5 Reasons your Legionella Control Scheme May Not Be Working

While you may believe that you have drawn on enough protocol, procedure and indeed, practice (and instigated all the pre-requisitional means and methodology) to facilitate what you understand to be a far-reaching plan of action for proactively discouraging the prospect of the bacteria which causes legionella from gaining a foothold in your company’s water systems, in truth you may still – unwittingly – find yourself vulnerable to the virtually unseen threat posed by the potentially deadly water-borne bug. It’s all very well imposing and implementing what you understand to be the necessary control schemes (and mechanisms for management) for perceivably preventing the risk of exposure to legionella in the workplace (or other places where the general public gather), yet ultimately the measures you’ve already adopted may be falling some way short of affording all parties the safeguards which are imperative when considering – and subsequently, ensuring – the health and wellbeing of employees’/public when in certain scenarios. In terms of highlighting just when and where you may be failing, we have compiled an ‘At-a-Glance’ 5-point summary which flags up the typical flaws some businesses discover in their otherwise well-meaning and intentionally executed plans. Hopefully this mini guide will serve to raise awareness as to why, and how the steps that are already keenly and routinely followed hitherto, might figure in the eventual shortcomings we aim to uncover.

If there’s one element which beyond anything else is regarded as pivotal in the continued fight against the spectre of legionella, then it’s arguably the focus on water hygiene. As we’ve always gone to lengths to stress, legionella can grow and multiply in building water systems if not properly monitored and treated by appropriate means. If the bacteria does get the opportunity to take hold then the stored water found in tanks, boilers and pipework can become contaminated, and which in turn can then come into contact with people. This tends to manifest and spread if and when the bacteria-infiltrated water is inhaled by innocent parties, courtesy of breathing in small droplets of said compromised and therein, impure water. Going into greater detail, there might also be a problem should water be stored – or re-circulated – as part of the essential construct of a water system. Likewise, if the water temperature is consistently between 20–45 °C, and/or if deposits that can support bacterial growth (think rust, sludge, scale and organic matter) are present, then the danger posed by legionella could be imminent.

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Beneath we seek to examine the more common ways in which company’s either don’t do enough to combat the likelihood of legionella forming and distributing, or perhaps focus their attentions on the wrong areas. By exploring these and determining ways in which to improve existing practices re: legionella control and prevention, businesses and public services can offer more fastidious ways in which to shield individuals from the underlying risk.

Here are 5 signs that your legionella control scheme may not be working:

1. As we touched on above, in the event that sediment should be given the opportunity to build-up in cold water storage tanks, then action should be immediately taken. This is because sediment present could be indicative of the tank requiring corrective works; or alternatively, that the owners need to be chlorinating the tank on an annual basis to guard against such accumulations occurring.
2. A notable absence of a dedicated responsible individual/tasked person/employee who has volunteered/been charged/nominated to manage the on-site legionella control, on behalf of a company/business/organisation where water is habitually stored. Combined with, or in separate cases an individual not benefitting from sufficient knowledge or specific legionella awareness training.
3. Glaring lack of records, or discrepancies when it comes to compilation of recent/most up-to-date monitoring facts and figures; and with direct reference to legionella monitoring per se. Effectively no perceivable way of ascertaining whether or not regular checks are/have been accurately performed and committed to associated files.
4. If/when stored water temperatures (hot or cold) don’t fall within the recommended range. As is already established, the legionella bacteria has the perfect conditions in which to flourish and spread when temperatures in water are found to be between 20 - 45°C, and nutrients are readily available to help propagate. Conversely the bacterium is dormant in water temperatures beneath 20°C and do not survive above 60°C. Bear in mind that resourceful temperature monitoring is only effective if action is taken when temperatures are observed as being out of the correct spectrum.
5. A positive legionella sample result is the one way of proving that the bacteria is a clear and present danger, and the most tried and tested (and ultimately most successful) means of achieving this is by carrying out a legionella risk assessment. It’s this – and this alone – which will identify any potential risk, and therein determine what degree of action needs to be implemented then and there. In terms of undertaking a legionella risk assessment, it’s best to arrange this through specialist organisations and companies who are experienced in the process. They will endeavour to understand your water systems, the equipment associated with the system (like pumps, heat exchangers, showers, etc) and its constituent parts. Once equipped with this basic information they can then identify whether said assemblages are likely to create a risk from exposure to legionella.

Are you unsure on how to take the first steps to legionella compliance? Check out our free guide on legionella compliance and ensure you are following the correct steps in controlling and preventing the risk of legionella.