81 Wis. 191 | Wis. | 1892
It appears that the floor on which the foot of the ladder rested was, to some extent, covered with oil, tar, and other slippery substances; that the plaintiff was ordered by the foreman to ascend the ladder for the purpose named; that while in the act of doing so, and by reason of the condition of the foot of the ladder, and such slipperiness, the same slipped, and consequently the plaintiff fell and was injured. The particular defect in the ladder complained of is the absence of any spikes or other appliances in the lower end to prevent the same from slipping upon the floor.
The general rule undoubtedly makes it the duty of the employer to furnish his employee not only with a reasonably safe place in which to do the work assigned, but also with reasonably safe implements or machinery for doing the same. It is equally well settled that one who contracts to work for another in any employment assumes the usual and necessary risks of such employment, especially as to such hazards of which he has full knowledge. Paule v. Florence Mining Co. 80 Wis. 350.
In applying these well-settled rules we are to determine
The learned counsel for the plaintiff virtually concedes that there could be no recovery here had not the defendant, prior to the injury, promised to procure a safe ladder, and upon which promise the plaintiff relied. This court has held that in a proper case a servant may rely upon such assurance for a reasonable time for the performance thereof; but that, if he remains in such service after the expiration of such reasonable time, he is thereby deemed to have waived his objection and assumed the risk. Stephenson v. Duncan, 73 Wis. 404. But the allegations here fail to bring the case within the rule stated. Besides, as indicated in Marsh v. Chickering, 101 N. Y. 396, the rule is hardly applicable to a case like the one at bar.
By the Court. — The order of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings according to law.