Legionella is a word that most of us are at least loosely familiar with. It pops up on the news occasionally, and we’ll sometimes come across it in health and safety guidelines. That being said, not many people have an understanding of what Legionella is or the very real risks that it poses.
To help fill that knowledge gap, we’ve decided to provide a breakdown of why Legionella is a risk that businesses should be aware of. From a brief explanation of what it actually is, to a breakdown of how you can approach risk management, this is why Legionella is still an important issue for businesses of all kinds.
What is Legionella?
To understand why Legionella is a risk for a wide range of differences, we need to understand what it actually is first. Legionella pneumophila is a type of bacteria that’s commonly found in water sources in low concentrations.
However, when it’s able to multiply to high concentrations, if it’s then inhaled into the lungs, it can cause a serious kind of atypical pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease. Legionella bacteria can enter the air in tiny water droplets from any high-pressure water source, including taps in bathrooms, showerheads and air conditioning units.
Legionnaires’ disease can be particularly dangerous for elderly populations, or those with pre-existing pulmonary conditions. Regardless of whether these at-risk populations spend time on your premises or not, it’s vital that you take measures to limit the risk of outbreaks on your premises.
Cases are on the rise
While the historical trend has been downwards, we have unfortunately seen a slight rise in Legionnaires’ disease in recent years in the UK. This points to the fact that, because it’s not a visible or present threat, businesses have not been taking risk mitigation seriously.
As we will show below, keeping Legionella bacteria at low levels isn’t difficult. It does, however, require a diligent approach, and a commitment to certain practices.
Mitigating the risk of Legionella
Legionella can only grow in certain conditions. Namely, stagnant water sources between 20 and 60 degrees centigrade. To reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks, you need to make sure that these environmental conditions are not able to occur anywhere in your water systems, whether in pipes or water storage tanks.
To approach this, most businesses will want to start by conducting a Legionella risk assessment. It’s important to have these assessments carried out by external services that specialise in water hygiene, as they will need to have both the right tools and knowledge of water systems to know what to spot when carrying out the assessment. They will then likely suggest measures you can implement, to keep your premises safe in the months and years to come.
It’s important to take Legionella seriously, using a well-thought-out strategy to keep risks acceptably low. This strategy will need to be altered as your water system and its associated hazards change, necessitating a dynamic approach to risk management.
Other Ways to Protect the Health of Your Business
Encourage physical activity by offering gym memberships or organising group activities like walking meetings or lunchtime yoga sessions. The goal is to create an environment where health is prioritised and accessible. This required organising calendars and priorities well but it’s worth it.
Also, consider the mental well-being of your team. This is as important as physical health. Promote open communication, encouraging employees to express their concerns or stressors. Implement policies that support work-life balance, such as flexible hours or remote work options. Providing access to therapeutic resources and counselling services can also be beneficial, giving employees resources to manage their mental health effectively.
Nutrition is another key aspect. Stock the office with healthy snack options and ensure that water is readily available. You might even consider hiring a nutritionist to offer workshops or one-on-one consultations, helping employees make informed dietary choices.