Council's bollard failures show need for proper defect response

摘要

Hampshire County Council has been fined £1.4 million after a young child suffered a brain injury while playing on an unsecured street bollard. The case highlights the need for organisations to have, and to implement, a policy for responding to notifications of defective equipment for which they are responsible. The policy should specify appropriate response times for remedying defects and ensure that there are no delays because key workers are on leave or absent. Moreover, inspections should be carried out by personnel who are trained for the specific task, and guidance and documentation should be appropriate and clear.