Little Dreams Nursery in Aberdeen has been fined £7,850 after a ten-month-old boy suffered severe burns from bleach and boiling water in 2021. The incident occurred when the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was attending the nursery and accessed a bucket containing cleaning supplies while the room was being cleaned.
Court documents stated that the nursery failed to conduct a sufficient risk assessment for cleaning procedures and did not implement a safe system of work, in violation of health and safety laws. The child sustained agonizing injuries and was later treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where he underwent a procedure under general anesthetic and received extensive bandaging.
The boy's mother previously stated that her son risked being scarred for life and that staff did not call an ambulance, instead waiting for his parents to collect him. The family was awarded a five-figure compensation payout in 2023, which is being held in trust for the child until he turns 16.
In a statement released through law firm Digby Brown, the family expressed their frustration, noting a five-year wait for the nursery to admit fault and stating that the severity of the injuries had not been adequately acknowledged. They emphasized the defenselessness of a ten-month-old baby suffering such an injury and the difficulty of watching their child cope with the consequences.
A previous investigation by the Care Inspectorate found that emergency services should have been contacted immediately. Little Dreams Nursery acknowledged the incident, stating that the safety and well-being of children are their highest priority. A spokesperson for the nursery expressed deep regret for the incident and the distress it caused, confirming they accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty.