In hotels, health and safety come first. All hotels rely on trouble-free, delightful stays from their visitors to uphold their brand name and draw in business. This is especially crucial when it comes to legionella in hotels since a legionnaires’ disease epidemic could lead to legal action in addition to reputational harm without legionella management.
Hotel rules for health and safety in the UK are the same as other enterprises. Notwithstanding the size, scope, or complexity of your hot and cold water systems, according to the Health and Safety Executive, the goal is to eliminate the “foreseeable danger of exposure to legionella.”
Why Is Legionella Management Crucial To Hotels?
You have a legal obligation to comprehend, manage, and control the health hazards posed by legionella in your hotel water system if you serve as the manager, duty holder, or facilities manager for a hotel or group of hotels. There is a chance that any of your visitors or employees who unintentionally breathe in water droplets with legionella bacteria could go on to get the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease. Lung damage from Legionnaires’ disease can be confused with pneumonia or, more recently, Covid-19 due to its similar symptoms.
The over 45s are among the populations most at risk for Legionnaires’ disease; according to the World Health Organization, 75–80% of documented cases of the illness affect those over 50. Elderly people, who account for the majority of global mortality, are far more at danger. Those with long-term medical issues, smokers, and heavy drinkers are also more susceptible to the legionella bacterium.
You should take extra precautions if your hotel offers a spa and recreational areas. Spa pools are more dangerous because the water is maintained at the legionella bacteria’s ideal temperature and the air jets are more likely to produce aerosol droplets that are simple to breathe in. Also, it’s common for pools of water to build up around the borders of poorly kept spa pools, which creates the perfect environment for germs to grow.
Thus, it is imperative that you take steps to stop legionella from infecting the water system in your resort’s hotel and spa.
Legionella Management In Hotel Water Systems
Warm, stagnant water that is between 20°C and 45°C is ideal for the legionella bacteria to flourish. It is crucial to maintain the water flowing through your system, keep the cold water below 20 °C to keep the bacteria dormant, and keep the hot water at 60 °C or above to entirely kill the bacteria. Install thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs), which provide a safe water temperature for people without compromising on temperature safety when it comes to protecting visitors from legionella bacteria, if you are concerned about the health and safety of your guests as a result of the water being too hot
Legionella Risk Assessment
Regular legionella risk assessments are essential to ensure that you are taking the necessary precautions to reduce the dangers from legionella bacteria, including water testing and analysis. Qualified assessors will conduct a thorough inspection of your hotel’s facilities. The assessors will, where necessary, include recommendations for corrective action or preventative measures in their thorough report.
