Authorising Engineer (Water) – Expert Support for Hospitals & Healthcare Organisations
Expert Authorising Engineer (Water) support for hospitals and healthcare organisations.
The appointment of an independent Authorising Engineer (Water) to support hospitals and other healthcare organisations can deliver significant safety benefits to patients, staff and others.
Such an appointment is also considered best practice and allows healthcare providers to demonstrate that they have appropriate governance arrangements in place and that these are managed effectively.
Details of the AE role are dealt with in the Department of Health document Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 00.
What does an Authorising Engineer (Water) do?
The AE (Water) acts as an independent professional advisor to managers of healthcare property and services, providing expert advice and guidance on issues that affect water safety.
They are appointed directly by the hospital, healthcare organisation, NHS Trust or business to take responsibility for the effective management of the safety guidance recommended by the Department of Health, including HTM 04-01 which deals with the delivery of safe water supplies.
Our Authorising Engineers (Water) would typically provide technical support and expert advice in the following areas although this can be tailored to meet specific client requirements:
Expert AE (Water) services for hospitals and healthcare
Legionella Control International is the UK’s leading commercial water safety risk management company, expert in the delivery of practical, cost effective water safety solutions for the control of waterborne pathogens, including Legionella and Pseudomonas in hospital and healthcare environments.
Our experienced Authorising Engineers (Water) and healthcare water safety specialists have the in-depth knowledge, skills and competence to support managers of healthcare property and services, helping them to meet their regulatory compliance obligations, maintain water quality standards, and deliver safe water supplies to patients, staff and others.
We are members of the Legionella Control Association (LCA) and The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS), and our quality management systems and environmental processes are accredited by the British Standards Institution to meet the latest ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 standards.
World-leading healthcare water safety specialists
Rated highly by our clients, we work closely with hospitals, healthcare organisations, NHS Trusts, and estates and facilities management specialists, helping them to meet their social, insurance and legal obligations in this specialist area of health and safety management.
With offices in Manchester, London and Glasgow, supported by in-field consultants, engineers and technicians we can offer world-class water safety solutions to organisations throughout the UK and internationally.
If you would like to learn more about our expert AE (Water) and other water safety management solutions please contact us today.
Our experts can quickly help you develop practical plans that keep people safe, protect your organisations reputation and demonstrate to the regulators and other important stakeholders that you are taking appropriate measures to manage the risks in your organisation.
To speak with one of our AE (Water) specialists’ call us today on 0330 223 36 86 or contact us here …
The role of the Authorising Engineer (Water) in more detail…
Water is something most of us take for granted… moreover, we expect and assume the water coming from our taps is safe to use and drink… and most often that is indeed the case.
However, larger premises, particularly those that have complex water systems such as hospitals and other healthcare facilities, may find it more challenging to preserve the safety of their water systems.
The Department of Health and Social Care document, Health Technical Memorandum 04-01: Safe water in healthcare premises illustrates what must be done to achieve safe water.
Even the most cursory read of this key document reveals how important it is to maintain proper and safe management of water systems.
Those in charge of healthcare premises take on responsibility for this role, but they often don’t possess the technical knowledge or experience of managing engineered water systems to fulfil all the steps required to do this effectively.
This is where an Authorising Engineer (Water) can step in to help, especially if you are concerned about the dangers of Legionella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other waterborne bacteria proliferating in your water systems.
The role of an Authorising Engineer
The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM) uses an appropriate description:
An Authorising Engineer (AE) is an independent engineer or other appropriately experienced and qualified individual appointed to take responsibility for the effective management of the safety guidance recommended by the Department of Health.
An Authorising Engineer (Water) should therefore have the required experience and qualifications to ensure all relevant safety guidance relating to a water system is adhered to.
It’s important to understand that the AE Water acts independently of the Trust, business or company they are appointed to assist.
They act in an advisory role and will provide ongoing expert guidance and management support to ensure the water systems are safely managed and maintained.
If a new water system is to be installed, the AE Water will provide support and advice on how to maintain a high level of safety in that system.
They will also assess the management processes that surround the operation of the existing water systems and make recommendations for improving quality where they believe it is necessary.
They will also complete an annual audit of the system.
The AE will also assist in the development, implementation and management of the Water Safety Plan (WSP) in accordance with current legislation and health and safety recommendations.
As such, the AE (Water) forms an essential part of the Water Safety Group and their skills should not be underestimated.
What are the benefits of appointing an Authorising Engineer (Water)?
Peace of mind must surely be the most important benefit of appointing a suitably competent Authorising Engineer (Water).
It will also allow healthcare providers to demonstrate to other stakeholders that they have appropriate governance arrangements in place and that they are managed effectively.
While the Department of Health’s Health Technical Memorandum HTM 00: Policies and principles of healthcare engineering, and the HTM 04-01: Safe water in healthcare premises can easily be sourced and read, many people who are unfamiliar with the management of engineered water systems would find the content complex.
When you appoint one of Legionella Control Internationals competent Authorising Engineers (Water), you can take confidence in the knowledge that you are hiring someone who is suitably qualified and experienced to support your organisation in the delivery of safe water supplies.
What does the role involve?
As you can see, appointing an experienced AE (Water) to step into this important role is of paramount importance.
Their role is an independent, supportive one and it makes it so much easier for you to be sure you are fully complying with all current legislation regarding water safety.
The more complex your water system is, the more benefit can be gleaned from hiring an Authorising Engineer.
While all water systems should keep bacteria at safe levels (such as legionella, for example), the task becomes more difficult to achieve when the water system grows in scale and complexity.
An Authorising Engineer (Water) has the necessary technical expertise and knowledge across several fields, which means they can be sure of covering all necessary elements, risk factors, and features involved in hospital water systems.
Could your hospital or healthcare business benefit from hiring a specialist in this role?
Authorising Engineers (Water) are typically appointed to work in hospital and healthcare settings.
Many hospitals and other healthcare providers will hire someone with appropriate experience in this area to assist them in risk management relating to both hot and cold water systems on their premises.
Such premises may also include retirement homes and other locations treating or helping vulnerable or poorly patients – those who are at greater risk of picking up waterborne infections.
However, many larger businesses and business owners are now seeing the advantages of hiring someone to take on this role.
Smaller businesses and properties are much easier to manage than larger ones.
Meeting all legal and health and safety requirements when you manage a large site, several sites, or a complex water system can be challenging.
The more complex your business is (or the business you are responsible for), the more likely it is you would glean considerable benefit from hiring a qualified Authorising Engineer (Water).
Do you wish to find out more about appointing an Authorising Engineer (Water)?
If so, we can help… Legionella Control International has experienced and qualified specialists who provide their services to hospitals, healthcare organisations, major brands and businesses throughout the UK and internationally.
We offer professional water safety solutions to support managers of healthcare property and services, and those responsible for the safety of engineered water systems in hospitals.
Our experienced experts can help you manage your water facilities, meet your insurance obligations, maintain regulatory compliance and so keep people safe.
With offices in Manchester, London and Glasgow, supported by in-field consultants and technicians we can offer world-class water safety management solutions to hospitals and healthcare organisations throughout the UK and internationally.
To speak with one of our water safety specialists call us today on 0330 223 36 86 or contact us here …
Further reading
For more information about the Department of Healths HTM 00.