Clean drinking and process water is of great importance to your organization. If the cold water is not fresh or too warm, there is a chance that the Legionella bacteria will develop excessively. Your staff, visitors or third parties then run the risk of serious pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease. Since the outbreak among residents of the Ghent Canal Zone in June 2019, much more attention has been paid to prevention. The Codex Wellbeing at Work (Book VII) also legally imposes this prevention on every employer. For certain buildings, a periodic Legionella control is mandatory. But safe water is mandatory for everyone. What can you do to prevent infection?
For buildings with an extra high risk extra strict rules apply in accordance with the Legionella Decree for Legionella prevention. These include hospitals, hotels and swimming pools. If your building is not a priority / moderate risk, it is wise to take sufficient preventive measures, even if a more limited management package is sufficient. The Legionella control starts with a sample of the drinking or process water. These water samples are analyzed in an accredited laboratory for the number of Legionella bacteria present.
Compliance with the Legionella Decree by designers, construction companies, installers and managers of high-risk installations is an area of concern. Climate change is another possible cause of the national increase in the number of Legionella infections. We, too, regularly see the standard for Legionella bacteria exceeded in water samples. This is the case at 10,000 so-called colony-forming units (CFU) of Legionella bacteria per liter of water. We then immediately carry out a source investigation into the cause and the next step is a plan of action.
Besides the Legionella control in the form of water samples, Marino as a BRL6010 certified company can also fully support you with risk analyses and management plans for Legionella prevention. We are specialized in drawing up a Legionella management plan. This is the central document for your (drinking) water system. We draw up a concise, practice-oriented report with photos that clarify the content. The well-organized logbook is completely digital and the control measures are nowadays implemented with the help of a smart app.
Marino’s advice package and service are very comprehensive. In addition to sampling and analysis and the Legionella management plan including digital logbook, we can perform a thermographic study, suggest alternative management techniques, advise on and supply filter systems, supervise the project of purchasing or building a new water installation and much more. Our service offerings include cleaning or disinfecting your plant, maintaining emergency showers, and supplying measuring instruments.
Would you like more control over your Legionella control? Contact us by phone at 0472-511845, email us or fill out our online form for information or a free quote.