Enforcement data · Sector

Legionella enforcement: dry cleaning

1 tracked UK prosecutions in the dry cleaning sector, totalling £100 in fines from 2014 to 2014. Every case is drawn from the curated enforcement record and cited to its primary source.

Part of the Legionella Data Index · curated record, last reviewed July 2026

1Prosecutions tracked
£100Total fines
£100Largest single fine
0Involving a death or outbreak
DefendantYearRegionFineProsecutor
Pride Cleaners (2000) Limited
A Stourbridge dry-cleaning firm could not show how it was managing a cooling tower integral to its process, having dropped its water-treatment consultant without alternative controls, creating a legionella risk to workers and the public. The company, which had ceased trading, pleaded guilty to breaching HSWA ss.2(1) and 3(1) at Birmingham Magistrates' Court in August 2014 and was fined a nominal £100 plus £50 costs. Source
2014 West Midlands £100 HSE

This is a curated record of significant, well-documented cases, not a complete list of every prosecution in the sector, and it skews towards fatal and heavily reported cases. Cases with no fine (a conditional discharge, for example) count as prosecutions but add nothing to the fines total. The full record, the curation rules and the correction policy are on the Legionella Enforcement Tracker.

Past prosecutions show what courts have punished; they say nothing about any individual building. The failings that recur in these cases - no risk assessment, no written scheme, no monitoring records, warnings ignored - are exactly what the baseline controls address.

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Important This page is general guidance only. Legionella risk varies with the specific water system, its use, and the people exposed to it. You should consult a competent legionella risk assessor for advice on your premises. LegionellaCheck is an independent information service and is not affiliated with HSE, UKAS, the Legionella Control Association, or any water hygiene company. This site does not provide medical advice. If you suspect Legionnaires' disease, contact NHS 111 or your GP.