Labour Inspectorate: Lack of door safety sensors caused fatal accident at Riga hospital

Latvia's State Labour Inspectorate (VDI) has completed its investigation into a fatal accident at Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS), where an employee was crushed to death by automatic doors. The inspectorate concluded that the cause was a failure to implement occupational safety measures.

Findings of the expert examination

An expert examination commissioned by the inspectorate found that the doors were not adequately equipped with safety sensors, which should have stopped or reversed the doors' movement when a person entered the danger zone. The sensors' placement failed to prevent the doors from crushing a person, even though the doors had been in operation for several years.

VDI stated that legal regulations require employers to equip moving parts of equipment with safety devices to protect employees from entering hazardous zones or to stop such equipment automatically. These measures had not been implemented at RAKUS. Regarding possible manufacturer liability, the inspectorate said the door's user — in this case, the hospital — bears a range of obligations, and manufacturer responsibility cannot be assumed when sensors were improperly or insufficiently placed.

Next steps

All investigation materials will be forwarded to the State Police, who will use them in an ongoing criminal case concerning occupational safety and employer liability. Separately, administrative violation proceedings have been launched against the employer, which could result in a fine.

VDI announced it will conduct preventive inspections at other medical institutions, urging them to verify that similar doors comply with standards, undergo maintenance, and have functioning safety sensors.

RAKUS spokesperson Lineta Mikša said the hospital has not yet received the VDI's report and case materials, and therefore cannot comment on the findings. The hospital had previously disagreed with the inspectorate's determination of the cause, though VDI emphasized that cooperation with RAKUS continues. The hospital is not permitted to disclose whether compensation has been paid to the deceased employee's relatives.