Tim Sibbald, Water Regulations team leader at Northumbrian Water, looks at what happens during a Water Regulations inspection of hospitals and other healthcare premises.
Water safety continues to be an important, but often challenging, health and safety priority for healthcare premises. Water can provide an efficient mechanism for spreading contamination, which is concerning in any home or business, but even more so within buildings that house vulnerable patients who are more susceptible to infection – elderly people, young children, cancer patients, pregnant women, and people with chronic illness.
Water companies are duty bound to enforce the Water Fittings Regulations and Scottish byelaws within their appointed water supply areas. They undertake inspections of new and existing installations to check that the regulations and byelaws are being met. Across the UK, there are around 70,000 inspections carried out by water companies each year. Hospitals and surgeries are inspected by local water companies to ensure that the buildings and their plumbing / water fixtures adhere to UK water regulations and Scottish byelaws, and protect public health.
WRAS, the Water Regulation Advisory Scheme, was set up by UK water companies to assist individuals and organisations in complying with water fittings regulations. This includes hospitals and other healthcare premises. To give healthcare premises an idea of what to expect during a water regulation inspection, Northumbrian Water shares details of what the process entails prior to the commencement of the inspection.
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