Page 26 - BOSS Today Issue 41

BOSS Today #41 DOWN TO BUSINESS – H&S

COMBATTING THE LEGION

n 1976, the American Legion held during May 2018 often lethal, form of pneumonia
Iits annual convention at a hotel in n 211 cases of Legionnaires’ disease caused by the bacterium Legionella
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attended since 01 January 2017 pneumophila, which is found in water
by approximately 2,000 Legionnaires, systems. The disease has pneumonia-
mostly men. The following week, 12 people who visited the type symptoms and may include
more than 130 people, whose ages Glastonbury Festival in 1998 a high fever, chills, cough, muscle
ranged from 39 to 82, had been contracted Legionnaires’ disease. aches, headaches and diarrhoea.
hospitalised and 25 had died. What Eight made a full recovery, one is still
they suffered from became known as disabled and three died. All had visited Legionella Risks In The Workplace
Legionnaires’ disease, or Legionellosis. the same B&Q garden centre next Any water system with the right
In the last five years, reported cases to the IMCO Plastics factory prior to environmental conditions could
of Legionnaires’ disease increased by contracting the disease. The source be a source for Legionella bacteria
35% in England and Wales. 80 people of the outbreak was the company’s growth. Be wary of any water system
have died, and many have been cooling tower, which had not been that:
seriously ill. properly cleaned nor disinfected. n Has a water temperature of
Statistics from Public Health between 20–45 °C
England show: Symptoms n Creates and/or spreads breathable
n 33 cases of Legionnaires’ disease Legionnaires’ disease is a severe, droplets (eg aerosol created by a

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