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Control of Legionella Bacteria PDF
Control of Legionella Bacteria PDF
Control of Legionella Bacteria PDF
WATER SYSTEMS
FOR
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the statutory instrument that underwrites and
legally enforces HSC L8 (2000).
SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTATION
C.I.B.S.E. TM13 (2000) this Technical Memoranda offers collective advice on how to
minimise the risk of Legionnaires disease from engineering services in buildings and
complements and enhances HSC L8 (2000).
SPECIFICATION
• HSC L8 (2000)
A suitable and sufficient assessment should be carried out to identify and assess the
risk of Legionellosis from work activities and water sources on the premises and any
necessary precautionary measures.
a) The risk to health, ie whether the potential for harm to health from exposure is
reasonably foreseeable unless adequate precautionary measures are taken.
b) What measures for prevention, or adequate control to minimise the risk from
exposure to legionella, should be taken.
INTRODUCTION
The procedure for the control of Legionella bacteria in water systems within University
of Bradford buildings and properties shall be in accordance with the Approved Code of
Practice HSC L8 (2000). This document has special legal status and should be
considered as law.
Legionellosis is the term used for infections caused by Legionella pneumophila and
other bacteria from the family of Legionellaceae. Legionnaires disease principally
affects those who are susceptible due to age, illness, immunosuppressant, smoking etc
and in some circumstances may be fatal. Legionella is widespread in natural sources of
water.
The majority of the University of Bradford properties house some form of water storage
system which is susceptible to bacteria, therefore deeming it necessary to have
procedures to minimise the risk of Legionellosis.
• The Director of Estates and Facilities is the designated person responsible for
ensuring the identification and assessment of a risk programme for the
prevention of Legionellosis and is the budget holder for the Department. The
Director of Estates and Facilities shall have the co-operation of all University staff
in controlling the risk of legionella.
Deputy Director: Deputy Duty and budget holder health & safety manager.
Estates Manager Engineering and Building: Operation, design/ capital works and
compliance manager.
• The Water Quality Technician has day-to-day responsibility for the management
of the computerised database ensuring all information is up-to-date and
maintained in orderly manner. Taking and recording temperatures and inputting
them into the database. Checking and investigating exceptions. Undertaking
routine activities including flushing and cleaning items such as shower heads.
No work on water systems shall be carried out unless under of the direction/knowledge
of the Department of Estates and Facilities. This will allow the University to comply in
full with HSC L8 [2000] with constant auditing of work in progress, planned maintenance
procedures and monitoring regimes, it is essential all log books are up dated and are
current.
In the event of a LEGIONELLA POSITIVE water sample returning from the laboratory or
any untoward findings, the said reporting procedure shall be adhered to. All information
received shall be forwarded to the Director of Estates and Facilities or one of the
nominated deputies for immediate action. If no instruction has been received to carry
out remedial works within 24 hours, the request shall again be made in writing, with a
copy to the Universities Health and Safety Adviser and to the Director of Estates and
Facilities or to any of the nominated deputies.
In the event of the either the Director and/or the Deputy Director of Estates the Estates
Manager (Engineering and Building) Services being unavailable, the Reporting
Procedure shall be adhered to (see Appendix)
PROPERTIES
All buildings that have water services are susceptible to colonisation by Legionella.
After the initial risk assessments, a scheme shall be established to follow the
procedures set out in L8 (2000), which shall include the following; this will vary from site
to site depending on the risk assessments. This is not an authoritative list and L8 (2000)
shall be consulted to provide a comprehensive set of actions.
The Water Risk Assessments and logbooks are computer based. Information regarding
assessments and the buildings’ logbooks are recorded and filed on this programme
which is accessible by Estates and Facilities Department. Monitoring and inspections of
water systems is recorded in the logbook and the water risk assessment is updated
following any works, alterations or subsequent re-assessments. Tight control shall be
established with the use of in-house staff. This will entail monitoring, as set out in the
individual log book/risk assessment.
In the event of a building either not used or put into “hibernation” control regimes will be
maintained until such time the building can be properly drained down and
decommissioned into a safe state. When the building is brought back into operation a
new risk assessment will be commissioned, all water services checked and chlorinated
to the standard as indentified in this document. It is incumbent on all departments and
schools to advise Estates and Facilities when buildings or parts of building are not being
used so the appropriate risk prevention can take place.
TRAINING
Lack of training and poor communication has all been identified as a contributory factor
in outbreaks of Legionella. It is the responsibility of The Department of Estates and
Facilities that all communication is properly defined and clearly set out.
Staff shall be trained to understand the need for measures to control Legionellosis and
the need for care in the recording and reporting procedure. Basic instruction on record
keeping and monitoring techniques shall be taught, with health and safety aspect in
mind. Members of staff shall be trained so that if one trained member of staff is absent
or leaves, the line of communication is unbroken, ensuring all staff are trained
adequately and have basic awareness relating to water quality and Legionnaires
disease.
Staff will be trained to carry out the following basic tasks of:
It is essential that “the responsible person” ensures the continuous auditing of all log
books and the monitoring of all risk assessments is being carried out.
After all risk assessments have been completed and the monitoring programme is
established, the records shall be continually updated in accordance with the programme
for the individual building and all documentation shall be kept in an accessible location
for auditing. The Risk Assessment and logbook will be reviewed a minimum of once
every two years.
DISINFECTION
i) New installations before being taken into use to remove contamination which
may have occurred during construction
ii) If a routine inspection shows it to be necessary
iii) If the system or part of it has been substantially altered or entered for
maintenance purposes in a manner that may lead to contamination
iv) Following an outbreak or suspected outbreak of legionellosis or any other water
borne infection/disease.
AT
UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD
SCHEME
The scheme shall consist of a risk assessment for the control of Legionella in water
systems in identified properties.
a) ASSESSMENT
b) DISCRETION
c) WATER SAMPLES
Total Viable Cell Counts and/or Legionella samples shall be taken if during either
the risk assessment or routine inspection of the condition of the water service
gives rise to concern. The contractor shall obtain two 1litre water samples in a
sterile container, one from the hot water distribution system and one from the
cold-water distribution system. The samples to be sent away to an independent
UKAS accredited laboratory for analysis, within 24 hours.
e) MONITORING/AUDITING REGIME
Estates and Facilities personnel competent to do so can carry out the weekly,
monthly, and quarterly monitoring regimes in-house. However, water-sampling
and the tasks requiring engineering skills shall be done by an approved and
competent contractor.
v) Date of assessment
vi) Schematic drawing of water storage tanks and associated pipe work
Photographs shall be taken during a risk assessment, to highlight any pipe work
defects, condition of water storage cisterns, calorifiers, evaporative humidifiers ,
showers etc.