An aged care facility has been charged over a Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, which was the deadly result of breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
WorkSafe Victoria charged St Basil’s Homes For The Aged in the Melbourne suburb of Fawkner over nine OHS breaches which resulted in the Covid-19 deaths of 45 residents.
Despite the charges, the families of those who died in the notorious nursing home are calling for prison sentences for those responsible.
The workplace safety watchdog alleges that in July 2020, after being notified by a worker that they tested positive to Covid-19, the facility failed to require workers to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
It’s also alleged the facility failed to train workers how to safely don and doff PPE, verify that staff were competent in using it, tell staff when it should be used and supervise the use of the equipment.
During the outbreak, 94 residents and 94 staff members tested positive for the virus, with 45 residents dying from Covid-19 related complications.
Spiros Vasilakis’ mother, 81-year-old mother, Maria, was among 45 residents who died during the outbreak.
“This is significant, today is a day we found out that this facility would be held accountable,” he said.
“It news brought about a sense of relief, it was elated, something has finally happened.”
“At the same time, it draws up all those sad and bitter feelings.”
Mr Vasilakis said that although the facility has been fined, a simple fine is not a harsh enough punishment for the loss of almost 50 lives.
“When an employer isn’t providing a safe work environment, that should be a fine. But when the employer lacks a safe work environment and that results in death, that can’t stop at a fine.”
“Fifty lives can’t be a fine, one life can’t be a fine. I’m afraid that’s a criminal charge only punishable by a stint in prison.”
WorkSafe Victoria charged the aged care provider with multiples offences including two breaches of failing to enable workers to perform their work safely.
St Basil’s was also charged with three breaches, after failing to ensure its employees were not exposed to risks to their health or safety arising from conduct of its undertaking.
The maximum penalty for each of St Basil’s alleged offences is a fine of $1.49 million.
Image credits: Nine News
