FAQ’s

What is Legionnaires Disease?

Legionnaires’ disease, a lung infection (pneumonia) is one of the risks to the workers’ health. The risk of catching Legionnaires’ disease may be small compared to other life threatening pneumonias or other daily hazards but it should be addressed with as much urgency and seriousness. The source of the infection could be any system that generates an aerosol including cooling towers, air conditioning humidifiers, spa baths, showers, irrigation systems to name but a few. It is a legal requirement within the UK to have a Legionella risk assessment of all water systems.

Legionnaires Disease acquired its name after an outbreak of a then-unknown “mystery disease” sickened 221 persons, causing 34 deaths. The outbreak was first noticed among people attending a convention of the American Legion—an association of U.S. military veterans. The convention occurred in Philadelphia during the U.S. Bicentennial year in July 21–24, 1976.  Further investigation following the ‘mysterious illness’ identified a then unknown bacteria as the causative agent and Legionella bacteria was discovered named a

What is Legionella?

Legionella is the bacterium which causes legionnaires disease. The genus Legionella is a pathogenic group of Gram-negative bacteria that includes the species L. pneumophila, causing legionellosis (all illnesses caused by Legionella) including a pneumonia-type illness called Legionnaires’ disease and a mild flu-like illness called Pontiac fever.

These bacteria, however, are not transmissible from person to person to become infected a person must be exposed to the bacteria at source

What is a Legionella Risk Assessment and do I need one?

All commercial buildings and places of work require a Legioenlla risk assessment to determine the buildings water systems are safe to use and free from potential harm of exposure to Legionella bacteria.

A Legionella Risk assessment is the starting point to identify risks from any buildings water services and how it performs in relation to the risk of Legionella bacteria being able to grow , proliferate and the potential exposure to the building users.

What are the most efficient ways of treating Legionella?

Temperature control is the most efficient way to manage Legionella activity and by keeping water systems at less than 20oC and above 60oC Legionella bacteria is unlikely to grow and proliferate. Legionella is also commonly produced from stagnant water, which enhances Legionella growth. To reduce the risk of Legionella in a water system it is essential to maintain regular Legionella compliance monitoring services to prevent and manage the growth of Legionella. Ways to keep water from stagnating can be removing dead legs in pipework, testing and flushing, cleaning, descaling and disinfecting used outlets like taps and showers. The tasks required will need to be on a regular basis often carried out annually, six monthly, quarterly,monthly and even weekly flushing, this will ensure the reduced risk of Legionella in the water system.

What are the regulations and legislation that govern Legionella Control?

The two main pieces of legislation are the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation (1994). Companies that fail to comply with government guidance may be prosecuted under either of these legislation.

Guidance on how to comply with the above legislation is issued under the H&S guidance ACoP L8 and HSG274.

Who is most at risk from Legionella at the workplace?

Generally speaking though, those who smoke, drink excessively, are overweight, and anyone with an underlying illness that affects their immune system may be more at risk.

What happens when an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease occurs?

An outbreak is defined as two or more confirmed cases of legionellosis occurring in the same locality.

.It is the responsibility of the Proper Officer for the declaration of an outbreak. The Proper officer is usually a Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC). In Scotland, it is the Consultant in Public Health Medicine (CPHM).

Local authorities will have established incident plans to investigate major outbreaks of infectious disease including legionellosis. These are activated by the Proper Officer who invokes an outbreak Committee, whose primary purpose is to protect public health, and prevent further infection. This will normally be set up to manage the incident and will involve representatives of all the agencies involved

The local authority, CCDC or EHO acting on their behalf may make a site visit and request the shutting down of any processes which are capable of generating and disseminating airborne water droplets. They may take water samples and issue an improvement or prohibition notice..