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Finally, “Cleaning and Disinfection” procedures were found to
contribute to a small percentage of outbreaks. In theUK the enduser client
has the responsibility for ensuring that the chosen cleaning anddisinfection
contractor is competent. There is the possibility that despite cleaning and
disinfection operations being completed, we are still seeing Legionnaires’
Disease outbreaks, as a result of cleaning anddisinfectionprocesseswhich
fall short of the quality expected to achieve a successful outcome and a
reduction in the level of risk. Indeed, therehavebeen exampleswherepoor
cleaning and disinfection procedures have led to increased risk andwhere
these insufficient or poorly completed procedures have been implicated in
causingcasesofLegionnaires’Disease.
Summaryof theUKSituation
TheUKhashadguidanceand legislation relating to
Legionella
since the
publicationof theHSG70 document in 1991. Since this guidance has been
inplace, theUKHSEhas continued topolice the levels of applicationof the
ACOP and guidance documents on sites across theUK. Where there have
been obvious failings discovered as a result of these visits, many of which
weremadeafteroutbreaks,butsomemadeasproactivevisits tosites, theHSE
have, in some cases, successfully prosecutednot only the sites involved, but
in somecases, the suppliersof thewater treatment chemicalsandequipment
and thewaterhygieneproducts and services.
However, despite the fact that theguidancehasbeen inplace since1991,
it appears tohave had little effect on the numbers of cases of Legionnaires’
Disease. Certainly, between2000and2010, thereappears tohavebeen little
noticeable reduction in cases, with the number sticking generally between
