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Government 'told of scald danger' | |
(31 minutes later) | |
Faults in a type of water tank which exploded killing a baby girl were not passed on by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, an inquest heard. | |
Health and safety inspector David Cory said he notified the government of the fault when a woman was killed in 2002. | |
But a hearing into the death of Rhianna Hardie in Taunton, Somerset, was told that the warning was not passed on to other local authorities. | |
Rhianna, who was aged 10 months, was scalded to death in November 2006. | |
'Tried hard' | 'Tried hard' |
Mr Cory said he had investigated a similar incident in Penzance, Cornwall, in 2002 and reported the fault to the government office. | |
He said that had been his way of attempting to communicate the fault to authorities across the country. | He said that had been his way of attempting to communicate the fault to authorities across the country. |
Barrister Dr Michael Powers QC said to him: "It must have crossed your mind that other housing associations or funded accommodation should be made aware of the circumstances of the accident. | Barrister Dr Michael Powers QC said to him: "It must have crossed your mind that other housing associations or funded accommodation should be made aware of the circumstances of the accident. |
"Did you see the communication with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as a means by which you and the Health and Safety Executive hoped the [Penzance] incident was disseminated to the offices of associations and authorities elsewhere?" | "Did you see the communication with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as a means by which you and the Health and Safety Executive hoped the [Penzance] incident was disseminated to the offices of associations and authorities elsewhere?" |
Mr Cory answered: "In my mind, I tried very hard to get the information into the public domain." | Mr Cory answered: "In my mind, I tried very hard to get the information into the public domain." |
Baby Rhianna died when scalding water gushed over her cot after the tank exploded in the attic of her council home in Taunton on 19 November 2006. | Baby Rhianna died when scalding water gushed over her cot after the tank exploded in the attic of her council home in Taunton on 19 November 2006. |
Her parents Matthew Hardie and Charlene Haworth were spending their first night in the house in Wellington Road. | Her parents Matthew Hardie and Charlene Haworth were spending their first night in the house in Wellington Road. |
Both Rhianna and her two-year-old sister Emily were put to bed in the room below the attic where the system was kept. | Both Rhianna and her two-year-old sister Emily were put to bed in the room below the attic where the system was kept. |
The parents took Rhianna to Musgrove Park Hospital for treatment but she died three weeks later at Bristol Children's Hospital. | The parents took Rhianna to Musgrove Park Hospital for treatment but she died three weeks later at Bristol Children's Hospital. |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |