Faltec Europe Limited, a car parts manufacturer in Tyne and Wear, was fined £1.6million at Newcastle Crown Court on 17 May 2018 following an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease and an explosion at the plant in the same year.

The company was fined £800,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (the Act) in relation to the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. It also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Act in respect of the explosion and was fined £800,000. The court ordered that the company pay costs of £75,159.73 and a victim surcharge of £120.

Between October 2014 and June 2015, two employees, two agency workers, and a local resident became seriously unwell after contracting Legionnaires’ disease. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the illness was caused by Faltec not effectively managing the plant’s water cooling systems.

On 16 October 2015, a part fell off production rollers onto an electrostatic grid, which created a spark and caused a dust explosion at the plant. A worker suffered first-degree burns to his face and arms. The HSE investigation identified a failure to implement adequate measures to protect operators from risks of an explosion; despite previous explosions.

If you should have any questions about your legal obligations in relation to Health and Safety in the workplace and need a specialist health and safety solicitor, call James Lowe, our Regulatory and Licensing Partner on 07833 240 400 for advice and assistance.