Brendan Eccles

Date of report: 10 January 2022 Ref: 2022-0007 Deceased name: Brendan Eccles Coroner name: Derek Winter Coroner Area: City of Sunderland Category: Accident at Work and Health and Safety related deaths This report is being sent to: EKO-INVEST, POM-EKO and EURO-EKO

Derek Winter DL Senior Coroner for the City of Sunderland REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: EKO-INVEST, POM-EKO, EURO-EKO 1 CORONER I am Derek Winter DL, Senior Coroner for the City of Sunderland 2 CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/schedule/5/paragraph/7 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1629/part/7/made 3 INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 30th July 2018 I commenced an Investigation into the death of Mr Brendan Eccles, who was born on 10th April 1957 and died at Jubilee Quay, Prospect Row, Sunderland on 27th July 2018. The Investigation concluded at the end of the Jury Inquest on 1st December 2021. The medical cause of death was confirmed as: - Ia Multiple Injuries 4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH Brendan Eccles died 27th July 2018 at Jubilee Quay due to an explosion while working on a pontoon, manufactured by Eko-Invest, which unknowingly to him had volatile organic compounds contained within. The Jury recorded a conclusion of Accident. 5 CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the Inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: – It was credible that a flammable range (100% Lower Explosive Limit) could easily be Office of HM Coroner for the City of Sunderland, City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland, SR1 3AA | Fax 0191 5537803 www.sunderlandcoroner.co.uk reached by the application of an external heat source (for example, oxy propane cutting torch). This would evaporate volatile substances present within the pontoon. Volatile organic compounds should not be within a pontoon. 6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action. 7 YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by 8th March 2022. I, the Coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise, you must explain why no action is proposed. 8 COPIES and PUBLICATION I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons: - • Family and their Solicitors and Counsel • Sunderland City Council and their Solicitors • P&D Environmental Limited and their Solicitors and Counsel • Health and Safety Executive I am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the Coroner, at the time of your response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 9 Dated this 10th day of January 2022 Signature Senior Coroner for the City of Sunderland