HPA Employees Exposed to E.Coli- HPA Fined
Monday, July 26th, 2010
Investigations conducted into a hazardous waste spillage at a HPA site revealed a shocking lack of safety features there. The HSE inspectors found that disposal of hazardous waste was being carried out in unsafe manner leading to exposure of employees to risk of infection.
The HPA staff at the Centre for Infections in its Colindale facility were put at risk of infection from E.Coli bacterium when a spillage occurred. The bacterium were being transported to the waste disposal section when they were spilt on the floor of the unit exposing employees in the vicinity to risk. The incident occurred in 2007. Investigations into the matter by HSE inspectors showed that proper safety procedures were not being followed in waste transportation and disposal processes.
The bacteria is a hazard level 3 biological agent. Such agents are classified into hazard levels 1 to 4 with level 4 being the most hazardous. The fact that a bacterium with level 3 hazard rating has been handled with such lack of care is alarming.
The HPA had not assessed the risks present correctly nor had it put in place proper safety measures. The employees who were engaged in transporting and disposing the bacterium were not trained to do so within safety norms. These facts were revealed by the HSE investigations.
Further, equipment used in this facility was found faulty as early as a year and a half before the spillage. But no changes or repairs had been carried out by the time of the incident.
The HPA accepted all charges levelled against it by the HSE. The City of London Magistrates court found HPA guilty of violating sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. A fine of £25,000 has been imposed on the agency in addition to costs of £20,166.10.
Jennifer Higham, HSE specialist inspector pointed out that E.Coli is a bacterium which can cause deadly infection in humans. Well researched and tested safety norms exist for handling these bacterium and it is essential to adhere to these to prevent infection.
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