Albrecht v. Shultz Belting Co.

252 S.W. 400, 299 Mo. 12, 1923 Mo. LEXIS 188

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: May 22, 1923
• Status: Published

Opinion

JAMES T. BLAIR, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment for damages for injuries which respondent suffered in appellant’s factory. Appellant was engaged in the manufacture of leather belting, and respondent had been in its employ for about two years before he was hurt. The factory was in a three story building. Respondent first worked on the first floor at hand work. After a few months of this he was put at work on the third floor on a setting machine which was used to “iron out” or smooth hides. About two months before he was injured respondent’s machine was moved to the second floor, and he worked there until he was injured. The work was of a character which required a change from street to working clothes. "When respondent first went to work the foreman directed him to hang his street clothing under a shelf which had been fixed to the south wall of the third floor. Employees were given from five to fifteen minutes before quitting time to wash and change to their street clothing. The machinery was kept moving until the regular quitting time. Respondent was in the class which was allowed fifteen minutes. This had been the rule and practice all the time he had worked for appellant. There was evidence tending to show that the shelf under which respondent had been directed to hang his clothing and under which he had regularly hung it for about two years, was six and one-half feet high; that a board was fastened to the wall, and into this nails were partly driven, and upon these nails the clothing was hung; this board extended from the wall about nine or ten inches. To this shelf light burlap, rather flimsy in character, was fastened and hung down about five feet. The shelf was about five feet wide. This was designed to protect clothing hanging under the. shelf. Other similar shelves were used by other employees. The one in question was used by respondent and one other man.

About two months before respondent was injured, appellant undertook to place a shaft in the room on the third floor. Respondent’s machine had been moved to the second floor and lie then worked there. He and his fellow-employee continued to use the shelf for their street clothing as theretofore. The shaft was installed near the south side of the third-floor room. It was intended to be so placed that it center was twenty inches from the south wall. It was two and seven-sixteenths inches in diameter, and the wall at the shelf bulged about one inch. The surface of the shaft next the wall at the point where the shelf was placed was about seventeen and three-fourths inches from the wall. There is evidence which tends to show that the shaft was about six inches higher than the shelf. A computation will show that.if these distances are taken, the shaft was a fraction over ten inches from the upper and outer edge of the shelf. There is other evidence which tends to show that this distance was nearly four inches greater. Other evidence points to distances between these two extremes. The shaft, when in operation, made 260 to 270 revolutions a minute. During the whole time, two years, of respondent’s employment by appellant, he and other employees who used the shelf in question had, when they came to get their street clothing, habitually lifted the burlap which hung down from the shelf and placed it on top of the shelf in order that they might gain access to their clothing. The burlap was extended around the ends of tlie shelf two or more inches and nailed there. On the day he was injured, respondent left his machine at the usual time and proceeded .to the shelf to get his street clothes. On this occasion he happened to. be the first to reach the shelf. The machinery was still running and the shaft was revolving at the usual rate. It was unguarded, though the evidence shows that easily and at small expense, guards could have been provided which would in no way have interfered with the operation or uses of the shaft. Respondent, as was the custom, lifted the burlap for the purpose of placing it on the shelf. It caught on the 'shaft and wrapped around it. Respondent’s right arm was carried with it and he was lifted from the floor. He lost his arm as a result of the injury.

The case was submitted to the jury on the issues whether appellant was negligent in (1) failing to guard the shafting, or (2) had failed to exercise ordinary care to furnish respondent a reasonably safe place to work, and -(3) whether respondent was guilty of contributory negligence.

I. The shafting was unguarded, and it was practicable to guard it. It is not denied that it is negligence for an employer to fail to guard shafting when it falls within the statute (Simpson v. Iron Works Co., 249 Mo. l. c. 386), nor that liability results from such failure when an employee within the protection of the statute is injured by reason of a failure to guard when it is practicable to do so.

1. It is insisted that the statute is not applicable for the reason (so it is urged) that respondent was not engaged in his ‘‘ordinary duties ’ ’ when injured. The section of the statute which provided for the guarding of shafting at the time respondent was injured, reads as follows:

“The belting, shafting, machines, machinery, gearing and drums, in all manufacturing, mechanical and other establishments in this State, when so placed as to be dangerous to persons employed therein or thereabout while engaged in their ordinary duties, shall be safely and securely guarded when possible; if not possible, then notice of its danger shall be conspicuously posted in such establishments.” [Sec. 7828, R. S. 1909.]

It is evident that the duty to guard does not arise under this language unless the shafting, etc., is “so placed as to be dangerous to persons employed therein” (establishments described) “or thereabout while engaged in their ordinary duties.” There is no evidence that there were any employees to whom the shafting in question could have been dangerous except those who, like respondent, were directed and accustomed to hang their clothing under the shelf where the injury occurred or, perhaps, similar shelves. The word “ordinary” is defined to mean: “According to established order; methodical; settled; regular; common; customary; usual.” It is clear that respondent’s acts performed near the shelf and shafting were customary, common and usual. It is not to be held, though a duty be performed daily and regularly, that it is not an ordinary duty simply because it does not continuously occupy the employee. Such a construction would so constrict the scope of the statute as to do violence to the plain meaning of its language. The question thus becomes one whether respondent was in the line of duty when using the shelf as directed by the foreman. The evidence tends to show the change of clothing was necessary, and that this was recognized by appellant, and that appellant directed respondent to use the shelf it furnished as a place to hang his clothing and paid him for the time during which the change of clothing was made. The case upon which appellant relies is that of O’Brien v. Western Steel Co., 100 Mo. 182. In that case deceased and other employees had, for their own convenience, on their own initiative and at their own expense, arranged for a supply of ice water on the upper floor. It was while returning from this upper floor, where he had gone to get ice water, that O’Brien was killed. The elevator was operated from the engine room. The employer merely suffered its use by employees for the purpose mentioned. The petition charged the elevator was improperly constructed in that the operator could not see the platform from his position and that O’Brien’s death was due to this. It was held deceased was at most using the elevator “under an implied license” and took it as he found it, manner of operation and all. It is apparént this decision has little, if anything, to do with the question in the instant case. The facts are widely dissimilar.

The question whether respondent was in the line of duty and engaged in his ordinary duties was submitted to the jury, and under the rules in this State the evidence justified such submission. [Jackson v. Butler, 249 Mo. l. c. 362, 363, and cases cited; Mullery v. Telephone Co., 180 Mo. App. l. c. 130; Day v. Dry Groods Co., 114 Mo. App. l. c. 485; Shepard v. Railway, 3 Mo. App. l. c. 553, 554.] The rule in .other states is the same. [Brick Co. v. Fisher, 79 Kan. l. c. 580, 581.]

2. The second contention is that no danger from the shaft was within reasonalale anticipation and, therefore, that it was not incumbent upon appellant to guard it. Let it be conceded that the principle applies in determithng whether a guard is required by this statute. In Scherer v. Bryant, 273 Mo. l. c. 602, the principle is stated thus: "It is true, except in cases of wanton wrong, there is no negligen'ce if no reasonable man could have foreseen any injury from the act done. But it is not true that the particular injury must have been such it could have been foreseen. An act is negligent when in the circumstances some injury to some one reasonably may be foreseen as a reasonable consequence. This being shown, liability attaches `for anything which, after the injury is complete, appears to have been a natural and probable consequence. [Benton v. St. Louis, 248 Mo. l. c. 110, and cases cited.]" Some courts have held that shafting "in the reach of the clothing and person is notoriously dangerous." [Balzer v. Waring, 176 Ind. l. c. 597; Paducah B. & B. Co. v. Parker, 143 Ky. l. c. 609, 610, and cases cited.] The Legislature in passing the section of the statute in question, in a sense, declares it to be dangerous in such circumstances. In this case these considerations need not be taken into account. The evidence shows the unguarded shafting was dangerous to respondent in the very circumstances in which he was situated. Direct testimony to this effect was elicited in an effort to show that respondent was guilty of contributory negligence in that he chose a dangerous method as against a safe one in disposing of the burlap in getting his c1oth~ jug. This raises a separate. question, but does not prevent the testimony from being sufficient to tend to prove that injury reasonably might have been apprehended; There was also evidence that the burlap might be caught by the shaft if it was thrown upon the shelf. Appellant was not entitled to assume that respondent would at all times have the .shafting in mind and protect himself from injury by it. To adopt such a rule would emasculate the statute. This court in Simpson v. Iron Works Co., 249 Mo. l. c. 390, quoted with approval the following: “The Legislature knew that the human mind and conduct were such that a servant when in the performance of his duties to his master, surrounded by dangerous machinery, in motion, with his mind concentrated upon his work, oblivious to his surroundings, is liable to slip or take a misstep and fall into the revolving machinery, or thoughtlessly thrust his hand or other portion of his body into the gearing, or other portion of the machinery; and if not ‘safely and securely guarded,’ he would in consequence thereof receive injuries of a serious character.” This principle is to be kept in mind in determining whether injury from the shaft in question reasonably was to be anticipated. The point must be ruled against the contention made. [Tates v. House Wrecking Co., 195 S. W. l. c. 551.] The cases cited are not in point on the facts of this record.

3. It is argued that respondent is shown to IDe gailty of contributory negligence as a matter of law because, it is urged, he ~(a) knew the shafting was dangerous if he lifted the burlap past it in putting it on the shelf, and (b) because- he chose a dangerous way of disposing of' the burlap when a safe

way was available. With respect to the first of these it may be said that respondent had raised the burlap in the same way for two years and put it upon the shelf, and that this is some evidence that the manner in which he raised it was known to appellant. Three weeks before the injury appellant installed the shaft. Respondent continued as before, and safely, for thirty-six times, the burlap was raised and laid upon the shelf. The shafting was not g'aringly dangerous (Willadsen v. Creamery Co., 201 Mo. App. L. c. 537, 538, and cases cited), and the question of contributory negli ggnce is for the jury unless the evidence conclusively shows it. It is not conclusively shown when from the facts proved reasonable men may draw different conclusions. In a case under the guarding statute (Tatum v. Laundry Co., 208 S. W. l. c. 142), it is said: “We cannot say as a matter of law that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence even if convinced from all the evidence that plaintiff was absorbed in his work ancT to a degree inattentive and unmindful of the constant danger of the unguarded shaft. While our statute requiring the guarding of certain machinery does not abolish contributory negligence, it recognizes the fact that reasonably careful workmen do become absorbed in their work and become unmindful of the ever present dangers from revolving shafts and belts and whirring machinery, and this statute seeks to obviate just such dangers. Unless the courts proceed on this theory, the statute counts for nothing. [Simpson v. Iron Works Co., 249 Mo. 376, 389; Brashears v. Iron Works, 171 Mo. App. 507, 517; Hughes v. Const. & Mfg. Co., 188 Mo. App. 549, 556.]” Other decisions are substantially to the same effect. [Balzer v. Waring, 176 Ind. l. c. 595, 596; Cook v. Lumber Co., 61 Wash. l. c. 122, 123; Caspar v. Lewin, 82 Kan. l. c. 627, et seq.; Klotz v. Power & Mining Co., 136 Wis. l. c. 110; Paducah Box & Basket Co. v. Parker, 143 Ky. l. c. 609, 610; Rase v. Railway, 107 Minn. l. c. 281.]

With respect to the contention that respondent knowingly chose a dangerous method when a safe one was available, the same principles announced in the Tatum Case must be kept in mind. It needs no citation of authorities to show that to sustain appellant’s position on this question it must conclusively appear from the evidence, not only that respondent chose a dangerous method, but that a safe one was open to him and that he made his choice knowingly and with an appreciation of the danger, latent or otherwise. This question is usually one for the jury, and we are unable to say that the evidence is so conclusive as to make it one of law in this case.

II. It is urged that the court submitted the case on the common law as well as on the statute and that this was error. There are several decisions in this State which state that at common law the master was not bound to fence his dangerous machinery. [Lore v. American Mfg. Co., 160 Mo. l. c. 622; Lohmeyer v. Cordage Co., 214 Mo. l. c. 687.] In Bair v. Heibel, 103 Mo. App. l. c. 632, Goode, J., says: “It seems there is no rule of the common law requiring dangerous machinery to be fenced or guarded, and that the master is not answerable if a servant of full capacity is injured in consequence of working about unguarded machines.” That case recognizes liability for negligently exposing a young and inexperienced workman to hazards he does not understand, and does not deny liability for negligently ordering a workman into proximity to dangerous machinery with the hazards of which he is unfamiliar nor deny liability for exposing a workman to latent and hidden dangers. [Dowling v. Allen & Co., 74 Mo. 13; Ford v. Pulp Co., 172 Mass. 544.] In a note to this last case, in 48 L. R. A. 96, a discussion of the cases may be found. The rule is stated and decisions are collected in Section 976, pages 2641, 2642, and notes, Vol. 3, Labatt’s Master & Servant. This rule, as laid down in the Missouri cases cited, supra, is conceded by respondent. Neither the petition nor the instruction complained of includes any of the special circumstances which, at common law, are sometimes held to show that unguarded machinery may be found to enter into and form a part of a cause of action based upon a failure to use ordinary care to furnish an employee a reasonably safe place to work. The question whether the instruction submits all contested issues of fact under the statute is another matter. It does not refer to the statute in terms, but this was not necessary. [Lore v. Mfg. Co., 160 Mo. l. c. 621.] There is no question on the record that the shafting was unguarded and none that it was practicable to guard it. It was unnecessary to submit these to the jury. The instruction requires the jury, before finding for respondent. to find the circumstances of the situation at the time of injury substantially as required in tbe instruction, which undeniably proceeds under the statute. It likewise requires a finding of facts which, if found, would show that the shaft was dangerous to respondent in the situation he was in when injured, and likewise requires a finding that appellant could reasonably have anticipated his injury. At least, in one respect, however, this instruction is incorrect. It does not submit the question whether respondent was in line of duty, engaged in his ordinary duties, at the time he was injured. In another feature it is subject to criticism. It submits the question whether respondent was “required” to lift the burlap and place it on the shelf. There is no evidence of any order or requirement of this kind, and one issue was whether he negligently lifted it when he might have pursued another method which was safe. In the circumstances instruction two must be held erroneous. Other questions raised concerning instructions are substantially covered by what has been said.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

All concur.