Workmen's compensation — Accident — Death from natural causes — Performance of usual work — Findings of fact — Appellate review.
1. Death or disability from a natural cause overtaking an employee while engaged in his customary work in the usual manner cannot be considered accidental.
2. Findings of fact by the Workmen's Compensation Board, based upon sufficient evidence, are conclusive; it is beyond the province of the appellate court to pass upon the credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the testimony.
Argued April 14, 1943.
PER CURIAM, April 26, 1943:
In this workmen's compensation case the learned court below affirmed the board in disallowing a claim for compensation made by the widow of Joseph Payne.
The claimant alleged that the death of her former husband on September 8, 1938, was due to overexertion on the previous day when in the course of his employment. There was ample evidence to support the findings of the referee, which were affirmed by the board, that there were no unusual circumstances attending the performance of decedent's work which constituted an accident; that death was due to natural causes. The cause of death was a coronary occlusion and there was medical testimony, although contradicted, that the occlusion was the natural progress of the heart disease from which the decedent had suffered.
There was no proof that the character of decedent's work was "unusual" in the sense necessary to establish the occurrence of a compensable accident. Decedent was doing his customary form of work, notwithstanding he went up and down a ladder a number of times the day he had a heart attack, and there was nothing to warrant the conclusion that there was some unexpected occurrence. See Royko v. Logan Coal Co. et al., 146 Pa. Super. 449, 458, 22 A.2d 434; Hamer v. Rishel, 147 Pa. Super. 585, 587, 24 A.2d 664. Mere proof of disability overtaking one at work is insufficient to establish an accident: Good v. Penna. Dept. of Property Supplies et al., 346 Pa. 151, 154, 155, 30 A.2d 434.
The board's findings, having been based upon sufficient evidence, are conclusive. It is beyond our province to pass upon the credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the testimony: Thomas v. Susquehanna Collieries Co., 148 Pa. Super. 161, 165, 25 A.2d 98.
Judgment is affirmed.