HSE issues warning after care home death

Care homes across the country have been warned that they must stick to HSE's guidance to help avoid fatal incidents.

This follows a recent court case when Sussex-based nursing care home owners Alan Lucas and Richard Wooton, of The Ormsby Centre, pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Worthing Magistrates Court and were fined £16,000 each plus £22,560 in total costs.

On 2 November 2005, two care assistants placed 86-year old Bettina East, a resident at The Ormsby Centre, into a bath.  The care assistants failed to carry out a number of health and safety checks, includng a full temperature check, before lowering her into the bath.  As a result, Mrs East suffered severe scalding to her legs.  She died days later and the scalds were confirmed to be a contributory factor to her death.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Maria Strangward said: 'This case highlights the serious consequences of not sticking to the guidance set by HSE for residential care homes.

'There are a number of reasonable measures the care assistants could have taken that would have prevented this tragic incident.  These measures are set out in the health and safety guidance for residential care homes, which every care home should have access to.'

Hazardous water temperatures

At water temperatures over 50 degrees celsius there is a risk of scalding, particularly in care homes where elderly residents may be prone to sensory loss.  The temperature for baths and showers should be a maximum of 43 degress celsius.  Circulating hot water should be at over 60 degress celsius, to avoid risks associated with Legionella.

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