Crown Censure Hearing against Nottingham Prison
The Health and Safety Executive recently conducted a trial at its Nottingham Office regarding the outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Nottingham Prison. The hearing was a follow up to an incident that occurred three years ago when an inmate was found to be suffering from the disease. The study that followed the news showed that the prison was not abiding by the Approved Code of Practice for controlling legionella bacteria. As a result, a huge quantity of the bacteria was found in both hot and cold water in the prison’s Health Unit, thus leading to an outbreak of the disease. The Health and Safety Executive said in its investigation that the failure to protect the inmates from the bacteria is in contravention of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. As a consequence, prison officials had to attend an official Crown Censure Hearing in which they explained the steps they had taken to contain any further outbreak of the bacteria, though they did accept the Crown Censure. However, the HSE was not satisfied with the answer and said that the prison had not put in an adequate amount of effort to protect its inmates. The HSE Director for the Midlands said that it is not only prisons but also employers who need to pay close attention to the water they provide to their people. Failure to follow proper procedure can jeopardize the health of the people. The Safety for Senior Executives course is accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The course is aimed at Directors, Vice Presidents, Senior Executives and other senior managers who have the responsibility for policy making and strategic planning for health and safety within the organisation. For more information on IOSH Safety for Senior Executives, contact the experts at Workplace Law for reviewing your health and safety performance and risk management arrangements.
