Dalton Man Fatally Crushed At Work

Accidental death due to a casting which was being carried by a crane, slipping from its slings and falling on him, was the verdict returned by the Furness Coroner, Mr. John Poole, at a Barrow inquest on Wednesday on James Raven Sanderson (33) of Spring Bank, Dalton.

Evidence at the opening of the inquiry on Monday was that the accident occurred on Saturday at 8 a.m. in the Shipyard foundry where the deceased was employed.
The Coroner sat on Wednesday with H.M. Inspector, Mr. C. W. Hewlett.
Jack Coulson, of 85 Crossley-street, Askam, slinger at the Shipyard, said at the time they were lifting a four-ton casting by an electric overhead crane from the furnace to the dressing station. It was held by four hooks at the end of chains. As the crane moved he walked in front; he moved three men away and told the deceased to stand back, but one of the hooks slipped, causing the casting to crash down and pin Sanderson underneath.

HEARD A SHOUT

Bernard T. Pratchett of 14H, Egerton Buildings, Barrow, the crane driver, he heard a shout and that very minute, the hook slipped and the casting fell. He had been a crane driver for seven years, and not known a hook slip like that before.

Thomas Knight, of 75, Longlands-avenue, Barrow, said the casting swung round after the hook slipped and then fell. He had helped put hooks under castings and had noticed that one of these was wider than the other.

Jack Baxter, of 21, North Lonsdale-road, Ulverston, said that Sanderson could not have stepped further back unless he had gone over some castings.

ONE HOOK WAS STRAINED

Francis James Williams, foundry manager, of Inglewood-terrace, Foxfield, said the hooks had shown signs of strain, one very much more than the others. Some had recently been tested, others 18 months ago.

The safe load was nine tons. The accident might have occurred because of the opening up of the hooks, or because they had not been properly put on the job.

Mr. S. Morgan, solicitor for Messrs. Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd., expressed the firm’s sympathy with the relatives, which Mr. J. Heron, their solicitor acknowledged.