Chlorine Leak Exposes Council

Almost 50 people have been affected by a chlorine leak in a swimming pool near Wolverhampton. According to the BBC website, emergency services were called to the swimming baths to treat the individuals involved who suffered symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nose and throat irritation, watering eyes and panic attacks.

It appears that the local council had already agreed to close the pool in the summer as repairs are required costing up to £2 million pounds. This begs the question that if the condition of the pool and building had already been identified as requiring extensive work then why was it that there not greater supervision over the current functions and workings of the building?

It could certainly be argued that the council have erred in failing to take the necessary precautions following the identification of problems with the site to safeguard public health and that surely it would have been in public interest to close the site immediately or to put in place further checks on the building at regular intervals and explore any further possible health and safety issues which might have arisen.

Members of the local ambulance’s specialist Hazardous Area Response team had to be called in to help deal with any injuries suffered. A spokesperson for the Health Protection Agency advised that the exposure to chlorine should not have any long-term effects for most people.

Those who have suffered injuries through exposure to chemicals may be entitled to claim compensation following the accident as the council has a responsibility to maintain health and safety standards.