This document provides a weekly safety review that includes information on Legionella bacteria found in water systems. It notes there are 16 incidents awaiting review. For the year to date there have been 2 recordable injuries with an injury rate of 0. The last OSHA recordable injury was on November 2nd and the last RIDDOR injury was also on November 2nd. It then provides details on Legionella bacteria, noting it was first identified following an outbreak in 1976. It grows in conditions where water is not flushed out regularly, creating a "dead leg" in pipes. The document outlines legal requirements to control Legionella bacteria and states taps and showers identified as dead legs must be flushed for 5 minutes weekly. Individuals have been

1. Health, Safety and Environment
Weekly Safety Review
16 SIMS awaiting
First Aid Recordable
Managers Comments
No. injuries ytd 2 2
Injury rate ytd 0 0
No. days worked since last 52
Injury
Issue Date : 3 / 4 / 2012 OSHA recordable (11/2/12)
Performance
No. days worked since last 52 INJURY
RIDDOR injury (11/2/12)
Legionella in domestic water systems FREE
WEEK
7
First identified following a large outbreak at The American Legion Convention
in Philadelphia in 1976. Hence the name Legionella.
Contracted by inhaling contaminated tiny droplets of water sprayed into the air.
Legionella, Don't give it a “Dead Leg”
The potential for problems occurs when taps / showers are not run on a regular basis creating a
“dead leg” a pipe filled with water that is not flushed out regularly.
This together with the environment can create conditions in which Legionella bacteria can grow.
What are the requirements for the Legionella bacteria to flourish?
Electron microscope view of legionella
The primary legislation for Legionella control is :
Health & Safety at Work Act (1974)
Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002)
The HSE document L8 “The control of legionella bacteria in water systems: Approved Code
of Practice and Guidance“. sets out practical advice on how to satisfy the legal requirements of
the Health and Safety at Work Act.
So what do we need to do to comply and minimise our exposure in domestic systems?
• The dead legs taps and showers in question are identified and flushed / run for a minimum of 5
minutes each week
• Nominated individuals from across the business have been appointed to ensure that this
happens.
• Returns are monitored and measured as part of KPI’s.
• Figures for February 2012 show a return of 80%
• 100% is the target so there is still some way to go to ensure that we are fully compliant.
A 100% return is required and the watchword is consistency.