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Legionnaires’ disease

Legionnaires’ disease. What is Legionnaires’ Disease?

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Legionnaires’ disease

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  1. Legionnaires’ disease

  2. What is Legionnaires’ Disease? Legionellosis is a collective term for diseases caused by legionella bacteria including the most serious Legionnaires’ disease, as well as the similar but less serious conditions of Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever. Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia and everyone is susceptible to infection.

  3. RISK The risk increases with age but some people are at higher risk including: • people over 45 years of age • smokers and heavy drinkers • people suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease • diabetes, lung and heart disease • anyone with an impaired immune system The bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria are common in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but usually in low numbers. They may also be found in purpose-built water systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems and spa pools.

  4. Are there Legionella risks in my workplace? Any water system, with the right environmental conditions, could be a source for legionella bacteria growth. There is a reasonably foreseeable legionella risk if your water system: • has a water temperature between 20–45 °C • creates and/or spreads breathable droplets, e.g. aerosol created by a cooling tower, or water outlets • stores and/or re-circulates water • likely to contain a source of nutrients for the organism to grow, e.g. rust, sludge, scale, organic matter and biofilms • The most common sources of legionella are in man-made water systems including: • cooling tower and evaporative condensers • hot and cold water systems • spa pools

  5. Symptoms The symptoms of Legionnaires' disease are similar to the symptoms of the flu: • high temperature, feverishness and chills; • cough; • muscle pains; • headache; and leading on to • pneumonia, very occasionally • diarrhoea and signs of mental confusion • Legionnaires’ disease is not known to spread from person to person. What to do If you suspect that your illness is as a consequence of your work then you should report this to your manager, as well as your health and safety representative. There is a legal requirement for employers to report cases of Legionnaires' disease that may be acquired at their premises to the Health and Safety Executive.  

  6. Managing legionella in hot and cold water systems Using temperature control The primary method used to control the risk from Legionella is water temperature control. Water services should be operated at temperatures that prevent Legionella growth: • Hot water storage cylinders (calorifiers) should store water at 60°C or higher • Hot water should be distributed at 50°C or higher (thermostatic mixer valves need to be fitted as close as possible to outlets, where a scald risk is identified). • Cold water should be stored and distributed below 20°C. • A competent person should routinely check, inspect and clean the system

  7. A full copy of the councils Legionella Management Procedure Policy is available on Monitor. Further information on Legionella and a range of health and safety matters can be found on both the Health and Safety Executive website and on the Councils Monitor pages. .

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