Editor, UBM

August 28, 2015

Get the SHP newsletter

Daily health and safety news, job alerts and resources

£75,000 fine for legionella risk

A company has been fined £75,000 after failing to manage the risks from legionella bacteria at two cooling towers.

The steel coating company, Colicolor Limited, was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and was found to have been operating two cooling towers on site without taking appropriate measures to control the risk of proliferation of the bacteria over a period of five years.

HSE found that the risks that occur from the operation of cooling towers had not been assessed, there was no written scheme, the two towers were in poor condition, there was no water treatment programme in place, staff had not been trained to managed risks and drift eliminators to reduce the spread of aerosol were missing.

Newport Crown Court heard that during the visit from HSE in February 2014 prohibition notices were served immediately by the HSE inspector, preventing the cooling towers from being used until all appropriate controls were in place. Improvement Notices were then served with regard to risk assessment and management.

Coilcolor Limited, of Whitehead Estate, Docks Way, Newport, Gwent was fined a total of £75,000 and ordered to pay £28,393 in costs after pleading guilty to offences under Section 2(1) (£30,00) and 3(1) (£45,000) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

HSE inspector Joanne Carter, said: “Operating cooling towers, without proper controls in place can present a significant risk to employees and members of the public; in this case the company operates next to a housing estate and within one kilometre of the Royal Gwent Hospital.”

The Safety Conversation Podcast: Listen now!

The Safety Conversation with SHP (previously the Safety and Health Podcast) aims to bring you the latest news, insights and legislation updates in the form of interviews, discussions and panel debates from leading figures within the profession.

Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, subscribe and join the conversation today!

Related Topics

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments