Toddler Loses Two Fingertips in Rochdale Park Gate

Rochdale Council has been fined for safety failings following an incident where a child lost two of his fingertips after they became trapped in the gate of a play park in Rochdale.

The two-year-old, who visited the park with his mother and three other children on 20th August, 2014, trapped his fingers in an external gate of the children's play area in Springfield Park. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the court that although it was impossible to know for sure what happened due to his age, the closing of the gate created a guillotine effect severing the toddler's fingertips.

HSE Inspector Emily Osborne said:

"Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council failed to make sure health and safety at the play park met the minimum legal standards and put children visiting the play area at Springfield Park at risk over a long period of time. The risk of trapping fingers in the gate was not identified and no prior action was taken by the council to stop this from happening.

"It is simply not good enough to not identify a serious risk and do nothing to prevent it. A guard should have been fitted over the dangerous part of the gate or the stopper should have been replaced. Instead, a two-year-old boy suffered injuries that are likely to affect him for life as a result of the council's failings."

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council pleaded guilty to Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 on the 3rd July, 2015, and were fined £13,000 plus full costs of £1,317.

If you've had an accident due to health and safety failings, contact our accident solicitors on 0800 810 1010 for advice.

Whitestone Solicitors

Rochdale