Pensioner died after being thrown from wheelchair on minibus

Health & Safety Executive, 3 February 2011

An elderly woman died of her injuries after being thrown from a wheelchair while in an Age Concern Westminster minibus, a court heard today.

Olive Sarti, 88, was taken to hospital with a head injury and a broken neck after the incident on Shirland Road, London on 20 September 2006.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Age Concern Westminster after an investigation that found the minibus driver had performed and emergency stop which resulted in Ms Sarti being hurled from her wheelchair.

The elderly lady was taken to hospital with a broken neck and head injuries. She died two months later on 11 November 2006. The post mortem examination confirmed the injuries sustained on September 20 were a contributing factor to Ms Sarti's death.

The Old Bailey heard that Age Concern Westminster employees had not secured Ms Sarti in her wheelchair, and workers had not been given adequate training by the charity to ensure wheelchair users were safe while travelling.

Age Concern Westminster of Praed Street, Westminster, London, (pleaded guilty to/ were found guilty of) breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000.

HSE Inspector Michael La Rose said: "This fatal incident was foreseeable. There was MHRA guidance easily available to Age Concern Westminster on how to transport wheelchair users safely.

"This organisation fell well below expected standards and Olive Sarti's death could have been avoided if Age Concern Westminster workers had received adequate training."

"The seatbelt laws have long been established in British law. Age Concern was aware that people transported in wheelchairs should have these effectively secured and the wheel chair user should have an adequate seatbelt."

Source: Health & Safety Executive Website

Do you offer adequate training
to your employees and volunteers?

The findings of the Health & Safety Executive revealed that in this case adequate training had not been given and this contributed towards a death, which otherwise could have been avoided.

Adequate training does not mean relying on the authenticity and quality of training provided by a previous employer or organisation, when your presented with a minibus awareness certificate by a new driver joining your organisation.

Health & Safety law clearly states that "You must provide clear instructions, information and adequate training for your employees" This also covers those who are also working on a self employed basis and volunteers.

Adequate training should include: the correct use of equipment, hazards and risks they may face, measures in place to deal with those hazards and risks and how to follow any emergency procedures.

Warning: Any voluntary minibus awareness training which uses instructors or assessors holding only a "car-licence" are in breach of the law, and therefore would not contribute towards adequate training

Is your organisation going to learn by this unfortunate incident or are you going to take a gamble with someone's life with a combined fine and costs of £15,000?

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