Compliance Update Legionella Asbestos Nick Williams MRICS - PDF document

DMW Environmental Safety Ltd Compliance Update • Legionella • Asbestos Nick Williams MRICS Director, DMW Environmental Safety Ltd nickwilliams@dmwsafety.co.uk 07813 109094, 01902 791565 DMW Compliance consultancy • UKAS accredited surveying and • inspection body (asbestos and legionella) Laboratory services • Health safety and environmental • consultancy Legionella – Introduction  41 different species of Legionella  Around half of them can cause illness  Occurs naturally in fresh-water systems Notes provided for convenience only. DMW do not accept liability for any 1 inaccuracies or omissions. Please check latest law, ACOP and guidance

DMW Environmental Safety Ltd Pathogenesis  Legionellosis – The term for ALL diseases (fatal or non-fatal) in humans caused by L. pneumophilia or one of the of the many other species of legionella.  Legionnaire’s disease – pneumonia caused by L. Pneumophilia Legionnaire's Disease – Symptoms  Pneumonia  Incubation period 2 - 10 days (usually 3-6 days)  Virulence rate 1-5%  Fatality rate 12 - 30% (excluding vulnerable persons)  No evidence of person-to-person transmission  ‘Pontiac fever’ is a more virulent illness with flu-like symptoms (more likely to catch it) but is not life- threatening Legionellosis – The Risks  690 cases reported in England and Wales (419 confirmed as being legionella)  Around 10,000 cases per year in the EU  Global infection rate is ‘unknown’  Likely to be massively under-reported  35 fatalities in England & Wales in 2017 Notes provided for convenience only. DMW do not accept liability for any 2 inaccuracies or omissions. Please check latest law, ACOP and guidance

DMW Environmental Safety Ltd Legionellosis – Susceptibility  Increases with age (increased for those over 45)  Patients with existing respiratory problems  Heavy smokers and alcoholics  Those undergoing immuno-suppressant therapy  Gender (males more susceptible) Legionella – Ideal Growth Conditions  pH - 6.9  Temperature - 25-37C (won’t multiply below 20°C and killed above 60°C)  Required nutrients- ferric iron and L.cystein  Slimes, sludges and biofilms  Stagnant water Occurrence of Legionella in Buildings Artificial water systems that may harbour legionella include:  Domestic hot and cold water systems  Calorifiers  Storage tanks  Showers  Cooling systems  Ornamental fountains  Jacuzzis  Spas horticultural misting systems  Industrial car washes  Respiratory therapy equipment Notes provided for convenience only. DMW do not accept liability for any 3 inaccuracies or omissions. Please check latest law, ACOP and guidance

DMW Environmental Safety Ltd Legionella Risk Factors  Aerosol formation  Droplet size  Concentration of legionella bacteria  Duration of exposure  Individual susceptibility  Virulence of strain present  Distance from source of exposure Legionellosis – Causal chain  System becomes contaminated  Legionella proliferation  Legionella disseminated in an aerosol  Aerosol comes into contact with a susceptible individual  Contaminated aerosol present long enough to cause infection Relevant UK Law  Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974  Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002  Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended)  The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations (1992)  RIDDOR 2013  Corporate Manslaughter & Homicide Act 2007 Guidance/ACOP  L8 (2013)  HSG274 Technical guidance Parts 1-3 Notes provided for convenience only. DMW do not accept liability for any 4 inaccuracies or omissions. Please check latest law, ACOP and guidance

DMW Environmental Safety Ltd ACOP - L8 Basic Principles General principles and requirements include  Assessment, monitoring and control of risk (maintenance and remedial work)  Control of aerosol release  Avoid 20 - 45  C  Avoid stagnation  Maintenance and cleanliness  Water treatment (where required)  Management and review of risks  Responsible persons (competency)  Emergency/contingency procedures ACoP L8 – Legionella Risk Assessment Required for rented and non-domestic premises posing risks e.g:  Cooling towers  Evaporative condensers  Hot and cold water systems  Other risk systems ACoP L8 – Legionella Risk Assessment (cont) Review risk assessment:  Regularly (accepted frequency is two-yearly but less or more frequently dependent on risk)  Risk assessment must be reviewed if there are significant changes are made to the water system or use of building  Emergency review required where new information or incidents arise such as a legionella outbreak or water analysis shows proliferation Notes provided for convenience only. DMW do not accept liability for any 5 inaccuracies or omissions. Please check latest law, ACOP and guidance

DMW Environmental Safety Ltd PPM’s and monitoring - Hot and Cold Water Systems Weekly Flush low-use outlets  Monthly Monitoring  Hot taps to be >50  C after 1 minute of running  Cold taps <20  C after 2 minutes of running  Flow and return temperatures of calorifier (above 60  C on flow and 50  C in  return) Three Monthly De-scale and disinfect shower heads  Six Monthly  Check in-coming cold water inlet and record  Annually Calorifier drain water inspection and blow-down  Cold water tank inspection  TMV servicing and fail-safe checks  Good practice  Use low corrosion materials where possible (WRAS and Water Regulations compliant)  Water tanks fitted with close fitting lids, insect/rodent screens  Avoid multiple linked tanks (stagnation risk)  Systems to be designed to be accessible for cleaning and maintenance  ‘Point of use’ hot water generators are recommended for new installations, especially in larger buildings Written Control Scheme Can be organizational or individual site-based (dependent on risks and uniformity of premises)  Responsibility lines (duty holder, nominated responsible persons, competent persons)  Water treatment programmes (if applicable)  Disinfection procedures (if applicable)  Maintenance and inspection regime  Recording of inspection and maintenance  Emergency procedures  Training records/contractor certification Notes provided for convenience only. DMW do not accept liability for any 6 inaccuracies or omissions. Please check latest law, ACOP and guidance

DMW Environmental Safety Ltd Log Book Records  Risk assessment  Schematic  Copy of written control scheme  All monitoring and maintenance records associated with water system  Site visit log  Record of non-conformance and action-log Can be held in hard copy form on site or centrally/electronic (as long as it is accessible) HSE Enforcement Programme Findings Common failings leading to enforcement and high risks to occupants and public include Inadequate definition of responsibilities  Failure to assess risks  Failure to understand own systems (schematics etc)  Failure to implement water treatment systems where required  Failure to clean and maintain water systems  Defective systems – no temperature control, failure to prevent contamination Top 5 things to comply 1. Risk assessment – (review to determine suitability) 2. Manage and reduce identified risks AFARP 3. Devise and implement written control scheme 4. Ensure competency of all relevant persons 5. Regularly review risk control systems Notes provided for convenience only. DMW do not accept liability for any 7 inaccuracies or omissions. Please check latest law, ACOP and guidance

DMW Environmental Safety Ltd Case Studies G4S offices, Harlow (2016) – £1.8 million fine after fatality - System dead legs - Oversized tanks - No schematic - Hot water temps too low - TMV’s not identified or serviced BUPA (June 2018) – insufficient assessment and controls of hot and cold water systems after refurb of care homes led to a fatality = £151,000 fine Key Case Study – Individual responsibilities HSE Statement following Barrow Court Outbreak Prosecution Case: July 2006. “There is a clear lesson for all those that manage installations carrying a risk of legionella. You should check your management systems and oversee the work of contractors that do work on your behalf. It should not be assumed that systems are working as they should and no room for ignoring responsibilities at any level of management” Asbestos Update Notes provided for convenience only. DMW do not accept liability for any 8 inaccuracies or omissions. Please check latest law, ACOP and guidance

DMW Environmental Safety Ltd What is Asbestos? Naturally-occurring fibrous • mineral 3 common types (6 altogether) • Mined extensively in many • countries 3000 commercial asbestos • containing materials (ACM’s) Not banned in construction • materials until 1999/2000 Single biggest occupational • killer in UK Risks Associated with Different ACM’s Less fibrous Highly fibrous Higher density Low density Less dangerous Most dangerous Spray coatings and Composites, floor Asbestos cement Asbestos insulating thermal insulation tiles, cisterns etc. products (sheets, board (AIB) pipes etc.) HSE ‘Hidden Killer’ Campaign Notes provided for convenience only. DMW do not accept liability for any 9 inaccuracies or omissions. Please check latest law, ACOP and guidance