What is Legionnaires Disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal disease caused by inhaling infected droplets of water. Legionella bacteria is found in nature, but particularly likes to propagate in man-made structures like showers and storage tanks.
Legionella is a natural bacteria found in ponds, rivers and lakes and can cause Legionnaires Disease if inhaled. If unchecked, the bacteria can multiply rapidly in man-made water systems, with certain conditions such as stagnation, poor temperatures and nutrient availability can promote this.
One source suggests that once infected, a susceptible person can become very ill, with a mortality rate of up to 1 in 4.
Do I need a monitoring and inspection programme?
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, the Law requires that you make efforts to ensure suitable precautions are taken to mitigate the risk of exposure to legionella ‘so far as reasonably practicable’.
Failure to address issues might not only put you at risk, but also employees, tenants, customers and the general public. In some cases you could find yourself violating the Law and multiple Regulations, and you could be liable for enforcement action by the HSE or Local Authority and even prosecuted.
So yes. You need to plan how to address the threat and AquaTest Wales is here to help you achieve this.
How long does it take to Protect my business?
To keep the process a speedy one, we will always look to start off by reviewing your previous documents and discussing any concerns you have before visiting site, thus minimising disruption to you, your guests, employees and visitors.
Our aim is to keep the process of safeguarding your water as easy and quick as possible. As such, we will typically follow the brief overview below which shows some of the main items you must address in order to ensure compliance.
Risk Assessment
The first step in meeting Legionella compliance is to undertake a legionella risk assessment. This is your primary guidance document and will identify any potential risks from Legionella posed by your water systems.
Remedial Actions
Following your risk assessment, you might have a list of actions needed in order to bring your systems into compliance. This also proves the system starts off clean.
Monitoring
You've assessed risks, cleaned the system, now you need to demonstrate that you can keep it clean and free from bacteria by monitoring, servicing and sanitising the system per a schedule.
Record Keeping
Record keeping is a subject in which many businesses fall short of the law. From risk assessment to written scheme, the requirements to keep accurate records is paramount.
Evergreening
The need for continuous improvement is a key area the HSE will review in the event of an outbreak in the local area. We will provide a detailed review and ensure your documents remain up to date.
Training
While AquaTest Wales only provide informal training to help you prepare for formal training courses at this time, we know someone who can deliver the certificated courses you might need. We're happy to help.
AquaTest Wales Knowledge Sharing Zone
What is Legionnaires Disease?
Legionellosis is the collective name given to the pneumonia-like illness caused by legionella bacteria. This includes the most serious legionnaires’ disease, as well as the similar but less serious conditions of Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever.
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia and everyone is susceptible to infection.
Where is Legionnella bacteria found?
The bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria are common in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but usually in low numbers. Since legionella bacteria are widespread in the environment, they may also contaminate and grow in purpose-built water systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems and whirlpool spas.
Unused and poorly designed man-made water systems are considered a high risk by the HSE. In these systems, stagnant water or water stored between 20 and 45 degrees are considered to require mitigating actions.
This means that locations like holiday accommodations are particularly susceptible to allowing growth as they often have extended periods of low turnover at off-peak times. Workplace showers may also be infrequently used, and unoccupied rental properties.
Who is at risk from Legionnaires Disease and how is it caught?
Everyone is susceptible to being infected by Legionnaires disease, but some more than others and susceptibility defines how severe your symptoms would be. Those most susceptible are as follows and at much higher risk:
- People over 45 years of age.
- Smokers and heavy drinkers.
- People suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease.
- Anyone with an impaired immune system.
What are the symptoms of Legionnaires Disease?
Per the NHS webpage, symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include:
- A cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or discomfort, particularly when breathing or coughing
- A high temperature
- Flu-like symptoms
It’s been speculated that uncontrolled water systems are a reason for so many holiday guests ‘catching a cold’ shortly after a vacation. In reality it is proposed that they actually became infected while on holiday, but as ‘healthy’ people, the disease presents as nothing more than the sniffles. The issue comes when a susceptible person is exposed.
As the symptoms are so common, the disease has usually taken a strong hold in a susceptible person before any medical help is sought.
How do I control Legionnaires Disease
Good control requires a multi-stepped approach.
- Assign a responsible person to get the process started, and who takes responsibility for understanding the required steps.
- Assign a company or somebody to perform a risk assessment to identify risks and use this to develope a plan.
- Complete any remedial actions, such as cleaning and disinfection.
- Perform any Legionnella testing to prove the system is in a sanitised state.
- Monitor the systems to demonstrate the system is being maintained in a clean condition.
- Keep detailed records, or ensure your service provider does so.
- Ensure regular review of the systems and update your management plan to reflect any changes.
- Plan for any training for the responsible people and /or Duty Holder.
- Report any instance of Legionnaires Disease to the local authorities’ in accordance with RIDDOR regulations.
Who should monitor for Legionnaires Disease?
If you are responsible for a building, facility or any location where an aerosol can be generated, then you may need to take action. This includes, but is not limited to all of the following locations:
- Offices
- Residential properties (Landlords)
- Schools
- Industrial sites with safety showers, changing rooms and deluge systems etc.
- Healthcare facilities
- Social care facilities
- Hotels
- Caravan & camp sites
- Theme parks
- Village halls
- Leisure facilities such as pools and spa’s
- Holiday let properties
- Prisons
- Car washes
- Any location with showers for public use
- plus many more…