Death of a residential care user

Death of a residential care user left alone in the bath.

A company that provides community residential support services to people with intellectual disabilities has been sentenced over the 2016 death of an intellectually disabled person in their care.

Investigations by WorkSafe NZ into the incident found that adequate policies and procedures had not been implemented to manage the hazard of bathing vulnerable service users in its care.

Their message is the risk of drowning in the bath must be identified and assessed and appropriate controls put in place to ensure the health and safety of vulnerable users. WorkSafe New Zealand, says it is pointless having a control plan on paper if a business does not implement it.

The company had not learned from a previous incident in 2014, where a service user drowned as a result of being left alone in the bath. They were ordered to pay a fine of $425,000 and reparation of $75,000 to the victim’s family.

The original media release found on WorkSafe New Zealand website.

High risk of injury from cranes and lifting equipment at work.

WorkSafe Queensland has put the spotlight on cranes and lifting equipment and their potential to cause serious injury to workers due to the number of incidents this year at Queensland workplaces.

The risk of incidents involving cranes and lifting equipment has been broken down into five categories by WorkSafe Queensland with practices to prevent future occurrences.

The broad categories include;

• incorrect crane selection and siting.
• incorrect slinging and rigging techniques
• loose objects falling from loads being lifted
• loads colliding with adjacent structures or plants, causing items to dislodge and fall
• Not being used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

For further guidance refer to the Tower Crane Code of Practice 2017 and Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2006.

Original article locate don WorkSafe Queensland website.