Wednesday 24 January

ANZ House To Re-Open Following Second Clear Test

ANZ House will re-open tomorrow. The water-cooling towers and the air intake of the operating air conditioning system have tested clear of legionella bacteria.

These results follow those on the air conditioning outlet grill last week, which also came back negative.

ANZ Human Resources General Manager, David Laragy, says the decision to re-occupy the building has been made in close consultation with health authorities and other independent experts.

"Occupational Safety and Health, Auckland Healthcare and an independent engineer have all indicated that ANZ has removed the potential risk associated with the presence of the low level of legionella bacteria and that there is nothing to prevent us from re-occupying the building.

"Although the presence of low-levels of legionella bacteria in building cooling towers is not unusual, a range of steps have been taken to remove it."

Mr Laragy says an independent engineering consultant will continue to monitor the water-cooling tower to ensure the ongoing safety of the building and the people within.

Mr Laragy said although it was unlikely, anyone who had visited ANZ House recently and was experiencing symptoms consistent with Legionnaires Disease should seek medical advice from their general practitioner. Auckland Healthcare had encouraged this advice. "Symptoms usually begin to occur between two and ten days after exposure and include headache, muscle pains, lethargy, and poor appetite, followed by a rapidly rising fever, dry cough, abdominal pain and diarrhoea." Auckland Healthcare had been closely involved in the processes at ANZ and Mr Laragy thanked them for their assistance. ENDS

For further information please contact: Steve Fisher, (09) 374 4123 or 025 642 5823

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