HSE Warns Safety Critical Equipment Must Be Maintained

Whilst this case may not relate directly to the telecoms working environment, it serves as a perfect example of what can happen when safety equipment is not maintained correctly - it can lead to injury and even death.

NHS Trusts have been reminded of the importance of keeping equipment properly maintained and in full working order, following a case which resulted in the University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust, Stoke on Trent , being fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £10,300 costs at Stoke on Trent Crown Court, after pleading guilty to breaches of health and safety legislation.

Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: it shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

The case brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) follows its investigation into the death of patient Mrs Sally Williams some five years ago, on 1 October 2002.

Speaking after the case HSE investigating inspector Lindsey Hope said:

"This incident is one that could have easily been avoided. It is a sobering reminder that clinical equipment that is critical to patient safety must be properly maintained and any defects remedied without delay, because patient lives depend on it. "

Mrs Williams died following an operation to treat two aneurysms. A microscope failed and was stuck on full zoom. The microscope had been faulty for a period of time prior to the operation, and no effective action had been taken.

The University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in that it failed to conduct surgical operations, in such a way as to ensure that persons not in its employment, including Mrs Sally Williams, were not thereby exposed to risks to their health and safety on 1 October 2002.

Source: GNN

 
 
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