Legionella management failing: £1.8 million fine issued

In recent prosecution news, record fines are being issued for contraventions in legislation pertaining to Legionella management.

G4S Cash Solutions has been fined £1.8 million after failing to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease from its water systems. Following a case in 2013 where a G4S employee contracted Legionnaires’ disease, Harlow Council conducted an investigation.

Although it could not be proven that the worker had contacted the disease from the site, the investigation uncovered a series of systemic failings which included a lack of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, inadequate staff training, no up to date policies and water management monitoring systems.

The council began prosecution procedings and G4S pleaded guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in June. G4S Cash Solutions has been fined £1.8 million after failing to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease from its water systems.

As we have previously highlighted, under the Sentencing Guidance, actual harm does not need to have occurred, the offence lies in not managing the risk.

To ensure that your business is kept safe from the risk of prosecution, the following control measures need to be put in place and effectively managed:

1. Suitable legionella risk assessment to be conducted by a competent contractor.
2. Significant findings to be addressed as a matter of priority.
3. A competent person to be identified for the management of Legionella who would be responsible for monitoring of the required hot and cold water checks and descaling of shower heads in the premises. The designated competent person must also be appropriately trained.
4. Corrective action procedures to be put in place and implemented for any defects identified in the Legionella water management system.

Contact us today if you need advice or training on how to combat exposure to legionnaire’s disease.

Source:

http://www.shponline.co.uk/g4s-fined-1-8-million-legionnaire-failure/?cid=ema-Marketing-08%20September%202016%20-%20SHP%20Daily%20Update-CTA-

http://www.cs-compliance.co.uk/legionella-death-hospice-in-sydenham-fined/