Internal review into bug deaths
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/cumbria/6968384.stm Version 0 of 1. The local authority at the centre of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak which killed seven people has launched its own inquiry into the incident. Six women and one man died in 2002 when the air conditioning unit at Barrow Council's Forum 28 arts complex emitted steam into the street. The Cumbrian council was fined £125,000 after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. A spokesman said the review will ensure all proper measures were now in place. The review will ensure that all steps are now being taken to prevent a reoccurrence Ola Oduwole, Barrow Council Following the outbreak, the council's then design services manager Gillian Beckingham was also convicted of health and safety breaches and fined £15,000. She no longer works for the local authority. The internal inquiry has been launched following the conclusion of the criminal investigation, the publication of an HSE report and the findings of a coroner's inquest. Ola Oduwole, the council's lawyer and director of corporate services, said: "The review will ensure that all steps are now being taken to prevent a reoccurrence and show that proper Health and Safety procedures are now in place. "It is being held behind closed doors for legal reasons, but nothing will be hidden from the public. The review's findings will be presented in full to the council's executive committee." 3,000 signatures The council and Mrs Beckingham, who was cleared of manslaughter, were fined for failing to maintain the air conditioning unit. Those who died were Richard Macauley, 88; Wendy Milburn, 56; Georgina Somerville, 54; Harriet Low, 74; Christine Merewood, 55; Elizabeth Dixon, 80; and June Miles 56. About 200 people were also taken ill during the Barrow outbreak, which became one of the UK's worst outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease. In July almost 3,000 people signed a petition calling for Barrow Council's chief executive Tom Campbell to resign. |