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SPN OCT 2012 Pool&SpaIndustry


www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk BISHTA STRESS COMMITMENT


TO SAFE SPA WATER Association message following Legionnaires’ outbreak is that simple rules for water hygiene management can make hot tubs safe to maintain and use


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ISHTA will continue to work hard to stress that promoting safe spa water is at the core of its


work as a trade association. The hot tub industry was saddened to hear the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease which killed two people in Stoke and left 21 other people ill.


Last month the Health Protection Agency said that the outbreak was over 25 days after the probable source was decommissioned and health experts no longer expected to see cases associated with the outbreak. The Health Protection Agency believes a warehouse selling hot tubs was the source of the killer disease. However, no link was formally established as to whether the company (who are not BISHTA members) carried out the water hygiene management regime correctly.


In the aftermath of the outbreak, BISHTA has again stressed it works hard to ensure its members are trained to make hot tubs safe, and members are expected to behave ethically.


Ironically, BISHTA was formed in 2001 following the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Belgium and the Netherlands in 1999 which killed a number of people visiting flower shows where hot tubs were on display. They were filled with water, but not treated with chlorine. BISHTA will also continue to highlight it is the only trade association in Europe dedicated to representing the spa and hot tub industry, with published standards. The key message from BISHTA has always been ‘Promoting Safe Spa Water’. By providing water hygiene management training, both


Safety Executive to ensure that tubs in showrooms, at exhibitions and shows are adequately maintained. This advice is contained in a range of publications, such as Management of Spa Pools – Controlling the Risk of Infection and also


BISHTA and its members can ensure that the industry is aware of responsibilities for maintaining hot tub water with an appropriate level of sanitiser (bromine, chlorine or PHMB) to minimise the risk of the Legionella bacteria developing into the potential danger of Legionnaires disease. BISHTA’s Technical Adviser Howard Gosling said: “BISHTA estimates there are between 80,000 – 100,000 hot tubs and swim spas in the British Isles and given the isolated number of issues each year, this demonstrates that by following simple rules needed for water hygiene management hot tubs can be very safe to maintain and use.”


Another part of BISHTA‘s message is that it is vital companies selling hot tubs follow the advice of the Health Protection Agency and the Health and


Legionnaires’ disease – The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems – Approved Code of Practice and Guidance. This HSE Code of Practice is also referred to as ‘L8’. Every hot tub business site should have a copy of these publications. Businesses with premises selling hot tubs should also carry out a risk assessment, in accordance with BS 8580, which should be reviewed annually.


BISHTA provides advice on water hygiene management to its 115 members around Britain and Ireland and expects them to abide by a Code of Ethics for trading. Through the vigilance of BISHTA and its members, customers can be sure they are receiving the correct advice on how to maintain their hot tubs and swim spas safely. BISHTA would strongly urge customers to buy from their members, as companies that do not belong to BISHTA may not be suitably trained in water hygiene management and sadly, in some cases, the products being sold by non members are not always of a suitable quality.


BISHTA welcomes applications for membership from anyone involved in manufacturing, importing, distributing, retailing or utilising hot tubs in a business setting. An approved water training course is a pre-requisite for membership of the trade association. spn


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