Health and Safety Update (September 2009)
BUPA Lands Fine for Manual Handling Training Failures
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning care workers
and care home operators to ensure they follow the correct training
and procedures for moving and handling elderly, frail or disabled
patients.
This follows the successful prosecution of BUPA Care Homes (CFH
Care Ltd), which was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £10,500 costs
by Wakefield magistrates after an 80-year quadriplegic fell from
bed whilst being dressed by a lone, inexperienced care
assistant.
The resident suffered fractures to both legs in the fall at West
Ridings Nursing Home. She was admitted to Pinderfields Hospital
where she died nine days later.
BUPA, which owns the home pleaded guilty to a Section 3(1)
breach of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in relation
to the incident.
Magistrates heard that the resident was able to fall from her
bed after protective guard rails were lowered to get her undressed,
washed and redressed for the day ahead. This procedure, which
requires a degree of rolling, should always be carried out by two
properly trained care workers, as was clearly defined in health and
safety policies at the home and written assessments of the
patient's individual care needs. However the resident was instead
tended to by a lone employee with limited knowledge and training in
the moving and handling of residents. The employee in question had
only started work on the unit six days earlier and had not
completed the necessary formal training on patient handling.
Here at Mentor, we can provide you with bespoke manual handling
training to address your compliance with Regulations. Call our
advice line or your own dedicated Consultant for more
information.