Industry news
Firm censured in bug outbreak probe
Posted Tue, 12 Jun 2012
A pharmaceuticals company which is being investigated as a potential source of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak has been served with two improvement notices by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The clean-up at Macfarlan Smith, based in Wheatfield Road in Edinburgh, was ordered in the wake of the outbreak, which has resulted in 39 cases and 49 suspected cases. One man has so far died in the incident, named locally as Robert Air, 56, of Seafield, Edinburgh.
A cleaning of a cooling tower at the firm's premises has been ordered by HSE officials. They have also demanded provision of access for the tower in order for it to be inspected and maintained.
The North British Distillery Company, also based on Wheatfield Road, was served with an HSE improvement notice last week. Officials issued the censure after finding that the firm had not devised or implemented a sustained, effective biocide control programme for a cooling tower on its site.
HSE officers have stressed that other premises are still being inspected as part of the inquiry into the source of the outbreak.
Copyright Press Association 2012