Water is a fundamental resource that many business owners rely on for various activities. But did you know that water systems are breeding grounds for Legionella bacteria Legionella can cause severe respiratory infections and can be fatal. This post explores the importance of Legionella prevention, and how your business can achieve it.
The Dangers of Legionella
Legionella is a dangerous bacterium that causes severe pneumonia leading to a systemic infection known as Legionnaires’ disease. The first identification of the legionella bacteria in 1976 was due to a severe outbreak of pneumonia leading to the discovery of ‘Legionnaires Disease’. Since then, scientists have identified over 50 species as part of the Legionella family of bacteria.
This airborne bacterium is inhaled via water droplets that come from contaminated sources such as showerheads and pools, which are often areas that contain hot or cold water. Once the bacterium enters the lungs, it can multiply and grow. This infection manifests in symptoms such as high fever, cough, and chest pain which can develop into severe respiratory failure, septic shock, and organ damage.
The Importance of Legionella Testing
With the prevalence of this bacteria increasing, there is a need for more extensive testing for this bacterium. Spa pools and jacuzzies are a recognised source of legionnaire’s disease. As a result, these facilities need to be sampled from and tested for the presence of legionella bacteria on a quarterly basis. It may need to be more frequent if there are doubts or concerns regarding the effectiveness of the pool management system. Swimming pools are not a recognised source of Legionella. However, because they contain water above 20°C, the bacterium may be present.
All commercial businesses should routinely test for Legionella and E-coli to demonstrate that bacteria counts are acceptable. However, there is a particular need for the following:
- Hotels, bars, restaurants.
- Hairdressers.
- Shops.
- Crèches.
- Gyms and swimming pools.
- GAA and recreational clubs.
- Anywhere the public uses using water for hygiene purposes.
Legionella Prevention with Southern Scientific
To prevent legionella, the following steps are recommended:
Identify & Assess Risk – This involves identifying the risks of having particular water systems, and the equipment associated with them such as pumps, heat exchangers, showers, swimming pools, etc.
Prepare a Scheme – This involves appointing key personnel to help meet the health and safety standards of the legionella prevention guidelines. This person has the responsibility of managing the risks.
Implement the Scheme– The scheme should be set up to prevent the risk of legionella.
Keep Records – If there are 5 or more employees as part of your business you are required to keep records of your safety checks.
Our team at Southern Scientific Services is dedicated to helping you follow the Legionella prevention guidelines every step of the way. We provide personalized recommendations to ensure that your business is compliant and safeguarded against Legionella. We can ensure that water systems are regularly tested to identify potential risks at €75 per Legionella Prevention testing kit.
Our legionella testing is performed in 3 simple steps:
- Order: You can order your Legionella testing kit online (see below) or over the phone at +353 (0)66 97 63588.
- Sample Collection: After you order, we will contact you to arrange for our sample technician to take the sample from your premises.
- Analysis and Results: Accurate indicator results will be received on Day 10 after sample collection. A full comprehensive report will be issued 14 days after sampling.
