The Helpful Pointer

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has sounded an alert to organizations about the possible risks of Legionnaires Disease. On 8 March 2006, a convict at Nottingham Prison was diagnosed with the infectious disease.

A comprehensive and in-depth investigation by HSE revealed an infected water source. Highly contaminated water in the hot and cold water system in the prison’s Health Unit was identified as the cause of the infection. The HSE found a breach of health and safety law on the part of Nottingham Prison, which did not follow the Approved Code of Practice (AcoP) for controlling legionella bacteria in its water systems.

The prison was found to have violated Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. HM Prison Service consequently took part in a formal Crown Censure Hearing at the Nottingham Office of the HSE. It accepted the Crown Censure and discussed clearly the measures it had adopted to prevent the reoccurrence of Legionnaires Disease at Nottingham and its other prisons.

HSE Director for the Midlands, Nick Ratty said that the internal health and safety system at Nottingham Prison had failed to keep the disease under control. Mr Ratty didn’t have anything good to say about the standard of health in Nottingham prison. He urged staff in any administration to properly manage hot and cold water systems so that legionella bacteria are unable to thrive and multiply and thereby endanger the lives of people. Click on IOSH UK, for information on courses to help improve your health and safety management system by teaching you to identify and implement appropriate workplace precautions for specific risks or seek advice on workplace precautions.