In the UK every business operating a water system must, by law, assess the risks and then put in to place and maintain suitable safety measures to protect their employees and others from the potential risks caused by legionella and Legionnaires’ disease.
No doubt you have heard the term duty holder before. But what does it mean when it’s associated with the control of legionella at your business? Not knowing the answer could leave you exposed to health and safety issues, potential prosecution… it could even jeopardise lives.
Do hosepipe bans, the use of water butts and hot weather increase the risks from Legionnaires’ disease in the garden?
Here we take a look at the impact of waterborne illnesses on US healthcare costs and consider whether there are lessons to be learned for the UK and other countries around the world.
Hot tubs present an attractive way to enjoy a dip in some refreshing water. But is that water as refreshing as you think it is? It may look inviting, but it is far from uncommon for people to experience health issues including infections and skin problems.
Recent investigations suggest 95% of UK garden water butts are contaminated with the potentially deadly Legionella bacteria.
The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Business Plan for 2018-2019 makes interesting reading from a water safety and legionella control perspective. The plan spotlights legionella as a high-consequence risk, grouped alongside fairgrounds and major construction projects.
Managing legionella risks in schools and other educational buildings is very important if you are to ensure staff, students and others are safe from the effects of Legionnaires’ disease.
For many of us, washing our car is a job to be done on the weekends. Many people wash theirs by hand using hoses, buckets, and sponges on their driveways and outside their homes. Others go to an automatic car wash to take the hard work out of the task… but are we safe?
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.