Day 127 - 23 May 95 - Page 20


     
     1        closely monitor the trend, for example, with the slips and
     2        falls that they are coming down because, obviously, in
     3        putting a lot of investment into different types of floors,
     4        it is useful to be able to have a feed back and say:
     5        "Well, look, it really is having an impact here; we seem
     6        to be seeing a trend downwards".
     7
     8   Q.   You have mentioned particular accidents; do you mean a
     9        single incident may have lessons to teach you?
    10        A.  Yes.
    11
    12   Q.   We will come on to the business about Mark Hopkins later
    13        on, but is that the kind of thing which you have in mind?
    14        A.  Yes.  Certainly, we were able to learn a lot from that
    15        accident and very tragic and upsetting it was.
    16
    17   MR. MORRIS:  I do not know if it is appropriate for me to ask,
    18        but I will have to leave at lunch.  Is it possible that the
    19        witness could be asked through you if they can deal with
    20        the Mark Hopkins matter before lunch?  That would be very
    21        helpful.  That is all I have to say.
    22
    23   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Can you accommodate Mr. Morris in that
    24        respect?
    25
    26   MR. RAMPTON:  Of course I can.  I can start Mark Hopkins
    27        immediately.
    28
    29   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  In fact, it is not entirely inappropriate
    30        because the last question you asked about is whether you
    31        learned from particular incidents, so if you can assist in
    32        that way, I would be grateful.
    33
    34   MR. RAMPTON:  What, my Lord, I do not know is whether I can
    35        finish it before lunch because there is quite a lot of
    36        documentation.
    37
    38        (To the witness):  Mrs. Barnes, could I ask you to get from
    39        the shelves behind you a pink file or blue file with Roman
    40        XIII on it; it should be called Employment, I think.  Have
    41        you got it there?  My Lord, the reference is the first
    42        tab 52 in that file.  Mrs. Barnes, before I ask you to look
    43        at any documents, can I ask you, and this is -----
    44
    45   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Which colour did you say?
    46
    47   MR. RAMPTON:  Pink XIII, my Lord.  (To the witness):  You
    48        mentioned a moment ago, Mrs. Barnes, some new Electricity
    49        Regulations which you said came in, I think, in 1990; is
    50        that right? 
    51        A.  That is correct. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Is electricity a particular focus of attention so far as
    54        you and your Department are concerned?
    55        A.  Yes, and it always has been, in that we realise it is
    56        potentially fatal, although again it is one of those
    57        accidents that mostly you will just come away with a buzz
    58        in your arm or just a very slight shock, but it has the
    59        potential for being fatal, so it is something we take very
    60        seriously.

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