Could a lethal danger lurk within your company’s water supply? Unfortunately, it very well could. Legionnaires’ disease can strike when you least expect, turning everyday showers, fountains, sprayers, and cooling systems into a deadly health and safety hazard.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium known as ‘Legionella’. This bacteria thrives in warm water conditions, making workplaces with water systems potentially vulnerable.
Protecting workers from exposure to this dangerous disease is essential for the health of workers and safety compliance at work.
Here, we’ll highlight how Legionnaires’ disease spreads, and what you and your employees can do to ensure safety at work.
Let’s break it down.
Related Article: 10 Reasons To Prioritize Workplace Respiratory Protection Programs in 2024.
Related Article: Understanding and Preventing Occupational Lung Diseases.
Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak at a Senior Living Facility in Albany, New York
Legionnaires’ disease primarily affects older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems, making them particularly vulnerable to severe pneumonia caused by the bacteria. In addition, aspiration of contaminated water while drinking can also lead to infection, particularly in individuals with swallowing difficulties.
And, unfortunately, an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was recently reported at an assisted living facility in Albany, New York.
Tragically, this development resulted in four fatalities, as well as more than 20 hospitalizations. In this particular case, Legionella bacteria was detected in the facility’s water supply, possibly aerosolized through showers, faucets, or other water sources, leading to inhalation.
Responding to the outbreak, the facility in question has implemented additional safety measures, such as installing water filters in specific bathing and showering areas to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
Fortunately, health officials have confirmed that Legionnaires’ disease is not transmitted from person to person, posing no threat to the broader community or immediate family members of the infected people.
How Legionnaires’ Disease is Contracted
Legionnaires’ disease spreads mainly through inhaling aerosolized water droplets contaminated with the bacteria in question.
Common sources include indoor sprinkler systems (like grocery store produce misters or greenhouse sprinklers), air conditioning cooling towers, showers, or any other faucets that produce mist or spray.
Other factors, such as water temperature, biofilm presence, and inadequate disinfection also contribute to the growth of this bacteria in water systems.
How to Identify Risks and Take Action
While Legionnaires’ disease doesn’t necessarily affect every worksite, it’s remarkably dangerous to those it might affect. As such, you’ll want to conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential sources of Legionella at your workplace.
This includes evaluating hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, and any equipment that produces aerosols, especially if stored water remains stagnant for any length of time.
To that end, regular monitoring of the temperature of water systems is critical.
If you’re storing hot water, the CDC recommends it exceed 140°F (60°C), while circulating hot water should exceed 120°F (50°C).
Additionally, since the growth range most favorable to Legionella bacterium is 77° – 113°F, you’ll want to store and maintain circulating cold water well below these temps. In fact, since Legionella bacteria may grow at temperatures as low as 68°F (20°C), try to keep temps below that threshold to ensure safety.
How to Implement Control Measures in The Workplace
To reduce risks, you should:
– Maintain Water Systems: Regular cleaning and disinfecting water systems can prevent stagnation and biofilm buildup, which can harbor Legionella bacteria.
– Monitor Temperature: Ensuring that water temperatures are monitored and constantly maintained within safe ranges plays a major role in limiting the growth of the bacteria.
– Use Biocides: Applying appropriate biocides to control microbial growth within water systems is advised in many situations. However, as always, consult with health professionals before implementing any such program.
Respiratory Protection Against Legionnaires’ Disease
Currently, no OSHA standard exists for the disease. However, in hazardous situations, general respiratory protection guidelines should be followed to protect workers from being infected by the bacteria.
In conditions where aerosol generation occurs—such as during maintenance of cooling towers—employers must implement a respiratory protection program.
This includes providing personal protective equipment (PPE) like respirators and goggles to prevent inhaling contaminated aerosols.
– See OSHA’s Publication on Legionellosis (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever).
– See CDC’s Publication on Controlling Legionella.
Training and Awareness for Workers
Training employees on the risks associated with the Legionella Bacteria and the importance of good hygiene practices is very important. Workers should be educated on how to identify symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease and encouraged to report any health concerns promptly.
These regular training sessions can enhance awareness and compliance with safety protocols in the workplace.
Record Keeping and Documentation at Work
Employers are also advised to keep detailed records of risk assessments, maintenance activities, and training sessions. This documentation is vital for demonstrating compliance with health and safety regulations and can also serve as evidence in case of an outbreak, inspection or legal inquiry.
Key Takeaways
Protecting workers from Legionnaires’ disease requires a proactive approach that involves risk assessment, control measures, respiratory protection, training, and detailed record-keeping. By following these guidelines, you can greatly reduce the risk of outbreaks and ensure a safer workplace for all workers.
It is worthy of note that there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission, making environmental control critical in preventing outbreaks.
While outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease can be alarming, regular testing, proper water treatment, and prompt action can help to prevent and control the spread of this deadly disease.
Stay vigilant, equip your team with proper safety gear, and contact health authorities immediately if you suspect any contamination in your facility.
As they say: prevention is better than cure… and cheaper too.
About Worksite Medical
To protect your team and remain in compliance with OSHA , you need to find a medical provider in your area that specializes in occupational health.
In the case of Worksite Medical, we make that easier with mobile medical testing that reaches across the US.
With Worksite Medical, you can get all the resources of a lab brought directly to your worksite, minimizing your workers’ downtime.
We’ll tailor a comprehensive medical surveillance program to your specific needs. Our services include respirator fit-testing & respirator equipment, silica exams, general physicals, heavy metal labs, x-rays, audiometric exams, and much more. We safely maintain all of your team’s medical records, and provide you with quick access.
You’ll keep your employees at work, and stay ahead of OSHA inspections.
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Give us a call at 1-844-622-8633, or complete the form below to schedule an on-site visit or to get your free quote.
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