11:37am Monday 3rd September 2007
By Bill Tanner
CIDER giant Bulmers has admitted responsibility for the Legionnaires' disease outbreak that swept across Hereford in 2003.
At Worcester Crown Court this morning, both Bulmers and its water treatment specialist Nalco pleaded guilty to health and safety charges relating to the outbreak.
The court heard that legionella was discovered in two cooling towers at Bulmers' Moorfield plant.
Two people died during the outbreak and another 20 contracted the disease.
Charges the two companies admitted cover the risk posed to the health and safety of the general public - not their own employees.
Both Bulmers and Nalco pleaded not guilty to separate charges covering that risk to their employees, none of whom contracted the disease.
Mark Harris, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, said that given the guilty pleas, the secondary charges would not now be pursued.
The case was adjourned until later this month for further reports to be prepared prior to sentencing.
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