HSE Warning To Care Homes Over Manual Handling Practices

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has welcomed Aberdare Magistrates’ decision to fine Parkcare Homes Ltd £8,000 and pay £10,608 in costs after a resident at one of their care homes suffered a broken arm whilst being lifted out of a bath.

Parkcare Homes pleaded guilty to the charges under section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act following the accident, which happened at the Willows Nursing Home in Perthcelyn, Mountain Ash in November 2004.

In 2004-05 the HSE and the Local Authorities in Wales carried out a joint project whereby 260 Residential Homes and Nursing Homes were visited by Local Authority or HSE inspectors to review manual handling practices within the homes and their compliance with the All Wales Manual Handling Passport Scheme to set standards and standardize training in manual handling. The Willows was not visited as part of this process.

HSE Inspector Helen Jones said:
“This case demonstrates how important it is that the proper manual handling procedures are used in residential homes, particularly when assisting elderly and vulnerable residents. We hope that other residential and nursing homes will take this opportunity to ensure that they are complying with national standards for manual handling.”