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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/30/whirlpool-hotpoint-coroner-inquest-tumble-dryer-fire-wales
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| Coroner raises concerns at Whirlpool's attitude to deadly tumble dryer fire | Coroner raises concerns at Whirlpool's attitude to deadly tumble dryer fire |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Report on deaths of two men in north Wales says company’s reluctance to digest inquest lessons is obstacle to preventing further deaths | |
| Press Association | |
| Thu 30 Nov 2017 15.59 GMT | |
| Last modified on Thu 30 Nov 2017 16.53 GMT | |
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| A coroner has told the appliance manufacturer Whirlpool it needs to take action to prevent future deaths after two men were killed in a fire caused by a tumble dryer. | A coroner has told the appliance manufacturer Whirlpool it needs to take action to prevent future deaths after two men were killed in a fire caused by a tumble dryer. |
| Bernard Hender, 19, and Doug McTavish, 39, died after a blaze at a flat in Llanrwst, north Wales, in October 2014. In September this year the coroner David Lewis recorded a narrative verdict in their inquest and ruled that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the door switch of a Hotpoint dryer. | Bernard Hender, 19, and Doug McTavish, 39, died after a blaze at a flat in Llanrwst, north Wales, in October 2014. In September this year the coroner David Lewis recorded a narrative verdict in their inquest and ruled that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the door switch of a Hotpoint dryer. |
| After the inquest he published a report for the prevention of future deaths, which has been issued to Whirlpool, a US firm, which manufactures Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda machines. | After the inquest he published a report for the prevention of future deaths, which has been issued to Whirlpool, a US firm, which manufactures Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda machines. |
| In the report, Lewis raised concerns that evidence from witnesses called by lawyers for Whirlpool during the hearing had been “defensive and dismissive”. | In the report, Lewis raised concerns that evidence from witnesses called by lawyers for Whirlpool during the hearing had been “defensive and dismissive”. |
| He said: “The door switch assembly of interest in this case is used in literally hundreds of thousands of appliances manufactured by Whirlpool. I did not emerge from the hearing confident that Whirlpool’s risk assessment processes have fully identified or appreciated the extent of the risk of fire (and its potential consequences).” | He said: “The door switch assembly of interest in this case is used in literally hundreds of thousands of appliances manufactured by Whirlpool. I did not emerge from the hearing confident that Whirlpool’s risk assessment processes have fully identified or appreciated the extent of the risk of fire (and its potential consequences).” |
| Lewis said evidence from the firm’s retired global product safety director Larry Latack about the use of data from the field, such as reports of fire, was of “considerable concern”. | Lewis said evidence from the firm’s retired global product safety director Larry Latack about the use of data from the field, such as reports of fire, was of “considerable concern”. |
| He said: “I am concerned that the company’s reluctance to place due reliance on information coming forward in this way, and instead to prefer to take advice from itself, represents an obstacle to timely learning and a likely inhibitor to progressive steps which might prevent fires and save lives.” | He said: “I am concerned that the company’s reluctance to place due reliance on information coming forward in this way, and instead to prefer to take advice from itself, represents an obstacle to timely learning and a likely inhibitor to progressive steps which might prevent fires and save lives.” |
| During his evidence to the inquest, Latack said: “External experts are not credible sources to make safety decisions for consumers. The most credible person to make a decision on this dryer is the engineer who designed this dryer.” | During his evidence to the inquest, Latack said: “External experts are not credible sources to make safety decisions for consumers. The most credible person to make a decision on this dryer is the engineer who designed this dryer.” |
| Whirlpool has faced criticism after a safety alert over the fire risk posed by faulty Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda dryers. | Whirlpool has faced criticism after a safety alert over the fire risk posed by faulty Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda dryers. |
| The Grenfell Tower fire that killed 71 people in London this year started in a faulty Hotpoint fridge-freezer. | The Grenfell Tower fire that killed 71 people in London this year started in a faulty Hotpoint fridge-freezer. |
| Whirlpool has until late December to respond to the coroner’s report and detail what action will be taken. | Whirlpool has until late December to respond to the coroner’s report and detail what action will be taken. |
| A spokesman for Whirlpool said: “We extend our profound condolences to the families and friends of Bernard Hender and Douglas McTavish. Safety is always our number one priority. We treat all incidents extremely seriously and we have a robust process that continuously reviews the safety of all our products. | A spokesman for Whirlpool said: “We extend our profound condolences to the families and friends of Bernard Hender and Douglas McTavish. Safety is always our number one priority. We treat all incidents extremely seriously and we have a robust process that continuously reviews the safety of all our products. |
| “We will carefully review and consider the coroner’s findings in this case.” | “We will carefully review and consider the coroner’s findings in this case.” |
| Thomas Jervis, a solicitor representing the McTavish and Hender families, said: “The families of Doug and Bernard want to make sure that no other families go through what they have had to and we hope that the coroner’s report will prompt swift and effective action from Whirlpool. | Thomas Jervis, a solicitor representing the McTavish and Hender families, said: “The families of Doug and Bernard want to make sure that no other families go through what they have had to and we hope that the coroner’s report will prompt swift and effective action from Whirlpool. |
| “We will continue to call for Whirlpool, and other manufacturers, to take action on potentially dangerous white goods and for an effective recall system to be implemented to prevent the devastating consequences of appliance fires.” | “We will continue to call for Whirlpool, and other manufacturers, to take action on potentially dangerous white goods and for an effective recall system to be implemented to prevent the devastating consequences of appliance fires.” |
| Alex Neill, managing director of home products and services for the consumer group Which?, said: “The coroner’s report exposes the fundamental failings of Whirlpool’s handling of unsafe products. The government should urgently investigate if this is a breach of the company’s obligations under product safety law and immediately enforce a full product recall of all remaining fire-risk tumble dryers in people’s homes. | Alex Neill, managing director of home products and services for the consumer group Which?, said: “The coroner’s report exposes the fundamental failings of Whirlpool’s handling of unsafe products. The government should urgently investigate if this is a breach of the company’s obligations under product safety law and immediately enforce a full product recall of all remaining fire-risk tumble dryers in people’s homes. |
| “This case is further evidence that the UK’s product safety regime is simply not fit for purpose and must be reformed, with the creation of a new national body to lead on issues of this nature.” | “This case is further evidence that the UK’s product safety regime is simply not fit for purpose and must be reformed, with the creation of a new national body to lead on issues of this nature.” |
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