LEGIONNAIRS

 

KNS BUILDING & MAINTENANCE LTD

 

Legionnaires' disease. The control of

 

legionella bacteria in water systems.

 

Approved Code of Practice and guidance

Practical advice concerning the risk from exposure as aligned to the requirements of both the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 1999. The Approved Code also gives guidance on compliance with relevant parts of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

The first covers general safety issues, such as the identification, assessment, prevention or control and management of the risk, plus matters of training and competence and good record keeping. Part 2 reflects more precise issues, including control of the bacteria in water or cooling systems, management of cooling towers, treatment programmes, monitoring, cleaning and disinfection, hot and cold water services and matters relating to system design and construction.

WHEN COLD WATER SYSTEM IS INSTALLED, IT HAS TO BE SAFE FROM ABOVE LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE, INSTALLATIONS OF ANY KIND OF COLD WATER SYSTEM SUCH AS;

TAPS WATER SYSTEMS

BATHROOM

WASHING MACHINE

DISHWASHER

 

GARDEN TAPS IS HIGH RISK AREA WHERE GROUND WATER COULD MAKE ENTRY IF IT IS NOT INSTALLED ACCORDING TO THE

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 1999

 

 

 

 

 SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE  LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE

 

Your responsibility Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, owners and operators of all commercial premises (including schools, retirement homes, social housing, health care, offices, prisons, MOD sites, hotels, ETC) have a statutory duty to control the risk of legionella bacteria in water systems (hot and cold services, spar baths, cooling towers etc)

Owners and operators of buildings are required to:

  • Identify and assess the sources of risk
  • Prepare a scheme for preventing or controlling the risk
  • Appoint a person to be managerially responsible
  • Implement and manage precautions
  • Keep records of the precautions implemented

 

Overview - Legionella Risk Assessment

 

Legionella is a progressive and potentially fatal atypical pneumonia caused by the inhalation of water aerosols containing Legionella bacteria, deep into the lung. The onset is relatively abrupt with high fever, a membrane covering the lungs (pleurisy) etc, and in some cases death.

Legionella bacteria form in hot and cold water systems such as plumbing, shower heads, water storage tanks and cooling towers.  

An average of 250 cases of legionnaires disease are reported each year in the UK. It is estimated that about 12% of those who contract it will die. Those who survive may never fully recover

 

 

 

 

 

For the water system ongoing monitoring may be suggested.