Preventing Legionella in Hotels
Do you know that Legionella bacteria can grow in your hotel water systems and cause a deadly lung infection called Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionella love warm, stagnant water, and hotels have plenty of it. From pipework, storage tanks, guest rooms, spas, pools, to kitchens. Both your staff and guests can get sick from breathing in water droplets that contain Legionella. Such as from showers, taps, or fountains. That’s why you need effective legionella prevention in hotels to protect health and safety.
At Pipe Testing Services, we are experts in legionella prevention and control for hotels. We help UK hotels keep their water systems safe, clean, and compliant through regular maintenance and preventative methods. As premier Legionella contractors, our services are comprehensive, customised, and affordable. Trust us to take care of your water safety and compliance needs.
Legionella can cause serious and fatal outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease in hotels. Pipe Testing Services offers complete Legionella prevention and control programmes for hotels, including testing, disinfection, maintenance, and training. Our services are reliable, cost-effective, and compliant. Contact us today to find out how we can help you prevent Legionella in your hotel.
Legionella Hazards in Hotel Water Systems?
Hotel water systems can provide ideal conditions for Legionella to grow and spread, especially if they are not properly managed and maintained.
Legionnaires’ disease affects the lungs and presents symptoms that can be mistaken for pneumonia or, more recently, Covid-19.
Some of the risk factors that can increase the likelihood of Legionella growth in hotel water systems are:
- Large, complex pipework and water tanks that can harbour Legionella and create dead ends or low-flow areas where water can stagnate.
- Stagnant water in guest rooms during periods of low occupancy or turnover, which can reduce the circulation and disinfection of water.
- Warm water temperatures between 20°C and 45°C, which are optimal for bacterial growth. Water temperatures below 20°C or above 60°C can inhibit or kill Legionella
- Water spray from showers, taps, spas, and other outlets that can create aerosols or droplets that carry Legionella bacteria and can be inhaled by people.
- High-risk areas such as pools, hot tubs, and kitchens that use large amounts of water, have complex plumbing systems, and require frequent cleaning and disinfection.
Legionella is a type of bacteria that can cause a serious and potentially fatal lung infection called Legionnaires’ disease.
Related: take a look at our previous blog on preventing legionella in leisure centres if you wish to learn more about the specifics of legionella control on these high-risk areas that are often within hotels.
What are the Legal Obligations for Hotels?
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), hotel owners have a legal duty to assess and control the risk of Legionella in their water systems under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Failing to do so can have severe consequences, such as serious illness, death, litigation, and substantial financial and reputational costs.
The HSE also provides guidance on how to manage Legionella in hot and cold water systems, such as using temperature control, disinfection, maintenance, testing, and reporting. Additionally, the European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet) offers a 14-point checklist for reducing the risk of Legionnaires’ disease in hotels
Hotel owners and managers should follow these recommendations to ensure water safety and compliance.
Legionella Outbreaks in Hotels and Their Impacts
Legionella outbreaks in hotels can have serious impacts on the health, safety, and reputation of the hotel and its guests.
According to the European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet), hotels and other tourist accommodation accounted for 63% of the travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported in 2019. In the UK, there were 19 outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease linked to hotels.
Hotel Legionella Outbreak Example
One of the worst cases of Legionella outbreaks in hotels happened in 2012, when a hotel in Edinburgh faced a £54,000 fine after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that sickened 92 people and claimed four lives. It was caused by a cooling tower on the hotel’s roof, which had poor disinfection and maintenance practices. The hotel did not follow the legal requirements and guidance for managing Legionella risks in water systems, and delayed reporting the outbreak to the authorities. A preventable situation caused fear and distress among the hotel guests and staff, as well as the residents of the surrounding area. This resulted in the hotel being sued by the victims and their relatives, who sought compensation for the physical and emotional harm they endured. Naturally, the hotel’s reputation and business was tarnished, and it took a long time to recover from the crisis.
This example illustrates the importance of preventing Legionella in hotels and the potential consequences of failing to do so. Hotel owners and managers should take proactive measures to assess and control the risk of Legionella in their water systems. At PTS, we can help with this. Don’t hesitate to get in contact regarding legionella control in hotels and the hospitality sector.
How We Help Hotels Prevent Legionella
At Pipe Testing Services, we have a wealth of experience in implementing Legionella control programmes for hotels across the UK. We offer a variety of services to help hotels prevent Legionella and ensure water safety and compliance – here’s some insight into what we can do for you:
Risk assessment
Our experts conduct a thorough inspection of your water systems to identify any potential hazards and sources of Legionella. Based on risk assessment, we create a control plan that is customised for your hotel and meets the relevant standards and regulations.
Testing
We carry out regular water sampling and laboratory analysis to check the presence and level of Legionella and other contaminants in your water systems. We also measure water temperatures, disinfectant residuals, and other parameters that affect water quality and safety.
Disinfection
When we detect or suspect Legionella in your water systems, we provide shock disinfection using chlorine dioxide or thermal disinfection methods. Our team can recommend the best disinfection practices and products for your water systems.
Maintenance
Assisting you in establishing and implementing effective maintenance procedures to prevent Legionella growth and contamination. For example, we flush infrequently used outlets, clean and descale showerheads and taps, and inspect and service water tanks and pipework.
Training
At PTS, we can help educate your facilities staff on how to maintain water quality. As well as implementing your control plan, allowing you to comply with the relevant regulations. Additionally, we also raise awareness among your hotel staff and guests on the signs and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease and how to report any concerns.
Reporting
Delivering detailed reports on the results and findings of our testing and disinfection services, as well as recommendations and guidance on how to improve your water systems and prevent Legionella. We’ll help you document your compliance and keep records of your control measures.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today for a free consultation and quote. Don’t miss this opportunity to secure your water safety and compliance with Pipe Testing Services.
Get in Touch with Pipe Testing Services Today
Don’t risk your water safety and compliance. Legionella bacteria can grow in your hotel water systems and cause deadly outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease. With PTS as your partner, you can implement a comprehensive Legionella prevention programme tailored to your hotel. We make it easy and cost-effective to protect your staff and guests.
Contact us today for a free consultation and quote. Our Legionella experts are here to help!
Phone – 01922 451646
Email – enquiries@pipetestingservices.co.uk
Address – Unit 27 Birchbrook Industrial Estate, Shenstone, Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 0DJ