Opinion by
§ 381. Liability ~of employer for injuries received by employee in consequence of defective tools furnished him to labor with; rules as to; case stated. Appellee sued appellant to recover damages for personal injuries received by him while laboring in appellant’s employ with a defective hammer, said hammer having been furnished him' by appellant with which to do certain work, and said hammer being defective, by reason of which defect he received said injuries. Appellant pleaded a general denial and contributory negligence on the paid of appellee. Judgment for appellee for $945 and costs.
The testimony shows that W. P. Hill was employed as a “helper” by the appellant, the railway company, at the time he was injured, and had been so employed for several months; that it was his duty to do whatever was
Held: In the case of R’y Co. v. McCarthy, 64 Tex. 632,
In the case of R’y Co. v. Bradford, 66 Tex. 732, it is said, “the liability of the master to the servant for injuries resulting from the use of defective implements arises from the fact that it is the duty of the master to furnish implements not defective; and a servant, unless the defect be patent, may assume that the master in this respect has performed his duty. . . It is not the duty of the servant to assume and exercise the duties of an inspector, that he may detect imperfections in implements not open to common observation; but if he knows of such imperfections, then it is incumbent upon him not to expose himself to damage resulting from them.” The rule that the master must exercise proper care to furnish safe machinery and appliances to perform the service in which the employee is engaged extends to all classes of business.” [R’y Co. v. O’Hara, 64 Tex. 600.] “Therule of law which exempts the master from responsibility to the servant for injuries received from the ordinary risks of his employment, including the negligence 'of his fellow-servants, does not excuse the exercise of ordinary care in supplying and maintaining proper instrumentalities for the performance of the work required. One who enters the employment of another has a right to count on this duty, and is not required to assume the risk of the master’s negligence in this respect.” ’ [R’y Co. v. Whitmore, 58 Tex. 288; Ford v. Fitchburg, 110 Mass. 241.] “ In reference to this matter the employee may well, to some extent at least, rely on the faithful per
Applying the principles above stated to the facts of this case the judgment is supported by the law and the evidence. When appellee was entering upon the duty assigned him he took the precaution to select the hammer to be used. Brown, appellant’s superintendent, deprived him of the selected hammer and replaced it with the one which inflicted the injury. The hammer furnished by Brown “appeared like other hammers, and was apparently, from-sight, all right.” Appellee had the right to believe that the hammer was 'safe and suitable for the work he was engaged in. [See, also, R’y Co. v. Silliphant, 8 S. W. Rep. 673.]
Affirmed.
