A leisure centre operator in Essex has been fined after a toddler suffered severe burns in the swimming pool’s changing area. The 2 year old’s father, who has asked not to be named, was walking his son to the pool area after preparing him for his weekly swimming lesson at the Great Dunmow Leisure Centre, Essex when the incident happened. As the pair were making their way to the pool, the boy slipped, falling on a recently cleaned drain cover, which had been cleaned with a drain cleaner that consisted of sodium hydroxide, a chemical that is very corrosive and is used to dissolve grease and hair. As the little boy fell, the chemical burnt through his shorts and swim nappy, which left him with third degree, full skin thickness alkaline burns to his bottom as well as the back of his right thigh. The toddler was immediately admitted to hospital, where he stayed for 10 days with his family and had to undergo emergency treatment including a skin graft.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) began an investigation into the incident, which happened in February 2012. On 5th December 2013, Chelmsford Crown Court heard how the HSE found the firm had failed to put in place a robust system of work to clean this kind of drain, which should include clear instructions on how the drains need to be cleaned and who is in charge of the job. HSE inspectors also said to the court that managers at the leisure centre said they had been unaware that the chemical was present on the site.
Leisure Connection Ltd was fined £45,000 along with costs of £20,746 after admitting it breached the Health and Safety at Work Act.