Safety briefing - Legionnaires’ disease

This briefing provides key points and control measures to prevent outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease in the workplace.

What’s covered?

This Safety Briefing - Legionnaires’ Disease identifies that if not controlled properly Legionella bacteria can build up in water systems. In certain circumstances, this can cause serious illness to anyone who is exposed to harmful levels of bacteria.

Control measures

The briefing includes a list of control measures to minimise the risk of exposure occurring. These include completing a risk assessment on the water system, keeping water temperatures out of the danger zone and maintaining clean water systems.

Key points

Attendees must take note of the following key points:

• “Carry out a Legionella risk assessment and appoint someone to manage the risks where identified.
• In hot and cold water systems store hot water above 60°C and distribute it at above 50°C and keep cold water below 20°C if possible.
• Ensure water cannot stagnate anywhere in the system by keeping pipe lengths as short as possible or by removing redundant pipework.
• Keep the system and the water in it clean.
• Treat water to either kill Legionella (and other micro-organisms) bacteria or limit their ability to grow.”