Safin v. JONES & LAUGHLIN STEEL CORP.

Opinion by

Reno, J.,

In this occupational disease case two facts were incontrovertibly established: first, claimant’s husband died of lobar pneumonia; and second, he had been exposed to a silica hazard and had contracted silicosis. The compensation authorities were required to decide whether his death was “caused primarily (as definitely distinguished from a contributory or accelerating cause) by silicosis,” within the meaning of the Act of July 2, 1937, P. L. 2714, §5(b), 77 PS §1105. Twice the referee disallowed the claim. In the first instance the board vacated his order and appointed an…