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Health Protection Agency Fined

13th July 2010

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has been fined 25,000 for a spillage of E.coli O157 at its centre in Colindale, north London.

The Old Bailey heard that although nobody was infected, three employees were put at risk of contamination. Prosecutors described a "general complacency" about the way infectious waste was handled at the centre and judge, Martin Stephens, said the HPA should feel "acute embarrassment" over its failings.

The bug was being carried in bins which had defects, even though these faults had been noted 18 months earlier. Employees taking the bacteria to a disposal unit were not wearing protective clothing and prosecutor, Andrew Marshall, stated that there had been a complete lack of understanding of risk" when an initial assessment of the spillage was carried out by staff. Between 100ml and 200ml of liquid was spilt, containing up to 10bn E.coli organisms.

The HPA pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety laws and the incident was reviewed by the Health and Safety Executive. This was a serious breach of the HPA's duty to ensure the health, safety, and welfare at work of all its employees. In this case practices for handling the bacterium safely, were not met, therefore exposing several staff and potentially their families to a real risk of infection.

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HUSH AGM on Saturday 26th March 2011

21st March 2011

The charity's AGM will be taking place on Saturday at Guy's Thatched Hamlet, in Bilsborrow, near Garstang, Preston. All members are invited to attend, as well as anyone interested in hearing more about the charity, its work and the latest on E.coli O157. ... ...read on

Food Standards Agency Reneges on Welsh Promise

11th October 2010

HUSH believe that consumers have been misled by promises that a new food hygiene ratings system will be fully up and running this year in Wales. Piloted in Swansea and Wrexham, Scores on the Doors was to be rolled out across the rest of the country at the end of Septe... ...read on

HUSH Requires Your Help to Make Our Food Safer

9th September 2010

The Food Standard Agency (FSA) is currently running a Consultation entitled 'Reducing the Risk from E.coli 0157: Controlling Cross Contamination'. This consultation closes on 5th October 2010. As many of you will b... ...read on

Report Published of Godstone Farm Outbreak

13th July 2010

The largest outbreak of E. coli O157 linked to an Open Farm in the UK occurred at Godstone Farm, Surrey, in August and September 2009. There were 93 people affected, of whom 76 (82%) were under 10 years of age. Of the 78 people with symptoms, 27 (35%) were ad... ...read on

Health Protection Agency Fined

13th July 2010

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has been fined 25,000 for a spillage of E.coli O157 at its centre in Colindale, north London. The Old Bailey heard that although nobody was infected, three employees were put at risk of contaminat... ...read on

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E.coli O157 & Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome

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Health Protection Agency Fined