Case Name: P. C. NORRIS v. HOLT-MORGAN MILLS
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1911-04-05
Citations: 154 N.C. 474
Docket Number: 
Parties: P. C. NORRIS v. HOLT-MORGAN MILLS.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 154
Pages: 474–485

Head Matter:
P. C. NORRIS v. HOLT-MORGAN MILLS.
(Filed 5 April, 1911.)
1. Jurors — Employees—Indemnity Company — Incompetency.
When it appears that a casualty company has indemnified the defendant against loss for personal injuries to the employees, and that plaintiff’s alleged cause of action is covered by the policy, it is a cause of challenge if the jurors are interested as agent, or otherwise, in the indemnity company.
2. Jurors — Questions Asked — Exhaust Challenges — Harmless Error.
Questions asked the jurors by plaintiff in selecting them upon the trial, as to whether they were interested, etc., in defendant’s indemnity company, held at least harmless error, as no juror was excused by reason of the questions asked and the defendant did not exhaust its peremptory challenges.
3. Negligence — Defective Machinery — Subsequent Defects — Evidence.
When the defendant has testified, in an action by its employee for damages alleged from the furnishing and use of a defective machine, that the machine had not been changed since the injury and no other injury had been thereby inflicted, it is competent for the plaintiff to show, as evidence of defendant’s negligence, that the defect still exists.
4. Negligence — Master and Servant — Safe Place to Work — Safe Appliances — Evidence—Assumption of Risks — Questions for Jury.
The plaintiff was employed, to pack lint cotton in defendant’s packing-room at its cotton mills as it was blown there with the use of steam fans, the room being 7 feet wide, 14 feet long and 14 feet high. There was evidence tending to show that the door to this room was negligently bolted from the outside, and that through the negligence of the defendant in not keeping the oil cups of the engine in proper repair and in not securely fastening the engine, the lint cotton caught afire while plaintiff was at work, to his damage; that he had to force open the door, as no one heard his calls; that while fire from the ignited cotton covered the room he had to dig down through the cotton to the door, which should have been opened from the inside, and that to get out it was customary to call to employees on the outside; that the machinery had not been inspected during the sis months of plaintiff’s employment; that another like machine used by defendant did not shake while in operation; and that the fire originated at the bearings of the defective machine, and that lint cotton was on the machinery and connecting pipes. The judge correctly charged upon the questions of res ipsa loqwitwr, of accident, of the duty of the master to furnish his servant a safe place to work, of the master’s duty to furnish and inspect the appliances used, and it is Held, (1) the evidence is sufficient to go to the jury upon the question of defendant’s negligence; (2) that an employee does not assume the risk of an injury caused by the failure of the master to perform a duty imposed on him by law, in furnishing a safe place to work, and this duty cajmot be delegated to another so as to exempt the master from liability.
Appeal by defendant from CooJce, J., at November Term, 1910, of HaRNEtt.
The plaintiff, an employee of the defendant, brought this action to recover damages for personal injuries, alleging that the defendant failed to furnish him a reasonably safe place to work, that the machinery of the defendant was defective, that the defendant failed to inspect it, and failed to instruct and warn him. The defendant denied that it was negligent; alleged that if the plaintiff was injured by the negligence of any one, it was by the negligence of a fellow-servant; that if the defendant was negligent, this negligence was not the cause of the injury; that the injury was the result of an accident, and that tbe plaintiff assumed tbe risk thereof. Tbe defendant appeals from a judgment in favor of- tbe plaintiff.
There was evidence on tbe part of tbe plaintiff tending to show that in March, 1908, and for six months prior thereto, plaintiff was employed by defendant to work in its dye-house, and among other things it was his duty to pack lint cotton into packing-rooms connected with said house, as the same was blown from the dyeing-rooms into the packing-rooms by means of a fan. These packing or storing rooms were about 7 feet wide, 14 to 16 feet long and 14 feet or more in height. The bleached or dried cotton was blown in the top of the room, and the doors of the packing-rooms were kept closed. Formerly, cotton had been put into these rooms by hand. It was carried by hand into each room through the door. After the fan was installed, it became necessary to close the door of each room, in order to prevent the draft blowing the cotton out. Under the old system, the doors were bolted from the outside, and after the fan was installed no change was made in this particular and no other doors were added. The plaintiff and others assigned to work in the packing-room entered the door, which was then closed and bolted by some of the employees on the outside. The packer remained in the room packing the cotton until the room was filled. He then knocked or kicked against the wall of the room, scratched a hole through the cotton, and was let out the door by some operative. This was the rule and custom of the defendant.
On the morning of the plaintiff’s injury he was assigned to work in the packing-room. The cotton which was first blown in had been taken from the drying-rooms the evening before and had cooled. After this had been blown in, the defendant commenced blowing in warm cotton, which was removed from the drying-rooms that morning. At that time the cotton had been packed to a depth of 4% feet. Plaintiff, following the usual custom, had cotton over his eyes and nose to keep out the dust, and was on his knees, rolling the cotton back, when he heard an unusual sound about him. At once he discovered the cotton in the room was afire, and the blaze had flashed over Mm. He endeavored to get to tbe door. It was bolted from the outside; he called for help. In order to protect them he closed his eyes, and endeavored to reach the door, which was the only exit. The cotton was 4 or 4% feet high, and piled against the door. The fire was all over the room. No one opened the door or answered his call for assistance. Being almost strangled by the fire, he ran against the door with his head and hands and burst it open by forcing out the staple which held it on the outside. That the bearings had before become heated on account of defective construction, want of repair, and failure to inspect; that defendant failed to warn and caution against danger; that the fan in operation at the time of plaintiff’s injury was bolted to 2-inch flooring, the floor was unsteady, and would shake; that tMs jarring or shaking of the bolts and taps would cause them to become loose; that the bearings of the fan were usually covered with lint cotton; that the fan used was known as “The Buffalo Forge Company’s” make. A cut of the same was introduced in evidence, and, among other things, showed two oil cups on the bearings of the fan for the purpose of oiling them. These cups were in plain view, and when kept on the fan disclosed the absence or presence of oil. When the oil cups were used, they served as a guage by which those operating the machine knew when more oil was needed. There was evidence tending to show that one of the oil cups, at the time of the injury and prior thereto, for months had been off the fan, and the other one so broken or worn down that it would not retain oil; that instead of placing oil in the cups, the machinery was oiled through the holes leading into the bearings. The oil would waste on the floor and there was no guage; that in the defendant’s mill was another fan bolted on a concrete foundation. This eliminated or lessened the vibration. That the fan to which plaintiff attributed his injury rattled and was not firmly placed; that the sparks seen at the time of the injury were near the ends of the bearings.
The defendant offered evidence tending to prove that the plaintiff was employed, among other things, to pack cotton in the storage-rooms; that the cotton was not delivered in the said room while hot; that- there was no such friction in the fans or pipes as to cause ignition; that the fan and machinery were not defective or out of repair or antiquated, but were such as are approved and in general use; that the fan was bolted firmly to a 2-inch floor, and that while there was a vibration which caused the pipe to rattle, it was only such as is common to fans similarly secured, and that this fan was secured in the customary manner; that the method of delivering cotton used by the defendant has been universally adopted and is considered safe and prudent by the cotton mills of the country.
That the defendant was not guilty of negligence in adopting the modem method of transferring cotton from one room to another, which has been generally adopted. That the only precaution which the defendant could have taken was to altogether discontinue this mode of transferring- cotton and return to the old mode of moving it by hand, or to provide a door with a latch inside; that as the door in this instance proved no obstruction, no injury was suffered by reason of its being fastened on the outside; that if there had been a latch on the inside, it would have been impossible for the plaintiff to have found it, because, surrounded by fire in the air and everywhere, he could not look for it and the latch would have been hid by the cotton; that the fan and machinery were in good condition and in good running order at the time of the accident; that the bearings of the fan were at that time well oiled; that the oil cups to the fan were there; but if, as contended by the plaintiff, they had been removed, the holes from which the oil cups were taken were efficiently used in oiling the bearings; that the oil chambers were large enough to hold oil for lubrication many days, but that it was the rule and practice to fill them every morning; that the bearings of the fan were not heated at the time of the accident, but that if they were, it was caused by. the negligence of a follow^feervant, whose duty it was to lubricate every morning when the fan was started; that the bearings were not loose or out of order and never had been, but if they were so at the time of the accident, it was through tbe negligence of a fellow-servant, whose duty it was to keep tbe same in order or to report it to tbe machinist, who was charged with the operation of the fan; that if the machinist neglected to tighten the nuts and bolts and the bearings which may have become loose in the operation of the machine, or to oil the bearings so as to prevent friction and sparks and fire, he was but a fellow-servant with the plaintiff, and this was but the negligence of a fellow-servant; that there never had been any trouble in the operation of the fan or machinery; that the accident was not anticipated, and could not be reasonably anticipated; that the fan and machinery had been regularly and frequently inspected and that they were always found to be in good running order; that the bearings had never heated or become loose; that the fan was taken apart on the next work day after the accident and found to be in perfect condition, the oil wells supplied with oil, the bearings thoroughly lubricated and in good order, and that they have been operated ever since without repairs or alterations; that the hood or covering of the fan is so tight, and the box of the journal in which the axle of the fan works so closely fitting that it was impossible for fire to get into the fan from the outside; that the slight fastening of the door was no impediment to the egress of the plaintiff at the time of the accident; that he was on the opposite side of the room, kneeling down with his face and eyes covered with cotton, and that his injury was suffered before he got to the door, and was in no way attributable to the fastening of the door; that the plaintiff had no difficulty in getting out; that the door opened immediately when he pushed against it; that it was not negligence in any view of the case for the defendant to bolt the door, because the plaintiff himself proved that it was the rule and custom for the men who were working just outside of the door to open it whenever notified by the inside worker; that this was the safer method; and if they failed, it was the negligence of fellow-servants; that the plaintiff knew all the conditions and all the dangers, if any, to which he was exposed; that he knew just as well as the defendant the danger from an accidental fire, without being warned, and that he voluntarily assumed the risk attending his employment.
Manning & Everett, J. 0. Clifford, and Bryant & Brogden for plaintiff.
J. W. Hinsdale, H. E. Norris, and R. L. Godwin for defendant.

Opinion:
Allen, J.,
after stating tbe case: We have been aided very much in tbe examination of tbis case by tbe full statement of facts contained in tbe briefs of tbe appellant and tbe appellee. Rule 34 requires tbe appellant to make sucb statement in bis brief, and its observance in all cases would do nmcb to quiet tbe complaint sometimes beard that some fact bas been overlooked.
Tbe exceptions are numerous, but it is unnecessary to discuss eacb one of them, as many involve tbe same question. Tbe exception to tbe question asked tbe jurors, "Is there any member of tbe jury who bas an interest as agent, or otherwise, ^in tbe Maryland Casualty Company, an insurance company?" is without merit. We must assume tbe question was asked in good faith, and tbe defendant says in its brief: "Tbe Maryland Casualty Company bad insured tbe defendant in respect to tbe plaintiff's accident."
In Blevins v. Cotton Mills, 150 N. C., 497, it was held that an employee of tbe defendant was incompetent as a juror, and tbe Casualty Company was practically a defendant. In any event, it does not appear that the question prejudiced tbe cause of tbe defendant. No person was excused on account of bis connection with tbe Casualty Company, and tbe defendant did not exhaust its challenges.
The evidence of the absence of the oil cups after tbe injury would ordinarily be incompetent, but it was made competent in this case by tbe evidence of the defendant that the machinery bad not been changed, and that the oil cups were on the machinery at the time of tbe injury and at the trial. Tise v. Thomasville, 151 N. C., 282.
Tbe defendant resisted a recovery principally on tbe following grounds:
(1) That tbe fact that tbe door was fastened on tbe outside was not tbe proximate cause of tbe injury, contending, on tbe plaintiff's evidence, tbat be bad no difficulty in getting out, and was not" delayed by tbe manner of fastening tbe door.
(2) Tbat if tbe room in wbicb tbe plaintiff was working was unsafe, tbis was not tbe cause of bis injury, and tbat tbe real cause was an accidental fire.
(3) Tbat if tbe fire was tbe result of negligence, it was tbe negligence of a fellow-servant, for wbicb tbe defendant would not be liable.
(4) Tbat if plaintiff was delayed in leaving tbe room, it was because of tbe negligence of a fellow-servant in failing to open tbe door when be called.
(5) Tbat tbe fire was accidental.
(6) Tbat tbe plaintiff assumed tbe risk.
(7) Tbat there was no evidence of negligence.
All of these contentions, except the last, are dependent upon tbe findings of tbe jury, and we think bis Honor submitted them to tbe jury under instructions of wbicb tbe defendant cannot complain.
After stating tbe duties imposed upon tbe plaintiff and defendant, be explained tbe meaning of tbe term "accident," and instructed tbe jury tbat tbe plaintiff could not recover if bis injuries were' tbe result of -an accident; tbat tbe doctrine of res ipsa, loquitur did not apply and tbat tbe burden was on tbe plaintiff to prove tbat tbe defendant was negligent and tbat tbis negligence was tbe proximate cause of bis injury; tbat proof of an accident was not proof of negligence; tbat if tbe fire was caused by tbe negligence of a fellow-servant in failing to lubricate tbe machinery, tbe plaintiff could not recover; tbat if tbe fan was of approved make and such as was in general use, and was frequently inspected by tbe defendant and no defect was discovered or could be discovered by a reasonably careful inspection, and tbat tbe defendant did not know of any defect in tbe fan, and tbat tbe fire originated in tbe fan from an unknown cause or through tbe negligence of a fellow-servant, there would be no actionable negligence; tbat tbe defendant would not be responsible for failure to discover a latent defect in the fan; tbat there was no evidence tbat tbe defendant was negligent in the preparation of the cotton and the feeding it into the pipes for delivery through the 'fan into the storeroom; that if the fan and the apparatus for delivering cotton in the storage-room were of standard make, known and approved and in general use, the defendant was not negligent in respect to furnishing said fan and apparatus, although there was a fan of later and more improved make which was frequently used; that if such fans occasionally got hot from rapid revolutions, but not hot enough to ignite cotton, it was not negligence to continue the use; that if fans like the one used by the defendant usually vibrate and make noises as described by the plaintiff, but perform their functions safely, this would not be evidence of a defective fan; that if the door of the storage-room was fastened, but the fastening did not impede or prevent the plaintiff from emerging from the room, the fastening of the door would not render the defendant liable; that the defendant was not required to provide against a possible accident which would not be expected or foreseen by a reasonably prudent man; that it was as much the duty of the plaintiff as of the defendant to anticipate an accidental fire; that if the fan had been operated ten years without getting out of order or accident, and had been operated without repairs and no accident since the injury to the plaintiff, this would be evidence that the defendant had no notice of a defect in the fan, if it existed, and that the fan was not defective; that if plaintiff knew of the conditions, the defendant was not required to warn him; that if defendant failed to provide the plaintiff a safe place to work and the plaintiff had equal knowledge with the defendant, or the same opportunity of discovering the dangerous position or liability to risk he would occupy in his employment, the plaintiff assumed the risk as to the place where he was working.
We also think there was evidence of negligence to be submitted to the jury.
The brief of the appellee, from which we quote, states wdth accuracy the duties imposed upon the employer.
"It is universally held at this day that it is the master's duty to furnish, the servant reasonably safe machinery. If he fails to do so he exposes the servant to extraordinary risks and hazards. The failure to exercise due care in furnishing such machinery is a breach of duty which the master owes the servant." Moore v. R. R., 141 N. C., 113.
"It is accepted law in North Carolina that an employer of labor to assist in the operation of railways, mills, and other plants where the machinery is more or less complicated, and more especially when drawn by mechanical power, is required to provide for his employees, in the exercise of proper care, a reasonably safe place to work, and to supply them with machinery, implements, and appliances reasonably safe and suitable for the work in which they are engaged, and'such as are approved and in general use in plants and places of like kind and character; and an employer is also required to keep such machinery in such condition, as far as this can be done in the exercise of proper care and diligence." Hicks v. Mfg. Co., 138 N. C., 325-326.
"Where there is evidence tending to show that an injured employee did not have a reasonably safe place to work, or was not instructed as to the danger attending the act he was told to do, the question whether it was a reasonably safe place to work or whether the failure to warn him of the danger was the proximate cause of the injury should be submitted to a jury. The evidence that there was a safe way to do this act did not warrant the withdrawal of the case from the jury in view of the evidence in the case. When more than one inference can' be drawn as to the negligence or proximate cause, it is for the jury to determine. Dorsett v. Mfg. Co., 131 N. C., 254; Marks v. Cotton Mills, 138 N. C., 401." Holton v. Lumber Co., 152 N. C., 69.
"It is the negligence of the employer in not providing for his employees safe machinery and a reasonably safe place in which to work that renders him liable for any resulting injury to them, and this negligence consists in his failure to adopt and use the approved appliances which are in general use and necessary -to the safety of the employees in the performance of their duties; and this rule applies, it is said, even as between carrier and passenger." Marks v. Cotton Mills, 135 N. C., 290.
"A master owes to a servant the duty to carefully inspect, at reasonable intervals, the machinery, ways, and appliances provided for the use of the servknt in the performance of his work, and it is not essential to his liability for an injury to the servant that he should actually know of the defect causing the injury." West v. Tanning Co., ante, 44 (69 S. E., 687); Womble v. Grocery Co., 135 N. C., 486.
"Generally speaking, an employer is bound to warn and instruct his employee concerning dangers known to him, or which he should know in the exercise of reasonable care for their safety, and which are unknown to them, or are undis-eoverable by them in the exercise of such ordinary and reasonable care as in their situation they may be expected and required to take for their own safety, or concerning such dangers as are not probably appreciated by them, by reason of their lack of experience, their youth, or through general incompetency, or ignorance; and unless the servant is so warned or instructed, he does not assume the risk of such dangers; but if he receives an injury without fault on his part, in consequence of not having received a suitable warning or instruction, the master is bound to indemnify him therefor." Thompson on Negligence, sec. 4055.
There was evidence of a failure to perform these duties, and this is negligence. The plaintiff offered evidence that he had been in the employment of the defendant six months and had not known the machinery to be inspected and had not been warned of danger; that the machinery was bolted to 2-inch flooring and that the flooring was unsteady; that another machine used by the defendant was on a concrete floor and did not shake; that when the machinery was installed there were two oil cups fastened to it as a part of it, which oiled it automatically to avoid friction, and that one of these cups was gone and the other broken; that these oil cups, when on the machine, oiled the bearings; that the fire originated at the bearings; that.fine lint cotton was on the pipes and machinery; that plaintiff was reqtdred to work in a room bolted on tbe outside, and tbat tbe only mode of exit after completing bis work was to burrow tbrougb two or three feet of cotton to tbe door and wait until some one from tbe outside beard bim and opened tbe door.
Tbe charge to tbe jury was, we think, in some respects more favorable to tbe defendant than it was entitled to, and particularly as to tbe doctrine of assumption of risk, as tbe employee never assumes tbe risk of an injury caused by tbe failure of tbe employer to perform a duty which be cannot delegate, and tbe duty to provide a reasonably safe place to work is one of them.
We find no error in tbe trial.
No error.