Checks in Sheffield building after coroner highlights deaths at window

The safety of windows in high-rise flats will be reviewed after two recent deaths were identified by a coroner.

Saffra Winn fell from a tower block in Upperthorpe, Sheffield, in July 2022, followed by the death of a second unnamed woman in a council block in Netherthorpe in December 2023.

Coroner Alexandra Pountney told Sheffield City Council she was concerned about its “inaction in relation to the investigation and risk assessment” following the deaths.

The council said it believed the windows and restrictors met the required regulations and were compliant.

An inquest into Ms Winn’s death, held in March, heard that the safety restrictor on the window had been manually disengaged to allow it to open fully.

The council said a new procedure would be in place by Friday to record all reported deaths and near misses from tall buildings, with new guidance specifying when a safety report is required.

All deaths will also be reported to the council’s housing policy committee, the authority added.

In response to the coroner’s concerns, the council said: “(We) recognize that, following Saffra Winn’s death, the process to ensure there were no defects in the windows in the apartment was insufficient and relied on documentary evidence from several sources to verify that each window acted as intended.

“However, following the death in December 2023, flat window inspections took place as soon as possible by housing staff to identify any issues.”

The authority added: “It was noted that in this case, again, all windows and restrictors worked as required with no issues reported.”

A new “high-level forum” has been set up and will discuss window safety at its first meeting, the council concluded.