Dementia Sufferer Falls Down Open Sewer Drain In Care Home

An elderly dementia sufferer suffered from minor bruising and cuts and had to go to hospital after falling down an open sewer drain in a care home.

The 82-year-old woman was walking down a corridor when she inadvertently went through an open fire door and through the unguarded hole.

Doncaster Magistrates’ Court head the incident occurred after an apprentice plumber had been clearing a blockage within the sewer drain and had left the hole he was using exposed while he ran to collect water.

Doncaster Borough Council had failed to establish safety measures to protect the safety of residents while the work was being undertaken, magistrates heard. It could have placed barriers around the hole, put the cover back on the drain, closed the fire door or asked someone to keep an eye on the hole.

The council was fined £5,000 with costs of £2,040 after admitting breaching health and safety regulations.

Figures from the Health and Safety Executive reveal the health and residential care sector sees some of the highest number of slips and trips accidents, with 2011 to 2012 seeing 22 deaths caused by slips, trips and falls.

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