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To prevent Legionnaire’s disease in buildings and industries water systems,
the
Legionella
Risk Assessment (based on HACCP method) can be applied as
the optimal technical solution for assessing, managing and controlling risks. Any
responsible person for awater system(manager, owner, stake holders, etc) should
use this risk assessment so the system could be operated, implemented and
maintained with controlled and acceptable risks. That is a way for not neglecting
risks for employees, visitors and the community.
As any management plan, it consists of three basic steps for implementing
andmaintaining it.The first one is risk assessment, which identifies and analyzes
all foreseeable risks. The second one is implementing corrective actions, new
proceduresandcontrollingactions, tomanageall risksassessedonthefirst step.At
last, the riskmanagement plan shouldbe validated, verified and revised routinely.
Risk assessment is the most important part of the process, as it will define all
activities and actions that should be taken. It needs a field inspection of all water
systems by a qualified professional that will observe all particular characteristics
of each individual system. With his theoretical and technical knowledge allied
with his practical experience, the professional risk assessor can identify proper
foreseeable risks associated with
Legionella
. Currently there are some methods
used for
Legionella
Risk Assessment and control, but the HACCP method
(originated in the food industry) is has been proved to be the most appropriated.
TheHACCPmethod is a comprehensive andholisticmethod that canencompass
any reasonable hazard, foreseeing its consequences and frequencies, and then
establish risk levels. Each risk level will define priorities about controlmeasures or
correctiveactions.Thus, itisimportanttoensurethatriskassessorsareexternaland
independent consultants, with no direct connection with commercial solutions
for water treatment, water systemoperationormaintenance, laboratorial analysis
as well as unrelated to normal internal management routines.
