Legionella Infection in my Water: What do I do?

The test report has landed in your email or on your desk, or the phone call from the Health Department has just ended, now what do I do.

A decontamination of your facility needs to happen asap! Those of us who have to deal with Legionella as part of our business may be familiar with the phrase 'we need to do a decontamination', sounds worrying, a bit dramatic , but achievable.... if you have a plan?

Those of us with a risk management plan contact the responsible persons and relevant authorities and get the process happening.

Those of us without a plan are more inclined to panic and make knee-jerk decisions that can be very costly in terms of time, finances and peace of mind.

So let's work our way through the Legionella decontamination scenario and identify a few golden rules that may save time, dollars and sleep.

1) Have a plan.

Pretty obvious huh? But many in the high risk health and aged care sector don't have one. This is an obvious health risk to your clients. Besides, if you don't have a plan you leave yourself open for legal liability and media punishment. You are also open for opportunists who will 'fix the problem' and walk away smiling with your forward estimates!

A plan for what each person will do when it happens is what I mean by 'a plan'. This is only a tiny section of your Risk Management Plan - but it is a very important one.

Plans aren't hard - and shouldn't be expensive. They are a good way of letting people know their duty of care, allowing them to own responsibility. They can also help identify good budgeting and maintenance that saves money. Naturally they may identify some capital costs - but maintenance is always cheaper than asset failure in the long run - just ask your FM!.

2) Know who is responsible for what.

It should be clear to you - at whatever level you are - who you need to talk to about a Legionella decontamination of your system. This is the basis of a risk communication plan that ought to be in your overall plan. You must also know who can communicate with an external body - and who can't.

If a decontamination is required then either you have a procedure in-house or an SME (Subject Matter Expert / water treatment person) ready to go. Critically, you know who is going to manage this process and who they will report to! Critically - you now their name and contact details!

3) Understand the process

Have a plan for Legionella decontamination

Let's face it. You're in a vulnerable position that needs immediate attention. Somewhere in your cunning plan there are details you need.

Is this process approved by your local regulator?
Does this process have documented efficacy?
Are the chemicals introduced / processes involved compliant with relevant regulations and effective?

These points seem obvious - but in the absence of a plan processes are often used that don't meet even one of these simple criteria.

4) Understand what is going to happen.

Depending on how engaged you are in 1) and 2) and 3) above there may be very little - or a lot to say in this section.

Let's suppose you have worked out a plan.

The system has been isolated.
Your communication plan with staff, residents, and media if required is activated.
You have contacted all the relevant stakeholders (responsible persons and regulatory authorities).
You have contacted your SME. They have activated the Regulator approved decontamination process.
On the basis of stakeholder advice you understand whether evacuation is necessary to complete the process. Usually it is not.
Sleep peacefully.

Let's suppose you don't have a plan.

Google is your friend and enemy.
You don't know who to talk to and resolve the problem.
If the event has hit the media you are in damage control.
'Consultants' and 'experts' appear at every turn providing costly silver bullet solutions.
Every one and their friend volunteers their opinion.
Your budget is blown.
You appoint a personal counselor, open a bottle of something strong and throw the lid away.

Summary

Decontamination because of a Legionella detection or someone from your site has been confirmed as positive or passed away at any aged or health care facility is potentially likely and high risk event. It is unlikely to escalate into a national crisis. Bear in mind recent national (Australian) crises associated with Legionella contamination that have escalated have all without exception been the result of poor planning. They have also been extremely expensive. Having a plan for how the risk can be managed - and more importantly minimised - is basic common sense and good cost efficiency.

How the decontamination is carried out should be written into the plan. Once the plan is sorted then the actual process doesn't need to unduly disturb your sleep or budget.

All of the mentioned areas above are what we specialize in, our business delivers industry leading processes, systems, training and support as well as market leading disinfection products that will enable you to manage and reduce risk of waterborne infection. We are an ISO accredited business and hold Systems, Safety and Environmental certification, please feel free to contact us if you would like to talk more.