Legionnaires’ disease – The hidden killer
in water systems
Managing the Risk
presented by Karl Collingwood
Wednesday 26 February 2014
Course Content
Types of water systems affected
and problem areas of systems
Role of water management companies
Competency and training
Your site - small to medium businesses
Introduction
 My Objectives
 Explain enough for you to understand the general
risk on your sites
 Encourage you to take legionella control seriously
 Assist you to reach the required standard = risk
minimised to protect you and your position
Types of water system affected
 Process water – industrial, manufacturing
 Cooling towers – foundries, refrigeration
 Domestic - for kitchens and bathrooms – have
stored cold water, stored hot water or direct fed
 Leisure – spa pools
 Spray formation – showers, spray taps, garden
sprinklers, pressure washers, misting systems
Cooling towers
Cooling towers
Cooling towers
Cooling Tower is a high risk system
Cold Water Storage Tanks
CWST inside – dirty, a glass of water to
drink?
Dodgy hot water systems
Grubby shower heads
Scale and biofilm on tap heads
Spa pools, hot tubs, whirlpool baths
Role of water management companies
 Carry out Legionella Risk Assessments
 Produce (written) scheme of control
 Produce technical (schematic) drawings
 Give advice on compliance, risk reduction
 Audit whole programme – especially records
 Provide training
 Supply water treatment chemicals
 ONLY SITE TAKES LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
Competency - provider
 There are no required qualifications
 ‘Qualifications’ are 99% attendance courses with a
badge and simple assessment
 Beware firms & people with no proper history in
the industry – avoid slick marketing, cheap quotes
 Ask for evidence of competency, CV, probing
questions, put them under pressure
 Ask for training record of individual from legionella
control (water management) firm
Competency & Training client
 You and your staff
 Training – seek good quality, purposeful – what are
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course objectives? who is teaching?
Providers - contact testimonials authors – ensure
genuine
3 months after training review staff competency
Check Legionella Control Association website
www.legionellacontrol.org.uk
Small and Medium sized businesses
 Water system design, installation, operation –
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outdated, oversized, incorrectly used
Lack of knowledge – no idea tanks in lofts, where is
the hot water cylinder?
Temperature set at 37°C – ideal for legionella
Other problems – corroding tanks, overflow pipes
disconnected, tanks fed outlet used for drinking
Attitude – there is no problem, not doing it !
How are problems solved?
 Change attitudes by education & information
 It is a legal requirement – to protect everyone
 It is low cost – compared to not doing it
 Understand it is all about prevention
 Advice on system design, installation, operation
 Training for site staff – legionella awareness
 Have a programme, LRA & annual review
 Think of it as an insurance policy
To do list !
 Water management companies should provide
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services as agreed to required standards.
Act in best interests of clients
Businesses should
Choose a supplier carefully
Listen to their providers advice
Action the recommendations
Keep on top of legionella control e.g. annual review
Recap
 Legionella Control is about sensibly managing the
risk from water systems
 Water management companies help clients comply
with the laws thereby protecting your business,
staff, customers & general public
 Business owners should accept their legal
responsibilities, implement a programme and
manage on an ongoing basis