A company has been ordered to pay £41,276 after admitting that they didn't carry out the correct water treatment surveys in two care homes in South Wales.
DEBA UK Ltd appeared at Abertillery Magistrates Court on 6th August after failing to carry out legionella surveys on water systems at nursing homes in Tredegar and Llangattock.
This led to vulnerable residents at the homes being put at a considerably higher risk of contracting the potentially fatal legionnaire's disease.
The court was told that DEBA UK Ltd was commissioned to carry out the risk assessments for legionnaire's disease at the nursing homes and found the risk to be low. A following routine check at the nursing homes revealed there to be insufficient controls for legionella, and focus moved onto the work carried out by the company.
The company was fined £24,000 plus ordered to pay costs of £17,276 after pleading guilty to three charges under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Speaking after the case, Matthew Hamar, HSE inspector, said: "The nursing home operators commissioned DEBA UK Ltd to carry out the surveys in good faith and to help them comply with their responsibilities to manage the risk posed by legionella on their premises. They were badly let down in this case.
"Elderly nursing home residents are at greater risk from the bacteria that give rise to conditions such as legionnaires disease, so it is imperative that safety critical surveys like those carried out by DEBA UK Ltd are adequate.
"Fortunately, there was no evidence of any outbreak of the disease as a result of these incidents, but there is a clear responsibility to those companies carrying out specialist work that they need to carry out adequate surveys and provide accurate information.
"The health and safety of all those who use our services, as well as our members of staff, is always our top priority. We take matters such as this very seriously and have been working very closely with the Health and Safety Executive throughout this case. We hope that everyone acts upon the valuable lessons from this case."
DEBA UK Ltd appeared at Abertillery Magistrates Court on 6th August after failing to carry out legionella surveys on water systems at nursing homes in Tredegar and Llangattock.
This led to vulnerable residents at the homes being put at a considerably higher risk of contracting the potentially fatal legionnaire's disease.
The court was told that DEBA UK Ltd was commissioned to carry out the risk assessments for legionnaire's disease at the nursing homes and found the risk to be low. A following routine check at the nursing homes revealed there to be insufficient controls for legionella, and focus moved onto the work carried out by the company.
The company was fined £24,000 plus ordered to pay costs of £17,276 after pleading guilty to three charges under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Speaking after the case, Matthew Hamar, HSE inspector, said: "The nursing home operators commissioned DEBA UK Ltd to carry out the surveys in good faith and to help them comply with their responsibilities to manage the risk posed by legionella on their premises. They were badly let down in this case.
"Elderly nursing home residents are at greater risk from the bacteria that give rise to conditions such as legionnaires disease, so it is imperative that safety critical surveys like those carried out by DEBA UK Ltd are adequate.
"Fortunately, there was no evidence of any outbreak of the disease as a result of these incidents, but there is a clear responsibility to those companies carrying out specialist work that they need to carry out adequate surveys and provide accurate information.
"The health and safety of all those who use our services, as well as our members of staff, is always our top priority. We take matters such as this very seriously and have been working very closely with the Health and Safety Executive throughout this case. We hope that everyone acts upon the valuable lessons from this case."
