When an EHO visit prompted by one problem revealed a load of other problems (43 of them)
What happened?
A member of the public was staying at a hotel. The guest received an electric shock from a damaged iron cable, and they reported this to the local council EHO.
The EHO investigated, and found forty-three (yes, 43) other health and safety issues that needed attention.
They included…
No formal attempt to manage or control the risk of legionella in the water system. Asbestos within a door panel and lining and a ceiling panel had not been properly identified or managed. There were no hazardous substances risk assessments for staff using chemicals such as cleaning products. A lift inspection had never been carried out.
The hotel was prosecuted.
Legal Outcome
The hotel pleaded guilty to two counts of S3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations, Regulation 6 of COSHH (for the chemicals and legionella), and Regulation 9 of LOLER (for the lift).
They were fined £30,000 plus £6,551 costs.
What can we learn from what happened?
Note how the hotel was not prosecuted for the safety issue that prompted the initial complaint.
EHOs will often prioritise inspections that have been prompted by members of the public. Generally speaking, if they have taken the time to make the complaint then it will be worthwhile following up, and if a complaint has been made it is often the case that there is an underlying concern about safety in general. And if an EHO has made the effort to go to the premises, then they may as well ask a few more questions.
That’s what happened here, and what they found was a hotel that was just useless at safety management. Quite a charge sheet.
Source of Information
QLM Newsletter