Ref: 348/W/08 Tuesday 1 July 2008

Welsh nursing homes inspected

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released the results of a series of inspections carried out to look at the management of some specific health and safety risks at nursing homes across Wales during March and April.

Of 28 homes inspected, three quarters were issued with at least one enforcement notice, and a total of 31 enforcement notices were issued. The management of legionella risk and the correct use of bedrails were the main recurring areas of concern.

As a result of the findings, HSE will be contacting nursing homes in Wales to remind them of their duties to manage health and safety, and will be providing training resources to help homes improve standards.

HSE Inspector Steve Scott, who led the initiative, said: "The sample is a small percentage of the total number of nursing homes in Wales, and we must stress that not every nursing home we visited was issued with an enforcement notice.

"Those who did receive an enforcement notice were extremely keen to address shortcomings when they were raised. These homes were given a specified period of time to put matters highlighted right, and we are carrying out follow up visits to all of these premises to ensure that remedial action has been carried out.”

"The inspections found that management of other risks such as slips and trips and manual handling were generally being addressed but the use of bed rails, and legionella risk, was an issue at many of the homes we visited.”

The HSE has been working with other organisations such as the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), Care Forum Wales and Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru to raise the profile of safety at such care settings. Close working with Local Health Boards (LHBs) and private providers of care will continue, and HSE with its partners is planning to hold safety seminars for nursing home managers in the coming months. A number of interactive tools are being made available online which will provide further guidance.

Steve Scott added: "We distributed a computer CD on bed rail management during our visits, and similar resource on the management of legionella in nursing homes is currently in the early stages of production. We hope to run the seminars in September / October 2008, but homes requiring advice and guidance in the meantime can contact HSE Infoline on 0845 345 0055.

Notes to editors

1. For the period April 2001 to March 2005, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR) statistics identified at least 10 fatal accidents and a number of major injury incidents in which the use of bed rails was implicated. (Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/79-8.htm)
2. Advice and information on controlling legionella can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/index.htm
3. Legionella is a type of bacteria which is common in natural and artificial water systems, and can thrive at temperatures between 20°C and 45°C. The main method of controlling them is to ensure water is hot, and that hot and cold water systems remain separate. There is a duty on nursing homes under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to consider the risks from legionella that may affect their employees, and people in their care.
4. Bed rails, also known as bed side-rails, cot-sides, safety sides and bed guards, are used extensively in the health and social care sectors to prevent people from falling out of bed. The most serious risk for these rails being used in inappropriate circumstances is the danger of entrapment by the head or neck, which can lead to asphyxiation.
5. HSE is planning to hold safety seminars for nursing home managers in the coming months, and a number of interactive tools are being made available online which will provide further guidance.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News and PR Wales. For further information, please contact on 0844 800 6823.