Industries
Legionella Risk in Healthcare
Effective water treatment and hygiene management for hospitals and healthcare facilities
Legionnella is of particular concern to healthcare organisations because of the vulnerability of their patients who, if infected by the bacteria, are at danger of contracting the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to Legionnaires’, as are people with suppressed immune systems – the people most likely to visit healthcare organisations.
Pulse Water’s healthcare team has decades of experience with NHS Hospital Trusts, Medical Centres and Care Homes. We supply Pseudomonas Aeruginosa sampling, risk assessments, site surveys, water treatment, water hygiene, air hygiene and remedial engineering / plumbing solutions to deliver “highest standard” outcomes and lower operating costs.
- Ensure sustainable solutions with optimal Return on Investment (ROI)
- Reliably maintain optimal water and air system hygiene
- Reduce deferred maintenance
- Increase operational efficiency
- Promote green initiatives, lower waste and reduce environmental footprint
- Facilitate cleanliness, safety, sustainability and bacterial control
- Extend the service life of capital assets (cooling towers, chillers, steam boilers, A/C systems)
All healthcare facilities have a responsibility to manage health and safety risks in order to protect patients and staff. This includes taking precautions to substantially reduce the risks of the legionella bacteria, especially when it comes to vulnerable people.
We provide public and private healthcare facilities all over the UK with independent Pseudomonas Aeruginosa checks and sampling, risk assessments, site surveys, air hygiene risk assessments, innovative steam boiler management solutions, water cooling solutions, legionella awareness, control and management, chemical dosing for plant and equipment, remote temperature and data monitoring, and log book management.
When and how often do I need a legionella risk assessment?
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and in compliance with the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8, HSG 274), duty holders, including employers and those in control of premises, must ensure the health and safety of their employees or others who may be affected by their undertaking, this includes the risk of legionella. Legionnaires Disease is a form of pneumonia, which can be fatal and the main route of infection is through inhalation, by inhaling airborne water droplets that contain Legionella. This also applies if you are a private Landlord and have rental properties which are occupied.
This includes legionella awareness, taking suitable precautions to prevent, manage and control the risk of exposure to legionella. You can do this by undertaking the following: legionella awareness training, a risk assessment, actioning all identified risks within the initial report with remedial works, sampling the water quality to confirm bacterial presence with water testing, and carrying out ongoing record keeping also known as monitoring.
Testing for Legionella
Legionella testing and water analysis is the process of taking a water sample, in a sterilised bottle (with sodium thiosulphate) for a true reading, before sending the water sample onto our UKAS accredited laboratory for quick analysis and fast results. The laboratory will identify the presence or absence of Legionella in the water sample collected, along with the bacterial count and Legionella species present. It is important to bear in mind that for accurate results, the water samples must be taken at the right points within the water system and you need to know where to take those Legionella samples from. This means understanding your water system’s design and risk areas. You should also only ever use one sterilised bottle per outlet to avoid mixing samples from two different points. If you are not sure what to do to meet your legal requirements, then contact us today for specialist Legionella testing guidance. The purpose of testing water samples is to mitigate the risk of Legionnaires’ disease which is a result of the Legionella bacteria growing in the water system and can be fatal so should be taken seriously.
Water Systems
Regular water sampling is the most effective way to determine water quality and test for the presence of legionella bacteria in your water system. Without testing the water, you are unable to identify water quality and therefore you are unable to determine whether your water management and legionella control is sufficient. With periodic legionella testing, you are able to demonstrate that your water management and legionella control procedures are suitable and the water in your water system is fit for purpose.
All our water samples are tested in UKAS accredited laboratories as standard and we are able to carry out tests on a wide range of microbiological samples and chemical testing services. Below are just some of the water systems that we can test for Legionella:
- Drinking water (including water dispensers and coffee machines)
- Hot and cold water systems
- Coldwater storage tanks
- Hot water cylinders
Water heaters - Dental units
- Swimming pools
- Spa baths
- Cooling towers
- Eye showers
- Eyewash units
- Water fountains
- Vending machines
- Closed water systems
We support your goals of creating a highly sustainable water treatment process, enabling a safe environment and efficient chemical and energy sustainability.
Healthcare overview
Effective water treatment and hygiene for hospitals and care homes. Contact us to discuss your needs