HSE tells companies to improve their management of legionella risks

Date:

27 July 2012

Businesses are being told to do more to protect workers and members of the public from exposure to legionella.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety notice after identifying common failings in legionella control from a review of outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in GB over the past ten years.

HSE's findings confirmed that cooling towers and evaporative condensers are the most common source of significant outbreaks. Ninety per cent of outbreaks stem from failure to recognise potential legionella problems or to adopt effective control measures.

The notice also stresses the need for effective and consistent monitoring of water quality and the importance of responsibilities being assigned to named individuals with proper management oversight.

HSE's legionella expert Paul McDermott said:

"Our research has confirmed the importance of businesses following the well-established and readily available guidance. Through this safety notice we are reiterating what those responsible for the maintenance of water systems should be doing already.

"They have a responsibility to manage the risks they create to protect workers and the wider public. This is a reminder to them of what the law expects. Failure to comply with the law means they may face legal sanctions, including in the most serious cases prosecution through the courts."

HSE and local authorities are developing a range of initiatives to encourage better control of the legionella risks.

Notes to editors

1. The safety notice Management of the risks from legionella in cooling towers and evaporative condensers can be read in full at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/coolingtowers.htm
2. The report Legionella outbreaks and HSE investigations; an analysis of contributory factors was commissioned in 2011 and is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2012/hex1207.pdf
3. HSE's guidance on managing legionella risk is available to download free: http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/what-you-must-do.htm
4. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk

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