WorkSafe Victoria | A healthcare provider has been convicted and fined $230,000 after an aged care resident was injured when her reclining chair failed.
Benalla Health was sentenced at Melbourne County Court after pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to ensure persons, other than employees, were not exposed to health and safety risks.
In October 2021, the 93-year-old resident of the Morrie Evans Aged Care facility fell backwards when the back of her reclining chair detached as a staff member tried to move it following an outdoor family visit.
A subsequent X-ray showed fractures to the woman’s rib and spine. In the following days, she developed a chest infection and died a week after the incident.
WorkSafe’s investigation found Benalla Health failed to maintain a system of work for ensuring chairs used for transporting residents were regularly assessed for safe functionality, scheduled for preventative maintenance, and tagged accordingly.
