Laurel outlook., 1948-04-28
Farmer BIames
Loss of His Arm
On BaIer Company
BaIer Company says Warnings
and Safeguard Measures are
Issued But Not Needed

MONROE, WIS.-Clarence Yaun,
New Glarus farmer, who lost his
right arm in a rotary hay baler,
vas awarded 500, 500 in a suit
against the manufacturer but an ap-
peal against the verdict is almost
certain.
The baler, a one man operation,
rolls hay or straw into a round,
compact bale. An eight foot con-
veyor platform carries windrowed
hay into a series of fast moving
metal rolls. The hay is rolled up
like a carpet and is tied by Irvine
which feeds into the machine. The
roll is elected when it reaches the
correct size.
Testimony in the Yaun case
showed that Yaun had encountered
trouble with the Irvine when the ma
chine ran over a thin part of the
field and little hay fed into the baler.
He left the power on between trac-
tor and baler, got off the tractor and
put n foot on the conveyor apron.
He tossed a handful of hay into
the rollers. The front rollers,
ing at six feet a second, caught his
fingers. In a flash his arm had been
crushed.
Atty. Edward T. O'Neal of Fond
du Lac, counsel for Yaun, charged
the company with negligence:
"There was omission of safety de-
vices that would have prevented the
Anai1Anf Moro thnra chnrt1H hnxr0
been automatic Irvine equipment so
that the operator would not have to
leave the tractor seat"
Yaun Was Warned
The jury agreed, finding that the
firm was negligent for having no
automatic Irvine feeder, no ''quick
stop" apparatus and no protective
shield on the rolls of the machine.
Evidence presented by the manu-
facturer showed that Yaun was told
how to operate the machine. 1t a
owned by John Erb, New Glarus
farm machinery dealer, who was
doing custom work for farmers.
Yaun worked for him and had been
warned of the machines dangers.
A standard safety sign On the ma
chine said: "Never step on machine
when in operation"
Company instructions warned:
"Never attempt to feed Irvine under
the press roll by hand. If the Irvine
is not fed under the press by the
material, throw a small amount of
hay at a time to start under the
press roll"
Company attorneys declared that
the rolls presented an obvious
danger (and) the machine is
perfectly safe when the operator
does what he is told"
Suits AS Old AS Power
Engineers testified that an auto
matte Irvine feeder, such as cited by
he jury, had not been designed.
They said they were doubtful that
me could be superior to the feeder
n use on the machine. They con-
that the baler is accident
proof when an operator stands on
he ground to toss in the hay.
The present suit is only M of
many in which farm machinery OPP
orators have been charged with neg
in designing their equip
nent. The lawsuits started almost
IS soon as power farming started.
Many years ago a farm tractor man.
ifacturer finally changed gear de-
in the machine after he had /:
,een flooded with claims for deaths =:
md injuries. The old gears had
caused the tractors to tip over when I;
ront wheels hit a bump. :
Corn shredders and ensilage cut :
ers have been the subject of many /:
They are the most hazardous ::
machines on the farm. Testimony :
las shown that no matter how many :
safeguards are on them, farmers :
till disregard flashing blades and ;
.rab an ear of corn to untangle a /
: