A DIY warehouse at the centre of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in 2012 is to be charged with manslaughter, it has been decided. A total of 21 people fell ill after visiting the warehouse, three of whom died. The warehouse, based in Stoke-on-Trent, had hot tubs on display that had not been properly cleaned or treated.
A biofilm may sound like something you buy, perhaps to help in experiments with bacterial growth, but in reality the truth is somewhat different. A biofilm consists of a layer of microorganisms that adhere to one another. Together they form a protective layer that encapsulates colonies of bacteria inside the outer shell. Biofilms typically attach to hard surfaces and can be very difficult to remov
In cases where an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease has occurred, it is very often traced back to a facility or location where insufficient work has been done to manage the risks posed by Legionella bacteria. In the UK every business must be sure the risks are identified and managed in accordance with legislation which includes the Health & Safety Executives ACOP L8. As such, there should be
If you are responsible for monitoring, managing and controlling the presence of Legionella at your business or place of work, it is vital to make sure you have the right training, sufficient budget and compliance tools at your disposal. This will ensure the Legionella testing, monitoring and compliance tasks you must perform are as efficient and effective as possible.
Are letting agents getting it wrong regarding landlords’ Legionella responsibilities? It would seem so, according to a report issued on the UK’s Health & Safety Executive website. It would appear that some letting agents and property management consultants assume far more must be done in this sector than is actually required by law.
For landlords and business owners, there is a requirement to assess whether or not any risks are present in relation to Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease from their water systems. In some cases, the risks may be minimal and no steps may need to be taken to deal with them. However, even if this is the case, a Legionella risk assessment should always be undertaken. Proper records shoul
Testing and regularly monitoring cold water temperatures to ensure the water remains at a temperature of less than 20°C is an important legionella risk management task. Find out how to do it with this short video.
If an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever is suspected, it is of paramount importance to obtain a definitive diagnosis in all those who may have fallen ill. To do this there are a number of preferred tests that are used to assist in the identification and diagnosis and these include the urinary antigen test, but also obtaining cultures, usually from the patients mucus to determine
According to the UK’s NHS, Legionnaires’ disease cannot be spread from one person to another. Instead, it is caused by inhaling droplets of water that have been contaminated with Legionella bacteria. However, a recent case identified in Portugal bucks that trend
Do you have responsibility for the control of a particular building or facility, either as a manager, an employer, property owner or a landlord? If you do then the UK’s Health & Safety Executive will often refer to you as the duty holder, and you may well have a legal duty to identify and manage any risks that are associated with Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease at that facility.