Legionella reporting is a mandatory regulatory practice for all UK businesses as part of the Controlled of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations of 2002.

Despite this being standard practice, a plethora of high-profile cases have made headlines in the past year alone, which has brought a renewed challenge for all companies to understand the importance of developing a consistent and effective Legionella prevention strategy as part of their standard business practice.  

Developing a prevention strategy requires the monitoring of all waterways and being proactive when water is exposed to any conditions that could cause the growth of Legionella. This is an essential part of a valuable solution for them due to the potential of health risks, fines and legal implications that could occur if found to be non-compliant. This year has seen a sharp rise in Legionella cases, from schools to businesses to an entire city's water supply in the UK and the rest of Europe.  

The creeping resurgence of Legionella cases has stressed an increased urgency for employers to double down on their duty to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for both their staff and the wider public, especially when it comes to the potential threat of Legionnaire's Disease, a deadly pneumonia that can occur from inhaling contaminated water droplets. 

With a focus on compliance and risk management, it is critical that all businesses make the required adjustments to meet regulatory requirements, understand employer liability, and demonstrate best practices to mitigate the risk of Legionella occurring in their workplace. 

The Rise in Legionella Cases in 2023 

The past year has seen a concerning rise in both Legionella-related cases and Legionnaire's Disease across several industries that includes both the public and private sector. The increase has sparked a heightened awareness of the potential dangers that are posed by the bacteria, especially in settings containing large numbers of people - such as workplaces and public facilities. As the number of reported cases has continued to grow, so has the level of urgency for employers in taking swift action to prioritise effective Legionella prevention measures within their facilities. 

Some notable cases included the report of Legionella bacteria on the infamous Bibby Stockholm in August. The barge was meant to safely house migrants who were awaiting their asylum applications to be processed, but upon alert of Legionella in running water, government officials decided not to remove the migrants from the temporary housing, sparking backlash by various activist groups. A further lack of urgency by the same officials deteriorated the situation further as they failed to set an example over their own health alerts.  

Since then, we have seen further reports of the dangerous bacteria again reaching vulnerable people. Legionella was also detected in the hot water supply at Genville & Caius College in Cambridge on the 6th October. There is no knowledge of how long the bacteria was present in the water supply on campus, meaning that the consequences could have been lethal. 

Exactly one month later, the Hartshill Academy in Nuneaton was subject to closure when yet another case of Legionella bacteria was detected within a student environment. The unveiling of the situation presented an unaccetable level of danger for children, which resulted in the school’s closure until further notice - with the Department for Education taking control of the premises during the closure. 

Beyond students and migrants, local councils have also been affected by flimsy Legionella prevention strategies. Councils across the country have already been dealing with extreme financial problems, which is now beginning to show what can occur as a result of cashflow pressures. Falkirk Council recently found itself in hot water (no pun intended) as an internal audit conducted back in June revealed that the council's position on water quality was deemed 'unacceptable'. As part of a long-standing failure to track their water further, they have faced questioning and consequences of mismanagement. 

Dangers and implications of legionella growth 

Legionella exposure poses significant health risks to those who come into close contact with the contaminated water sources, with the potential for severe health consequences when ingested.  Consumption of Legionella-contaminated water droplets is the most likely way of contracting Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia that can be life-threatening, particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions.  

Apart from the physical danger of inhaling or consuming contaminated water, Legionella outbreaks can also result in severe legal and financial repercussions for employers, making prevention of the bacteria in waterways an essential aspect of risk management. One example of the extent of punishments for non-compliance was a plastic manufacturing firm in West Bromwich, who was subject to a fine of £50,000.  

This is a huge amount for most businesses to pay, but given that fines have reached from £800,000 to £1.8 MILLION for the likes of Bupa and G4S in the past five years, making sure you’re consistently compliant will prevent you from further risks that just health concerns. 

Moreover, the implications of Legionella exposure extend beyond cashflow problems. Employers must recognise the potential impact on their workforce’s productivity, reputation, and operations in the event of a potential outbreak.  

Understanding these dangers highlights the critical need for robust Legionella prevention strategies in the workplace, not only as a legal obligation but as a fundamental responsibility towards employee wellbeing. 

Understanding Legionella and risks for your workplace 

Legionella is a type of bacteria commonly found in natural water sources, such as rivers and lakes. However, it also thrives in our water systems, including sinks, toilets, cooling towers, hot water tanks, and plumbing systems.  

When these systems are not properly monitored, Legionella can grow rapidly (it’s in the name), increasing the risk of exposure to employees, contractors and any visitors on the premises. Given its ability to thrive in a wide range of water conditions (between 20-45 degrees Celsius), Legionella presents a persistent risk in various workplace settings, necessitating proactive measures for prevention. 

A bacteria that reproduces best in the same temperatures as drinking and bathing water means that  most waterways across various industries could easily be at risk of contamination. Most people only consider areas such as toilets, sinks and canteens. However, Legionella is a persistent spreader that can thrive in hot, cold and static water sources. This means the risk of contamination is more prevalent in industries that may use significant amounts of water; consider industries such as food production, airports, hospitals, leisure centres, retailers and caterers, for example. 

Legal requirements for Legionella prevention 

Considering the multiple hazards associated with Legionella exposure like severe illness, fines and prosecution, regulatory bodies have established specific legal requirements for Legionella prevention within the workplace. These requirements encompass a range of measures aimed at minimising the risk of contamination, to ensure the safety of those who may come into contact with contaminated sources. Compliance with these regulatory bodies is not only essential for safeguarding your workforce but also for avoiding potential legal liabilities and penalties further down the line. 

The UK holds a varied framework aimed at safeguarding all premises from Legionella, including mandatory reporting. Some key points include: 

• Employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation (1994) to prevent and control Legionella in their premises.
  
  

• The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) regulates Legionella prevention and control in the UK.
  
  

• The HSA has issued guidance on reducing the risk of Legionella in the water systems of buildings, including monitoring and maintenance of systems. 

The legal framework surrounding Legionella prevention typically includes guidelines for the proper maintenance and monitoring of water systems, regular risk assessments, and the implementation of control measures to prevent the proliferation of Legionella bacteria. Employers must familiarise themselves with these legal requirements and take proactive steps to ensure constant compliance, ensuring their waterways are not breaching standards, by simply meeting the correct temperatures to prevent Legionella growth. 

Responsibilities of employers in Legionella prevention 

Employers also hold significant responsibilities in ensuring effective Legionella prevention protocols within their premises and facilities. These responsibilities are vital to the implementation of robust risk management strategies, which requires time to ensure adequate training for employees involved in Legionella prevention and will benefit from effective solutions such as remote monitoring systems to ensure the safety of their water systems. These methods allow for a variety of benefits, including independent readings, instant notifications of any breaches, and constant monitoring including vacant periods such as out-of-hours and holidays. 

Beyond the immediate duty of care, employers must also implement widespread awareness and accountability regarding Legionella prevention among their employees. By engaging their workforce in understanding the risks and preventive measures, employers can enable a collective commitment to maintain a safe and healthy work environment. 

Solutions to Legionella monitoring 

A fundamental part of an effective Legionella prevention strategy is to implement regular monitoring of water systems in order to minimise the risk of bacterial growth. This includes implementing comprehensive water management plans, integrating an effective and consistent routine testing of waterways, and swiftly addressing any identified issues or potential risks. By establishing robust preventive maintenance protocols, employers can proactively mitigate the risk of Legionella contamination and demonstrate their commitment to ensuring a safe workplace environment. 

Regular monitoring not only serves as essential components of ensuring legal compliance but also forms the beginning of a consistent proactive approach to an overall risk management strategy. You should prioritise a continuous and ongoing solution to ensuring regular assessments, to ensure the safety of your water systems to prevent suitable conditions for Legionella growth, thereby safeguarding the overall health and well-being of your employees. 

IoT Systems, An Effective Legionella Risk Management Solution 

The integration of IoT technologies across many sectors and workplaces has had various benefits for both business growth and employee wellbeing. The ability of IoT systems to measure and transmit temperature readings has allowed for businesses to implement their own, remote and consistent Legionella prevention strategy.  

IoT systems allow for data readings in taking temperatures, and can also be used to set thresholds, alerts and trigger actions, ensuring that prompt corrective measures are taken to prevent the possibility of contamination. Using IoT monitoring systems such as the T-Series allows for further benefits and capabilities to companies by integrating an independent monitoring solution. A combination of software integration such as the RealTime-Online dashboard allows for businesses to visualise their water temperature data into tables, graphs and cost breakdowns, which allows for quick action, visual insights and forecasting capabilities. 

Best yet, IoT monitors can be a cheap solution for consistent water monitoring, that can be deployed across small or large business premises, and can monitor multiple water channels. This means that huge complexes can have their water tracked and monitored, with all the data in one place.