With lockdown beginning to ease, and with a number of businesses returning to something resembling normality, we have been warned there may be another hidden danger to be aware of waiting around the corner, the possibility of Legionnaires’ disease.
This is a type of pneumonia and a recent article from The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors warned landlords, property owners and employers about the potential increased risk of Legionella as a result of the lockdown measures against Covid-19.
With many properties being closed for a significant period of time, water tanks and plumbing systems may not have been used for some time. When stagnant, water is prone to microbiological contamination and poses a significant risk to occupants of the building on their return, if not treated correctly.
Microbiological contamination includes algae and bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Legionella – and these can cause serious health issues if they enter the human body. For example, if inhaled from water droplets dispersed from outlets such as taps, showers, hot tubs and air-conditioning units, Legionella bacterium can cause Legionnaires’ disease. The HSE guidance for prevention of Legionnaires’ disease can be found here HSG-274.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .