Work Accidents in Hospitals

Hospitals should be safe environments for the weak, the sick and wounded. There has been enough emphasis on the press in recent years about the dangers to patients of hospital superbugs such as MRSA and C. difficult, but what about the risks for NHS employees? We hear too often in claims for negligence against the NHS, but how many of thousands of workers employed by NHS doctors are at risk in your workplace? The dangers of things like needles, infected blood and communicable diseases are evident and the NHS is making great efforts to protect workers against these hazards. But a recent case has shown that this is not normal, run of the dangers for factory staff every day. Money is tight in the NHS and, at times, building maintenance may be allowed to fall below acceptable standards. This has led to a recent case in which high levels of Legionella bacteria found in a hospital in Liverpool. Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Trust, was sentenced to pay around £ 48,000 following an investigation. The investigation found dangerous levels of Legionella in the water system for showers, toilets and sinks in the hospital. The court was informed that the Fund had failed to prove the water supply for the disease, despite high levels of bacteria found in hospital in 2002. The HSE has been criticized for not having the confidence of appropriate control measures put in place, and leaders do not jump to assume responsibility for supervising the control of bacteria. The Trust pleaded guilty to both patients and staff at risk. The Foundation's action constitutes a serious violation of the duties of care, not only their patients but for staff too. The Trust has ignored the recommendations that had been given by a specialist company to control the level of bacteria in the water supply and a person was not given control or overall management responsibility of the bacteria, and control measures were not in their proper place. This, fortunately, is one of those rare cases where the result of this laissez-faire attitude with respect to a potentially fatal disease, has not led to any deaths directly attributable. However, it stresses the fact that the locations of workplaces are not only potentially dangerous for accidents - there is also the risk of disease diseases as well. If an organization should treat patients unable or unwilling to implement measures to protect both patients and staff of a deadly disease such as legionella, especially after having made clear there was a problem, then any related illness' exposure to the bacteria could be considered the fault of the trust and subject to a claim. An important lesson that has been established here. It is not only the obligation of employers to ensure that a workplace is safe from the risk of accidents, but the risks, including illness. This is an exceptional case, to be awarded. But do not call attention to the potential threat to the life situations of development work due to an unwillingness to listen to the advice of experts. The massive financial penalty imposed by the court could have easily been avoided by the Trust, ensuring that the situation was under control, as for the advice of contractors. Instead, the hospital is clearly to staff and patients at risk for a disease that kills. Hope of E 'not to repeat this shameful episode and that workers and patients are not exposed to such health and safety, again mismanagement.