Case ID: wis_187/html/0053-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Vinje, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Kimberly-Clark Company, Appellant, vs. Industrial Commission of Wisconsin and another, Respondents.
    
      April 8
    
    May 12, 1925.
    
    
      Workmen's compensation: Scope of employment: Workman making tool box.
    
    Where the evidence adduced in a proceeding for compensation under the workmen’s compensation act showed that the place where the employer kept the tools used by claimant was unsafe and that they were often removed so that he could not get them promptly and with certainty, a finding of the industrial commission that the making of a tool box within which to keep such tools securely locked so that the tools could be got by the employee without delay was beneficial to the employer and within the scope of claimant’s employment, is justified.
    Appeal from a judgment of the circuit, court for Dane county. E. Ray Stevens, Circuit Judge.
    
      Affirmed.
    
    Action to set aside an award of the Industrial Commission on the ground that the claimant, Dominic Dame, was not acting within the scope of his employment at the time he received the injury for which the awarded damages are given. Dame was employed as a helper to the day repairman and to assist in keeping repaired machines used for making paper. As such repairman it was necessary for him to have suitable tools. The testimony is somewhat in conflict as to whether or not the company furnished the tools. But it fairly appears therefrom that the company did have tools that the claimant might have used and at times did use. But the evidence also shows that the claimant furnished tools of his own and that the place where the company kept its tools was not safe; that tools were often taken therefrom and had to be hunted up or secured elsewhere than at the regular place where they were kept by the company. During working hours he was planing a board on a planer for the purpose of making himself a tool box in which to keep his tools under lock and key upon the premises of his employer and while in the employ of the company. It was not his intention to take the box home or to use it elsewhere than in the repair shop of the plaintiff company. The Commission found that the making of such tool box was performing a service within the scope of and incidental to his employment, inasmuch as it inured to the benefit of the plaintiff company, and awarded him the statutory damages for his injury. To test the validity of this award the plaintiff brought this action.
    For the appellant there were briefs by Hooper & Hooper of Oshkosh, and oral argument by Ed. M. Hooper.
    
    For the respondent Industrial Commission there was a brief by the Attorney General, Mortimer Levitan, assistant attorney general, and Suel 0. Arnold, law examiner, and oral argument by Mr. Arnold.
    
   Vinje, C. J.

' The only question raised upon this appeal is whether or not there was any credible evidence introduced from which the Commission could reasonably come to the conclusion that the making of the tool box was an act within the scope of and incidental to the employment of the claimant. It is undisputed that the company furnished him no adequate tools, or, if they were furnished, they were not kept in a place where he could promptly and with certainty get them. Under such circumstances the Commission could properly find that the making of a tool box within which to keep his tools securely locked so that he could get them without delay was a work which was beneficial to the employer. It is not a case such as that of Radtke Bros. & Korsch Co. v. Rutzinski, 174 Wis. 212, 183 N. W. 168, where the employee was engaged in a private enterprise for his own convenience and one which in no wise inured to the benefit of his employer. Respondent relies among others upon the following cases wherein it has been held that work incidental to the employment includes eating lunch on the premises: Milwaukee Western F. Co. v. Industrial Comm. 159 Wis. 635, 150 N. W. 998; Racine R. Co. v. Industrial Comm. 165 Wis. 600, 162 N. W. 664; warming oneself during leisure time, Northwestern I. Co. v. Industrial Comm. 160 Wis. 633, 152 N. W. 416; going for a drink, Widell Co. v. Industrial Comm. 180 Wis. 179, 192 N. W. 449; cleaning up in a factory though consisting of work different from that which the employee was engaged to perform, Morgan Co. v. Industrial Comm. 185 Wis. 428, 201 N. W. 738. This court has held that the statute must be liberally construed in favor of including all service that can in any sense be said to reasonably come within it. Brienen v. Wisconsin Pub. S. Co. 166 Wis. 24, 163 N. W. 182. In view of the construction heretofore given the statute, it is quite clear that there was evidence in this case from which the Commission could reasonably draw the conclusion that the service the employee performed was within the scope of and incidental to his employment because its performance inured to the benefit of the employer.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.