HSE prosecutes care home for Legionnaire’s risk
16:05 - 17/05/2010
HSE prosecutes care home for Legionna...
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have prosecuted care service provider SJ Care Homes Ltd after they defied an enforcement notice ordering them to manage the risks posed by legionella bacteria in one of their settings.
The enforcement notice was issued in February last year after HSE Inspector Sandra Tomlinson made a routine visit to the Beech House Nursing Home, based in Wythenshawe, and found that they were putting their residents at risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease.
High levels of legionella bacteria were found in the care home water system and they did not have the necessary precautions in place for controlling these levels. The improvement notice gave the company six weeks to take action but a follow-up visit in April 2009 revealed that no progress had been made.
SJ Care Homes Ltd, who are based in Middlesex, were prosecuted at Trafford Magistrate’s Court for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act (1974). They were fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £3,607 in court costs.
Commenting on the case, Ms Tomlinson, said: “It is vital that care homes have plans in place to make sure the level of legionella bacteria in their hot water systems does not become unsafe. Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, which mainly affects older people and those with poor health.
“Sadly, SJ Care Homes didn’t take this risk seriously and failed to act even when we issued a formal written warning. We therefore had no other choice but to prosecute.”
We can offer an online training course to raise awareness of legionella. E-learning Account Manager, Pete Stock, explains: “Statistics indicate that approximately 300 people each year contract a disease caused by legionella bacteria. This makes it vital that people are aware of the risks posed by this harmful bacteria and how to manage it. Since Legionnaires’ disease tends to affect elderly people more, it is especially relevant for care home workers.
“Our e-learning training course covers risk assessment, prevention and control and can be completed by anyone with internet access. It is a cost effective and convenient way of making sure that you and your staff know the risks and avoid prosecution.”
We can also offer a Health and Safety for Carers course which meets and exceeds Skills for Care Common Induction Standards and has links to NVQ Level 2. It teaches delegates about the Health and Safety at Work etc Act (1974) and covers the basics of health and safety, including manual handling, risk assessment and fire safety.
For further information on either of these courses, or to book training, please contact us today.
The enforcement notice was issued in February last year after HSE Inspector Sandra Tomlinson made a routine visit to the Beech House Nursing Home, based in Wythenshawe, and found that they were putting their residents at risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease.
High levels of legionella bacteria were found in the care home water system and they did not have the necessary precautions in place for controlling these levels. The improvement notice gave the company six weeks to take action but a follow-up visit in April 2009 revealed that no progress had been made.
SJ Care Homes Ltd, who are based in Middlesex, were prosecuted at Trafford Magistrate’s Court for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act (1974). They were fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £3,607 in court costs.
Commenting on the case, Ms Tomlinson, said: “It is vital that care homes have plans in place to make sure the level of legionella bacteria in their hot water systems does not become unsafe. Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, which mainly affects older people and those with poor health.
“Sadly, SJ Care Homes didn’t take this risk seriously and failed to act even when we issued a formal written warning. We therefore had no other choice but to prosecute.”
We can offer an online training course to raise awareness of legionella. E-learning Account Manager, Pete Stock, explains: “Statistics indicate that approximately 300 people each year contract a disease caused by legionella bacteria. This makes it vital that people are aware of the risks posed by this harmful bacteria and how to manage it. Since Legionnaires’ disease tends to affect elderly people more, it is especially relevant for care home workers.
“Our e-learning training course covers risk assessment, prevention and control and can be completed by anyone with internet access. It is a cost effective and convenient way of making sure that you and your staff know the risks and avoid prosecution.”
We can also offer a Health and Safety for Carers course which meets and exceeds Skills for Care Common Induction Standards and has links to NVQ Level 2. It teaches delegates about the Health and Safety at Work etc Act (1974) and covers the basics of health and safety, including manual handling, risk assessment and fire safety.
For further information on either of these courses, or to book training, please contact us today.
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