What exactly is Legionella Disease and where did it come from?

Legionella is a form of pneumonia – it got its name of Legionella because of a sever outbreak in the American Legion in 1976. It affects mainly men usually the middle aged to elderly – in particular people with chest problems and smokers.

However around half of the reported cases of the disease are contracted abroad, so it is always worth reading all the information available on a country before travelling so you can avoid contamination whenever possible. Often in the UK cases are traced back to cooling towers, air conditioning units and the disease has also been linked to spa pool demonstrations.

How does it spread?

The disease spreads via inhalation of small droplets of water that are suspended in the air – these carry the Legionella pneumophila bacteria. The conditions that the disease thrives in include: temps of 20 to 45°c, any source of algae, rust or any other organic matter that feeds the bacteria.

An invisible disease that can only be prevented by Legionella’s Risk assessments from a professional. Facilities Management company, the disease doesn’t spread person to person – therefore you are relying on the experts to follow mandatory statutory requirements to assess and treat all water systems.

What symptoms will I have?

Being a form of pneumonia, Legionella symptoms are very similar to the flu – you may have a high temperature, chills, fever, muscle pains, headaches and coughing. In very bad cases you may be pneumonia, metal confusion and diarrhea.

How can I prevent Legionella?

Prevention is always better than cure; therefore it’s vital that every company duty holder ensures a Legionella Risk assessment is carried out. At Precise we follow mandatory statutory requirements – to assess and that all water systems within your building providing clients with peace of mind – leaving them to concentrate on other areas of the business.

Remember Legionella can spread in any environment were the conditions are right – and isn’t only a risk in environments working with microbiological agents – such as laboratories.

I think an employee may have had Legionella?

The most important thing is to make sure that your employees are healthy and fit for work having received proper medical attention. In addition to this, if you think that an employee has contracted Legionella – by law it has to be reported to the Health & Safety Executive.

For any more advice and guidance regarding Legionella Risk Assessments please visit our website here :http://www.preciseuk.co.uk

Just like in our own homes though, leaving small maintenance tasks for too long in the workplace invariably results in a major DIY project.  It’s also vital to remember the health and safety implications of failing to adhere to current legislation and approved codes of practice.  Luckily even small businesses have an alternative to time-consuming maintenance – finding a facilities management services partner.

A good facilities management company will work with you to tailor services to your needs, size and budget.  Depending on your requirements, services can include everything from basic maintenance of your office space to managing sub contracted staff, taking responsibility for risk assessment, health and safety and fire log books and PAT testing.  Larger businesses might even find that they save time and money by outsourcing their mechanical, electrical and manufacturing equipment maintenance to a facilities management services provider.

It’s also worth considering talking to a facilities management expert if you are thinking about making better use of your office space.  Simple additions such as the inclusion of a shower in your office can make life easier for members of staff hoping to walk or cycle to work, and might be an easier and cheaper project then expected with the help of a facilities management partner.  Other day-to-day aspects of maintenance, such as gardening, decorating and basic repairs can also be completed more quickly and economically as a programme of work with a facilities manager, rather than the time-consuming alternative of finding a number of local suppliers to undertake this work.

The UK rarely suffers from extreme temperatures faced by southern Europe and the rest of the world, and so air conditioning is not installed in all buildings as standard.  However, even as winter approaches it is important to consider that air conditioning systems bring benefits other than regulating the warmest weather.  Properly installed and well-maintained air conditioning not only ensures a comfortable year-round temperature but prevents the need for windows to be opened in order to allow for the movement of air, which can cause workers with pollutant or pollen allergies serious discomfort.  An additional benefit is the reduction in the age-old ‘windows open or shut?’ debates between co-workers!

Of course, wrongly installed or badly maintained air conditioning systems can have the reverse affect, lowering air quality and even increasing ill health amongst staff.  This makes it essential to work with an experienced and qualified expert when designing, installing and maintaining your system.  Because of the seriousness of the health issues that can be caused by badly maintained air conditioning systems, the Environment Agency’s F Gas regulations place responsibilities on employers to keep maintenance records.  Working with a qualified expert can make sure that you avoid hefty fines and safeguard the health of your staff.

It’s important to look for F Gas Certification and DEFRA registration from your chosen supplier, and reputable companies should also have no hesitation in sharing positive customer testimonials with you. They should also provide you with a through report of any tests carried out on your existing system, which should identify any work that needs to be carried out to protect your future air quality.

The air conditioning unit is designed to recycle the air in the room – removing the heat from the air and expelling it out side and leaving the remaining cool air to be circulated around the room. This process also provides relief for hay fever suffers in many cases.

There are 3 main components of the unit that – draw the heat from the air: the compressor, evaporating coil and a condenser. The compressor is like a pump controlled via the thermostat – controlling the flow of the refrigerant in the air con unit.
Next the compressor moves the refrigerant to the condenser coil – by increasing the pressure and temperature. Attached to back of the condenser coil is a fan, which will draw outside air over the coil. Whilst the compressor passes the refrigerant through the condenser coil – cool air, which has passed across the coil, will absorb the heat from the refrigerant. At this point the refrigerant will go from a gaseous state to a liquid form – but the refrigerant in the evaporating coil will continuously absorb heat any remaining heat from the indoor air in order to return it back to its original gaseous state. Once the heat is removed this air is then re-entered into the indoor air area – but at a much cooler temperature.

The air conditioning unit works very much the same as the household fridge, using refrigerant to cool the air already existing inside the space.

Precise have over 25 years experience in providing air conditioning and facilities management services our team offer professional advice regarding the air conditioning units and facilities management services we supply – call us today for more information on: 01527 503333.

Why choose Precise?

With over 25 years experience Precise have a dedicated team of qualified engineers, for air conditioning installations, repairs and maintenance of small split systems to large VRV multi-systems.

Putting our clients first is the only way we do business and our workforce are dedicated to adhering to timeframes and always leave work areas tidy.

For more information on air conditioning maintenance and repairs services, please see the main air conditioning section.

If you are unsure when your air conditioning unit last had maintenance – or would just like peace of mind that your system is working correctly – give us a call today on 01527 503333.

We will be updating you with up to date information on the Air Conditioning, Risk Assessments, Facilities Management and Water Treatment Industry.

Why not take the opportunity to book a free Company Health Check and ensure your building and company is up to date with UK legislation.