Care homes in Northern Ireland have been urged by the Health and Safety Executive to ensure bedrails are properly installed.

The Execuitve said a risk of entrapment exists if measures are not put in place to reduce and control dangers.

HSENI’s warning comes after the prosecution of Four Seasons Healthcare (Northern Ireland) Limited earlier this month.

The company was fined a total of £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £160 at Ballymena Magistrates Court.

They pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 3 (1) (b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and a charge under Regulation 9 (1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999.

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The charges follow a fatal incident in February 2003 at a private nursing home in Ballymena, in which an 86 year old resident tragically died.

The resident, who had dementia, was put in a bed fitted with a ‘third party’ bedrail and his neck became trapped between the mattress and the bedrail.

Head of HSENI’s Health Services Group, Claire Savage, who investigated the case, said: "Bedrails might look harmless to the unsuspecting eye but there are potentially very real entrapment dangers associated with such equipment.

"If they are incorrectly fitted, poorly designed, or if staff are inadequately trained - particularly in the case of vulnerable residents - then they could pose a real danger.

"This was a tragedy for everyone concerned, and we would ask all care homes to take a fresh look at this, be vigilant and ensure that they have rigorous management systems in place to reduce and control the risk of entrapment from bedrails. It is also essential that staff are given appropriate training," she added.

(PR)