UNUSUAL FATALITY
CAUGHT 1H MACHINERY
MAN’S NECK BROKEN
A most unusual type of accident that resulted in the instantaneous death of a man named David Andrew Smaill Tait occurred early on Saturday morning at the site of the railway deviation at Puketeraki. Tait, who was a casual employee on the work, was a married man, 27 years of age, and resided at Karitane, his relatives living at Gore. .It appears that the deceased was examining a leaking gland on one of the bins through which spoil removed from the hillside is fed by way of sliding horizontal doors at the bottom of the containers to the empty trucks below, when the doors opened and he was pinned between a sliding panel and a beam, his neck being broken and his skull fractured. Evidence of identification was given at the inquest, which was opened later on Saturday morning by Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., and the proceedings were adjourned sine die. -Timaru Herald, 2/12/1935.
MECHANIC’S DEATH
NECK FRACTURED WHILE WORKING
ACCIDENT AT PUKETERAKI DEVIATION
That death was due to the deceased suffering a fractured neck, caused by being accidentally struck by opening doors on a bin, was the verdict returned by the coroner (Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) at the adjourned inquiry held this morning into the death of David Andrew Smail Tait, a married man, aged 27 years, who met his death on November 30, when he was working at the railway deviation at Puketeraki. Sergeant Boulton conducted the inquest on behalf of the police. Mr J. P. Ward appeared for the relatives of the deceased, and Mr W. D. Taylor represented the Railway Board.
Dr M. Brown, senior medical officer at Seacliff, said he was called on November 30 to the deviation works at Puketeraki. At 1.20 a.m. he examined there the body of the deceased, who had sustained a fracture of the neck, the nazal bones being broken away from the skull, and the base of the skull fractured. The injuries would cause instantaneous death. In his opinion the injuries could have been received in the manner indicated to him by those present.
Francis Jackson, a ganger employed on the railway deviation works at Puketeraki, said he was in charge of the night shift on November 29. Deceased and another man were working directly under him. They were working at a big bin, with sliding doors. The trucks were pushed in under the doors by a petrol locomotive, the spoil being shot from the bin. When the doors were opened the spoil fell through into the trucks. If the bin was fairly full, the doors were not fully opened, as the spoil would run over the trucks on to the ground. The doors were then closed, and the trucks were taken to the tip. A man named Thomas Miller Brown was operating the lever which controlled the doors, and the deceased’s duties consisted of looking after the machinery and engines. On the night in question there was a hissing sound coming from the gland of the cylinder. It appeared to be coming from the air compressor valve which controlled the doors. He did not see the deceased-do anything at the time the hissing sound was heard. He afterwards saw him mount the locomotive to a part some 4ft from the ground. He did not know whether the deceased made any examination of the air compressing apparatus; Tait had said he would examine the doors while witness gave instructions to open them. The doors would have' to be working before, the cause of the hissing sound could be determined. Witness gave Brown the signal to open the- doors. If there was a lot of spoil in the bin, witness usually gave the signal to close the doors again before they had been fully opened. As soon as he gave the signal to close the doors, he turned round and, saw the deceased falling on to the locomotive. Witness ran to him and caught him by the shoulders, and asked what was the matter, before he discovered that he was injured. With the help of Brown, witness lifted the injured man down to the track, but he did not know that Tait was dead. He had not heard any sound from either the deceased or the engine to indicate that anything was wrong. Witness sent for the inspector of the permanent way, and subsequently Dr Brown arrived. The works at the spot in question were lighted by a 100-watt electric lamp, which was shaded on one side to throw, the light to a certain extent away from Tait and on to the trucks. The sliding doors and the locomotive, considered the witness, were sufficiently lighted at the time. Witness had never experienced any difficulty in seeing things quite clearly at his work.
To Mr Taylor, witness said the light was shaded to allow, a clearer view of the spoil going into the trucks to be obtained. He did not think there was any need for the deceased to place his head in the position it was to examine the doors. Tait did not say he was going to make such a close examination, and it did not occur to witness that he would place his head where he did. As the door commenced to open it caused a noise, and anyone in Tait’s position would know that the doors were opening. The movement of the piston would also be an indication that the doors were opening. The doors were not opened merely for examination purposes; there was spoil in the bin.
To Mr Ward: He drew Tait’s attention to the fact that there was something not quite right. Tait also had good reason to know that witness was regulating the opening and closing of the doors. In similar circumstances he would not again give the instruction to close the doors until he had ascertained where the mechanic was. It was no part of Brown's duty to see Tait. Witness supposed he could have seen Tait if he had looked properly. He considered it was not necessary for Tait to place his head where he did. By “properly,” witness told the magistrate that what he meant was that, although it was not part of his duties to watch the mechanic, it was possible for him to see Tait if he had turned round.
Thomas Miller Brown, a skilled labourer employed at the Puketeraki works, agreed with the description of the work given by the previous witness. While the deceased was standing on the locomotive witness received the signal to open the doors. While Tait was climbing on to the locomotive witness asked him if he was all right, and received a nod in reply. The period between the opening and closing of the doors was about 10 seconds. When the doors were opened witness noticed Tait in a huddled position on the locomotive, but he could not see that he had been injured.
To Mr Taylor: Witness assumed from the nod Tait gave that he meant he was all tight. Tait would know that the doors were operating because he could hear a loud noise of air coming from the exhaust. He would also be able to see the piston going into the gland.
To Mr Ward, witness stated that in the process of opening, each door travelled about 7ft. The doors on the occasion in question opened almost the full distance, and from the position of certain parts of the bin deceased would have been caught near the end of the opening operation.
Evidence was also given by John O’Donnel, inspector of the permanent way in charge of the deviation at Puketeraki, who said be was called to the scene of the accident immediately after it had occurred. He saw the body of the deceased lying on the ground, and to the best of his knowledge, the deceased was then dead. He had already given instructions for Dr Brown to be called. In his opinion, the deceased had apparently been intent in his work and had placed his head higher than usual, and had misjudged the opening of the door. Due to the hissing noise of the exhaust and other noises, one man would he prevented from hearing another speak. In order to carry out his duties, it was either necessary for the deceased to stand on the locomotive, as he did, or. stand on a wagon. If he had been on the latter, the operator would not have been able to operate the lever. Therefore, his most suitable place was on the locomotive. There had not been any cause or necessity in the last 12 months to have a bigger light at the spot where the accident occurred. He thought that Tait should have given some indication he was going where he did.
To Mr Ward: If witness bad been in the position of the ganger, and if the mechanic had acted at his request, he would not have looked away when he gave the signal. Apparently deceased had not been told by the ganger to go up to examine the doors. It might have been necessary for Tait to place his head where he did, but he should have notified Brown that he was placing himself in that position. If a man signalled to the lever operator, a momentary movement of the lever would stop the doors.
Constable Hayward, who is stationed at Waikouaiti said he was called by telephone at 1.25 a.m. on November 30 to Puketeraki. There he found the body of Tait on a stretcher. Dr Brown and the previous witness were present. Witness had the body removed to the most suitable building, where it was examined by the Jackson and Brown gave a demonstration of the accident. It was questionable whether more adequate lighting at the scene would have been advisable.
In giving his verdict the Coroner said it seemed strange that the deceased should not have made some definite statement to Brown that he was placing himself in the position he did, or that Brown should not be cognisant of what was being done. It was also strange that greater precaution than usual had not been taken in the circumstances.
A verdict that deceased had died from a fractured neck caused by being stuck by the opening door while engaged in his work was returned. -Evening Star, 12/12/1935.
Deaths
TAIT. — On Thursday, 7th May, 1936, at 65 Baird Street, Invercargill, Colleen Margaret, dearly loved daughter of Elaine and the late David Andrew Tait; aged 10 months. “Deeply mourned.” Private interment. — Macdonald & Weston, Undertakers. -Southland Times, 8/5/1936.
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