Know The Risks – Know Your Responsibilities
According to the Barrow Report published by the Health and Safety Executive in 2007, individuals working within a department, Facilities Managers, Building Managers and individuals with responsibility of water systems can be held accountable for failures to safeguard Health and Safety.
Despite this, incidents of Legionnaires Disease from water are continuing to occur in Health Sector Organisations. In some of these cases the disease has lead to the death of individuals and the prosecution of companies and their management.
In 2008 alone, there were 450 reported cases of Legionnaires Disease, this indicates that you can not afford to take your eye off the ball when it comes to managing Water Systems within buildings.
Recent Hospital Outbreaks
In July 2008, A patient at Cheltenham Hospital contracted Legionnaires Disease. Tests confirmed that the source of the disease was the Water System connected to the ward that the patient was staying on.
In January 2009, patients on the Tooting ward at Springfield Hospital were moved to Tolworth Hospital after a 95 year old woman died from Legionnaires disease. Tests carried out on the ward revealed “significant” levels of legionella – the bacteria which causes the deadly disease.
Preventive Measures for Your Trust
In order to ensure that you are aware of the risks of legionella, Develop Training offers a range of Legionella prevention and control courses including:
• Responsible Person
• Legionella Awareness
• Hot and Cold Water Systems
• Cooling Towers and Air Conditioning
• Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
• Disinfection of Water Systems in Buildings
• Management of Swimming and Spa Pools
Develop has national coverage with training centres in the North - York, Midlands – Derby and Whitwell and in the South – Swindon.
Further Information
Course dates are available every month across our sites, for more details please call us on 0800.678.1607 or visit
http://www.developtraining.co.uk/technical/courses/watersystems.asp .
