Environmental Services

During the mid 1970s in America a bacteria was discovered for the first time. It was discovered in water systems. This often fatal illness is contracted through inhalation of water droplets which are contaminated by this bacteria. It became known as "legionnaires` disease". As the then Director of the HSE stated "Legionnaires¹ disease is an illness we have managed to create for ourselves. In designing and constructing systems to control our environment we have created conditions which can be ideal for the proliferation of Legionella. Those systems must be properly monitored and maintained. That is the key to controlling the disease." Under general health and safety law there is therefore now a legal requirement to consider the risks from legionella. The legislation applies to employers or persons in control of buildings (e.g. landlords). These legal duties are outlined in L8 AcoP ("Legionnaires` disease ­ The control of legionella bacteria in water systems.