Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of pneumonia which infects the lungs.
Every year a significant number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease are reported, many resulting in long illnesses or even deaths.
It’s a potentially fatal disease that is not going away and could even be on the rise.
The disease is a type of pneumonia which can prove fatal to people who are likely to be more susceptible to its effects – the elderly, people with lung conditions, people with weakened immune systems and anyone who drinks or smokes heavily.
Every business needs to understand and carry out their legal duties regarding the control of legionella – the bacterium that causes Legionnaire’s disease, a lung infection that can be fatal.
A Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA) is an essential water hygiene management procedure to identify potential risks and ensure the safety and compliance of engineered water systems in the workplace.
UK Health and Safety legislation, as outlined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), requires that all employers consider the risks of Legionella and take the appropriate precautions.
For many companies this will involve procuring the services of a certified water hygiene company that can provide an unbiased appraisal of the water quality risks.
Given the right combination of environmental conditions, any natural or man-made water system has the potential to become a breeding ground for Legionella growth.
The health risks associated with Legionella bacteria are significantly heightened in areas where water is stored or recirculated, where the water temperature is between 20 and 45C, where there is the possibility of breathable water droplets being spread in the form of aerosols, or where there is a ready source of nutrients (sludge, bio-films, organic matter etc) in which the bacteria can thrive.
WCS Group have launched a revised and expanded Legionella awareness training programme for 2019. Choose from on-site or public WCS Group courses and IOSH and Ofqual accredited courses.
WCS Group's certified partner, Hevasure, has scooped Ancillary Product of the Year at this year’s HVR Awards.
The system provides valuable real-time data and analysis on closed system water condition and revolutionises water system management by continuously monitoring the conditions than can cause corrosion before any damage occurs.
If you are an employer, landlord or premises manager then you need to be aware of the health risks associated with Legionella and of your legal responsibilities in assessing, identifying and managing that risk.
This blog post explores the key features and risks of Legionella, the potential impact of Legionella bacterium on industrial water systems and the steps to take to ensure that your company is compliant.
A South Tyneside car parts manufacturer has been fined £800,000 after a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak occurred at a plant following an HSE investigation and prosecution. Five people fell seriously ill following the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.
Newcastle Crown Court was told that between October 2014 and June 2015, two employees, two agency workers and a local resident fell seriously ill with Legionnaires’ Disease.
WCS Group, the water treatment division of Marlowe plc’s Critical Services Group, has been awarded a contract to deliver water hygiene, treatment, Legionella Control, remedial major plumbing works, system control and training for 128 sites across the UK.
