What is the Legionella management plan?

Legionella is an invisible but dangerous bacterium that can cause serious health problems. The bacteria cause the disease legionellosis, also known as Legionnaires’ disease. It is a severe form of pneumonia with symptoms such as high fever, shortness of breath, and muscle pain. In some cases, the disease can be fatal.

You can get the disease from inhaling infected water particles (aerosols). Showers, fountains, humidifiers, or industrial installations with atomisation can be especially risky. But also stagnant water after a long holiday period, for example. Some sectors are at higher risk of Legionella, and are therefore required to prepare a Legionella management plan.

A Legionella management plan is a document defining all measures and procedures to prevent the growth and spread of Legionella in a water system. The plan includes preventive actions and control and corrective measures. This way, you can avoid health risks and comply with legal obligations.
 

You are required to prepare a management plan if your organisation has one or more installations that disperse aerosols (small water droplets in the air). For example:

• Showers, taps with nozzles, whirlpool baths
• Humidifiers or fountains
• High-pressure cleaners (Kärcher type)
• Cooling towers
• Dental units
• Industrial plants with atomisation
• …

Depending on, among other things, your location (Flanders, Brussels, or Wallonia) and the level of exposure, either the Codex on Well-being at Work (federal legislation) or the Flemish Legionella Decree applies.

TIP: Are you a Mensura client? If so, you’ll find a handy info document on MyMensura, which also includes a diagram showing exactly which legislation applies to your organisation.

A good management plan:

• Significantly reduces the risk of infection
• Protects your employees and visitors
• Ensures compliance with legal standards

The management plan is made up of several components:

• Technical description of the installation
   With an inventory of the entire water system and hot water production.
• Risk analysis
  • Identification of high-risk areas such as dead pipes, little-used taps, and water temperatures between 25°C and 45°C.
  • Analysis of temperatures and frequency of use, transport, and flow.
• Management measures at four levels

Overview of measures to be taken to prevent or in case of infection. We divide the measures into four categories:

1. Preventive measures, e.g. flush and maintain pipes properly, install non-return valves, etc.
2. Control measures, e.g. taking samples, checking temperature, etc.
3. Corrective measures, e.g. prepare a procedure in case of deviations
4. Technical measures, e.g. disinfecting and adjusting the piping system

• Work instructions and follow-up
  • Documentation of all controls and measures implemented.
  • Who is responsible for implementing and complying with the plan.

Also, don’t forget to include your Legionella management plan in your overall risk analysis; that way, it too is completely up-to-date.