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
Public Health England (PHE) is reporting on an increase in people who have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, a serious lung infection, following their return from the town of Palmanova in Majorca, Spain. This popular holiday resort is located around 20 minutes away from the nearest airport, offering great beaches and many local attractions.
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
A recent spate of cases concerning patients throughout the EU presenting with Legionnaires’ disease has led to a link between these cases and recent travel to Dubai, UAE. While the number of cases presenting is still very small, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has highlighted the link in a recent epidemiological update issued on their website.
A 63-year-old man who died from Legionnaires’ disease in February this year appears to have contracted it via his garden hosepipe. Stephen Clements began developing flu-like symptoms shortly after using the hosepipe in his garden. He had used the hosepipe earlier in the year, and hadn’t emptied the hose once he had finished using it. It appears the hose sat in the sun for a time, with water st
A guest who stayed at The Feathers Hotel in Ludlow, Shropshire in July has been confirmed to have died from Legionnaires’ disease, according to recent news reports. She is thought to have been in her sixties, and a resident of Merseyside, and passed away in the middle of August. This follows another case of Legionnaires’ disease suffered by another guest of the same hotel earlier in the year.
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.
There is nothing quite like a steaming-hot shower to perk you up in the morning or to leave you feeling refreshed last thing at night. But if you thought your shower was a clean and safe haven of tranquillity, think again. Chances are, it could be a breeding ground for deadly bacteria and you may not even realise it.