Engineers at Wiltshire’s leading heating and plumbing company John Williams Heating Services, are now able to offer risk assessments to landlords and businesses helping them comply with legionella legislation.
By law, anyone who 
controls premises where a trade, business or other activity takes place and where water is stored, must meet health and safety requirements.
Further measures around risk assessment must be taken where there is a means of creating and transmitting breathable water droplets (known as aerosols) as this is how this type of disease is transmitted to people.
John Williams, co-founder of John Williams Heating Services, said: “We’re proud to be able to offer this extra service to existing and new customers. The Landlord Legionella risk assessments can be done as a stand alone job or as part of a package also including PAT testing and the Gas Safety Certificate.
“Any property or business owner with premises must take measures to assess the risk around legionella. Landlords of residential accommodation are also responsible.
“Therefore it’s important risk assessments are carried out regularly and control measures introduced.”
Legionellosis is a collective term for diseases caused by the legionella bacteria. The most serious is Legionnaires’ Disease but there are also less serious conditions such as Pontiac Fever and Lochgoilhead Fever.
Legionnaires’ Disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia and everyone is susceptible to infection. The risk increases with age but some people are at higher risk including:
- smokers and heavy drinkers
- people suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease
- people suffering from diabetes, lung and heart disease
- anyone with an impaired immune system
The bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria are common in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but usually in low numbers. They may also be found in purpose-built water systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems and spa pools.
The original article can be found at http://www.businessbiscuit.com/news/2873-legionella
