Tuesday, June 16, the head of a company specializing in furniture for nurseries and childcare was sentenced to 18 months suspended prison sentence. The charges against him include manslaughter after the death of a 10-month-old baby in April 2017.
Another drama that could have been avoided … In April 2017, little Aieba, 10 months old, died in the nursery in Jardin, near Vienna. She had been placed in this home due to heavy treatment related to heart problems, unfortunately she has never been returned to her family. Aieba died of suffocation, a removable bed barrier trapped at her neck. How could such a drama have happened? If the investigation quickly put the case out of the home where the little girl had been placed, it was to the company that made the bed that the eyes turned.
Lack of security and caution
Several hardly credible facts were listed during the trial. The bed had anomalies, no less than five non-conformities were identified! Within the manufacturing company, the investigators were from bad surprises to bad surprises: there is no systematic control of the furniture, no referent within the company to verify that everything is done according to the rules, not no no more clear and established procedure to guide employees … And finally, nobody asked for a certificate of conformity for this model of bed, even though it had been modified a few years earlier.
When questioned at the helm, the chief the chief of the company did not contest the design error, he never did. According to him, he "was sure the bed was good", then arguing about the big workload he faces and his business to save. Despite this tragedy, there is still no "quality-safety" referent in society. The latter will have to pay 15,000 euros in fines and more than 60,000 euros in damages to the family.
The importance of respecting standards
This tragic case recalls the importance parents should attach to the standards in force on accessories and furniture for babies. Soft toys, strollers, chairs, beds …
When sleeping, remember that an infant must always sleep on his back and that no accessories should be in his bed (duvet, plush, cushion). This applies to nights, but also to naps.
by Barbara Ejenguele