Legionella surveys 'must be accurate'

Companies responsible for carrying out legionella surveys on water systems have been reminded to avoid fines and injury compensation claims by ensuring their work is thorough and accurate.

The warnings follow the conviction of Berkshire water treatment firm Deba UK after it was discovered that they carried out "inadequate and misleading" surveys at nursing homes in Wales.

Elderly residents in care homes are particularly vulnerable to diseases such as pneumonia and Legionnaires' disease, which can spread through contaminated water.

"Fortunately, there was no evidence of any outbreak of the disease as a result of these incidents, but there is a clear responsibility to those companies carrying out specialist work that they need to carry out adequate surveys," commented Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Matthew Hamar.

The dangers of legionella contamination were recently highlighted after two employees at a butchery processing factory near Preston contracted Legionnaires' disease from infected water.

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