Why has there been such a steady increase in the number of cases and what is set to be done in order to turn this around?

There are many reasons that could contribute to this, but much of it is down to poor maintenance processes within organisations. HBI investigates how this can be true in this day and age.

There is a host of legislation that you need to comply with as an employer, namely the Health and Safety at Work Order 1978 (HSWA) and Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (COSHH) include for the risk from hazardous micro-organisms including Legionella. Furthermore there is also an Approved Code of Practice and Guidance L8 covering the control of Legionella bacteria in water systems. This legislation sets out the statutory requirements for dealing with such risks for all organisations and in order to comply with their legal duties, employers and those with responsibility for the premises need to identify and assess the sources of risk through a competent body.

Many believe that it is enough to assess the risk, but this is not true as many reputable organisations have found to their peril. You also need to manage the risk through proactive control and maintenance programmes.

Recent incidents such as that of a Northern Ireland Council run leisure centre and an Allianz office in Dublin have highlighted the necessity for monitoring and control.

In the leisure centre, bacterium that causes legionnaires disease were discovered through a routine water safety check.  HBI were able to respond immediately with their local specialist team. Through swift action we were able to quantify the extent of the contamination and disinfect the necessary areas.

However in the Dublin Allianz offices, Legionella bacteria were detected in a cooling tower, used as part of the company's air conditioning system. Unfortunately two insurance workers were hospitalised after contracting the disease, with a further nineteen employees seeking medical advice.

Legionnaires disease is a form of pneumonia, most often contracted by inhaling mist from water sources, which can affect anybody, but which principally affects those who are susceptible because of age, illness, immunosuppression, smoking etc.

It is caused by bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria usually found in enviromental water sources, which may also be found in purpose build water systems such as cooling towers, hot water systems, evaporative condensers, showers and whirlpool spas.

If your organisation has undertaken a legionella risk assessement but you do not have a monitoring programme in place, you may be at risk. Call us today to see how we can help you provide a healthy and safe environment for your employees and visitors.