The Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) is warning companies responsible for
carrying out legionella surveys on water systems of the need to
ensure that their work is thorough and accurate.
The warning follows the conviction of a Berkshire-based water
treatment company for carrying out inadequate and misleading
surveys at nursing homes in Blaenau Gwent and Powys. As a result,
vulnerable residents at the homes would have been at a heightened
risk of contracting legionnaires disease, a potentially fatal form
of pneumonia.
At Abertillery Magistrates Court on Thursday 6 th August 2009,
DEBA UK Ltd of Unit 15, The Metro Centre, Toutley Road, Wokingham,
pleaded guilty to three charges under Section 3(1) of the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £24,000 and
ordered to pay costs of £17,276.
During 2007, the company were commissioned to carry out
legionella risk assessments at Nursing Homes operated by Craegmoor
Healthcare in Tredegar and Llangattock, and rated the risk as low.
A subsequent routine check of these nursing homes revealed there
to be inadequate controls for legionella at these premises, and
the focus moved on to the work carried out by DEBA UK Ltd.
HSE inspector Matthew Hamar said: “The nursing home operators
commissioned DEBA UK Ltd to carry out the surveys in good faith
and to help them comply with their responsibilities to manage the
risk posed by legionella on their premises. They were badly let
down in this case.
“Elderly nursing home residents are at greater risk from the
bacteria that give rise to conditions such as legionnaires
disease, so it is imperative that safety critical surveys like
those carried out by DEBA UK Ltd are adequate.
“Fortunately, there was no evidence of any outbreak of the
disease as a result of these incidents, but there is a clear
responsibility to those companies carrying out specialist work
that they need to carry out adequate surveys and provide accurate
information.”
Legionnaires disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia
which can affect anybody, but which principally affects those who
are susceptible because of age, illness, immunosuppression,
smoking etc.
It is caused by legionella bacteria, which can grow in water kept
at unsuitable temperatures (between 20ºC and 45ºC) and infect the
water in cooling towers, whirlpool spas and purpose built hot and
cold water systems, as found in care settings. Where conditions
are suitable for the growth of legionella the risk is increased.
There is a risk of disease when droplets of water, infected with
the bacteria, are inhaled. Whilst showers may present a particular
problem in care homes water droplets created from taps is also a
potential source. Any equipment that can generate water droplets
that could be inhaled should be assessed for potential risk.
Notes to Editors
· More information on legionnaires disease can be found on the
HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/index.htm
· Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
states: “It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his
undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be
affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health
or safety.
· Public enquiries: HSE's InfoLine: 0845 345 0055;
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
Contacts:
COI Wales
Phone: 0844 800 6823
wales@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Rachael Micallef
rachael.micallef@coi.gsi.gov.uk