Somercotes and Eastwood firm is accused of posing lethal risk

A Somercotes and Eastwood engineering firm has been accused of exposing employees and the public to potentially lethal legionella bacteria.
Chesterfield magistrates court.Chesterfield magistrates court.
Chesterfield magistrates court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard, on October 1, how Chromalloy UK Limited is facing two charges from May 2011 to June 2012 brought by the Health and Safety Executive linked to their Clover Nook Industrial Estate site, at Somercotes, and their Linkmel Road site, at Eastwood.

The first charge is that the company allegedly failed to ensure the health and safety of employees by exposing them to a risk of legionella bacteria through a water-based cooling system with limited management arrangements or without a system to prevent any risk.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chromalloy has also been charged with failing to repair gas turbine parts so people would not be exposed or affected by legionella bacteria in the cooling system.

Prosecuting solicitor Andrew Broome, representing the HSE, claimed the alleged offences led to a failure by Chromalloy to manage and contain the risk. He claimed the charges are aggravated because the company allegedly put profit before safety and argued this created a risk to the public with air-borne legionella which can spread and affect the populous.

Mr Broome argued that the case should be dealt with at crown court. Company director Phil Worrall, of Chromalloy UK Ltd, chose not to enter a plea on behalf of the company at this stage. Magistrates adjourned the case for a hearing at Derby Crown Court, on December 10.