St Basil’s charged after deadly COVID-19 outbreak in 2020

WorkSafe Victoria charged St Basil’s Homes For The Aged in Fawkner with nine breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act following the deadly COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

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.

In the outbreak, 94 residents and 94 staff members tested positive for the virus, with 45 residents dying from COVID-19 related complications.