If you are an employer who manages premises with hot/cold water services and/or wet cooling systems (cooling towers and evaporative condensers – air conditioning systems or showers), then you may want to spare this some thought! To prevent Legionnaire’s disease, you as a duty holder must comply with legislation that requires you to manage, maintain and treat water systems in your premises appropriately.
Remember, Legionella can grow in any workplace if the conditions are right – you do not have to work with microbiological agents, e.g. in a laboratory, for exposure to occur. If you are responsible for any of the water systems described in HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and Guidance “Legionnaires’ disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems” (L8) you will need to assess the risk of employees and others in the workplace contracting Legionnaires’ disease.
Legionella bacteria are widespread in nature, mainly living in natural water systems, such as rivers and ponds. However, the conditions are rarely right for people to catch the disease from these sources. Instead, outbreaks of the illness occur from exposure to Legionella growing in purpose-built systems where the water is maintained at a temperature high enough to encourage growth, e.g. cooling towers, evaporative condensers, spa pools, and hot water systems used in all sorts of premises (work and domestic). Most community outbreaks in the UK have been linked to installations such as cooling towers, which can spread droplets of water over a wide area. These are found as part of air-conditioning and industrial cooling systems.
Water Risk Online Reporting System
Scientifics has introduced ‘Compliance Online’ to many clients, an entirely web-based HS & E data management system.
Designed to meet the demands of the Legionella ACOP L8, Water Risk Online incorporates a standardised approach to risk assessment in order to generate an action plan, a control scheme on ongoing monitoring, and an electronic logbook.
The information needed to help you comply can be found here
It is crucial that organisations are prepared and do not repeat the mistakes made that led to the UK’s most recent major outbreak at Barrow that killed seven people. Indeed, one report claimed that there was a catalogue of "basic failings".
So, make sure you know the risks and understand the legislation. If you would like any information then contact our team at Scientifics. With our UKAS accredited microbiological service and considerable expertise in this area, Scientifics can quickly assess your premises and provide advice on whether your organisation is at risk. For expert advice, contact us at sales@scientifics.com |
