2002 Barrow-in-Furness legionellosis outbreak

The alleyway between the Forum 28 and Wilkinson where the faulty AC unit was located

The 2002 Barrow-in-Furness Legionnaires' disease outbreak was a fatal outbreak of Legionellosis which occurred in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It was and still remains among the worst such outbreaks in history.

The first fatality occurred on 2 August 2002.[1] The source of the bacteria was later found to be from steam coming out of a badly maintained air conditioning unit. The system was located in the council-run arts centre Forum 28, with the vent emitting the disease over a busy alleyway in the town centre. Ultimately seven people died and 172 cases were reported (a case fatality rate of around 4%), ranking as the second worst in British history and seventh worst globally by death count.[2]

The coroner for Furness and South Cumbria criticised the council for its failings with regard to health and safety at the conclusion of an inquest into the seven deaths.[3] In 2006, council employee Gillian Beckingham and employer Barrow Borough Council were cleared of seven charges of manslaughter, but both admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. Beckingham, the council senior architect ultimately responsible for health and safety at the centre, was fined £15,000 and the authority £125,000.[4] The borough council was the first public body in the country to have faced corporate manslaughter charges.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Legionnaires' alert claims first victim
  2. ↑ "Legionnaires' source officially traced". BBC News. 2002-08-20. Archived from the original on 14 August 2003. Retrieved 2003-07-21.
  3. ↑ "A Total Shambles". North West Evening Mail. 2007-06-12. Archived from the original on 2007-06-23. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  4. ↑ "Bug Death Council Worker Cleared". BBC News. 2006-07-31. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  5. ↑ "Back in the Line of Fire". www.publicfinance.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2007-07-21.

Coordinates: 54°06′44″N 3°13′40″W / 54.11223°N 3.22776°W / 54.11223; -3.22776

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