Summary
Cardiff University has been fined £280,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,745 after two employees developed permanent occupational asthma. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the university failed to identify and control the risks of animal allergen exposure for 15 years, between 2008 and 2025. Both victims are now permanently disabled; one has lost 33% of their lung function and was forced to leave their employment. The university pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Analysis
The case demonstrates a profound failure of institutional health and safety management. Despite the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations dating back to 1989 and specific guidance for laboratory animal workers available since 2011, the university ignored these protocols for over a decade. The severity of the permanent respiratory damage highlights the critical nature of allergen monitoring in research environments. This prosecution serves as a warning that the HSE will hold large organisations accountable for systemic negligence, particularly when well-established safety standards are overlooked, leading to life-altering health consequences for staff.