A care home business has been convicted of a health and safety charge following the death of an 80 year old resident, when a wardrobe fell on top of her in 2012.

The care home was found guilty by a jury of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Specifically, they failed to ensure that the ‘personal activity monitoring system’, designed to alert staff if the resident got up in the night, was working properly. They also failed to provide adequate training and information to staff about the monitors.

The judge directed the jury to enter a “not guilty” verdict on a second charge which involved not ensuring the wardrobe was secured to the wall. The care home had denied both charges.

Derby Crown Court heard that the monitors were unsafe and that the in-depth investigation undertaken by Amber Valley Borough Council officers had discovered evidence of a systematic failure in health and safety processes, contributing to the incident involving the resident. Another hearing is to be scheduled to determine sentencing.

Ellis Whittam has particular expertise in the Care sector. Please contact us to find out more about how we can help you stay compliant and minimise risk.

Find what you were looking for?

Our FREE resources library contains over 200 searchable blogs, guides and templates focused around Employment Law and Health & Safety issues that employers face on a day-to-day basis.

Get your FREE download

We combine the service quality of a law firm with the certainty of fixed-fee services to provide expert, solutions-focused Employment LawHR and Health & Safety support tailored to employers.

Call us on 0345 226 8393.

Get your FREE download

We combine the service quality of a law firm with the certainty of fixed-fee services to provide expert, solutions-focused Employment LawHR and Health & Safety support tailored to employers.

Call us on 0345 226 8393.

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Book a consultation

Our team will contact you soon after you submit. If we miss you, we’ll send a Calendly invite with more time options.

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Search...

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Before you go…

We can help with that HR problem or health and safety query. If you’re an employer, leave your details below and our team will call you back.

Register your interest

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Get your FREE consultation

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Download your FREE guide

Submit your details below.

Request a callback

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Need some help?

Call our team now on:

0345 226 8393

Request a Callback

Submit your details and one of our team will be in touch.

Request a Callback
Hi, how can we help?
Click the button below to chat to an expert.