Part 1 – AE[W] and the Water Safety Group

Before we can discuss the uses and benefits of an independent water safety audit, it’s important to understand what one is and what it entails. An independent water safety audit completed by an Authorising Engineer [Water] is not to be feared but to be welcomed as a measure to promote compliance within an organisation. 

In this blog we will discuss; what TMVs are, why they are required, when they should be indicated for use and the risks associated with their use or non-use…

To best understand the ‘summer risk’ in relation to the incidence of Legionnaires’ disease, it’s useful to refer to the Legionella surveillance reports issued by Public Health England (PHE), which succinctly summarise the monthly position (total reported and total confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease) whilst offering year-on-year comparison data. 

This picture was taken by one of our Legionella risk assessors (albeit not recently), but is a ‘favourite’ of the Water Hygiene Centre

Installation of expansion vessels - Do you like how the job has been completed?

Legionella pneumophila bacteria was identified after the American Legion held its annual three-day convention.  Within a few weeks of the convention closing 211 of the attendees had contracted a disease from the cooling tower.  This bacteria was later named Legionella pneumophila. 

Hotel water systems may be large, complex or aging or a combination of all three and this can make them susceptible to colonisation by microorganisms including Legionella bacteria, the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease.

There is a requirement for all building managers to ensure the safety of the public and employees so far as reasonably practicable. This requirement is set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002, the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice: “Legionnaires’ disease, the control of legionella bacteria in water systems” L8 2013, the associated HSG274 Technical Guidance Part 2: “The control of legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems” 2014 and the Department of Health’s HTM 04-01 “Safe Water in Healthcare Premises” Parts A, B and C, 2016.

Mungo Jerry may have been a fantastic pop artiste, but I’d wager that he wasn’t aware of the hidden dangers lurking in our summer water fountains?...

There is no finer time than the summer for taking a walk and enjoying the local scenery. If you are lucky, you may have a water fountain or water feature to take in and enjoy, but are there any potential risks to something so simple and seemingly innocuous? The short answer is, Yes!

Following our recent blog ‘Top Five Ways to Tackle Legionnaires’ Disease in Hotels & other Tourist Accommodation’, we look at the prevalence on Legionnaires’ disease in the hotel industry and the underlying reasons for the increasing number of travel related cases.