Worker Succumbs to Legionnaires’ Disease Following Second Outbreak at Manufacturer
The following article has been rewritten from information originally presented by the mlive.com. You can find a link to the original article at the bottom of the page.
A Michigan auto supplier is facing penalties for failing to address Legionnaires’ disease cases from four years ago, which allowed the bacteria to resurface in 2023, resulting in one worker’s death and two others falling ill.
The Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration (MIOSHA) has imposed a $10,300 fine on Huron Inc., an automotive manufacturer, following an investigation into the fatality.
This case was one of 36 workplace fatalities investigated by MIOSHA last year, but it was the only one linked to Legionnaires’ disease—a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling mist or water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria.
Founded in 1943, Huron Inc. is one of the largest employers in Sanilac County, with approximately 420 workers. Acquired by New York-based private equity firm Seven Mile Capital Partners in 2015, the company underwent a $13 million expansion in 2016.
Huron Inc. has not responded to requests for comment.
The events leading to a worker’s death from Legionnaires’ disease were outlined in MIOSHA case files obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. The report omitted personal details, including the worker’s name and gender.
- 2020: Two employees at Huron Inc. were hospitalised with Legionnaires’ disease. Testing by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revealed Legionella bacteria in one of 15 water samples taken from the facility. The company implemented “corrective actions” to eliminate the bacteria.
- 2023: Despite earlier measures, the bacteria resurfaced, and more workers were infected. That summer, a 61-year-old worker fell ill after exposure to Legionella from an unspecified water source in the facility. The individual, who worked in maintenance, was hospitalised and passed away on August 20, 2023, just a week after being admitted. Case files indicated the source of exposure couldn’t be pinpointed, as the worker had been in various areas of the plant.
- September 28, 2023: Over a month after the first death, another worker fell ill and was hospitalised with Legionnaires’ disease. This employee remained off work for six weeks, returning on November 6, 2023.
- December 2023: A third employee, who had experienced persistent respiratory symptoms for months, learned about the previous Legionnaires’ cases through a company newsletter posted in the lunchroom. The employee tested positive for the disease on December 15, 2023.
The company failed to report the worker’s death to state authorities.
Subsequent water testing at the facility identified Legionella in four locations, with the same genetic strain found in all three infected workers.
Huron Inc. responded with further “corrective actions,” including disinfecting affected areas with bleach, replacing pipes, and adjusting all water tanks to maintain a temperature of 122 degrees. The investigation into the Legionnaires’ outbreak at Huron Inc. concluded in August with a settlement agreement.
According to a violation worksheet, Huron Inc. “failed to keep their employees free from a recognised hazard” capable of causing death or serious injury. MIOSHA found that the company was aware of the Legionella bacteria’s presence after two workers fell ill in 2020 but failed to implement an effective water maintenance program to monitor and prevent bacterial growth in the facility’s water supply.
As a result, MIOSHA concluded, one worker died, another was hospitalised, and a third experienced weeks of illness due to exposure to water contaminated with Legionella pneumophila at the facility.
Huron Inc. was fined $7,000 for a serious violation of state law, reduced by 10% due to the company’s clean MIOSHA compliance record over the previous five years. This reduction followed a year in which the manufacturer celebrated “the safest year in our 80-year history” in 2022. The company was also fined an additional $4,000 for failing to report the worker’s death to the state.
MIOSHA noted that the most severe penalty, a “willful violation,” carries fines of up to $70,000. This classification is reserved for cases where employers intentionally disregard safety regulations or show “plain indifference” to employee health and safety.
“Fines are determined based on the classification of the violation, with potential reductions for factors such as the number of employees, good faith efforts, and the employer’s history with MIOSHA,” the agency explained in a statement.
The United Auto Workers’ union, which represents Huron Inc. employees, did not respond to requests for comment.
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