Many people have heard of Legionnaires’ disease but may be unfamiliar with the condition known as Pontiac fever. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious illness caused by Legionella bacteria, and it has a fatality rate of around 5% to 30%, according to data gleaned from outbreaks from around the world.
When dead legs are found in water systems they can present a significant risk to people as they encourage the stagnation of water and the growth of potentially dangerous bacteria.
A fatal case of Legionnaires’ disease at an Essex care home in 2015 has resulted in a £3 million fine for BUPA after the Health and Safety Executive prosecuted the company for a series of management failings.
From our conveniently located training centre in central London students can develop the skills and competence to meet their legionella management responsibilities with confidence. Each of our courses has been developed to satisfy the requirements of the Health & Safety Executives ACOP L8, HSG274 and Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards in this important area of safety management.
In June 2017, a memorandum was issued by the USA’s Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, and Survey and Certification Group (CMS), concerning the requirement to reduce the risk of legionella spreading through water systems in US hospitals and healthcare facilities (memo reference S&C 17-30).
A UK car parts manufacturer based in South Tyneside has received a seven-figure fine following two major incidents at the plant inside a 12-month period. The Health and Safety Executive conducted an investigation into the company following an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease and an explosion that occurred within the same period.
How much do you know about Legionnaires’ disease? Many people are aware it is a disease caused by Legionella bacteria – one that attacks the lungs. As such, it can present much like the flu to start with, which means some cases are not identified as Legionnaires’ disease until after the infection has taken hold.
Mycobacteria are a group of rod-shaped bacteria that can cause several diseases in humans including tuberculosis and leprosy. Around 20 of the 90 known species can cause illness. The bacteria are not believed to spread from one person to another; rather, they are thought to spread via environmental means. This is particularly notable in non-tuberculosis mycobacteria, or NTM for short.
As awareness of the benefits of good hygiene, and in particular hand hygiene has increased in hospitals and other healthcare environments we have seen a corresponding rise in the number of sinks available for staff, patients and visitors.
In this article we consider whether businesses and other organisations can insure themselves against the commercial consequences resulting from an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. If you’ve never considered it then perhaps you should think again – especially when you look at the potential for loss of business, loss of reputation and personal injury compensation claims that could be levelle