Lucion Services Achieves Legionella Control Association Membership

Lucion Group

11th October, 2022

We are pleased to announce that Lucion Services is a member of the Legionella Control Association (LCA). Following a rigorous assessment, our specialist Legionella testing and consultancy team now deliver LCA-certified services including Legionella testing, management and training. National Legionella Risk Assessor/Consultant Kieran Irving, who heads up our legionella team, gives a unique insight into the risks of legionella and why using a certified service provider is key to protecting people and planet.

According to Public Health England, around 250-300 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease are reported each year in England and Wales, but in reality, many cases are unaccounted for.

It is widely accepted by the scientific and medical communities that the current statistical analysis of Legionella-related illnesses is inaccurate. The chances are that you will have been exposed to Legionella bacterium at some time without knowing it, and many of you will also have been infected, as the symptoms of some strains of the virus are very similar to influenza (flu).

Most people will not bother seeing a doctor for flu-like symptoms and will simply rest and self-medicate until the symptoms pass. If they do consult the doctor, in most cases, they will normally diagnose flu or generic respiratory condition.

What is Legionella?

There are over 60 different known species of Legionella bacteria - although Legionella pneumophila causes around 90% of all infections. One type of Legionella infection is Pontiac Fever, a respiratory disease with a short incubation period of 1-3 days and, usually, non-fatal but with symptoms similar to acute flu. Full-blown Legionnaires disease, which includes pneumonia, is incubated between 2 and 10 days and can be fatal in 10 to 15% of cases, with much greater risk for the elderly and people with a poor immune system.

How is Legionella Transmitted?

Water droplets containing the legionella bacteria have to be transmitted into aerosol form and inhaled into the lungs. Water temperatures between 20°C and 45°C or systems with stored and/or recirculation designs can influence bacterial growth. Legionella can also lie dormant in otherwise 'safe' water systems for several years, as it protects itself in other matter available in the water system biofilm.

Legionella species are commonly found in natural resources such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs etc. However, many unsuspecting people have contracted Legionella-related illness from such things as showers that have been unused for several days/weeks, poorly treated recreational water such as whirlpools and Jacuzzis, and spray from decorative fountains or water features.

Legionella Regulations For Duty Holders and Employers

Under the health and safety at Work etc Act 1974, it is the responsibility of the duty holder/employer to ensure a safe working environment. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 implements a broad framework for health and safety and includes risk assessments to be undertaken. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) is the law that applies to employers in regard to controlling substances hazardous to health. This applies to not only chemicals but biological agents such as legionnaires disease. Under the above regulations, a risk assessment should be carried out by a competent person to ensure risks in the working environment are prevented, reduced, controlled and where possible, eliminated.

According to the HSE, a competent person should regularly check and clean all water systems in accordance with a legionella risk assessment.

Utilising a trusted provider certified by the Legionella Control Association (LCA) is essential to ensure that your risks are effectively managed and people and the environment are protected.

About the Legionella Control Association

Founded in 1999 by the British Association for Chemical Specialities (BACS) and the Water Management Society (WMSoc), the LCA is a voluntary organisation whose membership comprises providers of services and products concerned with the control of legionella bacteria in water systems. The LCA aims to keep water systems safe and minimise the risk of cases of Legionnaires' disease caused by poorly maintained systems.

To help members demonstrate themselves as trusted providers to clients, the LCA developed a Code of Conduct, defining 9 key requirements companies must comply with, as well as producing a statement of compliance which explains how the organisation complies. Companies also need to comply with specific Service Standards for those legionella control services that it is registered for. The LCA then audits the company against the Code and the service standards annually.

All members of the LCA are required to register which specific areas of activity associated with controlling legionella they are involved in, and additionally undergo a yearly site audit. Under our LCA certification, Lucion Services is certified to deliver;

Legionella Risk Assessments
Legionella Sampling
Interpretation of Legionella Samples
Legionella Training
Legionella Consultancy

Our certified team provide a suitable and sufficient legionella risk assessment in accordance with the following legionella guidance documents;

Legionella Risk In Healthcare Buildings

Healthcare buildings are viewed as high-risk settings due to the complex water systems and the vulnerability of patients. The Health Technical Memorandum 04-01 (HTM) provides detail about other waterborne pathogens such as pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia but is mainly directed at Legionella. The HTM focuses particularly on installation and maintenance of water systems as Legionella is associated with poorly designed water systems that lack quality management and control.

The HTM is divided into four separate documents;

HTM 04-01, part a - design, installation and commissioning
HTM 04-01, part b - operational management
HTM 04-01, part c - pseudomonas aeruginosa, advice for augmented care units
HTM 04-01, part d - supplement, performance specification D 08 thermostatic mixing valves (healthcare premises)

Part A and B of the HTM, sets out the need for the formation of a team of experts within the organisation referred to as the Water Safety Group (WSG). A WSG is a multidisciplinary group formed to commission, develop, and manage the Water Safety Plan (WSP). A WSP is a risk-management approach to water safety that establishes good practices in local water distribution and supply. It will identify potential hazards, consider practical aspects, and detail appropriate control measures. The WSG also advises on remedial action required when water systems or outlets are found to be contaminated and the risk to susceptible patients is increased.

In line with parts a and b of the HTM, our Legionella Consultants advise our clients on who should be included in their WSG, as well as aid the development of an effective WSP and provide advice for risk mitigation and remediation.

Where findings require it, or our clients request it, our team can undertake legionella and pseudomonas sampling amongst other microbiological samples. Unlike HSG 247 regulation, HTM provides guidance for samples with detection limits of less than 100cfu/L. According to HTM part b, any detection of legionella, including samples with less than 100cfu/L, is to be investigated and where necessary, resampled. This is due to the high-risk nature of healthcare settings and the need to mitigate risk as far as practicable for the safety of patients.

As an LCA member, our legionella team at Lucion Services can complete any water sampling within a healthcare facility ensuring the client is provided with the right knowledge and direction. We can be the perfect partner in your journey to a safer environment for your community and the environment, managing the risk of legionella safely within your buildings and assets.

If you are looking to partner with an environmentally conscious, holistic environmental services supplier, get in touch with Kieran Irving, Legionella Risk Assessor/Consultant at Lucion Services using the details below or click ‘Make an Enquiry’.

About the Author

With over 12 years of experience in various roles relating to the sampling and management of legionella, Kieran demonstrates a high level of competency. During his time in the industry, Kieran has achieved City and Guilds Risk Assessment for Legionella and Water Hygiene Control in Water Systems, Water Management Society Practical Legionella Risk Assessment and City and Guilds Level 2 Plumbing.

Kieran has provided legionella services to clients across multiple sectors including education, industrial, marine, healthcare and retail.