§ 76. Mr. Thorneasked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with an accident at the premises of the Thames Plywood Company, Harts Lane, on Tuesday last; and whether the sling of the derrick was defective?
§ Sir S. HoareI understand that the accident was due to the breaking of a wire rope sling which was being used to erect a lattice steel derrick mast preparatory to the installation of an overhead gantry crane. The sling does not appear to have been defective.
§ 77. Mr. Thorneasked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with the accident at the Battersea power station on Saturday, 4th February, when a man was killed; and whether he is aware of the jury's verdict?
§ Sir S. HoareI have received a report of the inquest in this case, and understand that the deceased workman was engaged in erecting a scaffold 15 feet from the ground when he was struck by a plank which fell about 75 feet from the steel framework above. The plank appears to have been wrongly placed or not properly 1908 secured, but it was not possible to ascertain who was to blame for this and the jury found that there was negligence by some unknown person.
§ 78. Mr. Thorneasked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with an accident at the London Electric Supply Company's power station at Creeksmouth, Barking, on Monday last at which a man was killed?
§ Sir S. HoareI understand that some repairs to a valve connected with a water-heater were being carried out, and that some hot water unexpectedly gushed out from the valve box and scalded a mechanic, with fatal consequences. Steps had been taken to relieve any pressure of water from the heater and the precise cause of the accident is not clear, but this point is being further investigated.