An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, linked to a display hot tub in Stoke-on-Trent, has resulted in 21 cases including two deaths, the Health Protection Agency has confirmed. One of the two victims was named as 64-year-old Richard Griffin, a delivery driver who supplied meats to the JTF Warehouse in Fenton, a discount superstore that is being blamed as the source. The suspected hot tub was decommissioned as JTF issued a statement saying: “JTF is extremely concerned and the product has been withdrawn from all stores. We have worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive in recent days to identify the cause and eliminate any further risk.” Thousands of people contacted NHS Direct with health concerns following local news coverage of the outbreak. Lawyers are preparing for potential legal action on behalf of the affected patients. The incident has sent shockwaves around the industry that is a hostage to fortune in cases like this. “A business, no matter how big or small, must abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974; this is statute law and failure to abide by this law will result in large fines and or imprisonment,” commented James Lee of Water Treatment Products. “To this day, it worries me that so many still pay lip service legislation almost adopting the ‘it will never happen to me’ attitude. Well, for the UK, it has happened again with two deaths directly related to legionella and poor water management,” he said. “This incident is not just a tragedy for those affected but must raise many urgent questions, concerning the enforcement of water testing, which the industry should be asking itself,” he added.
