Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Christopher Hart

Ref: 2019-0272 Date: 14 Aug 2019 Coroner: Chris Morris Area: Manchester (South) Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

The housing provider failed to impose fire safety standards for tenant furniture and did not review sprinkler system installation, despite evidence of their life-saving potential.

Date 14 Aug 2019

56-day deadline 13 Dec 2019 est.

Responses identified 1 of 1

Other related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

The housing provider failed to impose fire safety standards for tenant furniture and did not review sprinkler system installation, despite evidence of their life-saving potential.

View full coroner's concerns

likely fire

1) The court heard evidence that toxic fumes from furniture such as sofas which do not conform to relevant fire safety standards can quickly incapacitate someone who breathes them in. It is a matter of concern that Johnnie Johnson Housing imposes no conditions on its tenants as to the conformity of items of furniture with relevant fire safety standards;
2) The court also heard evidence that; had a sprinkler system been installed within the flat, the chances of Mr Hart surviving the fire would have been significantly increased. It is a matter of concern that, notwithstanding Mr Hart's death, Johnnie Johnson Housing is apparently to undertake any formal review as to the introduction of sprinklers into all or a proportion of its properties_

Responses

1 respondent

Johnnie Johnson Housing Other

PDF

Noted

Johnnie Johnson Housing notes the comments regarding resident safety but states no further action is required as the property was built to standard in 1999 and no high risk was identified to install a sprinkler. They have updated their advisory information on fire safety regulations and continue to monitor emerging findings following the Hackitt Review. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Mr Morris RE: Christopher Carlton Hart Thank you for sharing a copy of the letter you received from Mr Jenrick His passion for resident safety is clear and is welcomed by ourselves at Johnnie Johnson Housing and the housing sector His continued presence in Government will provide some consistency of legislation and future changes to legislation. thought it useful to write back, just to re-iterate that there is no further action for uS to take here Mr Jenrick s comments relate firstly to 'blocks . Mr Hart lived in a general needs home, built to standard in 1999 There was no high risk identified here to have installed a sprinkler: His second commenton furniture For our general needs residents we do not provide furniture, although we have updated our advisory information on fire safety regulations We continue to monitor emerging findings following the Hackitt Review and will continue to update our approaches as required. Thank you again for sharing the letter: Please don't hesitate to get back in touch with me if there is any more information you need.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 20th February 2019,an inquest was opened into the death of Christopher Carlton Hart who died on 11"h February 2019 at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport aged 33 years. The investigation concluded with an inquest which heard on 1s August 2019 and which concluded with a conclusion of Accident:

Circumstances of the death

Mr Hart had been a tenant of Johnnie Johnson housing since around 2016_ On 13th January 2019, emergency services were called to reports of a fire at his rented flat in Shawcross Fold, Stockport: Mr Hart was found collapsed in the flat by firefighters who extracted him from the building and administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation: He was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport where, despite intensive care and treatment; he died. senior doctor at the hospital confirmed Mr Hart died as a consequence of complications of injuries sustained in the fire. An investigation undertaken by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service concluded that the cause of the within Mr Hart'$ flat was a discarded cigarette igniting some bedding which had been placed on a sofa at the property

Action should be taken

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action:

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Report details

Reference: 2019-0272
Date of report: 14 August 2019
Coroner: Chris Morris
Coroner area: Manchester (South)

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 13 Dec 2019 (estimated).

Sent to

Johnnie Johnson Housing

Part of a series

2 reports

2023-0453 All responses identified

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.