Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2015
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2015-0197, written 20 May 2015. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 20 May 2015 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2015-0197 |
| Deceased | Irene Hamilton-Parker |
| Coroner | Andrew Haigh |
| Coroner area | Staffordshire (South) |
| Category | Product related deaths |
| Source | judiciary.uk record · original PDF |
| Responses published | 1 |
Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.
REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 1. Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Department for Business, innovation and Skills, 1 Victoria Street , London, SW1H OET CORONER | am Mr Andrew Haigh senior coroner for the coroner area of Staffordshire South CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS | make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 12 February 2015 | commenced an investigation into the death of Irene HAMILTON-PARKER, aged 87 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 6 May 2015. The conclusion of the inquest was Accidental death. CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH Mrs Hamilton-Parker died in the early hours of 10th February 2015 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. The previous evening she had been found in flames by her husband at their home in Uttoxeter. Death resulted from the burns she had sustained. She had been attempting to light a cigarette using an inappropriate lighter and had set fire to some easily flammable clothing that she was wearing. CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the inquest, the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The Fire Investigator found that Mrs Hamilton-Parker had been wearing clothes which consisted of man-made fabrics that were easily inflammable. | write to enquire if it is possible for any steps to be taken to reduce the flammability of clothing either manufactured or imported in this country. | believe that this is not an isolated case. ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you have the power to take such action. YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by 15 July 2015. I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. COPIES and PUBLICATION | have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons (husband of deceased) and Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service. | am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. Dated 20.5.2015 Andrew A Haigh HM Senior Coroner Staffordshire (South)
1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.
Department for Business Innovation & Skills i The Rt Hon Anna Soubry MP Andrew A Haigh ; Minister of State for Small Business, Staffordshire (South) Coroner's Industry and Enterprise Coroner's Office 1 Victoria Street No1 Staffordshire Place London Stafford SW1H OET ST16 2LP T +44 (0) 20 7215 5000 E enquiries@bis.gov.uk www gov. uk/bis Our ref: MCB2015/15720/FO Your ref: AAH/sasg/326-2015 of August 2015 Dear Andrew Thank you for your letter of the 21 July, to the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, in which you enclosed a copy of your report on the unfortunate death of Irene Hamilton-Parker. | am replying as this matter falls within my portfolio. | fully recognise your concerns with regard to the flammability of clothing and agree that we should take action to reduce the risk to consumers where this is proportionate. However, there are a number of issues which must be considered. Most clothing is flammable due to the inherent properties of the materials used in their manufacture. To reduce the flammability of cloth generally requires the use of flame retardants, about which there are growing concerns over issues relating to the toxicity, respiratory and skin irritant properties of these chemicals. While recognising the serious nature of clothing fires. current concerns with regard to exposure to high levels of flame retardants cannot be ignored. Action to reduce flammability of clothing therefore needs to be based on an assessment of the various risks. Within the UK, there are specific additional flammability requirements for certain children’s nightwear and for children’s clothing which is classified as a toy, such as fancy dress costumes. | do not believe that there is sufficient evidence to extend these requirements to other types of clothing at present and | therefore do not propose to take further action at this time. However, | thank you for raising your concerns and my officials will keep this issue under review. mit AM yond aiheay t= THE RT HON ANNA SOUBRY MP
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