Preventing Legionella
Understanding and Managing the Risks Associated with Legionella
If you're an employer, property manager, or landlord, it's essential to be aware of the health risks presented by legionella. This guide aims to provide information to help you manage and mitigate these risks effectively.
The responsibilities surrounding health and safety include addressing risks stemming from legionella bacteria that could arise due to certain work activities. There are broad frameworks and specific regulations that guide actions to assess, prevent, or control the risk from bacteria like legionella and take appropriate precautions. Following these guidelines and best practices will ensure you manage and control risks associated with water systems.
Roles and Responsibilities
As a person in charge of any establishment or property, you bear the responsibility for ensuring health and safety. As such, you must:
Identify and evaluate sources of risk.
Manage identified risks.
Introduce measures to prevent or control these risks.
Maintain accurate records.
Fulfill any additional duties pertinent to the control of legionella.
Identifying and Evaluating Risk Sources
The first step in managing the risk of legionella is carrying out a comprehensive risk assessment. While you might be capable of doing this on your own, it might also be beneficial to seek expertise from within or outside your organization.
Understanding your water systems and associated equipment is essential. Identify components that might pose a risk from exposure to legionella, such as:
Water temperature ranging between 20–45 °C.
Stagnant or recirculated water.
Presence of nutrients like rust, sludge, organic matter, or biofilms.
Conditions that promote bacterial growth.
Potential for water droplets to spread over a broad area.
Susceptibility of individuals to infection due to various reasons.
Your risk assessment should cover:
Management responsibilities.
Expertise and training of personnel.
Potential risk sources.
Prevention or control measure, which may include testing.
Regular monitoring and inspection.
Maintenance of records.
Managing the Risk
Appoint a competent individual to help you meet health and safety obligations, especially concerning legionella. This appointed person should possess the necessary authority, skills, and knowledge about the system. It's crucial to ensure clarity of roles, especially if multiple individuals are tasked with managing risks.
If you opt to employ external contractors, it remains your duty to ensure that all processes are executed to the required standards.
Prevention and Control of Risks
Initially, explore if you can prevent the risk altogether by reconsidering the type of water system in place. The primary goal is to design, maintain, and operate systems that prevent or adequately control the growth of legionella.
If prevention isn't feasible, develop a written control scheme outlining:
A description of your system.
Responsible personnel.
Safe operation guidelines.
Control measures.
Regular checks.
Some recommended measures include:
Control water spray release.
Avoid conditions that promote bacterial growth.
Prevent water stagnation.
Use materials that resist legionella growth.
Maintain system cleanliness.
Treat water appropriately.
Monitor control measures consistently.
Maintain records of actions like maintenance or repair.
Maintaining Records
For organizations with five or more employees, it's mandatory to document significant findings. This should include potential risks and steps taken to mitigate them. However, even for smaller entities, maintaining a written record is beneficial.
These records should be preserved for a duration they remain valid and for a minimum of two years thereafter. Monitoring results should be retained for at least five years.
Additional Responsibilities
If your facility houses cooling towers or evaporative condensers, you must notify the relevant local authority detailing its location and status. It's also crucial to understand and adhere to any local regulations or guidelines pertaining to these systems.
Furthermore, any instance of legionellosis in an employee working with systems likely contaminated with legionella should be reported as per local disease reporting guidelines.
In summary, understanding and managing the risks associated with legionella is vital for the health and safety of all individuals within a facility. Regular risk assessments, preventive measures, and vigilant monitoring are key to ensuring a safe environment.