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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has asked businesses to be cautious of the risks posed by a potentially fatal form of pneumonia called Legionnaires Disease.

Recently, HM Prison Service was summoned by the HSE to explain the outbreak of Legionnaires Disease at Nottingham Prison, where a prison inmate was afflicted with the disease in 2006. The HSE carried out an investigative survey that discovered the presence of a high amount of legionella bacteria (the causative agent of the disease) in the hot and cold water machinery in the prison’s Health Unit. The HSE found Nottingham Prison had failed to adhere to the Approved Code of Practice (AcoP) for controlling legionella bacteria in water systems, resulting in a potential health hazard inside its premises.

The investigation revealed that Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 had been violated. Last week, HM Prison Service was present at a formal Crown Censure Hearing at the Nottingham Office of the HSE. It had to accept the Crown Censure after describing what it had done to ensure that another outbreak like the one at Nottingham Prison did not occur again at any of its prisons.

HSE Director for the Midlands, Nick Ratty, commented on the woeful state of health and safety standards at Nottingham Prison. Mr Ratty said that the Nottingham Prison case illustrated the importance of the proper maintenance of hot and cold water systems on the part of employers, so that people living or working inside their premises can stay healthy and productive without fear of bacterial infection. All staff and management must be fully aware of and comply with health and safety regulations as laid down by law. Click on IOSH UK to find out about the range of Workplace Law accredited IOSH courses.