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declaredoveron the18
th
July. In the last report fromNHSLothian (National
Health Service Lothian, the healthcare organisation for Edinburgh and
surrounding areas), published in July 2013, the outbreak was detailed as
having caused92 cases and4deaths. [2]Theprofileof theoutbreakbore all
thehallmarksof beingacooling tower relatedevent, althoughno individual,
or groupof cooling towers, has beenproven tobe the cause.The cost borne
byNHSLothianas a result of theoutbreakwas calculatedat £725, 800.
After thisoutbreak, in response toan independent report of healthand
safety legislation, it was recommended that the HSE should review all its
ApprovedCodesofPractice (ACOPs) and technical guidance.
Additionally, thedecisionwasmadebytheHSEtovisitalltheevaporative
coolingsystemsoperatingintheUK. Itiscalculatedthatthereisbetween5000
and 7000 cooling towers in theUK.This was a proactive process designed
to check levels of compliance with the ApprovedCode of Practice and the
Guidance issuedby theHSE.
InOctober 2013, the HSE published a report entitled “Programme of
interventions for controlling
Legionella
risks inworkplaces 2013 – 14: half-
year report”. [3]This reportgavedetailsof thefindingsof thefirstpartof this
interventionand inspectionprogramme.
Thereportdetailedthat645 inspectionswerecompletedatsitesoperating
evaporative cooling equipment.These inspections were carried out byHSE
and LA (Local Authority) inspectors fromApril through to September in
2013. Thepurposeof thesevisitswas to focuson theon site riskassessment,
the written scheme of control, the implementation and management of
controlmeasures and recordkeeping.
At 465 of the visited sites, no formal enforcement action was taken.
