Carrickfergus Borough Council and Mr Patrick Buckler, trading as Water Management Services Limited, have been sentenced at Laganside Magistrates' Court for breaches of health and safety legislation.
The case arose out of a failure to properly manage the risks associated with legionellosis at the Carrickfergus Amphitheatre, which put both employees and members of the public at risk. The council had engaged the services of Mr Buckler to assess the risks associated with their water systems. Mr Buckler had no specific training in health and safety, or legionellosis, and the risk assessments he had prepared were not suitable or sufficient.
Following an improvement notice issued in November 2011, the council employed a different water management company to carry out a risk assessment which found the risk of legionellosis as high. The council then voluntarily closed the facility in order to carry out remedial works to the water system. The problems identified included a build up of slime and scale, both well known hazards associated with legionellosis bacteria.
Carrickfergus Borough Council was fined £1,500 plus costs of £61, and Mr Patrick Buckler was fined £750, with costs of £61.
Louis Burns, head of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland's (HSE NI) Major Investigation Team commented, "This case highlights the need for duty holders to properly manage the risks associated with legionellosis, a potentially fatal infectious disease. If they subcontract this work they must make sure that the contractors are competent to do the work properly and professionally. In this case Mr Buckler was not."
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