Claim of Geddes v. Salvation Army

Appeal by a self-insured employer from a decision of the Workmen’s Compensation Board holding that claimant at the time of his injury was a covered employee under the Workmen’s Compensation Law. Claimant, a duly commissioned minister holding the rank of Major in the Salvation Army, sustained an injury to his right index finger while making an adjustment to a baling machine. The board found “ that the claimant, at the time of the injury, was engaged in manual work operating the baling machine and was not at that time performing the duties of a minister or non-manual worker ” and thus not “ excluded from coverage under Section 3, Subd. 1, Group 18 of the Workmen’s Compensation Law”. The board’s factual findings are supported by substantial evidence, and we concur in its conclusion as to the lack of applicability here of the exclusionary provision for “ commissioned ministers ” contained in group 18. Clearly claimant as a commissioned minister would not be covered under group 18 (Matter of Israeli v. Wellwood Cemetery Assn., 271 App. Div. 855). However, the operation of a baling machine is hazardous employment pursuant to group 7 of subdivision 1 of section 3, and claimant was thus entitled to an award (Matter of Gramlich v. Board of Educ. of City of N. Y., 297 N. Y. 349). We do not construe the exclusion contained in group 18 for commissioned ministers to apply beyond that group (see Matter of Stoerzer v. City of New York, 267 N. Y. 339). Decision affirmed, with costs to the Workmen’s Compensation Board. Herlihy, P. J., Reynolds, Greenblott, Cooke and Simons, JJ., concur.