The Health and Safety Authority has recommended that structural changes be made to an escalator at Dunnes Stores in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Dublin, following the death of a boy in an accident on December 30th.
Patrick Croitoru (2½) was with his mother on a shopping trip when he fell about 30 feet over the side of an escalator to the floor below. The escalator links the Dunnes Stores clothing and grocery departments.
The incident occurred at about 1.40 p.m. as post-Christmas sales were under way in the busy shopping complex. The Dunnes Stores outlet is one of the anchor tenants in Blanchardstown and one of Dunnes Stores' flagship shops. Shoppers and staff nearby were said to be traumatised by the incident.
The boy sustained serious head injuries when he fell from the escalator. He was first taken to the nearby James Connolly Memorial hospital in Blanchardstown and then transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he died later that week.
His death was investigated by an inspector with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). The inspector's report, now being finalised, found the incident was outside the remit of the HSA as it was not an occupational injury.
However, because of the seriousness of the incident, the HSA suggested that Dunnes Stores make certain structural changes to the escalator to avoid a recurrence.
A HSA spokesman said the recommended changes were aimed at preventing children from clambering over the escalator rail. He understood the changes were being implemented at the store and that Dunnes Stores was looking at incorporating the structural changes at other outlets.
The Irish Times contacted Dunnes Stores several times to seek its response to the HSA findings, but no comment was available by yesterday evening.
The boy was the son of Romanian immigrants, Mr Lia and Ms Nelu Croitoru, who live in Corduff. They moved from Romania in the mid-1990s. A large community of east Europeans has settled in the Blanchardstown area in recent years.
An estimated 15 million people passed through Blanchardstown Shopping Centre last year.
