Ether Fire Burns Driver: E793 Damages
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ADRIVER, who was badly burned when a bottle of ether he was carrying in the cab of his vehicle spilt and caught fire, was awarded £793 3s. 3d. damages against his employers at Sheffield Assizes last week.
Clarence Bennett, Bressingham Road, Sheffield, claimed damages from FirthVickers Stainless Steels, Ltd., Wecdon Street, Sheffield, Mr. R. Castle-Miller, for the claimant, said that on June 13 Bennett was conveying goods from one company store to another: and was handed a bottle of ether with no kind Of warning.
"I am instructed that the carrying of this ether on a hot summer's afternoon —when the temperature in the van
would very easily be greater than 900— was the height of folly," said Mr. Castle-Miller.
Bennett put the bottle between the cab seats to avoid its being shaken; He could not say whether the bottle had broken as it fell over, or whether it had exploded when he drove over a level-crossing. Before he could take action the ether was in flames.
Mr. P. Stanley-Price, for the company, claimed that they were not negligent. Bennett had failed to pack the bottle safely and did not drive with the care needed to avoid upsetting it.
Mr. Justice Filcher stated that it was an employer's duty to exercise reasonable care for The safety of his workers, although the plaintiff had put the bottle in an unstable position. The judge apportioned the blame, 75 per cent, to the company and 25 per cent. to Bennett.
NEW 100-BUS GARAGE
T"purchase of a site in lvfosspark Drive, upon which to build a garage for 100 vehicles, has been recommended by Glasgow Corporation. This -decision stems from the expansion of the municipal fleet and the need for locating new garages at strategic points throughout the city to carry extra traffic.