Firm’s Failures Put Vulnerable Sheltered Housing Residents at Risk of Deadly Disease
The following article has been rewritten from information originally presented by the Mirror. You can find a link to the original article at the bottom of the page.
A company that manages sheltered housing for vulnerable residents has been fined £900,000 following an outbreak of a deadly bacterial infection.
The outbreak of Legionella was detected at Vincent Naughton Court on Rodney Street in Birkenhead between July and August 2018, after testing in communal areas and individual flats revealed positive results for the bacteria in all 44 samples, putting residents at risk.
After the bacteria was identified, Sanctuary Housing evacuated residents from the premises. They returned in October and November 2018, once the water system was treated and a chlorination unit was installed.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that Sanctuary Housing had inadequately managed the Legionella risk in Vincent Naughton Court’s water system, with staff lacking proper training and oversight. The residents, who were especially vulnerable due to age and pre-existing health conditions, faced an elevated risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease. Furthermore, the company’s notification letter failed to inform residents to avoid shower use, leaving them exposed to Legionella. Follow-up testing on August 8 and 15 confirmed that the bacteria remained present during the repairs, leading to a second evacuation on August 24.
Sanctuary Housing Association, based on Castle Street, Worcester, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company received a £900,000 fine and was ordered to pay £11,480.60 in court costs at Liverpool Crown Court on October 22.
HSE inspector Rose Leese-Weller stated, “Sanctuary Housing failed to protect vulnerable residents at Vincent Naughton Court by mismanaging the site’s water system. It is fortunate that no residents became ill, as they were unknowingly exposed to contaminated water for an extended period.”
Leese-Weller added, “Sanctuary Housing not only neglected to manage the risk of contamination but also failed to provide adequate training and instructions to its staff.”
A Sanctuary spokesperson responded, “The well-being of our residents and staff is always a priority. We entered an early guilty plea under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. Although no harm resulted from the 2018 incident, we apologize for not meeting the required standards on this occasion. Our legionella risk assessment processes were reviewed and improved in 2018 to prevent future incidents.”
They added that Legionella was detected in samples taken on July 16 and July 31, prompting a letter to residents on August 3, advising of planned water system work on August 6. The letter inaccurately stated that contaminated tap water could be stored in sinks and boiled in kettles for use.
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