A CAMPAIGN to help prevent accidents in residential care homes is being backed by South Oxfordshire District Council.
The authority will carry out a programme of targeted health and safety inspections on homes in the area.
During these, officials will offer help to managers and owners, including information and advice on topics such as accidental scalding, slips and falls from a height and how to handle heavy or awkward loads.
The council will also raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos and Legionnaires’ disease and the officials will carrying out safety assessments at the homes.
South Oxfordshire is one of many councils backing the national campaign, run by the Health and Safety Executive.
Over the past two years there have been more than 11,000 work-related accidents in care homes.
The majority of these involved employees but 34 resulted in the deaths of people living in the homes.
David Dodds, the district council’s cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “This extremely worthwhile initiative is a good example of partnership working to minimise the risk of injury to both care home employees and residents.”
Published on 02 February 2009
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