Firm is fined £300,000 after disease kills two people (From Northwich Guardian)

Firm is fined £300,000 after disease kills two people

12:20pm Saturday 12th July 2008 in

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A NORTHWICH firm has been fined £300,000 for its involvement in a fatal outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.

Nalco, a water treatment business based in Winnington Avenue, was fined at Hereford Crown Court, along with cider maker HP Bulmer.

Two people died and more than 20 others fell ill after the incident in Hereford.

The two firms had admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work act at a hearing last year.

Nalco deeply regrets the loss of life and illness caused by the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at the Bulmers plant in 2003. Our heartfelt sympathy continues to go to all those affected.

David Johnson, Nalco’s European president

They pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of persons not in their employment.

The hearing last week was told that legionella bacteria was found in two cooling towers at Bulmer’s Mill, in Plough Lane, Hereford, following the deaths of an elderly man and a 56-year-old woman in the winter of 2003.

Judge Alistair McCreath criticised both firms for the ‘woefully inadequate’ cleaning of the towers in September 2003.

Nalco had failed to comply with its contractual obligations to Bulmer by failing to adequately clean the towers, and had also carried out an inadequate risk assessment.

David Johnson, Nalco’s European president, said: “Nalco deeply regrets the loss of life and illness caused by the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at the Bulmers plant in 2003. Our heartfelt sympathy continues to go to all those affected.

“We fully accept the court’s findings and our responsibilities. Since the date of this incident Nalco has changed its operational procedures, and it is our aim to prevent anything like this ever happening again.”

After treating the Hereford facility for 17-years, Johnson said that although not all factors were within its control, on this occasion Nalco had failed to meet its own standards.

Johnson added: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the incident. We will share all our knowledge and experience with the rest of the industry in an effort to prevent anything like this happening in the future.”

As well as the fine, both firms were ordered to pay £50,000 prosecution costs.