BOROUGH OF POOLE
COMMUNITIES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
28 JANUARY 2014
BLINDS WITH LOOP CORDS: SAFETY HAZARD
- Purpose
1.1To support the Motion proposed by Councillors regarding the potential safety hazards connected with blinds with loop cords following recent press over the deaths of small children caused by strangulation.
- Recommendations
2.1That Members of the Committee support the following Motion:
(ii)Blinds with Loop Cords: Safety Hazard
“We, the undersigned, request the Council write, in the strongest terms, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, seeking a ban on the sale of blinds with looped cords attached as, following the tragic loss of 27 young lives,the use of such blinds pose a significant risk to small children”
Signed: Cllrs Mrs Judy Butt, Peter Adams, Mrs Carol Evans, Mrs Jane Thomas, Mrs May Haines, Mike Wilkins, Charles Meachin, Mark Howell, Charmaine Parkinson
- Background/ information
3.1Cords can pose a strangulation hazard to children as loops can be formed and children become entangled. There have been several child fatalities.
3.2Most deaths have been children between 16 and 36 months old, and the majority have been in children’s’ bedrooms, especially where cots or beds have been close to the windows.
3.3The current British Standard, BS EN 13120:2009 (Internal Blinds – Performance Requirements Including Safety) assists businesses in manufacturing and supplying products which are safe for consumer use.
3.4The safety part of the requirements apply to all internal blinds and corded window coverings whatever their design and the nature of the materials used, such as:
•Venetian blinds
•Roller blinds
•Vertical blinds
•Pleated and honeycomb blinds
•Roman Shades
•Austrian/Festoon blinds
•Panel blinds
•Plantation shutters
•Roll-up blinds
3.5These safety requirements shall refer to children (young children) aged from 0 to 42 months as a minimum.
3.6Internal blinds and corded window coverings that have accessible cord(s), chain(s), ball-chain(s) or similar shall comply with the following minimum requirements:
- Cord(s), chain(s), ball-chain(s) and similar shall not form a hazardous loop;
- If the design of the product does not eliminate the risk that a hazardous loop is formed, the product shall be provided with appropriate safety devices, to minimise the risk of strangulation;
- Safety devices shall be provided as an integral part of the product;
- Safety devices which are non-integral (such as cleats) shall be pre-installed on the operating cord(s) or chain(s) or ball- chain(s) of the blind or window covering. In addition, a warning shall be conspicuously displayed on the safety device. The warning shall convey at least the following messages: ‘Children can strangle if this device is not installed. Read carefully the instructions and install accordingly. Always use this device to keep cords or chains out of reach of children’.
- If present, the safety device(s) shall be resistant to the operation by young children.
3.7Safety information should also be provided in the instructions for use.
3.8It is important to note that the British Standard does not ban loop cords on blinds. Should they exist, the BS requires safety devices to be provided as an integral part of the product and to pass on warnings to consumers.
3.9British Standards do not have the same impact as Regulations. Regulations will stipulate requirements and will have offences contained within them for non-compliance.
3.10Currently potential enforcement of British Standards would be via the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.These Regulations require you to manufacture and sell "Safe Products'.
3.11A 'Safe Product' is one which under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use does not present any risk or only the minimum risk compatible with the products use, considered to be acceptable and consistent with a high level of protection for the safety and health of persons.
- Local Approach
4.1Borough of Poole Housing does not let any properties with this kind of blind and temporary accommodation used does not have this type of blind.
4.2Those assessing foster carers and adopters check for any hazards caused by curtains and blinds as part of their Health and safety check of the accommodation.
4.3Those visiting properties from BoP and PHP have been asked to be aware of the risks from looped blind cords to young children and to offer tenants advice where appropriate.
4.4The Pan-Dorset Child Death Overview Panel has undertaken some preventative work following two local deaths (see Appendix 1).
- Resources
5.1A helpful leaflet is produced by the British Blind and Shutter Association and is available in English, Polish, Gaelic and Welsh. This site also contains a video.
The Make it Safe campaign website also has a useful video to help understanding of risk and how to choose and fit appropriate blinds.
Appendix 1
SUBJECT – CHILD DEATHS INVOLVING WINDOW BLIND CORDS
The Pan Dorset Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) is responsible for reviewing the deaths of all children who are resident in Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth up until 18 years of age.
Since the inception of CDOP in April 2008 there have been two child deaths involving window blind cords, one within the Borough of Bournemouth and one within the Borough of Poole.
The first death occurred in July 2008 involving a child aged 2 years and 3 months who was found on her bunk bed, hanging from the cord of a roller window blind in her bedroom. CDOP reviewed the case and deemed that the death was preventable.
The Second death occurred in May 2011 involving a child aged 1 year and 6 months who was found in his bedroom with the cord of a window blind around his neck. The child was conveyed to PooleHospital but attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. CDOP reviewed the case and deemed that the death was preventable.
As a consequence, the CDOP Manager and Administrator invited the Public Health Advisor from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to address a meeting of the South West CDOP Co-ordinators to learn more about blind cord deaths nationally. There is no central database for blind cord deaths and RoSPA collect data purely from those cases reported in the media. It was ascertained that RoSPA had worked with the Child Accident Prevention Trust and the British Blind and Shutter Association to produce a leaflet highlighting the simple precautions homeowners should take to significantly reduce the risk to babies and small children from window blind cords.
In November 2012, the LSCBs held a joint County-wide Safeguarding Week. CDOP used this opportunity to highlight hidden dangers in the home including the risks associated with window blind cords. Many of the activities were hosted at the Streetwise Safety Centre in Bournemouth. The Centre has a realistic mock up of a house to educate children in particular, about household safety. However, there were no window blinds to illustrate the dangers involved with loose cords. The CDOP Manager was contacted by a local window blind company, Broadview Blinds, who offered to fit a roller blind in the “bedroom” and a Venetian blind in the “dining room” of the house. In consultation with the Centre Manager the blinds were duly installed and are now a permanent feature to educate visiting children and adults about blind cord safety.
CDOP is working with the Health Service through the commissioning process, in an attempt to extend the responsibilities of midwives and health visitors during home visits, to carry out a simple inspection of the proposed sleeping environment for babies, to include blind cord safety checks and to provide appropriate advice.
Rick Dowell - Pan Dorset CDOP Manager
8th January 2014