Legionnaires Disease

Information about Legionnaires Disease

Legionella Bacteria

Legionella Bacteria

Our Water Treatment Department is a category 1 member of the Legionella Control Association (LCA).

This makes TSS Facilities an approved service provider as recommended in 'Legionnaires Disease' which is the Control of Legionella Bacteria in water systems' Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and guidance L8, published by the Health & Safety Executive.

What is Legionnaires Disease?

Legionnaire’s disease was first identified following a large outbreak of pneumonia amoung people who attended an American legion convention in 1976. A previously unrecognised bacterium was isolated from the lung tissue samples which were subsequently named Legionella Pneumophila.

It is normally contracted by inhaling legionella bacteria, either in tiny droplets of water (aerosols) or in droplet nuclei (the particles left after the water has evaporated). It cannot be passed from one person to another.

Symptons of Legionnaires Disease

Initial symptoms include: high fever, chills, headache and muscle pain. Patients may develop a dry cough and may suffer difficulty with breathing. About one third of patients infected also develop diarrhoea or vomiting and about half become confused or delirious. (L8 reports that Legionella can be fatal in approx 12% of reported cases).

Our services provided under LCA include:

  • L8 Survey & legionella Risk Assessments
  • L8 Training & set up of log books
  • L8 Monitoring & maintenance
  • Cleaning & disinfection of water systems to L8 & BS6700 standards
  • Chemical & microbiological analysis
  • Installation & maintenance of dosing equipment
  • Chemical sales

TSS Facilities also service and maintain steam boilers and carry out pre-commission cleaning and dosing of heating and chilled systems.

Further information

For further information about Legionnaires disease and your duties as employers please contact us to discuss any issues. We also provide free copies of booklets published by the HSE and the Control of Legionella or you can download one directly from the LCA website.