WHAT IS LEGIONELLA?
. Legionnaire’s disease is a potentially fatal pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.
. Infection is caused by breathing in small droplets of water contaminated by the bacteria.
WHERE IS IT FOUND?
. Since Legionella are widespread in the environment, they may contaminate and grow in other water systems such as cooling towers and hot and cold water services.
. They survive low temperatures and thrive at temperatures between 20°C -45°C if the conditions are right, e.g. if a supply of nutrients is present such as rust, sludge, scale, algae and other bacteria.
DUTIES UNDER THE LAW
Under general health & safety law, companies must consider the risks from Legionella that may affect staff or members of the public and take suitable precautions. As an employer or a person in control of the premises (e.g. a landlord), you must;
. Identify and assess sources of risk
. Prepare a scheme (or course of action) for preventing or controlling the risk
. Implement and manage the scheme, appointing a person to be managerially responsible, some-times referred to as the ‘responsible person’
. Keep records and check that what has been done is effective
. If appropriate, notify the local authority that you have a cooling tower
ASSESSING THE RISK
This is where Eagle FM can identify any risk which cannot be prevented.
.Sampling and testing for the presence of Legionella bacteria is one way of checking that the system is under control. But it is not a simple test sampling and detecting Legionella requires using a specialist laboratory.
The greatest economies are those gained from the trust built over a long term sustainable relationship. |
