Matthew Gunn

Morrisons

HM Senior Coroner for Gloucestershire
Ms Katy Skerrett

By email only

Dear HM Senior Coroner

Matt Gunn
Prevention of Future Deaths

| write in response to the Prevention of Future Death report (“PFD report”) under Regulation 28
received from you on 9 June 2016 and which requires Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC
(“Morrisons”) to respond within 56 days detailing the action taken or to be taken whether in
response to the report or otherwise.

The PFD report indicates that the matter of concern was that:

“Any observed or reported epileptic event occurring to a Morrisons' employee whilst at
work was not recorded.”

You are of the opinion that this gives rise to a risk of future deaths.

As Morrisons understands, the suggested purpose of recording any observed or reported epileptic
event is so that it has information that may be of assistance to assess an employee’s epilepsy with
respect to their work as necessary. As the evidence clearly reflected at the inquest, it is important
to recognise that in order for Morrisons to have a full and accurate picture of an employee’s
epilepsy, it would be necessary for it to be informed by the employee of epileptic events that
occurred outside of work, for example, at home. It is only possible for Morrisons to record and act
on the epileptic events that it is informed of.

Therefore, it follows that the information recorded at the store about observed or reported
epileptic events will inevitably only be a partial picture given that there will be other episodes that
take place outside of work that Morrisons will be unaware of unless the employee chooses to
volunteer that information, which the employee is unlikely to do unless it affects their attendance
at work. As you are aware, and indeed the evidence at the Inquest reflected, in dealing with an
employee with epilepsy, or indeed any other disability, equality legislation would prohibit
Morrisons from requiring the employee to disclose the information.

Where an epileptic event occurs in store, then the process is as follows. The first stage after an
epileptic episode occurring is for a first aider to attend. If the epileptic event resulted in an
accident or was reportable under RIDDOR then it would be recorded in the accident book and/or
reported to the local authority or HSE. Where it does not, then the record of first aid attendance
and treatment given should be given to the People Manager and kept in the personnel file for the

Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc Telephone; +44 (0)845 611 5000
Registered office: www.morrisons.co.uk

Hilmore House, Gain Lane,

Bradford, West Yorkshire 8D3 7DL

Registered in England no. 358949

member of the store team the People Manager reviews all first aid records and determines if
there was a trigger for an occupational health assessment for the employee.

In light of your concern, Morrisons has taken the opportunity to refresh this procedure in order to
re-emphasise the expected approach. Asa result, Morrisons is implementing:

(a) A bulletin will be sent to all stores instructing them to brief all employees to remind
them that any employee who has observed an epileptic event of an employee
should contact a first aider regardless of the nature of that event whether it is an
epileptic event or a temporary absence;

(b) An update to the first aid training and the first aid policy to remind of

(i) The need to complete a first aid slip for every call attended even if there is
no treatment given;

(ii) Where a first aider is not present, appointed persons will be instructed to
complete a first aid slip;

(iii) That all first aid slips must be reviewed by the People Manager and held on
file - this will be trained out to all People Manager’s.

(c) Where the epileptic event is reported via the return to work procedures this will be
recorded on the employee’s file and a reminder included of the need to review the
risk assessment for the individual and refer them to Occupational Health for
Assessment, if necessary.

For the avoidance of doubt, this procedure was in place at the time of Matt’s death but Morrisons
has reviewed and will re-emphasise as set out above key aspects to its employees. The bulletin is
anticipated to be issued by the end of August 2016 and the amendments to the first aid training,
and policy and the return to work procedures will be issued, and trained out completely by the
end of December 2016.

Yours faithfully,

Group General Counsel and Company Secretary

a
Wm Morrison Supermarkets Pic Telephone: +44 (0)845 611 5000
Registered office: www.morrisons.co.uk
Hilmore House, Gain Lane,
Bradford, West Yorkshire BD3 7DL
Registered in England no. 358949