US regulators are increasingly spotlighting the risks posed by legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease following several high profile outbreaks there. As a result, many US based businesses will need to create a dedicated water management program to control the risks from legionella within their buildings in order to protect their workers and others from harm.
A research team from the Brunel University London has revealed there is still a notable risk of Legionnaires’ disease being contracted by the older segment of the population. While current UK regulations and guidelines covering the control of legionella do well at covering the risks posed in health and social care settings such as hospitals and care homes for the elderly, they do not go far enou
Under UK law residential landlords have responsibilities to ensure their tenants are not at risk of exposure to legionella bacteria and infection from Legionnaires’ disease. In most cases, a residential landlord renting a small domestic property will need to conduct a legionella risk assessment and nothing more – it’s unlikely there will be a need to carry out water testing. This is because
Here we briefly examine some of the issues associated with regulatory and Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance for dentists and dental practices, looking in particular at the need to carry out a legionella risk assessment to control the dangers from Legionnaires’ disease thay may come from water systems including dental waterlines and specialist equipment.
Within the UK’s NHS and other healthcare environments the Department of Health document HTM 04-01 sets out the need for the formation of a Water Safety Group (WSG). The document also defines the groups terms of reference including its role and responsibilities in relation to the delivery of safe water in healthcare premises.
Landlords, business owners, employers, and those in charge of premises, often referred to as the “duty holder” must choose one or more people to be responsible for handling risk assessments and other health and safety matters associated with the water systems found at their premises or workplace. This is to ensure the health and safety of workers, visitors and others is properly protected. Typ
From a legionella risk management perspective wet cooling towers and evaporative condensers (equipment that use water as part of the cooling process) are considered high risk for various reasons. They have the ability to create and distribute fine water sprays (called aerosols), they process water at elevated temperatures and are often exposed to the atmosphere meaning they can collect organic mat
Many people have questions concerning cooling towers and whether they need to tell their local council about them. Here, we look at how to register a cooling tower and council notification; we also provide answers to some of the more common questions from owners and operators of towers and evaporative condensers that arise.
This article considers issues around Care Quality Commission compliance for GP practices and in particular the requirement to conduct a legionella risk assessment to control Legionnaires’ disease in healthcare premises.
The UK’s Department of Health document HTM 04-01 – safe water in healthcare premises (part B), sets of the need for the formation of a team of experts referred to as the Water Safety Group or WSG. In the NHS and other healthcare environments the Water Safety Group describes a team of specialists that collectively has the responsibility for creating, implementing, and maintaining a Water Safety