Feature » Full system protection – In Barrow-in-Furness in 2002³,
seven people died and at least another 172 people suffered ill- health from the effects of legionella. The cause was found to be a contaminated cooling tower in the town centre. This is not something that could have been prevented through the flushing of taps. Heating and air conditioning units have been responsible for a significant number of legionnaire’s disease outbreaks because they are so difficult to monitor. Remote monitoring can provide facilities managers with accurate, real-time data on all the hard- to-get-to parts of their plumbing systems. Monitoring all water sources or inlets, including midpoints, endpoints and isolated sections of process piping (deadlegs), managers have all the data they need to take preventative action, should the warning signs present. It’s a simple and cost-effective way of ensuring full health and safety compliance.
» Accountability – With smart monitoring, facilities
managers are provided with an unassailable audit trail. With detailed records showing when taps have been used and at what temperature, they not only know when action is required, but have the data to support their actions, should it ever be requested. This also protects facilities managers in the event of a local legionella outbreak, providing detailed historical compliance data, helping Public Health officials to identify the local source, and preventing disruption as the premises are discounted from enquiries.
In the last year, Covid-19 has taken up everyone’s time and energy. It has made everything more difficult to do. It has thrown up a full range of unexpected complications – the potential for a legionella outbreak numbering high among them. All facilities managers will find their own ways of tackling this potential problem. Smart technology will remove some of the burden.
¹: On the Social Science Research Network (SSRN)
²:
https://www.disruptive-technologies.com/blog/infogridlegionellacasestudy ³:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/assets/docs/barrowreport.pdf
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