Our legionella risk assessment checklist is designed to help the responsible person audit the arrangements in place to control legionella in the water systems in their premises. The audit provides a very useful check on the responsible persons knowledge of the systems under their control. Additionally it also checks the knowledge of those who play a role in controlling the risks from the system, t
In the UK if you are a business owner, or you manage premises for someone else, you are required by law to assess that business or premises to see whether there is a risk of legionella contamination in your water systems… and your starting point for this would be a Legionnaires risk assessment. However, you might be surprised to learn that some businesses and industries have a greater risk than
Legionella bacteria exists naturally in many water sources. However, numbers are small in nature, and the biggest danger to humans tends to come from hot and cold water systems, cooling towers and other water systems that are inadequately maintained or managed. Controlling legionella in hot and cold water, cooling towers and other water systems is essential if you are to ensure the safety of peopl
This is part one of a two-part article written to guide legionella duty holders (usually employers or people in control of premises) of their responsibilities in assessing and managing the risks connected with the presence of Legionella bacteria in man-made water systems. The bacteria can cause several illnesses in humans, and these are all referred to collectively as legionellosis. Legionnaires�
Managing legionella in water systems and the risks posed by Legionnaires’ disease is a vital consideration when conducting water safety risk assessments in any environment. Fortunately, the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides ample information and supportive advice concerning this type of risk management. But we can also learn something from the USA’s ASHRAE 188-2015 – a volunt
A 95-year-old man staying at The Willows, a care facility run by Reading Borough Council, died in 2012 after contracting Legionnaires’ disease. He was staying at The Willows for a short period while recovering from a broken leg, and was set to return home. However, he fell ill while staying there, and later died in hospital after testing positive for the legionella bacteria present in his system
In the first part of this article we examined the need to manage the risks associated with hot water and hot surfaces. We highlighted the fact that some people are at greater risk than others to the dangers such high temperatures can pose. We also explored the need to manage the legionella risk that can come from water systems and how water temperature is often used as a control mechanism.
As the risks associated with legionella continues to rise around the world, experts Legionella Control have launched a new course that could help companies save money and maintain compliance. Using their in-depth insight, the company is offering ten practical training modules covering water safety monitoring and maintenance for water systems that firms will be able to sign existing members of staf
The overwhelming majority of hotels will never experience an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. However, the only true way for hotel managers and their staff to prevent such an outbreak is by understanding how it may happen, what the disease is, and how Legionella bacteria can be prevented from spreading in a hospitality environment.
This short guide has been written for people managing hot and cold water systems in buildings and other facilities and gives a brief overview of where, when and how to check water temperatures and perform other routine tasks associated with the control of Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease.