Worthing care home fined

A WORTHING care home has been fined £15,000 after its "disregard" for health and safety contributed to the death of pensioner Betty Spargo.

The owners of Chesswood Lodge, in Chesswood Road, appeared at Worthing Magistrates' Court and were fined 15,000 with costs of nearly 7,000 after it was heard that Betty was scalded in a bath at the home.

Betty, 77, was found in a bath on February 21, 2008, with the hot tap running onto her shoulder, back and buttocks, causing burns that contributed to her death a week later.

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Worthing Borough Council prosecuted the care home, which pleaded guilty to the charges of not meeting with health and safety requirements.

Investigation

The accident was reported to the council and an investigation by senior environmental health officer Alison Lindley followed.

She found the care home could not produce evidence of legal compliance with a number of health and safety regulations.

While there appeared to be physical controls, and documented records relating to the risk of scalding, there was no evidence the home had seriously considered scalding risks.

Temperature control

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The bath was not fitted with any temperature control device allowing hot water to reach up to 66oC in just over two minutes.

This was despite the hot water outlet being monitored monthly and then being incorrectly recorded as reaching just 39oC.

The company has since made arrangements to upgrade and maintain the hot and cold water system and has removed the scalding risks that were present.

After the case, Mrs Lindley said: "The council will continue to work with businesses in helping them to improve health and safety but will not hesitate to prosecute when serious offences occur."

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