Eldercare services provider fined after client in wheelchair rolled off van platform and later died

Straits Times

3 days ago

Eldercare services provider fined after client in wheelchair rolled off van platform and later died
SINGAPORE – Two employees of an eldercare services provider were helping clients board its van when one of the senior citizens fell off the vehicle's wheelchair lift platform and his head struck the ground.
Mr Hassan Mohamed Karchi Arsan Osman, 76, was unconscious when he was taken to the National University Hospital, and he died of a head injury at 9.35pm on Feb 3, 2021.
On June 3, Active Global Respite Care was fined $7,000 after it was convicted of an offence under the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations.
Court documents stated that the company had failed to implement safety control measures and safe work procedures governing the use of the wheelchair lift at the rear of the van.
Two people, who were working for Active Global Respite Care when the incident took place, were each fined $10,000 in December 2023.
Myanmar national Moe Thadar, then 49, was a health care assistant at the time while Singaporean Kwa Kim Seng, then 67, was employed as a van driver.
They had failed to ensure that the brakes of Mr Hassan's wheelchair were engaged, causing his death.
For the current case, Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Kimberly Boo told the court that Active Global Respite Care owned two vans used for transporting elderly clients between their homes and a senior care centre located at Block 31A, Ghim Moh Link.
A health care assistant would be present in each van to assist with the transportation of such elderly clients.
Each van was installed with a wheelchair lift at its rear. This lift allowed wheelchair users to be loaded onto the vehicle through a platform that could be raised.
At around 4.40pm on Feb 3, 2021, Moe Thadar and Kwa were at work, helping the company's elderly clients board one of the vans at the senior care centre's pickup point.
Ms Boo said: 'When Moe wheeled ( Mr Hassan) from the pickup point onto the wheelchair lift platform, she failed to engage the brakes of (his) wheelchair.
'As Moe was walking away, she told Kwa 'uncle, hold', in order to inform him that (Mr Hassan) was ready to be lifted. Kwa proceeded to raise the wheelchair lift platform while chatting with a colleague.'
As the platform was reaching the top of the lift, in line with the van, Kwa did not wait for a health care assistant inside the van to grab hold of the wheelchair.
Kwa released his grip off Mr Hassan's wheelchair, which then rolled backwards and off the platform. Mr Hassan's head struck the ground when he fell. He was pronounced dead later that day .
Ms Boo told the court that prior to the incident, Active Global Respite Care had no documented risk assessment on the transportation of their clients using a van with a wheelchair lift.
She added that on the day of the incident, multiple control measures to minimise safety risks to Mr Hassan were also not implemented.
These included ensuring that wheelchair brakes were engaged before activating the wheelchair lift.
Defence lawyers Gloria James-Civetta and Noelle Teoh, who represented Active Global Respite Care, on June 3 pleaded for their client to be given a fine of not more than $5,000.
The pair from Gloria James-Civetta & Co added: 'The incident was an isolated and unprecedented occurrence that tragically resulted in the passing of the late Mr Hassan.
'Prior to the incident on Feb 3, 2021, Active Global had operated in Singapore for several years without any record of similar serious incidents or accidents. It is also noted that the late Mr Hassan had successfully completed nearly 500 rides with Active Global over the course of his engagement, without issue.'
The lawyers stated in court documents that since the incident, their client has taken immediate and proactive measures to address any gaps in its safety protocols.
This includes updating its standard operating procedure in June 2021 to further enhance the clients' safety during transportation.
The company has also deployed additional manpower to act as traffic marshals at the drop-off and pick-up points of its centres, the court heard.
Shaffiq Alkhatib is The Straits Times' court correspondent, covering mainly criminal cases heard at the State Courts.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.