insulator. Rubber gloves were issued for use if required, but he had never worn them and, as far as he knew, Beatty had never worn them during such class of work. For other classes of work the wearing of gloves was necessary. There were no instructions covering the use of gloves. The work was always carried out in dry weather As far as he knew there were no special instructions except knowledge gained in the trade. Instruction was given in the release from contract and resuscitation after release. To Mr Brown: Beatty was an exellent worker. The shaking of the ladder Was the only way to break the contact. It had been effective, but unfortunately the man had fallen so that ho had fractured his skull. Witness heard Beatty breathe once, and after, artificial respiration had been applied he was breathing freely when the doc- 1 tor arrived. 1 J. H. Michelle, traction inspector in. the Railway Department, said that Beatty was a very competent worker.

Rubber gloves were provided if required but it would be impossible to use them on the type of work in question. Witness could not say what, had caused the accident. It might have been one of half a dozen things.