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57
A lift mechanic was killed by crushing whilst on the roof of a lift
car which was "called" from a higher floor. He had apparently mounted
the roof of the car to immobilise the lift for public use, intending to move
the lift to such a position from which he could carry out shaft cleaning
operations. In short, the accident was due to his failure to use the
immobilising button in the lift car before ascending on the car roof.
The deceased could have entered the lift tower, some 10 storeys
higher, and moved the lift manually, but a most unsatisfactory feature in
this case was that the only approach to the lift motor room was through a
ladies' toilet suite, up a ladder followed by a circuitous walk in the roof
space. No doubt the deceased, being fully aware of the lengthy process
involved in getting to the motor room, adopted the quickest way to move
the lift, which led to his death.
Pressure has been brought to bear on the owners of this particular
building to provide easy access to the lift motor room. This is a case of
unsatisfactory architectural design in a modern office block and emphasis
is now made, when plans of large buildings are received, to ensure that
lift motor rooms can be reached with ease and speed.
Although no accident of the nature has been reported in this Borough,
reports have been seen of serious injury to butchers' assistants whilst
boning out meat or breaking up joints, when the knife they are using slips
and penetrates part of the anatomy. Some leather or other protective
material to protect the stomach and pelvic area would appear desirable.
Accidents have been reported due to staff falling across opened
drawers or filing cabinets.
Low swing doors dividing a reception area in an office were the
cause of an employee suffering serious injury to his heel when the doors
swung back as he was passing through.
The distance between a counter and walls of a busy sub-post office
and general stores was so small that it was difficult for staff to pass one
another, especially when parcels and mail bags were deposited in the
same space. All available space in the shop had been given over as shop
area for customers. An employee fell over the mail bags deposited behind
the counter and sustained a broken leg, resulting in absence from work
for some time. A standard prescribed distance between counters and walls
in such cases would appear to be indicated.
A total of 99 accidents to employees in offices and shops were
reported and investigations into the causes were made in all cases. In a
number of these, recommendations and warnings in appropriate cases
were submitted with the object of preventing a recurrence.