Richard Dyson and Simon Midgley
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2021-0108
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 14 Jun 2021
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Hotels lack readily accessible and accurate guest/staff lists for emergency services, leading to critical delays in rescue efforts due to time lost establishing who was missing.
View full coroner's concerns
_ (1) Every hotel should have a readily accessible and accurate list of the guests and staff members in the establishment on a particular night. In an emergency situation it is imperative that the Fire and Rescue Service are provided with accurate information speedily in case anyone remains trapped in the building: It is a situation where every second counts.
(2) It is foreseeable that in the stressful atmosphere ofan emergency, people may hesitate or make mistakes In this case; forgetting to take the guest list as the buiiding was evacuated: In consequence; although the Fire and Rescue Service had arrived at the_hotel by 6.51 am it was not_until sometime after 8am that it was established two The guests were missing Critical time was lost before rescue efforts began to find them . precise times cannot be provided a8 the Procurator was not willing to disclose copies of witness statements or reports on the ground were confidential: (3) To avoid needless impediments to rescue efforts, it would be prudent for hotels to have an electronic system such as SharePoint which would enable the emergency services to gain prompt access to such vital information,
(2) It is foreseeable that in the stressful atmosphere ofan emergency, people may hesitate or make mistakes In this case; forgetting to take the guest list as the buiiding was evacuated: In consequence; although the Fire and Rescue Service had arrived at the_hotel by 6.51 am it was not_until sometime after 8am that it was established two The guests were missing Critical time was lost before rescue efforts began to find them . precise times cannot be provided a8 the Procurator was not willing to disclose copies of witness statements or reports on the ground were confidential: (3) To avoid needless impediments to rescue efforts, it would be prudent for hotels to have an electronic system such as SharePoint which would enable the emergency services to gain prompt access to such vital information,
Responses
Action Planned
The Scottish Government will work with SFRS to consider updating fire safety guidance for premises with sleeping accommodation, focusing on emergency fire action plans including procedures for checking evacuation and communicating with SFRS. SFRS will refresh prevention awareness internally, work with the hotel sector, engage with Dutyholders, and prepare a public education campaign on fire action plans. (AI summary)
The Scottish Government will work with SFRS to consider updating fire safety guidance for premises with sleeping accommodation, focusing on emergency fire action plans including procedures for checking evacuation and communicating with SFRS. SFRS will refresh prevention awareness internally, work with the hotel sector, engage with Dutyholders, and prepare a public education campaign on fire action plans. (AI summary)
View full response
Dear Mr McLoughlin,
Thank you for sending on your Regulation 28 report regarding the Cameron House Hotel fire. Strengthening fire safety remains a priority and the Scottish Government continues to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) work to reduce fires and fire fatalities. This includes learning from incidents and investigations, including your report, albeit Regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 does not extend to Scotland (the coroner system only applying in England and Wales). The following is a summary of the safety actions for Scotland that have and will be taken following the fire.
The Scottish Government’s Fire safety guidance for existing premises with sleeping accommodation was published in 2018. The guidance was produced to assist those who have responsibility under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 for fire safety in certain premises with sleeping accommodation in Scotland. It recommends that the premises management should have an Emergency Fire Action Plan in place specific to the premises that should include procedures for:
checking whether the premises have been evacuated; and for meeting the SFRS and passing on details of the incident, including whether all persons are accounted for.
The Scottish Government will work with SFRS to consider updating the guidance to make it more explicit that an accurate guest list, whether paper or digital, should be maintained to aid in ensuring all guests are evacuated; as well as for passing on relevant details to SFRS.
In terms of the actions taken by SFRS following the fire, operational matters are for SFRS. Scottish Ministers appoint a Chair and other members to serve as members of SFRS, collectively referred to as the Board. The Board provides strategic direction, support and guidance to the SFRS ensuring that it operates effectively and that the Scottish Government’s priorities are implemented.
Tha Ministearan na h-Alba, an luchd-comhairleachaidh sònraichte agus an Rùnaire Maireannach fo chumhachan Achd Coiteachaidh (Alba) 2016. Faicibh www.lobbying.scot
Scottish Ministers, special advisers and the Permanent Secretary are covered by the terms of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016. See www.lobbying.scot
Taigh Naomh Anndrais, Rathad Regent, Dùn Èideann EH1 3DG St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG
SFRS regularly inform my officials of the actions they are taking to strengthen fire safety in the hotel accommodation sector including:
Refreshing wider prevention and protection awareness within SFRS and disseminating key points from the investigation internally.
Working with the hotel sector to ensure that lessons are learned.
Engaging with Dutyholders to ensure they are aware of their fire safety responsibilities and the potential consequences of failing to address any shortcomings.
Preparing a public education campaign on fire action plans and escape routes.
SFRS Enforcement Officers continue to support and advise those responsible for the safety of their premises wherever possible to achieve compliance in line with the Scottish Regulator’s Strategic Code of Practice.
I will ensure I receive updates from SFRS on hotel fire safety during our regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year.
I hope this response is helpful to you and thank you again for taking the time to send on your recommendation.
ASH DENHAM
Thank you for sending on your Regulation 28 report regarding the Cameron House Hotel fire. Strengthening fire safety remains a priority and the Scottish Government continues to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) work to reduce fires and fire fatalities. This includes learning from incidents and investigations, including your report, albeit Regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 does not extend to Scotland (the coroner system only applying in England and Wales). The following is a summary of the safety actions for Scotland that have and will be taken following the fire.
The Scottish Government’s Fire safety guidance for existing premises with sleeping accommodation was published in 2018. The guidance was produced to assist those who have responsibility under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 for fire safety in certain premises with sleeping accommodation in Scotland. It recommends that the premises management should have an Emergency Fire Action Plan in place specific to the premises that should include procedures for:
checking whether the premises have been evacuated; and for meeting the SFRS and passing on details of the incident, including whether all persons are accounted for.
The Scottish Government will work with SFRS to consider updating the guidance to make it more explicit that an accurate guest list, whether paper or digital, should be maintained to aid in ensuring all guests are evacuated; as well as for passing on relevant details to SFRS.
In terms of the actions taken by SFRS following the fire, operational matters are for SFRS. Scottish Ministers appoint a Chair and other members to serve as members of SFRS, collectively referred to as the Board. The Board provides strategic direction, support and guidance to the SFRS ensuring that it operates effectively and that the Scottish Government’s priorities are implemented.
Tha Ministearan na h-Alba, an luchd-comhairleachaidh sònraichte agus an Rùnaire Maireannach fo chumhachan Achd Coiteachaidh (Alba) 2016. Faicibh www.lobbying.scot
Scottish Ministers, special advisers and the Permanent Secretary are covered by the terms of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016. See www.lobbying.scot
Taigh Naomh Anndrais, Rathad Regent, Dùn Èideann EH1 3DG St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG
SFRS regularly inform my officials of the actions they are taking to strengthen fire safety in the hotel accommodation sector including:
Refreshing wider prevention and protection awareness within SFRS and disseminating key points from the investigation internally.
Working with the hotel sector to ensure that lessons are learned.
Engaging with Dutyholders to ensure they are aware of their fire safety responsibilities and the potential consequences of failing to address any shortcomings.
Preparing a public education campaign on fire action plans and escape routes.
SFRS Enforcement Officers continue to support and advise those responsible for the safety of their premises wherever possible to achieve compliance in line with the Scottish Regulator’s Strategic Code of Practice.
I will ensure I receive updates from SFRS on hotel fire safety during our regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year.
I hope this response is helpful to you and thank you again for taking the time to send on your recommendation.
ASH DENHAM
Sent To
- Dept. for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
14 Jun 2021
All responses received
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 29 December 2017 commenced an investigation into the death of Richard John Dyson aged 38 and Simon Brian Midgley aged 36. The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on 14 April 2021_ The conclusion of the Inquests was that both men were unlawfully killed as a result of: 1(a) Inhalation of smoke and fire gases 1(b) Hotel Fire
Circumstances of the Death
Mr Dyson and Mr Midgley were guests staying at the Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond on the weekend of 16-18 December 2017_ Around 6.30 am on Monday 18 December 2017 a fire broke out in the hotel. two men were found in an unresponsive condition after 8 am by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus. They were pronounced dead later that morning:
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_
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.