URBN UK Limited
Other
Action Taken
Following the incident, URBN UK replaced the broken lock, removed moveable items from beyond the gate, instructed staff not to access the area, installed signage, replaced scaffolding with high railings, infilled voids with steel plates, installed a pulley system, and trained staff in harness use. (AI summary)
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Dear Madam Stanislawa Kmiecik Response to Regulation Report to Prevent Future Deaths This letter is sent by way of an updated response to your Report dated 25 July 2019. The incident remains under investigation by Nottingham City Council, the competent regulatory body to enforce health and safety legislation. Nottingham City Council has not served any Notices on URBN relating to the incident which require improvements or prohibit certain activities or state of affairs. We do not wish to pre-judge the evidence that will be heard at the inquest. However, it does seem plain that the cause of the incident was almost certainly a deliberate attempt by the deceased to put herself in a position of danger and potentially take her own life. There can be no other credible explanation for the individual unsecuring the gate or climbing over the gate and then going beyond the scaffolding. No member of the public has ever attempted previously to access the area beyond the gate. In terms of the action that has been taken since the incident:
• the broken lock was replaced on Monday 15 April 2019 ;
• immediately after the incident all moveable items beyond the gate were removed and all members of staff were instructed not to access the area beyond the gate unless authorised to do so. That instruction not to access the area beyond the gate has been repeated and will cover new members of staff ;
URBN UK LTD, 24 West Street, London WC2H 9NA
Tel: +44 (0) 203 119 2905 Fax: +44 (0) 203 119 2901
• signage has been placed adjacent to the gate indicating no unauthorised access ;
• removal of all of the scaffolding and replaced with high railings throughout ;
• infilling the voids with steel plates ;
• installation of a pulley system to lower the grids to a safe height to update the visual displays ;
• authorised members of staff have been trained in the use of harnesses when working in the area beyond the gate. Harness equipment has been purchased and is stored in a locked cupboard in the display room. We trust this response satisfies the Report.
• the broken lock was replaced on Monday 15 April 2019 ;
• immediately after the incident all moveable items beyond the gate were removed and all members of staff were instructed not to access the area beyond the gate unless authorised to do so. That instruction not to access the area beyond the gate has been repeated and will cover new members of staff ;
URBN UK LTD, 24 West Street, London WC2H 9NA
Tel: +44 (0) 203 119 2905 Fax: +44 (0) 203 119 2901
• signage has been placed adjacent to the gate indicating no unauthorised access ;
• removal of all of the scaffolding and replaced with high railings throughout ;
• infilling the voids with steel plates ;
• installation of a pulley system to lower the grids to a safe height to update the visual displays ;
• authorised members of staff have been trained in the use of harnesses when working in the area beyond the gate. Harness equipment has been purchased and is stored in a locked cupboard in the display room. We trust this response satisfies the Report.