City of Wolverhampton
Local Authority / Fire Service
Action Taken
City of Wolverhampton Council has worked with the health and safety executive and the fire service to review the index area, has installed additional safety lighting on the fire escape route and signage highlighting the drop below, and is working with relevant parties. (AI summary)
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Dear Zafar Christopher Brookes (deceased) - Prevention of Future Deaths Report I write with reference to your Regulation 28. Prevention of Future Deaths Report, dated 22 February 2018. A representative of the Council was present during the course of the Inquest and as such, the Council is aware of the issues and concerns that you have raised. I take the opportunity to respond to your concerns, as set out below.
1. The Council had no knowledge of a previous incident, prior to Mr Brookes’ sad death being notified to the Council. As such, the Council was unaware that there had been a previous incident and has no knowledge as to the circumstances of that incident, whether the incident occurred in similar or entirely different circumstances. As such, the Council was not on notice as to the previous incident occurring.
2. With regard to the alarm being activated, as you may be aware from the evidence given at the Inquest itself, the fire escape door from the bus station is not something under the control or operation of City of Wolverhampton Council. The combined transport executive has responsibility for and control over the bus station operation, including the fire escape aoor from the bus station itself, In addition, the security services contracted to deal with that element of the operations is something entirely under the control and responsibility of the combined transport executive. The Council has no control over the provision of security for the relevant area. With regard to section 6 of your report, I confirm that following Mr Brookes’ sad death, the Council has worked with both the health and safety executive and the fire service, to review the index area, As you may be aware, the Council has no control over the fire escape from (o’itin ed Cly of Woierhampten Ccnci 0 wolverhampton gov.uk IJ\J1 I RL
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the bus station itself, as detailed below but the Council is able to make changes to the fire escape route and the gate at the end of that. Changes have already been made. Following the incident occurring, the Council has liaised closely with the fire safety authority. The health and safety executive has confirmed that the height and construction of the fencing along the fire escape route is appropriate and meets the relevant regulations. The gate itself has been inspected and maintained, including the push pad mechanism. As you are aware from the Inquest, there is no locking mechanism of similar placed on the gate at the relevant time. In addition to the above, the Council has installed additional safety lighting on the fire escape route, together with signage, highlighting the existence of a drop below the fire escape route. The Council has also committed to working with the other relevant parties, including the combined authority and the other users of the building, to include Sainsburys supermarket, who occupy and area of the ground floor of the building. I trust the above is of assistance. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
1. The Council had no knowledge of a previous incident, prior to Mr Brookes’ sad death being notified to the Council. As such, the Council was unaware that there had been a previous incident and has no knowledge as to the circumstances of that incident, whether the incident occurred in similar or entirely different circumstances. As such, the Council was not on notice as to the previous incident occurring.
2. With regard to the alarm being activated, as you may be aware from the evidence given at the Inquest itself, the fire escape door from the bus station is not something under the control or operation of City of Wolverhampton Council. The combined transport executive has responsibility for and control over the bus station operation, including the fire escape aoor from the bus station itself, In addition, the security services contracted to deal with that element of the operations is something entirely under the control and responsibility of the combined transport executive. The Council has no control over the provision of security for the relevant area. With regard to section 6 of your report, I confirm that following Mr Brookes’ sad death, the Council has worked with both the health and safety executive and the fire service, to review the index area, As you may be aware, the Council has no control over the fire escape from (o’itin ed Cly of Woierhampten Ccnci 0 wolverhampton gov.uk IJ\J1 I RL
• WolverhamptonToday
the bus station itself, as detailed below but the Council is able to make changes to the fire escape route and the gate at the end of that. Changes have already been made. Following the incident occurring, the Council has liaised closely with the fire safety authority. The health and safety executive has confirmed that the height and construction of the fencing along the fire escape route is appropriate and meets the relevant regulations. The gate itself has been inspected and maintained, including the push pad mechanism. As you are aware from the Inquest, there is no locking mechanism of similar placed on the gate at the relevant time. In addition to the above, the Council has installed additional safety lighting on the fire escape route, together with signage, highlighting the existence of a drop below the fire escape route. The Council has also committed to working with the other relevant parties, including the combined authority and the other users of the building, to include Sainsburys supermarket, who occupy and area of the ground floor of the building. I trust the above is of assistance. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.