The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated Riaar Plastics Limited from West Bromwich after a number of members of the public became infected with Legionnaires' disease in September 2020. One person who was infected had to be treated in hospital and put on a ventilator after being infected.
During the investigation, the HSE found that the company failed to manage the risk of Legionella and the water cooling towers present at the site were in extremely poor condition, which resulted in significant health risk posed to the employees and members of the public.
On 2 June 2023 at Birmingham Magistrates, Riaar Plastics Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £11,000 in costs.
Following the hearing, the HSE principal inspector Jenny Skeldon said: "The condition of the cooling towers at this site was the worst I had ever seen. The Legionella exposure risk to employees, site visitors, neighbouring duty holders and members of the public was extreme in nature.
"Exposure to Legionella can cause death or serious illness where water cooling systems are not been managed effectively. It is really important that proactive management of the risk from Legionella bacteria is taken seriously. There are well publicised and simple precautions for companies to take, and if followed, will ensure that employers manage and control the risk."
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