Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2018

Donald Berry

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2018-0324, written 28 Sep 2018. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report28 Sep 2018
Reference2018-0324
DeceasedDonald Berry
CoronerAlison Mutch
Coroner areaManchester South
CategoryCare Home Health related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published3

The report

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

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: The Secretary of State for
Business, Acting Chief Executive for HSE and Director of Kendal Calling
CORONER

| am Alison Mutch ,Senior Coroner, for the coroner area of South
Manchester

CORONER'S LEGAL POWERS

1 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 24" August 2016 | commenced an investigation into the death of
Donald Peter Berry. The jury inquest concluded on the 6"" September
2018 and the conclusion of the jury was one of accidental death

The medical cause of death was:

1aBronchopneumonia;

1bRecurrentChest Infections;

1c Immobility due to paralysis

ll Epilepsy due to traumatic brain injury caused by electrocution

4 | Donald Berry suffered severe injuries due to being electrocuted whilst
working at the Kendal Calling Festival on 22 July 2010. These injuries
resulted in ongoing health complications leading to his death on 23”
| August 2016 at St Mark’s Care Centre 28 Delaunays Road, Sale.

5 | 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 MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —
1.The inquest heard that the organisers of the event Kendal
Calling had not identified that a clearly visible high voltage power
line was running over the site and no steps had been taken to
minimise the risk although an Event Safety Plan had been

submitted to the licensing authority.
2. the inquest heard that the lack of identification of such a
significant risk and need to take steps had been missed despite all
the steps required by law for licensing such an event had taken
place and an indication that the guidance in the Purple Book had
been adhered to by the organisers . None of the authorities
involved had noted the issue. Eden District Council (EDC)had now
taken steps to do site visits for similar events within their area but
this was not replicated nationally and was only done within EDC's
area for large events such as

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 23rd November 2018. |, 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 namely fe of Donald Berry, who may
find it useful or of interest.

! 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.

Alison Mutch OBE
HM Senior Coroner
28" September 2018

Responses

3 responses 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.

Response from Department for Business Energy Industrial Strategy (PDF)
AG Kelly Tolhurst MP
REC E IVE D a seabed Business, Energy &
Industrial Strategy
Department for + NOV 2018
CH

1 Victoria Street
Business, Energy London
& Industrial Strategy | -------=*------

SW1H OET

T +44 (0) 20 7215 5000
E  enquiries@beis.gov.uk

Alison Mutch OBE W  www.gov.uk

HM Senior Coroner

Coroner's Court

4 Mount Tabor Street

esi S| November 2018

SK1 3AG

Lownie maton.

Thank you for your letter and Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths, dated 28
September 2018, following your investigation and inquest into the death of Mr Donald Peter
Berry on 23 August 2016, who died due to injuries and subsequent ongoing health
complications from an accidental electrocution by a high voltage power line whilst working at
the Kendal Calling Festival. | am responding as the Minister responsible for Product Safety
Policy.

| would first like to say how sorry | was to hear about this grievous incident. If you have the
opportunity, please convey my deepest sympathies to Mr Berry's family.

| note that in your report you identify that the organisers of the event did not properly consider
the health and safety risk of high voltage electrical installation at the place of the event. This is
not an issue relating to the safety of an electrical appliance, which would fall within my
Department's remit. As this is a health and safety at work issue, it falls within the remit of the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who are sponsored by the Department for Work and
Pensions. | note you have sent this notice to the Acting Chief Executive of the HSE. My
Officials have contacted the Principal Inspector at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to
inform him of your letter.

| understand that the Principal Inspector will be responding shortly. if you would like to get in
contact with him directly, his details are as follows:

HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety
Entertainment, Leisure, Commercial and Consumer Sector
Health and Safety Executive

19 Ridgeway

9 Quinton Business Park

Quinton

BIRMINGHAM

B32 1AL

Tel: 0203 028 1713

Yours sincerely

KELLY TOL ST MP
Minister for Small Business, Consumers & Corporate Responsibility
Response from Hse (PDF)
Health and Safety
Executive

Engagement & Policy
Ms A Mutch OBE Division
HM Senior Coroner
Manchester South Coroner's Office

Coroner’s Court Local Authority & Safety

RECEIVED

1 Mount Tabor Street Unit
Stockport IOV 2618 19 Ridgway
SK1 3AG 22 N P 9 Quniton Business Park
_ saan Birmingham
B32 1AL

Tel: 0203 028 1713

http:/Avww.hse.gov.uk/

Head of Unit ll

Reference: Your reference: 5199/CH

Date: 12 November 2018

Dear Ms Mutch

Prevention of future deaths report — Donald Peter Berry
Date of death 23 August 2016
Inquest at Manchester South Coroner's Court on 24 August - 8 September 2018

| am responding to your Regulation 28, Prevention of Future Deaths report addressed toll
cting Chief Executive of the HSE that arises from your inquest into the
death of Mr Berry.

Your report was passed to me as head of the team with responsibility for national health and
safety policy for the entertainment and leisure sector.

You raised concerns as to high voltage overhead power lines not being identified as a hazard
by the event organisers, nor relevant other parties, which resulted in the incident that
ultimately led to Mr Berry's death.

Event organisers, in common with other employers, have responsibilities under the Health and
Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety
and welfare of their employees. Event planners and organisers must consider the risks to
these employees and take reasonably practicable steps to control those risks throughout the
whole process, from set-up to take-down. Proper planning and organisation of such events
should include consulting and acting upon the guidance and advice provided by HSE and by
industry bodies.

HSE has published web-based event safety guidance to help event organisers comply with
their legal duties — see _http://www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety/index.htm The guidance helps
organisers identify risks, such as those arising from contact with overhead high voltage power
lines

In addition, and referred to in your report, the industry produced guidance ‘Purple Book'
covers a wide range of legislative requirements that event organisers need to take into

account, including workplace health and safety law The ‘Purple Book’ has a section on
electrical safety which includes reference to the importance of organisers identifying existing
overhead power lines to ensure that controls are put in place to ensure the safety of those
working beneath those lines.

HSE leads on national occupational health and safety policy for the entertainments and leisure
sector, whilst Local Authorities are responsible for enforcing the law at individual events in
their geographical area. In this case, Eden Council successfully prosecuted the event
organisers for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in March 2013.

| consider that the current available guidance enables event organisers and other relevant
persons and bodies to identify the risks arising from overhead power lines. | will however
take the opportunity to raise awareness of this incident with industry stakeholders, underlining
the importance of all people involved in event organising and planning to adhere to the
standards set out in guidance.

Yours sincerely

A

HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety
Response from Kendal Calling (PDF)
Ben Robinson iol

489 Didsbury Road Stockpon eSk4 83BY © Phone: 07966691656 ©
E-Mail: ben 4 fiomthelields.conk

RECEIVED

~ § NOV 2018
CH co

Date: 5" November 2018

Alison Mutch OBE
Coroner

Coroner's Court

1 Mount Tabor Street
Stockport

SK1 3AG

Dear Ms Mutch,
Thank you for your letter dated 28* September regarding the inquest into the death of Mr Berry.

Following your request for further information on what changes have been made to the operations of our business to help
prevent future incidents I enclose a letter ioi<_— is the current Health and Safety advisor for Kendal
Calling who works on behalf of event production company Ground Control.

Ground Control were appointed the season following the incident to undertake all safety and event management activity for
Kendal Calling. They are industry leading professionals and have a joined up approach on safety and event production.

I hope this information is sufficient for the request. If you require any further information please contact me on the details at
the header of this letter.

Sincerely,

oe

Director Kendal Calling.

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