Day 130 - 26 May 95 - Page 08


     
     1        A.  As I have just said, it seemed an appropriate number to
     2        me at the time.  It seems an appropriate number now, but
     3        I obviously have not experience in either closing or
     4        running that restaurant, so I can only go on my past
     5        experience and what other Operations people told me.
     6
     7   Q.   When you say it is "appropriate", because it is basically
     8        the discretion of the manager; is that what you saying?
     9        A.  It is at the discretion of the manager, but really when
    10        the restaurant is closed it is not as if there is any
    11        external pressure from customers at all.  The job is there
    12        to be done, and there is plenty of time to do it.
    13
    14   Q.   There is internal pressure from the people working there to
    15        finish by the time they want to leave.  Did you check when
    16        they had been scheduled, and whether there was enough staff
    17        to complete the jobs by the time that all the workers there
    18        considered that they wished to leave?
    19        A.  As I said to you, it seemed an appropriate number at
    20        the time.  No, I did not check the schedule, and there is
    21        no evidence to show that people were rushing or under any
    22        pressure.
    23
    24   Q.   In paragraph 4, I think we have already heard or you deal
    25        with in your report about that particular machine, do you
    26        accept it was prone to breaking down over a number of
    27        months?
    28        A.  I certainly know previous repair work had been done on
    29        it.  I think June was the previous time it had been
    30        repaired.
    31
    32   Q.   Yes, but it was prone to breaking down even since that
    33        repair, was it not, or did you not investigate that?
    34        A.  Robert Chapman gave evidence to that effect, or a
    35        statement to that effect, and, having spoken to the
    36        contractor involved -- I mean, it is possible.
    37
    38   Q.   Were you aware that the 18-inch insulated plastic handle
    39        had been missing for months and not been replaced?
    40        A.  I am aware it was missing at the time, yes.
    41
    42   Q.   And that had been the case for sometime?
    43        A.  Well, I was aware it was missing at the time of the
    44        accident.  I do not know how long it had been missing.
    45
    46   Q.   Did you investigate that?
    47        A.  I did not check into it, but there is also some debate
    48        as to -- well, it would not have made any difference is my
    49        understanding.
    50 
    51   Q.   That particular handle was missing.  That was part of the 
    52        machine that Mr. Hopkins would have gripped, was it not? 
    53        A.  I believe he did hold on to the handle, yes.
    54
    55   Q.   The electrician, is it Dave Dunn, stated to the Inquest
    56        that the handle would have prevented his death?
    57        A.  I do not know that is true.  I was not at the Inquest
    58        and I believe that Mr. Purslow will give evidence to the
    59        contrary.
    60

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